The Power of Palms – Seeking the Medicine @ Colombia

Hola from Colombia,

It’s been a profound experience so far here. Once we arrived at our first stop (yogeshram ashram), I was excited to begin discovering which plants were around us. As with most places I’ve been, all I haIMG_0475d to do was look exactly where I was to see an incredible biodiversity of plants. In just 2 days of being here I have discovered over 30 familiar plants. From palms to many fruit trees right on the property that we are staying.

As far as palms, I found a tree on premise which fruits reminded me of the long racemes of acaii; the now famous jungle berry full of antioxidants ( and marketing) – to test this berry I carefully broke it open, smelled it, then touched it slightly on my tongue to get the signature of the plant. It instantly began to burn in a way that was familiar; the burn of calcium oxalate.IMG_7565.JPG

This is the substance that lichens secrete to digest rocks and is also found in North American plants such as the jack in the pulpit plant (Arisaema triphyllum). It is also related to the substance in the kidneys that forms as kidney stones (oxalic acid). After some facebooking and googling I was able to find that it was actually a fishtail palm – Genus: Caryota; C. mitis with it’s clumping leaf stems. Also, closely related is C. urens which apparently has individual stems. The fruit/seeds of all fishtails have oxalic acid in them.

From Green Deanes website:

IMG_7566.JPG” Urens means “stinging” and the fruit does contain a chemical that does sting. That said, the kernel of the fruit is edible but it has to be cleaned completely of the stinging outer flesh.

This was one so-called toxic plant that was true. However, that did not keep natives from using this palm. The primary product of the genus is a sugar substitute called kitul honey or jaggery. The juice from the flowers is boiled in a large wide-mouth vessel making golden syrup. The fruits have raphides of calcium oxalate and are not eaten. The seed kernel is edible, however.”

Also about jaggery/panela:

IMG952015“Jaggery/ Panela: a concentrated product of date, cane juice, or palm sap (see palm sugar) without separation of the molasses and crystals, and can vary from golden brown to dark brown in color. derived from the boiling and evaporation of sugarcane juice. considered Non-centrifugal cane sugars. Non-centrifugal cane sugar (NCS) is the technical name given to traditional raw sugar obtained by evaporating water from sugarcane juice.”

And an article about the taste phenomenon of calcium oxalate :

Upon researching this plant, and knowing it was a palm, this led me to realize that all palms (minus sago which is a cycad) are in the same Family; Arecaceae – this also includes acaii, and coconut, dates as well as Palm fruits. It’s incredible to realize that Palms exist in one form or another all over the world. It’s also amazing to track this IMG_7560.JPGphenomenon biologically. All of these plants presumably have a common ancestor, and yet they are spread all throughout the world. Some being the most sweet and tasty sugary fruits of the world (dates coconuts etc) and some such as these fishtail palms have an immense self-protecting agent. It’s also interesting to meditate on the fact that this would enable some animals to spread the sweet seeds, and enable the other oxalic containing plant to deter predation, unless one animal was able to evolve past the oxalate. Always ask the question, how did this happen? If you get into the right state perhaps nature will reveal it to you.

Much more to come soon,

Dandelion
Nov 30, 2014

 

 

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Foraging Herbalist Mentorship – 2014 Slideshow

Heres a look at pics from the Foraging Herbalist Mentorship of 2014. See next years program @ http://returntonature.us/mentorship2016

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Seeking the Medicine – Colombia, Nov. 2014 – Itinerary, Packing List, Plants List

The Itinerary: We leave From JFK Airport Thursday am to Cali, Colombia. We will stay for several days at a friends ashram, then take a bus to Pasto, Colombia. From there we will meet a guide Sebastian who speaks very good English and will translate for us. From there we will stock up, have a meal, and travel to a small village of Valle de Sibundoy in Putomayo called San Francisco. From there we will meet and work with Taita Domingo Cuatindiyo; an artist, activist, and ayahuasquero who our good friend has studied and stayed with. We will drink and do ceremony with him as many days as is called. If we are able within the time there we will ask Sebastian to take us hiking into the rainforest, he knows the area well. While with these teachers I will ask to film with them and go on plant walks to learn whatever I can of plants. I have also been given botanical lists of plants (See Below) , and it is apparently also the rainy season so mushrooms should be in abundance that I will document and photograph as well as ask any locals of their knowledge about them.

Health Care:  It seems malaria and yellow fever are low in putomayo area, but govt websites say to be careful. For these issues, prevention and application during earliest stages detectable, I have 16 oz (enough for 2 people) of a formula that I made. It is a good general antiviral, and antibacterial, but also specific toward malaria or yellow fever. It consists of Sida acuta, olive leaf, Artemesia annua, burdock root, and redroot. I also have a small medical kit containing some band-aids, gauze, cotton swabs, and salve, with essential oils of lavender and peppermint, as well as lots of my home made bug spray – this will be a good test. I also have foraging know how which will be interesting to see how it expands during my time there – Examples such as any evergreen sap for cuts or fungal infections, wild papaya leaves as a tea for intestinal issues (plus the seeds of the fruits), as well I will be seeking teachers while there to broaden any level of foraging and herbalism applications of wild plants. I hope to be able to film this and provide clips on my website, facebook, and Instagram.

The other concern while traveling to Colombia is the FARC – this is a militant guerilla group in certain areas. As I have been told they don’t kidnap westerners and are much more interested in drug trade issues with the government. There are no known issues with tourists and the FARC in the last few years, and supposedly they live on the coast.

Gear: I will be bringing a hammock with mosquito net, water filter and 32 oz stainless steel water bottle (can be used to boil water), firestarter, clothes for 70 degree days, rain pants and rain jacket, and get rain boots there if it decides to be a rainy week when we are in the forest. Otherwise I have simple hiking shoes. I will try to film and take photos on my smartphone, with a solar charger as well as extra rechargeable batteries; hopefully this can make some quality filming with very special medicine teachers, as the time is right.

If you are interested to help these journeys become better documented, better preserved, and more interactive, please consider helping the mission of return to nature by making any donation through paypal to Dan@returntonature.us

Here is a video of Taita Domingo speaking for the forest

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MTL3N0AJb5U

And his art work:

http://taitadomingo.hostei.com/eng_text.html

Plants List (Huge thanks to Timothy Lane):

“I made a general list, mostly of species utilized for fruit. These species I encountered in northern Ecuador, and around Bogota Colombia. Many were planted by humans, but several are also found wild (or feral).”

Various types of citrus

Manihot esculenta (Tapioca)

Babaco (Vasconcella × heilbornii)

Guava (Psidium guajava)

Persea americana (Avocado)

Selenicereus megalanthus (vining cactus with yellow ‘dragonfruits’)

Carludovica palmata (Panama Hat Palm)

Monstera deliciosa (“Ceriman”)

Coffea arabica (Coffee)

Eugenia stipitata (Araza)

Syzygium paniculatum

Annona cherimola (Cherimoya)

Musa velutina (bright magenta self-peeling banana full of seeds)

Musa / Bananas of all sorts.

Quararibea coddata / Matisia cordata (“Sapote del Monte” / “Chupa Chupa”)

Syzygium samarangense (Pera roja)

Bunchosia argentea

Phyllanthus acidus

Carica papaya

Theobroma cacao

Annona muricata

Annona squamosa

Annona reticulata

Annona glabra

Spondias purpurea (“Ciruela” or hog-plums)

Spondias dulcis

Pouteria sapota (“Mamey Sapote”)

Pouteria sp.

Tropaeolum tuberosum (Mashua / Anu)

Oxalis tuberosus (“Oca”)

Sechium edule (Chayote)

Passiflora resticulata

Passiflora quadrulangaris

Passiflora tarminiana / P. mollissima (banana passionfruit)

Passiflora edulis

Passiflora foetida

Passiflora capsularis (bright pink fruit, splits open naturally)

Inga edulis (long thin beans)

Inga vera (small, blocky, fuzzy brown beans)

Inga spectibilis (very wide beans)

Prunus salicifolia (Capulin cherry — much like wild black cherry)

Juglans neotropica (tropical black walnut — looks almost identical to our Juglans nigra)

Sambucus peruvianus (Elderberry Tree)

Clavija sp. (“Mongon”) – more of a mid-elevation rainforest species.

Solanum muricatum (pepino melon)

Solanum betaceum (tree tomato) – “Tamarillo”

Solanum quitoense  – “Naranjilla”

Rubus rosifolius (rose-leaf raspberry)

Rubus niveus (“mora” / blackberry)

Rubus urticifolius (nettle-leaved raspberry)

Margaritaria nobilis (riversides, near water — very sour when green/underripe)

Bixa orellana (“Achiote” / Annato)

Physalis peruvianus

Physalis angulata

several other Physalis not ID’d but edible

Many of the common weedy species are familiar:

Phytolacca rivinoides (longer berry raceme, smaller leaves)

Portulaca oleracea  / Purslande (“Verdolaga”)

Clovers

Oxalis

Plantago species

Erechtites (burnweeds)

Sonchus (Sow Thistles)

Bidens (Beggar’s Ticks)

Amaranthus

Lepidium

Wild mustard/brassica types.

You may see a few wild tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)

Various other Solanums.

+ Alibizia saman (Raintree) – (edible pod pulp).

Yaje: Baniseriopsis capii

Tetrapterys methystica

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Black Nightshade (A mystic fruit)

Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum/americanum) is a little known, yet edible and delicious fruit. In some foraging guides it is seen as poisonous, but this is likely due to confusion with other Solanum species such as Solanum dulcamara. Here’s a video showing the characteristics of this plant, and a comparison with others that may look similar to some seekers. And of course, always verify all wild foods with a trusted expert.

Much more videos on my Youtube channel and Facebook Page

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Pics From Foraging @ Mountainside Park, Montclair, NJ

Heres a look at some pics from the foraging class in Montclair, NJ – Oct 25, 2014

Happy Foraging!

Dandelion

Further Suggested Reading: Foraging Articles

Foraging Videos: Click Here

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Upcoming Classes – Nov 21-23 @ Brooklyn, NY

Next weekend – Brooklyn Classes with The Herb Shoppe

*Friday Evening Lecture – Alchemy, Tantra, and the Herbal Traditions – https://www.facebook.com/events/729891187100710/

*Saturday Afternoon – Foraging Prospect Park @ Brooklyn, NY – https://www.facebook.com/events/995362200489745/?fref=ts

*Sunday – The Alchemy of Fermentation – https://www.facebook.com/events/298069320393382/?context=create&previousaction=create&source=49&sid_create=2036272725

montclair foraging aronia

All details can also be seen on my calender here – Please help spread the word in any way you would! Hope to see my lovely brooklyn peeps!!!

Dandelion

www.returntonature.us

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Seeking the Medicine – Colombia – November 28 – Dec 7

In 2 weeks (nov 28) I’ll be traveling to Colombia to seek the wild foods, medicines, culture, and shamanic practices within these sacred lands.

It will be my first time to explore a jungle habitat, and I’m very excited to meet new plant valle del sibundoyfriends. For the last few months I have been compiling a list of potential edible wild foods and medicines in the area. I will soon post up a working list of some of the plants I hope to visit with.

As I seek many forms of medicine in the jungle, market place, and with traditions, I’ll be blogging and filming along the way – Stay tuned for more of that!

We are headed from Cali to Pasto, with the goal towards into Valle Del Sibundoy in the Putomayo region to hopefully forage a connection and work with a very special shaman that has been recommended by a friend. Sibundoy still retains its traditions and language and is known as the cultural capital of Putumayo. Around the area there are apparently several sculptures of the plant mixture ayahuasca (yagé).

sibundoy

Do you have any resources or connections in these areas? Be in touch!

If you are interested to help these journeys become better documented, better preserved, and more interactive, please consider helping the mission of return to nature by making any donation through paypal to Dan@returntonature.us

Heres a Blog on an Elaborated Itinerary, Packing List, and Working Plants List

-Dan

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Foraging the Autumn Olive

The Magic of Autumn Olive:

Autumn Olives - 2015 harvestHeres a look at one of my favorite wild berries – Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata).

Autumn olive, or elaegnus is a delicious and tart berry which, before the first winter frost is very astringent due to being full of tannic acid. The great thing about tannic acid is that it is water soluable, this means that it can either be leeched out, or in some case with fruits it can be “ bletted” out. Bletting is basically using your freezer to mock the frost period in nature. The reason this is important is because after the first frost the berries will be mostly eaten by wildlife. Therefore to render autumn olives less tannic you can freeze them for a few months.

DSC02056

This very common plant gets a lot of negative press” in the invasive management world due to its prolific nature. 

I have heard a story of an invasive plant task force killing them, and then the bird people complaining because the specific birds were starving, having become accustomed to the autumn olive during migration.

Imagine with me for a moment, what if we realized that the best way of performing “invasive plant management” is to eat them; to actually be part of the wild food chain as nature intended. These plants (like all fruiting plants) produce seed through their berries and if you eat them, then you will naturally reduce the populations. Perhaps this is a lost part of our place in the chain on the earth; the conscientious caretaker. To me, it definitely makes more sense than spraying even more chemicals into the ecosystem.

Check out my youtube video to see tips on identifying and harvesting autumn olive.

Amazingly, one autumn olive bush can yield several gallons of fruit, and to one estimation you can get 12000 lbs of fruit per acre with no pesticides or fertilizers. This is almost unheard of, especially as a forager. To pick autumn olive gives alot of fruit for very little effort.

This summer I harvested over 20 cups with just a few hours a day, casually walking to autumn olive groves.

IMG_5736Identifying and harvesting this wild fruit is relatively easy as it only has a few plants that it looks similar to. One of them being honeysuckle (left). The reason these look may look alike to the novice is because they are both bushes. However if you notice a large bush, and go close enough to observe it, you can easily notice that honeysuckle berries have none of the mottling or speckles that are very characteristic of Autumn olive. If you look at berries alone, then you can also realize that the berries of false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum racemosum) are also mottled. However, these are not shrubs, and it’s always important to see a whole plant, and never just focus on a berry.

You wont find these trees in the middle of forests, but look for them on the edges of the forest where the meadow begins. They are often crowding roadsides which can be a significant place to first identify them, but I don’t recommend to harvest there due to run off and pollutants of tar and car exhausts.

DSC02042Medicinally, Autumn olive, is one powerful antioxidant berry. It contains more lycopene than is in tomatoes; about 18 times more in some estimates. lycopene has also been clinically shown to be directly linked with prostate health, and anticancer benefits – notice in the link, autumn olive isnt even mentioned. Lycopene, being an antioxidant is helpful against cancer because cancer is cellular mutation due to cellular oxidization, and the reverse, anti-oxidants, being able to save cells from mutating, and further recreating themselves.

Click here for an article: How Cancer Starts

 Often, foragers eat the berries and spit out the seeds, because they are very chewy and fibrous, however the seeds are full of omega fatty 3 acid. With these kind of dietary reservations we lose yet another rich source of oil and brain food. And, as you may know, omega fatty 3 acid is hugely helpful to reducing systemic inflammation. Research shows that the proper ratio of omega fatty acids in the body is directly linked to how inflamed we are. All of the diagnosed diseases seen in our modern world that end in “itis” are all inflammatory issues. Generally, Omega fatty 3 reduces inflammation, and omega fatty 9 causes inflammation – necessary when there is a sprain or break to help send pain response so that we don’t go for a jog with a broken leg. Due to the modern diet high in sugar, GMO wheat, and other processed foods we are all walking around blowing our bodies up from the inside and suffering alot of issues. The modern day ratio is said to be roughly 20 to 1 ratio of omega fatty 9 to 3. That means we are 20 times more likely to have inflammatory diseases.

An easy way to consume the autumn olive seeds is to collect them and freeze them, this blet them, then after some time you can add a few handfuls into a smoothie and blend them into an easily swallow-able size.

Heres a great recipe for an autumn olive smoothie:

1 banana

4 tsp of maca

1 tbsp of raw honey

2 tbsp of black strap molasses

Raw ginger to taste

1-2 cups autumn olive berries.

Add water to top it off, blend, and enjoy the anti-inflammatory blessing of this plant.

I hope that this article can transform our cultures negative perception about this sometimes perceived as negative “invasive” plant. And remember, Foraging your own food is self reliance.

Always check with an expert before consuming wild foods.

Dandelion

Further Suggested Reading: Foraging Articles

Foraging Videos: Click Here

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Nov 08 – Fall farm + Forage Fest – With Co-op 518 and Return to Nature!

IMG_2044Next Weekend! – Fall farm + Forage Fest – With Co-op 518 and Return to Nature! – A day full of local sustainable ideas and practices. Featuring Dan De Lion of Return to Nature, Lauren Nagy and Alec Gioseffii of Cooperative 518 and filmmaker Costa Boutsikaris of Inhabit: A Permaculture Perspective.

Come stay the whole day or pop in for a few events. Schedule as follows:

Full Day Admission – $50 Suggested Donation

Individual Class – Suggested Donations:
Yoga with Lauren – 10:30-11:45 -$15
Co-op 518 Farm Tasting Tour – 12-1 – 15$
Lunch (compliments of Co-op 518) – 1-2
Return to Nature Wild Plant Walk – 2-4 – 25$
Potluck – BYOBowls/utensils for eating (please no paper or styrofoam) – 4-5:30
Inhabit – film Excerpts and Discussion of an upcoming Permaculture Documentary- 6-7 – 5$

Click here for the info on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/758890410859455/

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Foraging the “True” Turkey Tail Mushroom

Trametes versicolor is a powerful antiviral, anti-candida, as well as immunomodulating mushroom. Its also getting profound notoriety from Bastyr Universities research with cancer treatment, specifically with breast cancer. Yet, there are a few mushrooms that look somewhat similar to the untrained eye.

IMG_7151.JPG

Top of Trametes (L) and Stereum (R)

IMG_7152.JPG

Underside of Trametes (L) and Stereum (R)

Here’s a look at two pics showing the true turkey tail (trametes versicolor) on the left, and it’s look similar, the “false” turkey tail (stereum ostrea) to the right. Notice that trametes versicolor has a white underside shown in the second pic below, otherwise they look very similar and can easily be confused. Although it is not known that false turkey tail is toxic, there are still questions and concerns for working with it as a medicinal.

With all of the research I’ve scoured and all the people I’ve asked I have found several people tell me that they consume stereum ostrea, although no research has confirmed that it is indeed “ingestible”. There is, however, one research article which shows “Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Stereum ostrea, an Inedible Wild
Mushroom“, but nowhere in the article does it mention human ingestion. Can that mean we can extrapolate from that; only you can judge, but always exercise caution.

For a better look at the living discernment of these and a few other similar mushrooms check out my youtube video:

Happy Foraging!

Dandelion

Further Suggested Reading: Foraging Articles

Foraging Videos: Click Here

Other Links:

Mycomedicinals by Paul Stamets

Medicinal Mushrooms – Christopher Hobbs

Anticancer effects and mechanisms of polysaccharide-K (PSK): implications of cancer immunotherapy.

Induction of immunopotentiation activity by a protein-bound polysaccharide, PSK

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