06/10/2026
🌱 Spring is herb-gathering season! 🌱
One of my favorite ways to connect with the season is by harvesting some of the incredible plants growing right in our own backyards and forests.
So far this spring we've gathered:
🌼 Dandelions – destined for homemade jelly! In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), dandelion (Pu Gong Ying) is valued for its ability to clear Heat, support the Liver, and promote healthy detoxification. It's also packed with nutrients and makes a surprisingly delicious jelly.
🌿 Wormwood – collected for tinctures. This intensely bitter herb has a long history in Western herbalism as a digestive tonic, and antiparasitic. Traditionally, it has been used to stimulate appetite, support healthy digestion, and encourage the body's natural digestive processes. A little goes a long way with this powerful plant!
🌲 Spruce Tips – this spring's new favorite! These bright green tips make a refreshing forest soda and are rich in vitamin C. While not traditionally used in Chinese medicine, they have long been appreciated in many herbal traditions for supporting respiratory health and providing a welcome burst of springtime energy.
Spring is the season of the Liver in TCM—a time of growth, movement, and renewal. Getting outside, connecting with nature, and working with seasonal plants is a wonderful way to support your health and stay in rhythm with the season.
What wild herbs or plants are you gathering this spring? 🌱✨