Hello loves!

As I write, the 46th president of the United States has just been inaugurated and I am thrilled! While I know that the new administration is not going to suddenly solve the deep problems of our country, I do have hope that we are entering a new era filled with the will and energy to address systemic white supremacy, corporate influence on policy, and environmental destruction. Now it is up to each of us to help make the world a healthier place for all beings and hold our leaders accountable for doing the same!

And we get to do that by devoting ourselves to what makes us SHINE.

Seth and I shine most when we are focusing on our own wellbeing and empowering others to focus on theirs. By taking care of our hearts, bodies, and minds, we are then able to show up for others in a way that is supportive, generous, empathic, and healing. And we encourage you to do the same.

Fill your cup with soul nectar. Get the rest you need. Connect with your people. Carve out alone time and close the door. And then, serve the world with the fullness of you.

This week, we are particularly excited about Oregon Grape Root’s role in our wellness! We harvested the roots this fall, chopped them up and soaked them in organic cane sugar alcohol for a few weeks, and now we’ve finally bottled it for our consumption and yours. Read below if you’d like to learn more about this golden underground magic. It was traditionally used as a blood cleanser that supports digestion, the liver, and the skin. We take it before meals for belly ease and as a daily tonic to maintain our vibrance. You can check it out in our shop, too!

Alright, loves. Here’s to new beginnings, taking care of ourselves in service of the greater good, and deep winter dreaming!

xoxoox Becca

Oregon Grape Root Magic

If you live in the Pacific Northwest, you are probably well acquainted with Oregon Grape. This bountiful evergreen shrub comes in a few varieties: Cascade Oregon Grape (Berberis nervosa), Shining Oregon Grape (Berberis aquifolium), and Trailing Oregon Grape (Berberis repens). While each one varies in size, growth pattern, and distribution, their evergreen, holly-like compound leaves are a distinguishing characteristic of all Oregon Grape species. They all have similar magic.

In the spring, Oregon Grape produces cheerful bunches of small yellow flowers. These beauties hint at the golden magic that lies beneath the surface of the forest floor where Oregon Grape roots dance and wind their through the forest. Their roots are rich in berberine, an alkaloid that has been traditionally used to fight infection. This alkaloid is so colorful that Oregon Grape root is useful as a natural dye. Taken internally, its golden glow has a particular affinity for the liver, skin, and digestive system (Kloos, 2017).

Oregon Grape Root’s Wellness Applications

Oregon Grape Root for Metabolism and Digestion

According to naturopathic doctor and herbalist JJ Purcell, Oregon Grape improves digestion, assimilation, and metabolism (Purcell, 2015). Indeed after several days of taking it regularly before meals, Seth just skipped a day, and his belly is feeling the difference. We like to take it about 15 minutes before a meal as a bitters to prime our systems for easy digestion.

Oregon Grape Root as a Blood Purifier

Oregon Grape is also considered a blood purifier. According to Purcell, Oregon Grape helps the liver do its work, “liberat[ing] iron from the liver to enter the bloodstream to boost hemoglobin levels” (2015). Because it helps to cleanse the blood and thus keep our entire systems running smoothly, we like to take Oregon Grape root as a daily tonic.

Oregon Grape Root for the Skin

Because of all of the support Oregon Grape offers our digestion, blood, and metabolism, it also promotes skin health by eliminating toxins before they are forced to exit through the skin and become uncomfortable skin conditions. Herbalist Scott Kloos suggests that folks with dry, itchy skin conditions may benefit from regular use of Oregon Grape’s magic (Kloos, 2017).

Oregon Grape Root for Diarrhea and Food Sensitivies

Oregon Grape has also traditionally been used to address diarrhea. Its antimicrobial properties may help solve the problem quickly, especially if it is the result of a bacterial infection. In addition, Kloos recommends Oregon Grape root tincture or tea if you have “food sensitivities or allergies, are prone to constipation, wake up feeling groggy and listless in the morning, have bad breath with a coated tongue, and/or have chronic itchy skin conditions” (2017).

Harvesting Oregon Grape Root

If you want to harvest your own Oregon Grape root, go for it! While it is abundant in many areas of the Pacific Northwest, please harvest with the same degree of intention as you would any other plant. Ask permission before harvest. Harvest no more than one in ten. Gather only what you need. Give gratitude to the plants for supporting your wellness journey.

You can harvest Oregon Grape root any time between mid-spring (after flowering) and mid-autumn. When you find a healthy looking plant, give a gentle tug. If its roots come up easily for you, follow them until they break off or you’ve gotten a motherload. Keep the underground part for yourself. To replant the aboveground part, take off the leaves and replant.

Make Your Own Oregon Grape Root Potions

While the roots are still fresh, cut them into 1/4-inch-long pieces and make a fresh-root tincture or tea out of them. If you want to dry them for future tea or tincture projects, you can cut them into 1/2- to 1-inch pieces. Be sure to cut them fresh, though! They get woody when they dry and become quite difficult to cut.

For fresh tincture, follow the instructions for making a fresh herb tincture here. For tea, simply put about two teaspoons per cup of hot water into a pot and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Feel free to add licorice or other delicious herbs, roots, or berries to church it up. If your belly is extra rumbly, you may want to combine it with peppermint and ginger and sip on it throughout the day.

And if you want to bring even more of its magic into your life, consider dying some fabric or yarn with Oregon Grape root!

Resources

Kloos, Scott. 2017. Pacific Northwest Medicinal Plants. Timber Press: Portland, Oregon.

Purcell, JJ. 2015. The Herbal Apothecary: 100 Medicinal Herbs and How to Use Them. Timber Press: Portland, Oregon.

Disclaimer

For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.