Burdock (Articum spp.) has a delicious root with a mild, nutty, sweet flavor. Consuming burdock helps regulate blood sugar. Photo by Neshima Vitale-Penniman.
Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium)
All parts of the plant contain atropine, scopolamine, and other alkaloids used to treat eye ailments, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, rheumatism, and vertigo. Smoking the leaves may have antispasmodic effects in the treatment of asthma. Clergy in Ethiopia consume the seeds of datura to “open the mind” to be more receptive to learning and creative thinking. The Algonquin, Navajo, Cherokee, and other Indigenous peoples use the seeds to commune with deities through visions. Known as the zombie cucumber in Haiti, D. stramonium is used in the medicine for zombification. Caution: Jimsonweed is violently toxic at amounts just above the medicinal dose and has resulted in many fatalities.
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
The tea of mugwort relaxes the nervous system, promotes digestion, and relieves the symptoms of colds, bronchitis, fever, sciatica, kidney disorders, and anxiety. A bath alleviates menstrual cramps and tones the uterus. Chinese acupuncturists burn incense over mugwort placed on the skin to alleviate arthritis and joint pain, a process called moxibustion. In spiritual medicine the tea is used to enhance communication with the ancestors. Mugwort is also placed under the pillow to promote vivid dreams.
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
Mullein tea provides vitamins B2, B5, B12, D, choline, hesperidin, PABA, sulfur, magnesium, and saponins. It is an expectorant and one of the safest, most effective cough remedies. The tea is anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, demulcent, and astringent, and inhibits tuberculosis bacillus. Dried mullein can be smoked with coltsfoot to relieve asthma. A compress of mullein relieves the symptoms of hemorrhoids and arthritis. An oil extract of the flowers can cure ear infections and relieve migraines. As Dr. George Washington Carver affirmed, “I wish to say that mullein is one of the oldest of our medicinal plants and is a noted remedy for all kinds of coughs and colds, rheumatic troubles, stopping of blood, asthmatic affections, and all manner of things that human ills are heir to. It is of unusual value along that line, one of the best known of household remedies. The flowers are especially valuable in aggravated cases of earache.”29 In spiritual medicine mullein tea is taken for prophetic dreams and astral travel. An incense of mullein assists with communicating with the ancestors.
Pine (Pinus spp.)
The seeds of pine trees are rich in protein, fat, and calories and have a sweet and buttery flavor. Roasting the dry cones facilitates seed removal. Chop and infuse pine needles to make a tea rich in vitamin C and beta-carotene. Pine resin contains a natural antibiotic, so the inner bark can be used as a poultice or bandage for wounds. Pine bark tincture is an effective cough syrup. Pine sap can be mixed with oil to make a salve to heal skin irritation. Turpentine and pitch tar are strong resinous constituents of the pine tree, extracted by distillation. Enslaved Africans used turpentine topically to treat toothaches and joint pain, and inhaled it to relieve congestion associated with bronchitis. In spiritual medicine pine is burned to purify the home and attract joy and peace. The tea is taken to restore youthfulness and vitality in old age. Caution: Two western species of pine, Pinus ponderosa and P. taeda, are poisonous, so only use easterly pines for tea. Turpentine is now known to be carcinogenic; it is not recommended to ingest or inhale it.
Plantain (Plantago spp.)
“I feel called to plantain because it grows in places it wasn’t invited, places that have been trampled down, and it naturalized to those places, just like African American culture. I pray with this herb to remind me of the things that are left when all else is crushed and blown away,” shared Black farmer Chris Bolden-Newsome. Plantain leaves provide beta-carotene, calcium, and a fiber called mucilage that reduces cholesterol, helping to prevent heart diseases. Plantain also contains monoterpene alkaloids, glycosides, triterpenes, linoleic acid, and tannins. An infusion of the leaves or ground seeds treats diarrhea, sore throats, gastritis, fevers, inflammation, and kidney disorders. It can be used as an internal wash to cure yeast infections. Plantain leaves can be chewed or mashed and applied externally to quickly remedy the pain of insect bites, stings, and poison ivy rash. The leaves can also be made into a salve for skin irritation. The seeds are rich in fiber and can be used as a gentle laxative. Chewing a plantain leaf also freshens the breath. Dr. George Washington Carver instructed us to eat the leaves directly: “Take the tender leaves of plantain and cook the stem, along with it the seed on, and they are so good for the system. I am so glad that you are keeping up with the program of the old time way of living. I can tell that you are getting stronger, just keep it up.”30 In spiritual medicine a footbath of plantain is used to remove weariness, and a bath of the head to cure headaches. An amulet of the herb is worn around the neck of children for healing and protection.
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
Flowers in full color can be dried for a delicious tea or ground into flour. Clover flower infusion contains beta-carotene, vitamins C, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, and B12, biotin, choline, inositol, and bioflavonoids, as well as the minerals magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, and selenium. The tea is detoxifying and anti-inflammatory, and relieves the symptoms of asthma, cough, and bronchitis. Clover compresses and tea have also been used as a cancer treatment. In spiritual medicine, the flowers are added to a bath to bring financial prosperity and sprinkled around the home to remove negativity. Caution: Do not eat the decaying leaves of clover. They contain dicoumarin, which stops the blood from clotting.
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
“Sassafras root tea was a popular seasonal blood cleanser [among enslaved Africans] believed to ‘search de blood’ for what was wrong and go to work on it.”31 The leaves, twigs, bark, and roots can be harvested to make a tasty reddish brown herb tea. Simmer rather than steep the plant material. Add seltzer water and sweetener to make root beer. The dried inner bark can be used in place of cinnamon. The dried leaves are called gumbo filé, added to southern soups to flavor and thicken. Sassafras root decoction is a blood purifier and diaphoretic useful in the treatment of colds, fever, arthritis, gout, high blood pressure, measles, kidney problems, stomachaches, and eczema. Compresses relieve external infections, burns, and poison ivy rash. In spiritual medicine sassafras tea is used as an aphrodisiac and love potion and as a body wash to cleanse spiritual energy. It contains safrole, the active ingredient in MDMA (ecstasy), which promotes empathy and sensory stimulation. In African American conjuring traditions, sassafras root chips are stored in the wallet or under the carpet to attract prosperity.
Winged Sumac (Rhus copallinum) and Staghorn Sumac (R. typhina)
Harvest the berry clusters in late summer or early autumn. The crushed berries can be mixed with cold water and strained to make a pink lemonade rich in vitamin C. A more concentrated infusion can substitute for lemon juice in salad dressings and recipes. A tea made from the berries or decoction of the inner bark can treat colds, fevers, diarrhea, asthma, urinary infections, sore throats, gum infections, and cold sores. A compress made from the leaves stops bleeding and reduces swelling. The dried berries can be mixed with tobacco for smoking. Caution: Avoid poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix), notable for its drooping clusters of white berries. The edible species have upright flowers.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium and A. lanulosa)
Yarrow contains over 120 active medicinal compounds including cyanidin, achilleine, azulene, and salicylic acid. A tea of yarrow relieves heavy menstruation, reduces blood pressure, and helps you sweat out fevers. A compress of yarrow stops bleeding and reduces bruising. In spiritual medicine yarrow tea is used to increase focus during divination and to increase abilities to see things from another point of view. A bundle of yarrow is hung over a couple’s bed to ensure lasting love.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is used to increase focus during divination and to increase abilities to see things from another point of view. Photo by Neshima V
itale-Penniman.
Growing an Herb Garden
Perennial herbs require human generosity to thrive. Most need to be divided every few years to stay healthy and avoid overcrowding. The result of dividing is several identical daughter plants that can be shared with others in the community. Almost all of the herbs in our garden came from our friends and mentors. We spread the word that we were planting a new herb garden several years back, and generous offers of mint, pennyroyal, lady’s mantle, marshmallow, and dozens of other herbs poured in.
The easiest way to get started in herbal cultivation is to volunteer to help a knowledgeable neighbor divide their perennials in early spring and ask to take a few sections home to your land. Divide plants in cool weather when they are at their peak of health and beauty, not waiting until they become overcrowded or stressed. Start by carefully digging up the entire mother plant, then separate the root ball into four or more sections. Many root types simply pull apart, but tubers and taproots need to be sliced apart with a sharp knife. Replant a section 20 to 25 percent of the size of the original plant back in place and transplant the other portions in your garden or offer them to friends. Provide the plants with ample organic matter and water to help them settle back into the soil. While most herbs need to be divided every several years, including echinacea, bee balm, yarrow, lady’s mantle, wormwood, and rhubarb, a few species do not tolerate division, including lavender and sage.
Harriet’s Apothecary, an intergenerational healing village led by Black cis women, queer, and trans healers, holds a “healing village” at Soul Fire Farm. Photo by Neshima Vitale-Penniman.
UPLIFT
Black Herbalists Today
One of the most sacred days of the year at Soul Fire Farm is when Harriet’s Apothecary, a collective of Black healers convened by Harriet Tubman and Adaku Utah, hold a healing village on the land. While I offer baths for emotional and spiritual healing, other members share herbal medicine, energy work, and sound healing to the community. Harriet’s Apothecary is one example of Black people continuing the legacy of sacred plant allyship that our ancestors catalyzed.
Mentorship is an essential component of the practice of plant medicine. We are blessed that we have the unbroken knowledge in our own communities to educate one another in this art. Here is an incomplete list of Black and Indigenous herbalists offering classes:
Ancestral Apothecary School, California
Blue Otter School of Herbal Medicine, California
Centro Ashé (Ayo Ngozi), Washington, DC
Eagletree Herbs (Daphne Singingtree), Oregon
Farm School NYC & Sustainable Flatbush (Sheryll Durrant), New York
Femme Science Herbs (Meghan Elizabeth), California
Gold Water Alchemy (Hayden), Florida
Harriet’s Apothecary (Adaku Utah), New York
Hattie Carthan Farm (Yonnette Fleming), New York
Herbal Tea House (Meadow Queen), New Jersey
Indigenous Remedies (Dr. Turtle), Texas
Medicine Woman Healing (Gogo Ateyo Nkanyezi), Georgia
mindbodygreen (Sokhna Heathyre Mabin), Michigan
Natural Choices Botanica School of Herbalism & Holistic Health (Angelique Moss Greer), Tennessee
Osain Yoruba Herbal Medicine, Nile River Medicine
Queen Afua Wellness Center, New York
Queering Herbalism, Herbal Freedom School (Toi Scott)
Roots of Resistance (Sade Musa)
Rootwork Herbals (Amanda David), New York
Sacred Roots Wellness (Tanya Henderson), California
Sacred Vibes Apothecary (Karen Rose), New York
Sitting Bull College (Linda Black Elk), North Dakota
Soul Flower Farm (Maya Blow), California
Southeast Wise Women (Kifu Faruq), North Carolina
The Stinging Nettle (Abi Huff), California
Sweet Rose of Sharon Afro American Herbalists, Texas
Third Root Community Health Center (Julia Bennett), New York
Well of Indigenous Wisdom School of Herbal Studies and Traditional Thought (Olatokunboh Obasi), Pennsylvania
Similar to dividing, certain herbs propagate by stem cuttings. Herbs like rosemary, southernwood, rue, and hyssop can grow from cuttings. Clip off sturdy, nonflowering, 4-inch (10 cm) stems with lots of leaves and remove the leaves from the bottom half. Place the cuttings into a pot of soil and keep moist while the cuttings develop new roots. Plants like mints, soapwort, wild bergamot, and horseradish can propagate from a tiny, 1-inch (2.5 cm) piece of root as long as the root has a single bud. Plant these roots in a tray of soil and water them as the daughter plants emerge. Shrubby herbs like rosemary, bay, sage, and thyme can also be propagated by layering. Trim the lower leaves from a side stem, bend it over, and staple it to the ground. Roots will grow from the stem into the soil. The daughter plant can then be divided and replanted.
Growing perennial herbs from seed is also rewarding and relatively simple. Growing herbs from seed is very similar to propagating vegetable crops. In early spring plant your herb seeds into 1020 flats in a warm greenhouse or under growing lights, then transplant outdoors in late spring. Some herb seeds such as catnip, marjoram, thyme, chamomile, and lemon balm require light to germinate, so are scattered on the surface of the soil rather than covered. Of course, this makes the seed more susceptible to drying out, so a plastic cover over the flat is recommended. Other herbs are planted in the soil at the standard two times the depth of their length. After the danger of frost has passed, you can also plant herbs that prefer direct seeding directly into the soil, including calendula, basil, holy basil, feverfew, German chamomile, borage, garden sage, skullcap, echinacea, boneset, and anise hyssop. There are a few plants that do not produce seed, such as French tarragon and golden sage, and hybrid cultivars that do not breed true, including all mints, most lavenders, and ornamental thyme. These sterile plants and hybrids can only be propagated through division or cuttings.
Rosemary can be propagated from vegetative cuttings. Each stem from the mother plant will grow roots and become a new individual. Photo by Neshima Vitale-Penniman.
Certain herbs require a vernalization period (cold season) in order to germinate. To reproduce these conditions artificially, put the seeds in a plastic bag with moist sand and leave in the refrigerator for two weeks to two months before sowing, depending on the herb. This process is called stratification and is required for boneset, ginseng, blue vervain, butterfly weed, blue cohosh, bloodroot, goldenseal, trillium, wild yam, wild ginger, false unicorn root, culver’s root, mullein, skullcap, wormwood, and echinacea, among others.
Some hard-coated seeds will germinate more readily if first rubbed with fine sandpaper to break up the outer coating and allow moisture to germinate. Rub the seeds between two pieces of sandpaper until you see a little bit of the endosperm, which is usually a lighter color than the seed coat. This process, called scarification, is recommended for astragalus, wild indigo, hollyhock, licorice, marshmallow, passionflower, red root, and rue.
In areas where perennials will be sown, it is even more crucial to weed thoroughly as compared with annual cropping areas. A cover of black plastic mulch for six-plus weeks of warm weather in advance of planting will take care of even the most persistent weeds and create a sterile seed bed. Loosen the soil with a fork, add organic matter, and transplant the young seedlings to the same depth as they were in the pots. Herbs are easygoing plants and will tolerate low maintenance. Provide ample mulch and water at the time of planting. Once established, most herbs do not require watering unless there is a drought. A few times per season, you will need to weed and trim the plants. A mulch of comfrey leaves in the herb garden provides potassium and micronutrients.
Store certain seeds in moist sand in the fridge for a few weeks to simulate winter and promote germination. Mix the seeds, water, and sand in a bowl before transferring the mixture to a sealed plastic bag.
Herbal Preparations
Before harvesting or preparing herbal
medicines, it is important to give thanks and pay homage to the spirit of the leaves. Many practitioners also leave a small offering of tobacco, flower petals, or cornmeal at the base of the plants before harvesting. Here are Yoruba prayers of thanksgiving for medicinal herbs and water.
Iba se Ori ewe.
I pay homage to the Spirit of the Leaves.
Ire alafia,
The good fortune of peace,
Ire’lera,
The good fortune of a stable home,
Ire ori’re.
The good fortune of wisdom.
Ewe, mo dupe, ase.
Leaves, I thank you, so be it.
Iba se omi tutu.
I pay homage to the Spirit of cool water.
Ire alafia,
The good fortune of peace,
Ire’lera,
The good fortune of a stable home,
Ire ori’re,
The good fortune of wisdom,
Ire ori tutu.
The good fortune of calmness.
Mo dupe gbogbo ire, omi tutu, ase.
Thank you for the many blessings of water, May it be so.
Harvesting herbs is a continuous process rather than a onetime annual event. Most herbs grow strongly enough to offer plenty of regrowth for repeat picking. Harvest in the morning of a sunny day to maximize the essential oil content of the plants. Wait until any dew has evaporated. Use sharp scissors to harvest rather than pulling at the plant with bare hands, as this prevents disease and damage. Leaves are best picked before they come into flower. Flowers should be cut soon after they open and not left to drop their petals. Seeds are harvested once ripe, but before they drop and disperse. Roots and rhizomes are best collected during their dormant period in autumn or winter. Leave at least 25 percent of the root to allow the plant to regenerate. Herbs should never be left in heaps waiting to be processed, as deterioration sets in quickly. Wipe, rather than wash, foliage clean. Wash the roots and rhizomes in cold water and cut into pieces before processing.
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