Summer Gatherings

©pralinanmi

After many years of studying on my own about...and using...medicinal plants and traditional chinese medicines I finally decided this was the summer that I was going to take my learning to the next level... actually gather some of the medicinal plants growing "in the wild" around me...and learn to make medicinal oils and salves.

Luckily...a winter filled with snow has brought an abundance of beautiful mountain flowers. Medicinal plants too...such as arnica...cranesbill...rose... and false solomon seal...are growing in large numbers... ensuring that this summer will be filled with opportunity to gather plants for the preparation of healing oils, salves and compound mixes for the year.

My "experimentations" with using fresh plants in custom blends...and the preparations...have been extremely pleasing thus far... and work much better than store-bought products. The process of gathering the medicinals has also deepened my understanding of how we and plant life are connected..... and the responsibility we must exercise in using other living creatures for our benefit.....

The Columbine...Colorado's state flower...is not mentioned in any of the wonderful traditional healing manuals I've consulted. However...the Columbine's beauty is definitely healing to the mind and the spirit...and it's always an uplifting surprise to see one.........