John and I are members of an organization called United Plant Savers (UpS). www.unitedplantsavers.org UpS is an exciting grass-roots organization comprised of people who love and appreciate plants and who are particularly concerned with the status of “at risk” North American native medicinal plants. These are medicinal herbs that have been over harvested in the wild or are rapidly losing natural habitat. We are among the many members who grow some of these “at risk” medicinal herbs, such as Echinacea, Black Cohosh, Blue Cohosh, Bloodroot, Goldenseal and Wild Yam. Flower essences take only a few flowers to make and is one way that we help to preserve at risk medicinal herbs.

Another way is to substitute a different medicinal plant in the same family with similar healing properties that is not at risk. American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) heads the United Plant Savers at risks species list. Devil’s Club (Oplopanax horridus) is a plant related to ginseng that is a common native to the Coastal Pacific Northwest of North America.

The little greenish flowers of Devil’s Club grow in groups that form small spheres. These spheres cluster around the flower stalk in the shape of a cone. After native bees fertilize the flowers, they develop into flat green berries that turn red in late summer. The birds love them! If you look at the devil’s club picture on our website, you will notice the bright red berries and the BIG thorns on the stem. What you don’t see is that there are BIG thorns on the top and bottom of the leaf veins as well. Thorns usually indicate powerful medicine and this is very true of devil’s club. On the herbal level, devil’s club root assists in reducing stress and works on diabetes, regulating blood sugar imbalances, ulcers, digestive tract ailments, arthritis, rheumatism, colds, cough, fevers and more.

On the flower essence level, devil’s club says this about itself:

If you are feeling drained by the weight of all that is hard to be with, whether it is part of your life or the larger world- especially if you have physical symptoms that may include blood sugar imbalances like diabetes or inflammatory conditions like arthritis - Devil’s Club Flower Essence lifts the weight of the world off of your shoulders and comforts your weary soul. It helps you to separate from the thorns of life and nurture yourself..

Click here for more information on Devil's Club Flower Essence.