Walking on trails throughout the stunning landscape of Mount Rainier’s protected lands, we are surrounded by lush, green and overflowing flora that hold the potential to heal, soothe and cure. As we saunter up hills and through valleys, we come upon a field of False Hellebore (Veratrum viride), a beautiful plant with large, stunning leaves. While many of the neighboring plants are small, False Hellebore’s size is a testament to the toxin that lies within. Animals have learned to avoid the tempting leaves. Close to the False Hellebore we find Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), so named after the Greek warrior Achilles in honor of its ability to astringe and heal wounds, and Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), a plant from which a potent cardiac drug, Digoxin, has been derived. These plants are a gift, and I feel thankful for the people in centuries past who have experimented with them and documented their properties.

And although the plants on Mount Rainier are beautiful and diverse, you don’t have to be there to find plant medicine. Many of us just have to step into our yards. Considered by most a weed, dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) leaves are an excellent diuretic and liver tonic. The ubiquitous catnip (Nepeta cataria), not just for cats, soothes the nerves and relaxes the body. A few examples of other local native medicinal plants include hawthorne, juniper, Oregon grape, blackberry and elderberry.

Before the advent of pharmaceuticals, humans relied on plants to prevent and treat disease. Plant medicine, also known as botanical or herbal medicine, is still the primary method of treatment in many non-industrialized countries around the world. Evidence and documentation of the use of medicinal plants has been well noted over the centuries. Cave drawings of plants being used as medicine have been found in France as early as 25,000 B.C. The study of herbs by the Sumerians dates back to over 5,000 years ago, while evidence of ancient Greek herbal knowledge is preserved in the works of the father of medicine, Hippocrates. And even as early as 100 years ago, the Merck Manual, a commonly used guide for modern medical practitioners, listed herbal cures for most conditions. Today, herbal preparations are readily available to the public, and more and more research on plant efficacy and effectiveness is being done for specific conditions and drug research. According to WHO (World Health Organization), approximately 25 percent of drugs have been derived from plants, including aspirin, ephedrine, and quinine.

So, what makes a plant “medicinal” and how do you choose the best plants for you?

Any part of a plant can potentially be used as medicine. The flowers, leaves, stems, seeds, fruit, roots, and bark may all contain potential healing phytochemicals. Many of the foods and spices we use on an everyday basis can be used as medicine; especially when prepared correctly, given as an extract or in higher doses. For example, turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a common spice that is high in antioxidants, and has shown to effectively reduce inflammation in the body. The trick is knowing which plants are helpful and which are potentially toxic. And interestingly, even plants which have some toxicity can still be therapeutic when dosed correctly.

When it comes to choosing herbs for your health, seeking advice from a qualified practitioner is your best bet. Qualified practitioners include registered herbalists, naturopathic physicians and others who have certified training in herbal medicine. One such local practitioner is Dr. Linda Kingsbury (208.883.9933) who has been creating herbal remedies and teaching about herbs for over 20 years. Other local western herbal practitioners include myself, Dr. Jaeggli (509.335.7225), as well as practitioners of Chinese herbal medicine, Master Sun and Charlotte Sun (208.285.0123) and Lauri McKean, L.Ac. and Meggan Baumgartner, L.Ac. (208.669.2287).