An Herbalist’s View - Starting the next planting season
The harvest season is beginning to wrap up here. Fall
has arrived and maybe youʼre still thinking about the
delicious fruit and veggies weʼve all be so fortunate
to enjoy but, itʼs now time to think about the spring.
I know that Iʼm looking forward to cooler days,
chilly evenings and a chance to really enjoy the
outdoors without it being too hot. But Iʼm also
thinking about the seeds I want to plant so
that I can have some wonderful herbs to en-
joy next year.
Early spring plants need to be planted in the
late fall so the seeds have a chance to sleep
before the warmth wakes them up. These ear-
ly flowers bring me the most joy, it is a reminder
that life is returning, the days are longer and we begin
to come out of our hibernation.
One of my favorite flowers, and medicine, is Cali-
fornia Poppy. You have most likely seen it growing
in gardens locally, they are hard to miss with their
delicate orange/yellow flowers swaying in the breeze,
loving the sunshine. These flowers may be a distant
cousin to the oriental poppy but they are non-narcotic.
This plant is a nervine, it works on the nervous system
in a gentle and loving way. California poppy can help
reduce anxiety and can help those who have difficulty
falling asleep. It is also an antispasmodic which can
help muscle spasms, cramps and hiccups. I can vouch
for it clearing up the hiccups, it has worked for
me every single time.
Fresh, I blend it up with an alcohol/water
mixture to make a tincture but after it has
macerated long enough and I strain it, I then
reduce the alcohol content and substitute it
with vegetable glycerin. It then makes the
poppy, not my favorite flavor, much sweeter to
drink down. A teaspoon for hiccups, a tablespoon
for sleep usually does the trick. In its dried form the
effects are milder but yet still a soothing tea.
If anyone is interested in learning how to make fresh
poppy into tincture, please let me know. If all you ask
of this lovely flower is to admire its fleeting beauty,
then there are a lot of color varieties to choose from
so plant them now for a beautiful view in spring.
– Sue Elhbeck, MC Herbalist
[email protected]
pccnews October 2017
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