I have reached for the Tylenol on more occasions than I would like to say, when it has come down to a serious ailment in a child and when herbs just didn't "work" for some reason or another... My three children have all had chicken pox, for instance, and yes, the cases were pretty intense. They were miserable and no amount of oatmeal baths and calamine lotion, or herb teas would touch it.

I can imagine that some other very natural minded mothers can relate. I use herbs as often as possible in our household, knowing well their capabilities and greatness for healing most ailments of a wide range- from a small bruise or cut all the way down to a UTI or even cancer. But at times I have made the conscious decision to use an over-the-counter product.

That said, I was very pleased with the outcome and avoidance of necessity last night when all three of my children became stricken with rough sleep, sore throats, and runny noses. I saw it coming early in the day, as all mothers or fathers reading this will recognize. However, I had hoped, or denied reality, that perhaps it was just allergies or the changing of the seasons...

Well, obviously, I was wrong and they all three do have some sort of "cold" now. But at night it is always the worst. The Magic Tea, as I am now calling it, that I brewed at 2 a.m. last night was the perfect fit. It is really so much about "the fit" when it comes to herbs. There are so many herbs with similar healing qualities. and so many people with various constitutions suited to various herbs, and so many variations of every darn thing all the time that-- to have found this tea to work SO well, and so immediately, for all three of my boys, felt like a huge win.

The most satisfying part, aside from the comfort of knowing they felt better, was that I detected some intuitive process for selecting the herbs.

This fills my heart and soul so deeply as this is what we should all be seeking, when it comes down to working with herbs... NOT only memorizing pictures and book knowledge about herbs, but actually coming to, over time, KNOW the plants. To hear them calling in the back of your mind, when, on a dark, sleepless new moon night, with fussy little ones, coyotes howling near the chicken pen, and all the little stresses than can abruptly occur in the storybook of motherhood, you see the plants, with their leaves and flowers, and hear their name- as a quick flash in your mind...

So, this happened. I of course, grabbed one of my herb books to double check and cross reference, and sure enough- I HAD remembered correctly. My intuition and subtle memory HAD brought forth the name of a healer, one in particular- Anise Hyssop, Agastache foeniculum. I would not doubt that the land wights favor this little, yet stout North American native beauty. From but one plant plunged into our garden soil many, many years ago, we now see each year a handful of new plants. This I have been grateful for over the years as it is a great pollinator- attractor and simply pleasing to the eye, but surprisingly, the first time I have ever used it medicinally.

I just so happened to have plucked a few stems, leaves and flowers to dry about one month ago, with the intention of later weaving them into a fall wreath. And as I was wearily making my way into the kitchen last night, fussing little ones all about, I wondered, what I had in my cabinet that could offer them some relief. I DID go straight to the Tylenol, which was not there. Out. Used last time when my son had an excruciating ear ache that yarrow wouldn't touch. (it was due to a bacterial infection from local lake water). "Okay, No Tylenol. So Now what?"

I was brewing an overnight pot of Chaga mushroom and Astragulus tea, but that wouldn't be done until tomorrow...

My eyes first went to the little jar of Catnip I dried from this summer. Yes, Catnip would be good. Good for helping them get back to sleep. I also had Red Clover, excellent for boosting the immune system. I put on some water for tea of those herbs and that is when I thought of the Anise Hyssop- specifically for sore throats. After checking my herb books, indeed- it is a classical remedy for such. I stood there wishing I had some already dried. I considered walking out to the garden to pick some fresh pieces, but honestly, I really didn't want to make the trek. Then I remembered the bit I had dried for the wreath!

So I brewed up the tea with the Anise Hyssop, the Catnip, and the Red Clover. Added a bit of honey, and all of the children went back to bed and had very little stirring in the night, and those few times were once again quelled by a sip from their mugs.

More importantly...

Over the last few days, prior to the children showing symptoms, I had been walking the grounds trying to decide which herbs should be our "Plant of the Week" for school this week. I had been so  strongly drawn to the Anise Hyssop, and had even thought, " Hmm... That would make a good 'Plant of the Week'"... That very day- I had that thought! So I re-learned Anise Hyssop, and the children enjoyed its medicine as well.

For their tea today, which was a restful day with little to no school work, I added another herb. This time it was also intuitive. I have long spoken about my love of Goldenrod, Solidago sp., but aside from dyeing yarns with it into a bright Baldur- gold, or having brewed a delicious Meade once upon a time with its flowers, I really have not used it medicinally all that much.

However, I have long known it has myriad uses. off the top of my head I knew it was "good for fevers", which to those of us who respect fevers, we understand that that simply means it induces sweating. I also knew it was "good for allergies"... But even though, this morning, after little sleep, much anxiety, and a handful of fussy and hungry children were in my midst--- for some reason I kept hearing it, Goldenrod, Goldenrod.... I thought perhaps it was a good fit for the tea. In fact, I felt very strongly that it needed to be in there. After Double checking my herb books to confirm my intuition, I found that indeed, it has strong anti-catarrhal action, which is why it is used to quell the allergy ailments. It is drying to the mucous membranes, helps relive excesses there, also promotes digestion (of course, I have noted its pleasant and slight bitter flavor before!). It is also anti-inflammatory and can help ease diarrhea. 

When situations like this happen, we take our BOOK knowledge of herbs, our practical historic uses and association with them living in our midst (the "living in our midst" part really helps), and combine it with our Intuition and we see that we then become REALLY aquainted and conformable using the herbs. 

As soon as I tasted the tea I knew it was perfect. 

(I am not a certified herbalist and YOU should always do your own research and make sure to properly identify ANY plants or herbs that you are consuming, Always consult a professional healthcare practitioner before trying any new herbs.)


In one glass quart jar I added about four dried sprigs of the anise hyssop with stems, leaves and flowers, a small handful of dried red clover flowers, one full flower head of dried goldenrod, and about three pinches of crumbled/dried catnip. 



Lastly, I wanted to mention something about the instinctual act of plucking and drying and saving little bits from the garden and windfall this time of year. As we can see, there is something in many of us which calls us to do these things. I had picked the Anise Hyssop for a wreath, along with other bits. I had no idea how important it would be weeks later! 

Needless to say, I went out and filled my basket with more Anise hyssop and goldenrod today! I am also drying holy basil, lemon balm and sage. I use holy basil (tulsi) as a stress reliever and it's delicious with milk. Lemon Balm is one O consider a "cure all" because it has so many uses. Mostly I use it for stress relief but it's also potentially good for colds.

Anise Hyssop is easily grown in the garden from seed, or perhaps it grows wild in your area. 

I hope that you are feeling inspired to connect more with the medicinal plants as well.