My first sip of this tea was a revelation.

In my childhood home of Connecticut, I learned about Russian Olive, and its close relative the Autumn Olive, as being an invasive species, not exactly evil, but definitely undesirable. These thorny, dense shrubs/trees would take over areas that had been disturbed, completely pushing out and keeping out native species of all kinds.

For years I thought my bleeding was normal.

When aspirin, NSAIDS, and opiates can’t touch the pain - sometimes herbs can.

It was a colder than usual March day, and I was teaching a plant walk at the edge of a farm. We had just had 10 inches of snow, and whilst digging through a drift to get at some burdock, several students suddenly stepped back with a squelch and a chorus of “ewwwwws!!!”. They had found the storm broken branches of Siberian elm. The cracked bark, when meeting the melting snow, had begun to ooze mucilage onto their boots, leaving 8-inch strings of slime as they lifted their feet. At the time I remember thinking, Now that’s a moistening herb.

When used correctly, plant medicine can be super effective for those bumps in the road that seem to come with any proper adventure! Fortunately for us, there are a number of super common weeds here on the Front Range of Colorado and throughout the US that make up an ever present summer first aid kit.

Parrots beak. Lousewort. Elephantella.

With common names like these, it’s hard not to be interested in this plant.