Rachel's Naturopathic Herb Walk

• Posted on 19 August 2015
• By Dr. Jill Tack
• Posted in calendula, herbs for pets, naturopathic school, Rachel
• 0

Rachel is one of the newest members of The Pet Beastro family and a Nutrition Specialist. Get to know her more in this post and learn about her recent herb walk in the post below.

Rachel is one of the newest members of The Pet Beastro family and a Nutrition Specialist. Get to know her more in this post and learn about her recent herb walk in the post below.

During the month of July, I attended a Herb Walk class at the Naturopathic Institute of Therapies and Education, which is on Dr. Baker’s property. I can honestly say that weekend, by far, was my favorite. Spending time out in nature with my classmates and camping together on the Ranch grounds in the evenings, I felt a close sense of community among kindred spirits.

The Herb Walk

Most of the course time was spent familiarizing ourselves with different herbs (the majority of which can be found in our own backyards) and learning their medicinal properties. This experience was much different than other classes I've taken as the entire curriculum was spent outdoors among the plants.

On our final day of class, each student was to seek out a plant that resonated with them. We were instructed to spend an hour sitting with the plant being still, meditating, and speaking with the plant. It was a beautiful sight to see the individuals I had spent a weekend with lying or sitting beside their chosen herbs.

Eventually, I found my own spot for reflection. I sat with the first plant that I had noticed at the start of class on Friday, Bladder Campion, a plant that I had never seen before and had no previous knowledge of. After my time meditating, I took a moment to research this little wildflower and was amazed at how I could benefit from it in different ways.

Overall, I had a memorable experience during the Herb Walk and my love of herbal medicine was refreshed and revitalized.

Calendula: One of My Favorite Herbs

Aside from my new herbal ally, Bladder Campion, a favorite plant of mine has always been Calendula. When I first became interested in natural medicine, not even herbs in particular, Calendula was one of my initial topics of study.

I remember being amazed that a pretty, orange flower could be so valuable as a medicinal herb. Calendula is a well-known plant that has been used medicinally, ceremonially, therapeutically, and even as a food, for centuries. Most commonly it is used in salves and ointments, as it is wonderful to use topically on wounds or any kind of skin trauma.

Across the world it has been used in India for everything from an eyewash to relieve pain from a bee sting, to being a staple in Chinese medicine for supporting healthy skin, and moving stagnant blood, resulting in increased circulation. In Native American cultures, Calendula has been employed to ease upset stomachs.

Calendula is antispasmodic, astringent, and vulnerary. Those beautiful orange flowers can be dried and used as a tea, tincture, or infused in oil. Harvested fresh, the plant can also be used as a tea or tincture and the flowers are edible!

These herbs beneficial for humans and pets alike and as such, it makes a wonderful herb to have on hand.

Different products featured at The Pet Beastro that include Calendula are:

• Animals’ Apawthecary Herbal Ear Rinse
• Animals’ Apawthecary FidoDerm
• Dr. Harvey’s Organic Healing Cream
• Earth Animal Flea & Tick Program Organic Herbal Shampoo