Herbs for a Medicinal Herb Garden in Connecticut

List of plants (click me!), compiled by Debra Hultgren, 2019.

The plants listed here - by the most common name first, can grow in Connecticut: most as perennials, some as annuals and some as potted plants to be overwintered indoors.  All have their own stories, growing needs, culinary and medicinal uses.  All must be well researched before consuming or using medicinally.  Refer to well researched books and sources before venturing down the medicinal path.

 Fun and adventure await! 

Goldenrod Love

Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) is the common name for an extensive family of plants with over 100 species worldwide.  In our state alone there are a dozen or more varieties (see CT Botanical Society web pages), many of which can be found in our back yards.  That is of course if one allows them to be there.  Goldenrods have been aggressively removed from gardens and yards for a very long time, considered a noxious weed and a source of fall allergies.  I hope to dissuade the readers from those sentiments.

Let us clarify immediately the issue of hay fever for which Goldenrod is blamed both through folklore and inferential advertising.  I have seen more than one allergy medicine advertisement on the TV showing a person in a field of goldenrod.  However, for the most part the real culprit is Ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia.  Ragweed has green flowers that send pollen into the air in masses of fine powdery dust. It does this at the same time goldenrod is flowering. Many people mistakenly think the goldenrod is to blame for their allergies but it is really the ragweed lurking below and nearby. Goldenrod pollen is large and sticky and is distributed by pollinators more often than not. Unless a bee gets up your nose, you are unlikely to have a hay fever reaction to this yellow beauty. Don't believe me? Check out the University of Michigan Extension website for a thorough article.

Goldenrod most certainly is aggressive, especially our most common and medicinal Solidago canadensis.  It does spread readily through rhizomes and will take over a garden or lawn area if not kept in check.  That does make it a plant for the very active gardener who is willing to edit beds regularly.  Funnily enough, it is considered an invasive in Russia and China, where it is a “non-native” taking over native space.  Personally, it is by far one of my favorite plants and I move it around frequently to keep it in check. 

My first experience with Goldenrod was when I was an active spinner/weaver.  I gathered it to make a natural dye for my wool, creating lovely yellow/green shades.  I was deterred from my first attempt at wildcrafting by the webs of hundreds of full grown yellow and black garden spiders (Argiope aurantia) guarding a large patch.  I believe I left terrorized and screaming.  It took me years to appreciate both the spiders and goldenrod the way I do today.

In addition to being a spectacular cut flower, used worldwide, Goldenrod is a versatile plant medicine.  References are often to the Solidago canadensis and odora, but it is generally thought that all Goldenrods will have similar actions.  These include but are not limited to; anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antibacterial, diuretic, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, and vulnerary.  All parts of the plant can be utilized.  The fresh or dried tops as tea/infusion can be used hot, with honey, to counter allergies (especially pollen allergies), fevers, sore throats, coughs, colds and the flu.  The same tea can be used to clean wounds as an antiseptic.  Many herbalists recommend it as a remedy for cat allergies.

Alcohol and vinegar extracts can be made with the flowering tops as well as the root.  Susun Weed likes to tincture the entire plant.  She makes a Goldenrod vinegar with all parts to improve mineral balance, help prevent kidney stones, eliminate flatulence, and improve immune functioning.  Likewise, Susun makes a tincture with 50% alcohol to treat kidney problems -- including nephritis, hemorrhage, kidney stones, difficulty voiding, and prostate problems, including frequent urination.

Matthew Wood, in his Book of Herbal Wisdom, reminds us that the name Solidago comes from the Latin solidus plus agere, which translates into “causes to solidify”, with a historic use in healing wounds from as far back as the Middle Ages.  Additionally, his recounting of history shows its continual use to aid in the healing of the kidneys.  His chapter on Goldenrod is fun and informative reading.  In general Wood puts Goldenrod in the same category as many other “multi-purpose” healers such as Prunella vulgaris and Glechoma hederacea.

Likewise, historical reference books on the use of Solidago for medicine include Charlotte Erichse-Brown’s, Medicinal and Other Uses of North American Plants where she documents the same wide range of uses for Solidago species among Native Americans and early settlers.  Notable is that there are no references to side effects or negative reactions.  Rico Cech identifies it as a “safe for general use” in his chapter on Goldenrod in Making Plant Medicine.

I will use Solidago as a tea or tincture to aid the immune system in fighting off seasonal infections and reducing the discomfort of a fever.   I will probably add it to other herbs depending on the presenting symptoms.  I have made both simple tinctures of alcohol and vinegar, dried the flowers and leaves and will dry the root in the fall.  This article is only an introduction and I will report back after my year of use and further research.  I encourage all of us to use what is around us and limit the use of popular exotics or endangered species.

References:

Wood, M.: The Book of Herbal Wisdom: Using Plants as Medicines, 1997: North Atlantic Books

Uva, R., et.al.:Weeds of the Northeast, 1997: Comstock Publishing Associates

Erichsen-Brown, C.: Medicinal and Other Uses of North American Plants: A Historical Survey with Special References to the Eastern Indian Tribes, 1979: Dover Publications

Cech, R.: Making Plant Medicine, 2000: Horizon Herbs

http://www.susunweed.com/Article_Glorious-Goldenrod.htm

https://www.ct-botanical-society.org/Plants/view/571

https://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/weeds/goldenrod-and-ragweed

Mugwort for Dreaming

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) has many uses in historic as well as current times.  I have included the dried plant in combination with other dried plants in sleep/dream teas and pillows.  A simple sleep pillow formula includes Mugwort, Hops, Lavender, Roses and Chamomile.    The addition of the Mugwort is said to increase dreaming.  While I am not sure of any formal scientific studies on this, I certainly have personal experience.   Mugwort, like all plants contains many chemical constituents and among many things is considered a mild narcotic.  The constituent “Thujone” may be in play. 

All this being said, it would appear that if your goal is to sleep soundly, Mugwort might not be right in the formula.  I have had no trouble personally when it is a small part of the formula.  At some point when I have nothing I need to accomplish the next day, I will do a night of both a little Mugwort tea and a Mugwort pillow near my head.  I do find dreams intriguing.  The trick is to keep a log book and a pen near your bed and immediately write what you remember.  Lucid dreaming is a state sought after by quite a following.  The internet is full of blogs, websites and other communication about dreaming.  Mugwort is mentioned throughout as an aid to increased vividness and recollection of dreams.

Making an herbal pillow is as simple as sewing a small bag by taking piece of cloth, folding it in half and sewing up the two sides, leaving the end open.  Turn inside out, fill with herbs and then stitch closed the open end.  While making some pretty bags is certainly great if you have the skill, a simple bag is all you need to get the results.

Mugwort mixture w/ hops, rose chamomile and lavender

loading dream pillow w/ mixture

finished dream pillow

Artemesia

Artemesia

My start in the world of herbs began in the 1970’s with the discovery of Capriland’s Herb Farm in Coventry, Connecticut.  Owned by the magnificent Adelma Simmons, it was a place of wonder for me, filled with magical gardens, each creatively displaying herbs and flowers.  Among the many wondrous plant varieties displayed at Caprilands were the Artemesias.  Adelma Simmons wrote about them frequently in her many publications and in some detail in The Silver Garden.  She used this family of plants extensively around her house, barns and gardens and because they dry so well, they could also be found hanging in bunches in the barn.

Without question, my favorite is Silver King, Artemesia ludoviciana, not only for its “growing season” appearance in my gardens, but for its use later on as a dried plant.  Harvested before the small grey flowers fully open, it can be hung in bunches in an airy place.  The oils in the plant keep it reasonably supple once dried and help it from crumbling when being handled for wreath making or other arrangements.  The dried plant tops work up well into wreaths that could be displayed any time of the year but are beautiful at Christmas time, decorated with winter holiday ribbons and ornaments.  Once made up, these wreaths can last for years if not knocked around too much.

Silver King is a very easy perennial to grow, requiring only moderately fertile, well-drained soil and as much sun as possible.  It does need some space as it travels underground with mint-like runners, increasing the bed size annually.  However, it is easy to dig up sections of the roots and move the plants into pots to give away or for establishing a bed in another garden.

Like all the Artemesias, Silver King has medicinal and culinary uses.  I will address this in a future blog.  For today’s purposes enjoy the photos.

Information about Adelma Simmons can be found throughout the web including on Wikipedia.  Her books are still found in used book sales and also on Amazon through their resell service.  

Silver King in the garden

Dried branch of Silver King

My Favorite Young Band Sings About Earth Medicine

Rising Appalachia is an incredible band with a huge Youtube presence in addition to all the CDs they have available.  They are promoters of all earth friendly causes and sing about the plight of fellow humans.  Look for them as they tour and you will be blessed if you can see them live as I have.  Check out their video with the song "Medicine".

United Plant Savers

Plants are amazing partners in our health and well being.  Our culture is embracing herbal medicine as evidenced by the vast amount of information and resources available to consumers internationally.  The fallout for the plants, especially the wildcrafted plants like Goldenseal for example, is that they are being harvested to extinction.  Rules are being put in place to try to limit this but like the animal poachers of the world, if there is a buck to be made, rules matter not.  Please learn about United Plant Savers, join if you can, preserve plants if you garden and spread the word.  Watch Rosemary Gladstar, my teacher and the founder of United Plant Savers tell the story.  To find out more go to the website: United Plant Savers Website.