Beginners Guide to Foraging Medicinals

a basket of foraged goodies - yarrow, cleavers and meadow mushrooms

The more I toil over planting and weeding and watering and weeding some more in my gardens the more I appreciate the abundance of nature. The biodiversity alone strikes awe in anyone willing to look closely. But when you consider the relationships between the flora and fauna, the different cycles taking place, and my favorite, the many uses of the plants all around us it is difficult not to see the hand of our Creator in all of it. 

As I become more familiar with the types of plants that I used to pass with mild appreciation I find myself ravenous to learn more about these free foods and medicines growing in plain sight. And thus began my foraging journey. Here are a couple of rules I learned about foraging that I feel are important to start with:

1. Know what you are harvesting. Do not harvest, and especially do not eat, anything that you are not one hundred percent confident you have identified correctly. 

2. Do not overharvest. The general rule of thumb is not to harvest the first of the species that you find and don’t take so much that it is obvious you were there. Be aware of what is considered rare and what is prolific in your area. Don’t harvest the rare. Furthermore, don’t take more than you need and can use in a timely manner. Even if you find a field full of your favorite herb, it is wasteful to harvest a bunch if you don't have time to deal with it. Lots of herbs will go bad if not properly processed right away. 

3. Know your site. Don’t harvest from places that could be contaminated with heavy metals or toxins, that have been sprayed with pesticides or that are high traffic areas. Examples of this are old dump sites, roadways and ditches, pathways that are frequented by dogs (think about it) or spaces that have signs stating pesticides have been used. Sometimes pesticide signs are not erected so it is important to study the area and look for indications such as wilted or dead plants. Freshly sprayed areas sometimes have a sour or chlorine like smell. If in doubt, don’t harvest. Also, it is important to obtain permission if you are harvesting from private property and remember that it is illegal to harvest from provincial or national parks. 

4. Go with a friend. This is important for so many reasons. You have a second opinion when identifying new plants. You have someone to watch your back because when you go out into the wild you are bound to cross paths with wildlife. You can learn from each other. The knowledge of plants and nature is unfortunately rare these days so if you can learn from or teach others, please do; we owe that to future generations. My favorite foraging partner is my 6-year-old niece because she is a little sponge. On our latest mushroom foray, I was heartened by her knowledge of the local flora. Each time I told her about a new plant on our adventures she soaked up the knowledge and is now able to consistently identify wild strawberry, horsetail, plantain, gooseberry, morel mushrooms (this one is thanks to my sister), dandelion, raspberries, clover, yarrow, wild rose and saskatoons, not to mention all of the garden crops. 

my favorite forager with her harvest of rose petals

Now that we have these important rules in mind, let's explore three great beginner medicinal plants to forage. I will give some key identifying features of each plant but I encourage you to take a reference book with you on your adventures to ensure proper plant identification.

Broad Leaf Plantain

Plantago major

This is one of the first herbs I foraged. When I was a child my parents taught me to chew the leaves to apply as a spit poultice when I had a bee sting or wasp bite. Once I formally started studying herbalism, Plantago major was also one of the first herbs I made into a salve (right after calendula). I read that it would help me with my especially itchy mosquito bites. I’ve also used it for rashes, chapped skin, dry feet, slivers and even as a lip balm. I chose Plantago major for my herbarium mount assignment because I appreciate the telltale plantain flower heads. Each spike has green-brown flowers that can reach 15 centimetres (6 inches). The oval-shaped, prominently veined leaves also aid in identification. Broad Leaf Plantain can often be found along paths and roadways (two places you should harvest with caution) and in disturbed soils. In the windy city where I live, it is useful to know that Plantain eyewash can help flush out dirt and soothe irritated eyes. To harvest, simply cut the stems of nice, clean leaves. Good airflow is essential for drying which is why I use my dehydrator. 

Wild Rose/ Prickly Rose

Rosa acicularis

Ahhh, Rosa. A flower by any other name… The Wild Rose is my province's flower. Its five pink-petaled flowers bunched together on bushes make for a lovely show in the ditch as I drive through the country. Recently, my niece and nephew eagerly collected baskets full of petals for me to make a rose-infused tallow balm (what wonderful helpers). I will add the rose petals to a blend of other skin soothing herbs. Rose makes for a fragrant, relaxing and toning addition not only to balms but also to teas and honey. Last summer I poured honey over a jar of fresh rose petals and let it infuse for a couple of days before I started enjoying it. I never actually removed the petals from the honey which allowed them to keep infusing. My mother found this combination of rose and honey very satisfying, likely because rose is an anti-inflammatory and can lighten feelings of anxiety or grief. When harvesting, look for flowers that still have a yellow center. You can also harvest rose buds and hips (fruit). Rose hips are full of vitamin C but you can’t eat their seeds because they are very uncomfortable coming out the other end. Instead, after a frost for maximum flavour and optimal texture, pinch a nice red ‘hip’ between your thumb and finger to squish out the pulp like toothpaste, leaving the seeds behind. Besides ditches and field edges, this shrub can also be found around forests and pastures. This season I have been more aware of the vast spectrum of pinks wild roses can display, from almost white to Barbie pink to deep fuschia. This heart warming emblem of Alberta is hard to miss when June rolls around. 

Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Named after the Greek warrior Achillies this herb has been used for centuries to treat wounds and stop bleeding. Little patches of white clouds in the grass announce their location. The flower heads and feather-like leaves both have a distinct piney smell. You can use the scent to discern the leaves before yarrow flowers once you’ve become familiar. I have added dried yarrow powder to my herbal first aid kit. Fortunately, I haven't had to test it out yet but it can be used to staunch a wound. I have however used Achillea millefolium in a tea when I had a cold. It works as a febrifuge which means it makes you sweat so, if you are sick and you drink this tea, wrap yourself in a warm blanket and rest, don’t get a chill. My favorite way to harvest is to pick the flowers like a bouquet, leaving long stems with leaves attached, tie the posy together and hang it upside down to dry. Combine and chop leaves and flowers once dried. Fresh leaves can also be used as a potherb in soup stocks. 

Now that you have added three great herbs to your repertoire, it’s time to go outside and become familiar with them. Say hello and greet them by name. If you put in some extra time and experimentation Plantain, Rose and Yarrow will take special care of you.