It’s always exciting to hear about a little known herb with powerful medicinal action, especially when it also happens to grow abundantly. And that’s what you have to look forward to in this conversation about ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) with Val Alcorn!
You’ll also receive Val’s recipe for an Upper Respiratory Tincture which contains ground ivy. This is a formula she describes as ideal for “heavy, stagnant congestion and/or pain in the upper respiratory system.”
By the end of this episode, you’ll know:
► Are there ever any advantages to invasive plants?
► Why look at how herbs were used ancestrally?
► How following your curiosity and intuition can lead to powerful medicine
Here is one of my favorite takeaways from our conversation:
“I feel like everybody’s so excited about the exotic plants, the adaptogens, those buzzword herbs, but sometimes I feel like the most common plants are the most powerful.” (11:36)
If you don’t already know Val, she is an herbalist, herb farmer, writer and artist living on Anishinaabe land in what is now Michigan. Her goal is to connect people with the stories and the medicine of the plants so that we may heal body and spirit with curiosity and reciprocity. She crafts a variety of herbal tools and goods with a focus on herbal bitters and runs a brick and mortar store in Gladwin, Michigan.
I’m so grateful to share our conversation with you today!
— LINKS —
► Access your recipe card and the transcript for this episode here: https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/how-to-use-ground-ivy.html
► Get Rosalee’s best herbal tips by joining her weekly newsletter: https://bit.ly/3EtBEqe
► Val’s website: https://www.woodspells.com/
► Val’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodspell.apothecary/
►Val’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/woodspellapothecary/
► Val’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@woodspellapothecary637
► Are you looking for high quality dried herbs? My recommendation is Mountain Rose Herbs. Click here to check them out: https://bit.ly/3ms3vQ2
— DISCLOSURE —
I’m a huge fan of Mountain Rose Herbs and will often share referral links to buy herbs or herbal supplies at their online herbal apothecary.
By using the above affiliate link, you help support this channel. Thanks!
If you’re looking for local places to buy herbs, check out my listing of herb farms in the U.S. and Canada. https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/Herb-Farms-Wildcrafters.html
— TIMESTAMPS —
01:19 – Introduction to Val Alcorn
02:55 – How Val found her way onto her herbal path
08:29 – Why Val chose ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) as a topic for this conversation
12:33 – Ground ivy look alikes and ID tips
13:42 – When to harvest ground ivy
14:30 – Ground ivy medicine in medieval times
19:04 – Ground ivy upper respiratory tincture recipe
23:48 – How Val became interested in bitters
31:40 – Val’s YouTube channel
34:26 – The 2023 Lunica planner and gardening by the moon
42:49 – Advice for those just starting out on their herbal path
— SWEATER PATTERN —
Yes, I did knit my sweater! Pattern is: Love Note by Tin Can Knits
— DISCLAIMER —
The herbal and plant information in this video is for educational purposes only. The information contained is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other medical professional. If you have or suspect that you have a serious health problem, promptly contact your health care provider. Always consult with a health care practitioner before using any herbal remedy or food, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or have a medical condition.
