The Great Kosmic Kitchen

It's a Spanish Needle Spring! 

Spring is in full effect here in Florida. Driving through the back country roads near my parents home, familiar smells of childhood are carried by the breeze. The honey aroma of orange blossoms, jasmine, and honey suckle can turn an ordinary drive with the windows down into an intoxicating affair. The trees are getting in on the action too. Bursting with new bright green growth, mirroring the grasses and setting the backdrop for pops of yellow, pink and purple wildflowers.

One of my favorite flowers to see growing on the roadside is a common herb we call here in the South, Spanish Needle. An incredibly humble herb who grows so prolifically its often overlooked and (gasp!) even called a weed. Floridians know this plant well, even if they aren't attuned to its healing properties. Spanish needle (Bidens pilosa/ B. alba) is the #3 nectar producing species in the state coming behind saw palmetto and orange blossom.

Some would say its a pioneer species, often being the first herb that pops up after the soil has been disturbed. Its a plant that's hard to miss, since most of the year, little white daisy-like flowers are scattered along the roadsides, tucked in cracks of the sidewalk or popping up in abandoned urban lots. 

The latin name Bidens means "two teeth," describing its seed that resembles a two pronged fork that sticks to just about everything. But plants are smarter than we give them credit for. Having a toothed seed allows for easy spreading by animals of all kinds, especially humans. 

My love affair with Bidens began when I learned of its medicinal properties and when I was shown what good "daisy chains" they make. Traditionally, its been used as medicine throughout China, Africa and Central America. People have used this plant to expel pathogens from the surface of the body, clear up heat, remove toxins, and eliminate stagnancy, just to name a few uses. On the more intense side of its healing properties, studies are finding that the chemical constituent polyacetylenes have shown to inhibit the malaria parasite Plasmodium faliciparum, which makes sense why its been used in the Amazon where malaria is a real cause for concern. 

Personally, I feel really called to work with Spanish Needle medicine because of its affinity for the urinary mucosa and its ability to tone and strengthen the tissue. The revered South West herbalist, Michael Moore first turned me on to how powerful this plant truly is. Perhaps Bidens does not just work on the physical needs of the urinary system, but also the emotional needs that imbalance in an area, often sheds light upon. The urinary system is part of the Sacral Chakra, which governs our sense of safety and well being. So, if we are having feelings of not being nurtured, either by ourselves or others, or not feeling safe, Bidens is a plant that can help on these levels by filtering out emotional toxins that are no longer serving our being. 

In his book, Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West, Moore says that Bidens also helps to remove environmental pollution which goes in line with the traditional uses of removing toxins and eliminating stagnancy. Living in the city, I often wonder, if Bidens are growing in such abundance for more of a reason that just loving disturbed sandy soil, but perhaps, its the medicine of the city, growing everywhere to help us with the constant bombarding of pollution in urban areas. 

Most times, when we are in tune and paying attention, its easy to notice that what we need the most is right in front of us. Especially in the case of using Bidens this spring. Its like the Earth is exploding with its flowers, so that everywhere we look, this medicine is right there, ready to heal and ready to teach us if we are willing to listen. 

HARVEST: 

If this plant is not already growing in your yard, in a patch away from roadways, here are a few guidelines on wild harvesting: 

- make sure plants are at least 50 ft away from the roadway

- check to see that it isn't growing near any plants that could be toxic 

- ask the plant for permission to harvest (offering loose tobacco or a piece of your hair is also a respectful practice) 

- only take what you need 

PREPARATION: 

- Colds/sore throat: hot infusion of fresh plant 

- Urinary/Bladder issues: overnight infusion in a quart jar 

- Toss in fresh flowers to add a little bite to your salad 

  Happy Spring!

May we all find the nurturing we need this season, 

Sarah

  Photos by: Sarah Benjamin & Summer Singletary  

A Garden Picnic with Earthy Nettle Tea

Florida is an excellent place to spend the "winter". I woke up late yesterday morning and was pleased to walk out into the garden to find it was in the high 70's and sunny! I believe the weather inspired my whole morning, I listened to a mix of 70's African soul music on cassette, and read a funky indoor gardening book that also graced the era. As I moved to the groovy beats and dreamed about propagating new plants, I drank an earthy and deeply nourishing Nettle Tea.

I happen to have a lot of nettle leaves from living in Vermont this past summer. Many people dislike the plant because of it's sharp sting, but it is really quite magical. Working with nettle taught me patience, and to be present. I found when moving slowly and with intention I was rarely harmed. 

Nettle is a very powerful tonic when taken daily. It is high in iron and many other vitamins and minerals. Nettle is particularly high in B vitamins, which many of us modern folk are deficient in.

 When I was living with Rosemary Gladstar, she had a whole patch of it that she would use to make Wild Weed Pestos and other magical things! When you blend the herb or heat it up the stinging properties disappear,  you just have to be extra careful when preparing it fresh from the garden (or wear gloves). 

To reduce allergy symptoms nettle is often taken daily as a quart of tea throughout the day, or Rosemary suggests it in freeze dried capsules. In my tea blend I also included lemon balm and rose petals. Nettle in combination with lemon balm is an excellent way to tone and strengthen the nervous system, and consequently your entire body.

If you can't find nettle growing in the wild, my other favorite sources are Mountain Rose and Zach Woods Herb Farm. The nettle normally can be found in the wild starting in the spring time, and the leaves are best to use before the plant goes to flower. 

MATERIALS.

Loose leaf tea bag, coffee press, or loose leaf tea pot (for herbs).

Nettle leaf 

Lemon balm 

Rose petals

Honey (optional)

Quart of water 

*All the herbs can be either fresh or dried.

RECIPE.

Combine 2 parts nettle, 2 parts lemon balm, and 1 part rose petals in your loose leaf tea bag or contraption of choice. Use one ounce of herbs to one quart of water, or one tablespoon to a cup of water. Use more herb material if picked fresh!

***I would suggest making a quart and drinking the tea throughout the day, as this herbal tea is most effective at toning when taken through the day and a few times a week.

Heat your water until boiling, and then pour the water over the herbs in your desired container or jar. I love to put my loose leaf tea bags in a quart size mason jar, then I can just put a lid on it and take it with me throughout the day. Cover the container and let the herbs steep for at lease thirty minutes, so that it can draw out all the good medicine! 

And there you have it! Deeply nourishing and toning tea, right from the outdoors.