Practical Applications for the Harvest

Fall is the time to harvest our herbs to ensure that we have beneficial remedies on hand throughout the winter. We should be cautious that we are harvesting ethically, that we are harvesting the proper parts of the herbs, and that we are careful to correctly identify them. Darryl Patton’s Mountain Medicine book shares many uses for common herbs and provides practical applications for nature’s bounty.

1. Which of these herbs, in tea form, will help induce sleep?

a.		bay laurel
b.		catnip
c.		passionflower
d.		all of the above

2. The resin of _________ may be used topically to eliminate warts or moles.

a.		wild cherry
b.		wild lettuce
c.		wild plum
d.		wild ginger

3. Mullein tea is helpful for colds and inflammatory conditions; steeping its _______, which are the strongest parts of the plant, is beneficial for relieving pain.

a.		leaves
b.		roots
c.		opened flowers
d.		closed flowers

4. True or false: The inner bark from the black walnut tree has proven effective for fungal infections and internal parasites.

a.		true
b.		false

5. __________ bark can be soaked in rubbing alcohol for one week to make a topical astringent.

a.		Witch hazel
b.		Peach
c.		Black walnut
d.		Dogwood

6. Queen Anne’s lace, which grows wild in many rural areas, can be brewed into a tea to assist with:

a.		liver cleansing.
b.		weight loss.
c.		diarrhea.
d.		all of the above.

7. The __________ of wild cherry can be used to make a cough syrup; however, the _______ are extremely toxic.

a.		wilted leaves; outer
b.		wilted leaves; inner bark
c.		inner bark; wilted leaves
d.		wilted leaves; berries

8. The __________ plant is an herbal treasure. Not only does one bush provide plenty of fruit to make jelly, syrup, and wine, but the juice is a wonderful blood purifier. In addition, a salve made from it is known to help skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and liver spots.

a.		sage
b.		elderberry
c.		lobelia
d.		black cohosh

9. A hot poultice of ______ leaves may be helpful for swelling, insect stings, or ivy reactions.

a.		plantain
b.		pokeroot
c.		prickly ash
d.		pipsissewa

10. Although you may not want this plant growing all over your front lawn, the sap from ____________ is known to kill the virus of warts, and the leaves are a nutritious, healthy addition to your salads.

a.		the cucumber magnolia tree
b.		goldenseal
c.		dandelions
d.		poke root