It is the last week of 2021. There may have been a few times when you wondered if we’d even make it to the New Year. But here we are saying farewell to 2021 and preparing to greet 2022. Hooray! A Fresh start.
The rowan (aka mountain ash, though it is not a true ash) is a tree famous in the Celtic and Nordic traditions for having the power to transport a person to other realms. This is the time of year when you journey from endings to a brand new start. What better icon than the rowan when embarking on such a journey. The berries’ bright red color is said to invoke protection and the whole tree is linked with the forces of life and creation.
The bark and berries are most typically used medicinally and are excellent for treating diarrhea, urinary tract infections, and leucorrhea. The berries have a long history of treating scurvy and malaria.
Rowan berries are tangy. They are used to make jams and jellies and other food dishes.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, rowan is considered cooling and is used to help heal wounds.
In America, the bark has been used to treat fevers associated with malaria or similar illnesses. Native American tribes used the trees for food. The berries were dried and then ground and added to flour to make bread and to soups as a thickener.
Evodia is an herb you may not be familiar with. It has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for thousands of years and is one of the rare herbs to be classified as Hot. It is excellent for treating conditions that are especially associated with Cold and pain. Evodia is only used in very small doses. It is Hot and works fast. Too much can be toxic, but in the right amounts, it is a powerful healing ally.
In TCM, it is commonly used to treat digestive disorders including acid reflux, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disorder), stomach cramping, ulcers, diarrhea, and dysentery. It is useful for treating headaches accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or abdominal cramping.
Besides having analgesic properties, evodia also specifically exhibits antinociceptive properties, meaning it relieves pain without any negative effects on consciousness or causing anesthesia.
Evodia extract is used to help improve stamina, ease muscle pain, increase sex hormones, improve the function of cardiac muscles, reduce blood fat, and improve metabolism. The extract has also been found to inhibit inflammation in human cells and skin (even when applied topically).
In the West, evodia is mostly used to treat skin conditions and support athletic performance by aiding weight loss and easing muscle aches.
Find out more about this wonderful plant, its applications, and how to use it to best advantage in our WRI Healing Herb Health Session on Evodia.
