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Wild Foraging: A Natural
Health and Nature Therapy Experience
(Article taken
from the Natural Healing Talk
Newsletter)
Occasionally,
I like to go on a wild food foraging adventure,
largely for the natural healing benefits it affords me. I enjoy
roaming
about the woods and fields looking for tasty treats,
or food
plants that can also be used for natural healing
remedies. Those
outings are always good learning
experiences.
I remember
a few years back, when my adventure took
me into a
mixed forest environment, consisting mostly of
maple,
birch, spruce, pine, and the occasional hemlock
tree. The
mixed growth cover usually assures a good
variety of
small plant cover on the forest floor.
Among the
first group of plants I look for, in terms of wild
edibles,
are the wood sorrels (Oxalis L.). The leaves are
somewhat
sour tasting, with a sweet accent. They make
an
excellent addition to a salad, and are also useful for
an herbal
tea. Wood sorrels aren't related to the sorrels
and docks
of the genus Rumex L., although they do have
a similar
taste.
I also
found blue violets, Indian cucumber, and sweet fern,
on that
particular foraging trip.
The leaves
and flowers of blue violet are high in vitamins
A and C.
In fact, a half-cup serving of the leaves contains
as much
vitamin C as approximately three average size
oranges.
The flowers may be used in making jams and
syrups. As
well, blue violet was considered a powerful
medicine
plant in traditional British and European
herbalism.
The Indian
cucumber root is a native american food plant.
However, it should only be
collected in areas where there
are a number of plants
growing. Also, in a non-emergency
situation, only a single
sample should be harvested. As well,
you should check to
see if the plant is on the endangered
list in your
particular area.
The small
cucumber-like tuber of the Indian Cucumber,
is white
with a crisp texture. The taste is somewhat like
potato,
but has added flavour that resembles a cucumber.
I enjoy it
a great deal.
The leaves
of sweet fern may be dried or used in a
green
state to make a pleasant tasting tea. It is not a tea
that you
would want to drink on a daily basis, especially
if you are
taking prescription medications. However,
sweet fern
certainly has a nice flavour, and is fun to sample
on
occasion. The tea can be enhanced by adding a wee
bit of
lemon juice.
Spending a
few hours in the forest, searching out wild
edibles,
is an excellent nature therapy experience. It's
relaxing and
therapeutic to body, mind, and spirit, and a
great way to
grow more fully in both the intellect and the
heart.
So, why
not try a wild edible experience in the weeks
ahead. It
is a natural healing exercise that will benefit you
greatly. However, do not over-collect or over-harvest any
wild
species. Rather, enjoy the outing, mainly for the
self-growth
experience it is!
P.S. Always make certain you have identified plants and
trees correctly.
My Best Regards,
Laurie Lacey
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