Weeds: The Herbs For You and Your Pets

Posted on 15 September 2015
By Dr. Jill Tack
Posted in Erica’s Herb Walk, Naturopathic Institute of Therapies and Education, NITE, uses for chamomile
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Rachel recently shared her herb walk adventure at the Naturopathic Institute of Therapies and Education (NITE) and today, Erica shares her story. As you may recall, she finished up her first year at NITE last winter. Read on to learn about her experience and her favorite herb.

Erica's Herb Walk

Idyllic Garden Fence

Wandering around a beautiful farm filled with animals, a sacred geometry orchard, a chakra garden, and dense woods is one of my favorite ways to pass time. That I also get to call that weekend "school" makes me one of the lucky ones. This July, I was introduced to “weeds” on a whole new level. I had known from my first year of naturopathic school that we could find all the medicine that we need in nature, but never before had I been introduced to the plants that could heal on such a personal level.

With a weekend full of introductions to plants, learning all they could offer, and talking with classmates about their personal experiences, I left with a new sense of wonder. What are these things that people pull out of their gardens and discard? When did we lose the tradition of healing from nature? Doesn’t it make sense that the plants that nourish us would also be able to heal us?

Part of our weekend course was to find a plant that really spoke to us and sit and meditate with it for an hour to learn all it had to offer. Now, I have never been one to sit in silence, and I have a hard time turning my mind off long enough to meditate. I felt lost walking around the property. My two classmates were soon called to different areas, leaving me to wander. I decided to sit in the shade by the pasture of cows in hopes that they would come keep me company. I was able to identify the plants I was near (Yellow Dock, Red Clover, Oxeye Daisy, and Plantain), but nothing spoke to me. Just as I was about to give up, I heard a rustle from the pasture. Thinking it was one of the hyland cows, I perked up and tried to peer in closer. From the pasture, at the top of the hill, a fox came out.

I wasn’t sure at first what it was, it looked too small to be a fox, but definitely wasn’t one of the coyotes I had been hearing all weekend. This fox was small, he looked sick, tired, and hungry. I wanted to help him but I also knew he wouldn’t take my help. We both looked at each other, trying to decide what to do, and then he moved. I stood to try to get closer to him as he crossed the drive and went into the wooded valley. I spotted him moving toward the orchard and then he was gone.

I knew he would be OK, even without my help. The land that he's made his home is full of plants that will heal and nourish him. This encounter helped me realize that animals will come into my life seeking the help that I am desperate to give them and that knowing the plants around me will give me the tools to heal. It also helped me learn that the plants have much to teach me if I am willing to listen.

Erica's Favorite Herb - Chamomile

The weekend wrapped up and when I returned home I was asked what my favorite plant was. What was the plant that spoke to me? Well, my favorite plant isn’t one that I saw over the weekend. In fact, I have only seen it a handful of times growing wild here in Michigan. Chamomile, a cousin to the Pineapple Weed, is something I remember seeing while at my grandmother's house when I was growing up. There was always a bouquet of it in a vase on the coffee table. Chamomile translates to “Capable of Anything,” which I find quite fitting. Not only is Chamomile a great tea, it is also a homeopathic, essential oil, flower remedy, and herb.

Chamomile is a great remedy for the mind and emotions. As a homeopathic, Chamomile is great for childhood illness, especially those who are impatient or restless. For pets, Chamomile is often used for teething, nervous excitability or anxiety, as well as middle ear infections. Chamomile is known as the “plant’s physician” because it has been known to cure weak or sick plants around it.

The long list of uses for Roman Chamomile range from soothing and calming, to helping the liver reject poison. Roman Chamomile is known to balance the emotions, support the nervous system, and aid in skin problems. The essential oil Roman Chamomile was traditionally used by Romans to “give them a clear mind and to empower them with courage for their battles.”*

The Chamomile flower essence helps those that are easily upset, moody, or irritable. It helps one find the strength to release emotional tension, and helps with knots in the stomach due to emotions. This flower essence helps to restore emotional balance and a serene disposition.

As an herb, Chamomile is an antiviral, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, digestive tonic, nervine, and sedative. Chamomile is great for fevers and colds, abdominal pain, indigestion, and nerves, among others.

As you can see, “Capable of Anything” is right. This one plant is more than capable of providing the body with the tools to fight. Whether being used as an oil, flower essence, homeopathic or herb, this plant will help calm, soothe, and bring you into balance. To me, Chamomile smells like summer nights on the lake, and reminds me of home. This plant is always able to bring a smile to my face. Now knowing everything this treasured small flower can do, I am in awe of the strength it has.

Chamomile Pet Products from The Pet Beastro:

*Reference Guide for Essential Oils

Erica's Herb Walk

Erica's Favorite Herb - Chamomile

Chamomile Pet Products from The Pet Beastro:

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