Top 5 Plants for Your Winter Apothecary

Late Summer is starting to look more like Fall. For me, there’s always a touch of sadness as the bright and long days of Summer fade. Part of me looks forward to the introspection that Winter brings, a way to recharge after all the energy expanded during the long days. Transitioning from the season of the Heart to the season of the Lungs is about releasing grief and letting go of those things that no longer serve. When I look out the window to the garden, I see the turning of the bright greens of Spring and Summer turning towards more yellow and brown tones. This transition is being played out in real time in the garden. I see my future home apothecary unfolding before me as I prepare to harvest. My top five Winter herbs are:

Elecampane

Elecampane (Inula helenium) bends under the weight of the huge flower stalk, browned by the heat and dryness of the late summer. In bloom, it reminds me of tiny sunflower heads. I’m excited ‘cause it can be harvested now in its second year of growth. The roots are sliced to make fresh Elecampane honey.  The pungent taste is softened by the honey, plus honey’s own soothing properties.

Elecampane permeates the bronchial tree and causes coughs to go deeper and bring up mucus. Is great for coughs producing green/yellow mucus which causes indigestion when swallowed. It shines in other areas as well: chronic postnasal drip, acute bronchitis, shortness of breath and shallow breathing. Its bitter properties make it useful for indigestion that involves spasms in the gut and atonic gastric issues (food not moving through the system due to poor tone).  It contains large amounts of inulin (a starch) that’s helpful for those suffering from poor assimilation resulting in poor nutrition. Interesting side note: It was named after Helen of Troy who wept tears of homesickness after being kidnapped. On an energetic level, it helps with homesickness felt deep in the heart.

Mullein

The Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) stalks are tall, fuzzy, brown and missing quite a few leaves that were harvested earlier in the summer. The leaves soothe coughs, the bright yellow flowers bloom erratically on the long stem and helps with earaches and back pain.  The first-year roots are great for spine issues.

It’s a salty mucilage (demulcent) that works best on dry-appearing tissues where moisture is caught in hard pockets. This includes irritating/tickly coughs and coughs that are harsh and non-productive accompanied by tightness preventing full inspiration. Tightness can also be expressed in the sinus area or even in the brain. Mullein opens the lungs and the sinus, lubricates the mucosa, relaxes the larynx and gives a more open feel to the head.

In addition to the above, Mullein works on the muscular-skeletal and nervous system by promoting the absorption of accumulated fluids and increasing the lubrication of connective tissues/joints, cartilage and inflamed or irritated nerves. Spine injuries respond well to the use of Mullein root.

Hyssop

Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) continues to bloom small bright blue flowers that look dramatic against other yellow flowering herbs. Plus, it’s a bee magnet! Too bitter for a tea, I make extracts, syrups and honeys. The energies are bitter, pungent, warming and diffusive. It has diaphoretic (makes one sweat in a fever) properties and works best on harsh, dry coughs with hardened mucus. The tea of the leaves can be used three to four times/day as a throat gargle for tonsillitis. The bitter quality aids digestion (often lowered when feeling acutely ill).

Marshmallow

Amazingly, my lack of regular watering over the past few dry weeks hasn’t seemed to slow down Marshmallow (Althea officinalis). The tall (3 ½ foot) plant still blooms small white flowers and the leaves are mostly fuzzy and green. This is a first-year planting so I have another 2 years before the roots can be harvested. Like Mullein, the flowers, leaves and roots are used, though I prefer the roots.

It’s a salty/sweet, cooling mucilage (demulcent) with strong anti-inflammatory and diuretic (makes you urinate) properties. It softens and breaks up hard tissue, which is great for those dry coughs which are worse at night. It also soothes the stomach and is often used in formulas for reflux issues, diarrhea and dysentery. We include it in sore throat teas and for people undergoing chemo who become hot and dry due to the medications used.

Elderberry

What more can I say? It’s a great daily Winter tonic to keep the immune system humming and the syrup can be used as a base for other herbs. The berries contain anti-viral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulating properties while the flowers calm the  nerves and encourages sweating. They can be made into tea, syrup and extracts.

A whole pharmacy in one place. With a little work, they become MY pharmacy. I know them, I tend them and they in turn tend me. When my sadness arises about Summer passing, I look at them and feel deep gratitude for their presence in my life and their gifts of healing.