This reminds me of a rafting trip down the Deschutes River many, many years ago with friends from work. At the end of the 1st day, most of us had some cold symptoms, sore throat, runny nose, slight fever. But of course, no one packed cold medicine. So, as a lifelong forager... 
I went foraging along the riverbank and in the surrounding trees. I had someone gather white willow bark and someone else gather mullein. I gathered yarrow myself as some might confuse it with hemlock. I inspected the gathered mullein to make sure no stray bits of other plants
were mixed in because I saw enough datura growing in a clearing to poison the entire planet with its neurotoxin. But some cottonwood bark got in by mistake. It's harmless but it can give you a hot flash similar to niacin. IT is good for fever.
But here's the thing...
But here's the thing...
Yes, I can make my own aspirin with white willow bark, but if I buy aspirin I have a known, measured quantity. Its potency is not affected by how long I boil it or how hot/cold or wet/dry the weather has been. Why would I ever use herbal medicine when I can use medicines
that are made in controlled environments with clear measurements and potency. I know herbal medicine from my mother who grew up in poverty on a homestead without a nearby pharmacy. But OTC is better than out in the field.
The kind of foraging I like is looking for pigweed, wild asparagus, and other salad greens.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
