The Regenerative Power of Native Plants
Bioregional herbalism originates from the concept that a genuinely wholistic style of regenerative medicine must draw on accessible natural resources within an individual’s local area.
This means that the herbs you take do not cause extra stress on resources in terms of manufacture and transportation. Many traditional herbal educators and practitioners believe that any health imbalance is best treated within the same environment where the illness originated.
Bioregional herbalism is ecological herbalism at its core. I consider this essential in supporting the paradigm shift towards a regenerative future.
This is a novel notion since we are used to seeing national and even international studies recommending a specific herb as the cure-all for a particular disease, even if that herb grows best only in a narrow corner of the globe. Bioregional herbalism encourages people to learn which herbal healing resources grow naturally in their specific area and draw on them.
One example is if you have a fungal infection or popular herbalism, you may reach for Tea Tree Oil that comes from Australia. What resources does it take to bottle and transport that herb to me? Now, wisdom tells us that the people who lived on this continent had all the medicines they needed, leading me to look for an antifungal herb in my backyard. Consider Red Cedar ‘Thuja plicata’ and make a strong infusion, a fresh extract or oil with minimal environmental impact.
Plant medicines vary by region, but the ethical core principle remains the same. Regeneration begins at home, growing from the identical rich soil we spring from. Using herbs from close to home is a tradition honoured by curanderas, vegetalistas, ancient shamans, and modern medicine women. Traditional herbalists have long known that the medicine we need the most is the ones that grow very near to us.
Know your Bioregion
We all know which city, county and country we live in, but many of us are disconnected from a true sense of place, lacking any concept of the bioregion in which we live. We need to remind ourselves that the government does not define bioregions. Each bioregion is a specific life zone defined by its watershed and indicator species and by their relationships with each other. A bioregion may be determined by its wildflowers and the soil life. Bioregions are created and transformed by the creative, transformative power of the elements. Bioregions flow along the lines of rivers and streams, land formations, migration routes and weather patterns.
Bioregional herbalism allows you to intermingle with your ecosystem in a more meaningful way, as well as safeguard natural resources. As herbal practices continue to gain popularity, many manufacturing companies mass-produce herbal preparations without sensitivity to the impact of harvesting large numbers of plants from one area. The herbal supplements available at mainstream retailers like Wal-Mart are more likely to be produced without sensitivity to whether a plant species in a specific area is stressed from a year of too little rain. They may harvest wild plants without considering whether the stand of plants can be re-seed for another year. One example is the demand for echinacea, which has already wiped out many wild habitats of this plant.
Bioregional Herbalism: Tapping to the Wild Intelligence of Nature
Herbalism has the potential to help people—but not if we cut down the rainforest for remedies and ship exotic “herb-flavour-of-the-month-as-seen-on-TV” using fossil fuels from across the planet.
The beauty of plants is that countless species of plants have similar medical actions in the body. Rather than relying on a tropical herb that indigenous people rely upon in South America, we have an herb growing in the cracks of the sidewalk here that often does the same thing.
Bioregional herbalism is all about finding your medicine and foods close to home, either by cultivating them or ethically wildcrafting them. It also covers the ethics of foraging, different forms of cultivation, and what we need (and how it grows right here). Be a medicinal locavore, too!
Is There Such a Thing as Plant Intelligence
The automatic assumption that plants are victims incapable of learning to cope with new conditions is an insult contrary to the latest evidence. The “new botany” makes similar claims about plant intelligence, stating that plants can solve problems and learn from past experiences. Consider what plants can do that a deer can’t. They can regenerate when 90 percent of their bodies have been eaten away. They can have sex at long distances and communicate with approximately 20 more senses than an animal has. Those are very pragmatic arguments. I believe they’re valuable just because they’re there. We tend to judge plants not as autonomous organisms but in terms of what they can do for us. But they’re astonishing in their own right and deserve the same ethical status as other creatures.
Wild Intelligence of Plants
When we forage from the land, ingesting and integrating plants and creating plant medicines picked right from the Earth, we become our landscape on the cellular level. The same cells vibrating with the plant’s life force now become integrated into the essence of our body on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level. The plant’s wisdom embodies us physically as its molecules transform into the matrix of our cells, blood, and muscles. Emotionally, we aligned with the clarity and joy of being alive. Spiritually, our receptivity opens to the miracle of life unfolding in the present moment. This energy is channelled through us from the plant’s life-giving nature. Wild native plants can support us in experiencing interbeingness even amidst the pressure and pace of an industrial growth agenda. We have lost our instinctual knowing and a deep sense of interconnection – and with this, our sense of ‘place’ and purpose. The brilliant connectedness of the plant acts through us in all of our thoughts, decisions and actions. Our daily relationships are primarily built on the foundation of what we are ingesting. When we eat from the Earth directly, we gain the intelligence of nature that enters our bodies in a pure and whole state. Every animal on Earth consumes locally-grown organic foods and medicines, wild and fresh foods and medicines unaltered by heat or refinements. The majority of wild animals live by nature’s cycles and experience an optimal state of health and well-being throughout their lifetime.
Working to Preserve Our Wild, Local and Native Species (United Plant Savers UpS)
If you desire to become a more responsible participant in maintaining the environment and shaping your health, try locating an herbal educator, wildcrafter and herbal grower in your area. Many herbal experts also offer classes, teaching students how to recognize and work with the plants within their bioregion. For the benefit of the plant communities, wild animals, harvesters, farmers, consumers, manufacturers, retailers and practitioners, we offer this list of wild medicinal plants that we feel are currently most sensitive to the impact of human activities. UpS intends to ensure the increasing abundance of medicinal plants, which are currently in decline due to expanding popularity and shrinking habitat and range. UpS is not asking for a moratorium on the use of these herbs. Instead, we are initiating programs to preserve these critical wild medicinal plants.
“At-Risk” List
American Ginseng – Panax quinquefolius
Bloodroot – Sanguinaria canadensis
Black Cohosh – Actaea racemosa L.
Blue Cohosh – Caulophyllum thalictroides
Echinacea – Echinacea spp.
Eyebright – Euphrasia spp.
False Unicorn Root – Chamaelirium luteum
Goldenseal – Hydrastis Canadensis
Lady’s Slipper Orchid – Cypripedium spp.
Lomatium – Lomatium dissectum
Osha – Ligusticum porteri, L. spp.
Peyote – Lophophora williamsii
Sandalwood – Santalum spp. (Hawaii only)
Slippery Elm – Ulmus rubra
Sundew – Drosera spp.
Trillium, Beth Root – Trillium spp.
True Unicorn – Aletris farinosa
Venus’ Fly Trap – Dionaea muscipula
Virginina Snakeroot – Aristolochia serpentaria
Wild Yam – Dioscorea villosa, D. spp.
“To Watch” List
Arnica – Arnica spp.
Butterfly Weed – Asclepias tuberosa
Cascara Sagrada – Frangula purshiana (Rhamnus)
Chaparro – Casatela emoryi
Elephant Tree – Bursera microphylla
Gentian – Gentiana spp.
Goldthread – Coptis spp.
Kava Kava – Piper methysticum (Hawaii only)
Lobelia – Lobelia spp.
Maidenhair Fern – Adiantum pendatum
Mayapple – Podophyllum peltatum
Oregon Grape – Mahonia spp.
Partridge Berry – Mitchella repens
Pink Root – Spigelia marilandica
Pipsissewa – Chimaphila umbellata
Ramps – Allium tricoccum (recently added)
Spikenard – Aralia racemosa, A. californica
Stone Root – Collinsonia canadensis
Stream Orchid – Epipactis gigantea
Turkey Corn – Dicentra canadensis
White Sage – Salvia apiana
Wild Indigo – Baptisia tinctoria
Yerba Mansa – Anemopsis californica
Medicinal Plants of Carolinian Canada
Carolinian Canada is a unique ecoregion characterized by its rich biodiversity, including medicinal plants used by Indigenous peoples and local communities for generations. Here is a list of some medicinal plants found in the Carolinian Canada region:
Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis): Known for its antimicrobial properties, goldenseal is used to treat infections, digestive issues, and skin conditions.
Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea): Widely used to support the immune system and alleviate symptoms of colds and flu, echinacea is native to North America and commonly found in Carolinian Canada.
American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius): A highly valued herb in traditional medicine, American ginseng is believed to promote energy, reduce stress, and support overall health and well-being.
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa): Also known as bee balm, wild bergamot has antimicrobial properties and relieves symptoms of colds, sore throats, and digestive issues.
Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum): Traditionally used to treat fevers, flu, and respiratory infections, boneset is a common medicinal plant found in wetlands and marshy areas of Carolinian Canada.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): Yarrow has a long history of medicinal use for its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and wound-healing properties. It often treats minor cuts, bruises, and skin irritations.
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense): Indigenous peoples have used wild ginger for its anti-inflammatory and digestive properties. It is also used topically to relieve muscle pain and headaches.
Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa): Traditionally used to alleviate menopausal symptoms and menstrual cramps, black cohosh is native to eastern North America, including the Carolinian Canada region.
Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides): Blue cohosh has historically been used to support women's health, particularly during childbirth and menstruation.
Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana): Wild strawberries have a range of medicinal uses, including treating diarrhea, digestive issues, and sore throats. They are also high in antioxidants and vitamin C.
Sweet Fern (Comptonia peregrina): Sweet fern is used in traditional medicine to treat digestive disorders, colds, and fevers. It has a pleasant aroma and can be made into teas or used topically.
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense): Red clover is valued for its hormone-balancing properties and is often used to alleviate menopausal symptoms, promote detoxification, and support overall health.
These are just a few examples of medicinal plants in the Carolinian, Canada region. While many of these plants have traditional uses backed by centuries of anecdotal evidence, scientific research is ongoing to validate their medicinal properties and safety. As with any form of herbal medicine, it's advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional before using medicinal plants for therapeutic purposes.
Bioregional Herbalism Regenerative Practices and Understanding Energetic Herbalism – the language of the plant world can help us create an abundant, prosperous and beautiful world. The shift in consciousness occurs when you are with these plants daily or regularly. They become aware of who they are and are truly curious about their beingness and the gifts they offer to the world around them – their bioregion that they are fully interconnected with. Wishing you a most fantastic spring season! Green Blessing, Shantree