Herbal Medicine for Preppers: Rhododendron and Sumac

[00:00:00] Hey y'all, welcome to this week's show. I think I can get through two trees today if they're medicinal uses. The first one is really going to be more of a warning than anything else. It is rhododendron. Now you know North Carolina is absolutely known for rhododendron. Whether it's the rhododendron and mountain laurel up in the mountains or the azaleas throughout the sand hills and the coast.

[00:00:24] We are known for our rhododendrons and azaleas as much as we are for dogwoods and longleaf pines. And actually the loblolly pine is a lot more common than the longleaf.

[00:00:36] But yeah, that's either here or there. The state chose the longleaf and we're known by that but it's actually not the most common pine.

[00:00:43] But the rhododendron is of course very beautiful and the wood is particularly good for carving. It's actually known as spoon wood in like common terms in England and the British Isles and such.

[00:00:59] Because you can carve wonderful spoons out of it. Very useful but it is actually very toxic. And probably every year up here in the mountains

[00:01:12] kids will read something online or something taken out of an old herbal book that says it's smoking the buds of rhododendron can get them high.

[00:01:21] But actually it's very very poisonous. They'll turn green, they'll start throwing up and usually end up in the hospital.

[00:01:27] So you need to know about these plants because they are very common ornamentals. There are some like, I think we'll actually discuss this under another topic,

[00:01:40] It's in the same family as rhododendron. It's called mountain laurel known as lamb kill.

[00:01:47] And it was used by the Cherokees actually to commit suicide. It's that poisonous and it's called lamb kill because if sheep eat it they die.

[00:01:55] And actually if you keep bees and they gather the nectar from those flowers you can actually have poisonous hunting.

[00:02:03] So you've got to be really careful if you're a beekeeper not to keep your bees around some of the plants in this family.

[00:02:11] That said there is very limited medicinal use to rhododendron.

[00:02:16] In King's, well let's see, I'll start with resources of the Southern Fields and Forest from the 1860s.

[00:02:27] It said it is well known to be possessed of poisonous properties. They give many notations on that.

[00:02:34] But it has been employed with success in chronic rheumatism, gout and glandular enlargements.

[00:02:41] The petioles act as a stimulatory, but it is poisonous.

[00:02:51] A narcotic powder power is doubted by some.

[00:02:55] As Bigelow swallowed an entire leaf and had no bad results.

[00:02:58] Now that would of course depend on what kind of rhododendron you're using.

[00:03:03] The brown powder attached to the foot stalks possesses considerable power as an air ring.

[00:03:11] The purple variety is one of the most beautiful.

[00:03:13] They actually note that in a medical book from the 1860s and it truly is.

[00:03:19] King's Medical Dispensatory in 1898 says,

[00:03:22] Yellow rhododendron contains a stimulant narcotic principle where it increases the heat of the body, excites thirst, and produces diaphoreses or an increased discharge of the other secretions or excretions.

[00:03:37] And is generally followed by a decrease in action of the arterial system.

[00:03:42] In other words, it slows the heart rate and reduces circulation.

[00:03:48] Where with some persons it causes an emetocatharsis, inebriation, and delirium.

[00:03:56] The Siberians use a decoction of it in chronic rheumatism and gout.

[00:04:01] They put two drachms of the dried shrub in an earthen pot with about 10 ounces of boiling water, keeping it at a near boil through the night.

[00:04:11] And they take this in the morning.

[00:04:13] I totally do not recommend that at all.

[00:04:15] And I don't know that our rhododendron shares the same properties as this Siberian rhododendron.

[00:04:21] They said,

[00:04:22] Besides other effects, it is said to produce a sensation of prickling or creeping in the painful parts.

[00:04:28] But in a few hours, the pain and disagreeable symptoms are relieved.

[00:04:33] And that two or three doses generally complete the cure.

[00:04:35] Depending on what kind of rhododendron you're using, two or three doses could completely kill you.

[00:04:42] The use of the liquid, let's see, could just be used to induce vomiting.

[00:04:47] It's a very interesting, valuable remedy in Russia and Germany and parts of France, but was scarcely used at all in England or America.

[00:04:54] And it could just be that our native rhododendrons are a bit more toxic.

[00:04:57] It says it possesses a decided control over circulation, acting like a sedative, slowing and quickening the pulse.

[00:05:05] No, slowing the quickening of the pulse.

[00:05:07] But also increasing the action of the heart.

[00:05:13] So, very interesting, but not one we really want to mess with.

[00:05:17] Plants for a Future, well, they said specific indication of the use is for myalgic pain, particularly the face.

[00:05:24] So, maybe there is some use, but I would leave that one to a professional.

[00:05:29] Plants for a Future in Modern Time says Rotodigil rosebay.

[00:05:33] The poultice leaves are used to relieve arthritic pain, headaches, etc.

[00:05:37] So, if you're using it topically, you're probably okay.

[00:05:39] A decoction of the leaves is occasionally employed internally in domestic treatment of rheumatism.

[00:05:46] The leaves take an internally controlled dosages for the treatment of heart ailments.

[00:05:51] Caution is advised, however, it is toxic.

[00:05:54] Known hazards of rhododendron, the leaves are poisonous.

[00:05:58] Ingestion can cause convulsions and coma.

[00:06:00] The pollen of many, if not all the species of rhododendrons is probably toxic.

[00:06:05] Being said to cause intoxication would even enlarge quantities.

[00:06:08] So, that's what you need to know about rhododendron.

[00:06:11] Useful, beautiful plant.

[00:06:13] Very, very poisonous.

[00:06:15] Now, let's get on to one that isn't poisonous, believe it or not.

[00:06:20] And it's sumac.

[00:06:21] Now, we're not talking, obviously, about poison sumac.

[00:06:24] That's not a member of the ruus species.

[00:06:26] It's actually toxodendron.

[00:06:28] It's actually got toxic in the name, okay?

[00:06:30] This is the sumac that grows all over the place.

[00:06:34] One of the most common shrubs.

[00:06:36] It's really nice.

[00:06:39] It usually has bright red berries sort of in a spike at the top.

[00:06:44] We have a lot of staghorn sumac where I live and smooth sumac.

[00:06:50] Several, several actually.

[00:06:52] Sumac berries are actually a popular spice in some countries.

[00:06:56] In Middle Eastern cooking, they use a lot of sumac.

[00:07:00] From a foraging perspective, they're called the lemonade plant.

[00:07:04] You can take the berries and crush them and make a tea with it.

[00:07:07] It tastes like lemonade.

[00:07:09] Really high in vitamin C.

[00:07:11] Very, very good for you.

[00:07:13] Traditionally, settlers and such would use them as just a thirst quencher when they find some in the woods.

[00:07:18] It's a little, you know, a lot of I and C.

[00:07:21] Not a lot of calories, but really quite tasty.

[00:07:26] The sumac was actually mentioned by Dioscorides in ancient Greece as a spice.

[00:07:33] As a, not really, I guess not a spice, but just an additive to food to give flavor.

[00:07:40] We'll just put it that way.

[00:07:42] He said that ruus was sprinkled among sauces.

[00:07:45] And, um, was also actually used for, uh, in tanning as well.

[00:07:50] It has quite a bit of tannin in it.

[00:07:52] And he describes it, uh, no point in getting into that.

[00:07:55] You can just Google what a sumac looks like.

[00:07:58] The leaves are stringent and good for the same purposes as acacia.

[00:08:01] He said, uh, decoction dyes the hair black.

[00:08:04] Yes, uh, sumac has actually been used as a hair dye for thousands of years.

[00:08:09] It is, uh, a liquid medicine and, uh, could be used as a hip bath or dropped into the ear for, uh, you know, running ears, ear aches.

[00:08:19] It's, uh, specifically discharges of the ears.

[00:08:22] That, uh, the tannin, that astringent action would tighten up that tissue and cause it to quit producing the pus, essentially.

[00:08:30] The leaves applied as a poultice with vinegar or honey are good for the, uh, inflammations of the eyes.

[00:08:37] And for gangrene, juice of the dried leaves boiled in water to the same consistency of honey are as useful for, uh, many things.

[00:08:45] Uh, well, he, he bitches at another ancient herb, lyceum, but are useful for many things.

[00:08:50] We'll just go with that.

[00:08:51] The fruit does the same good.

[00:08:52] Same thing, being good food.

[00:08:55] Often mixed in meat and was, uh, thought to be good for colic or intestinal complaints and dysentery.

[00:09:02] Apply it as a plaster with water.

[00:09:04] Prevents inflammations, uh, from fractures, uh, inflammation of the skin and would help take away bruising.

[00:09:12] It said it cleans rough tongues, uh, when, uh, mixed with honey.

[00:09:16] And prevents excessive discharges, uh, leucorrhea and such.

[00:09:20] And cures hemorrhoids.

[00:09:22] Applied with oak coals pounded into small pieces was how it was used for hemorrhoids.

[00:09:27] Again, it's had a stringent quality, essentially.

[00:09:30] It just takes down swelling.

[00:09:32] The boiled liquid of the fruit, uh, gathers a cream that is better for these purposes than the fruit itself.

[00:09:38] That would be sort of like the scum on top if you're boiling it.

[00:09:40] They would say that using the disley.

[00:09:43] And also, uh, leaves of gum, which put into the cavities of teeth to take away their pain.

[00:09:49] Skipping up to about 1500s England, uh, Gerard wrote,

[00:09:53] The leaves of sumac boiled in wine and drunk do stop the lasc, the inordinate course of women's sickness,

[00:09:59] and all other inordinate issues of blood.

[00:10:01] So, uh, diarrhea and excessive menstruation.

[00:10:03] The seeds of sumac eaten in sauces with meat stopeth all manner of fluxes in the belly,

[00:10:09] the bloody flux, and all other issues, especially the whites, or leucorrhea, essentially.

[00:10:15] The decoction of the leaves makeeth the hair black,

[00:10:18] and, yep, uh, we've covered that.

[00:10:20] That leaves me into an ointment, uh, or plaster with honey and vinegar.

[00:10:24] Stayeth the spreading nature of gangrene.

[00:10:28] It must have some, um, antiseptic qualities to it.

[00:10:34] The seed, well, and that astringency, again, is going to pull down that swelling.

[00:10:37] It's going to take a lot of the inflammation out of the tissue,

[00:10:40] but probably does have some, uh, antimicrobial properties as well.

[00:10:44] The seed is no less effectual to be strewed in powder upon meats,

[00:10:48] which, uh, would help keep meat from, uh, spoiling,

[00:10:52] help, uh, help prevent food poisoning.

[00:10:55] The seeds, pounded, mixed with honey in the powdered oak and coals,

[00:10:59] heal with the hemorrhoids.

[00:11:01] Um, oh, and he talks about how the gum could be put into, uh,

[00:11:06] hollows of teeth, cavities, and would take away the pain.

[00:11:09] Um, coal pepper, uh, actually,

[00:11:14] had a really interesting use for, um, sumac.

[00:11:18] In the 1600s, he said,

[00:11:20] The seeds dried, reduced to powder,

[00:11:23] and taken in small dosages,

[00:11:25] stop purges and hemorrhoids.

[00:11:26] The young shoots have a great efficacy

[00:11:28] and strengthening of the stomach and the bowels.

[00:11:31] They are best given a strong infusion.

[00:11:33] The bark of the roots has the same virtue,

[00:11:36] but to an inferior degree.

[00:11:38] So, he liked the seeds, uh,

[00:11:40] and the young shoots most.

[00:11:42] To get up to more, uh, modern use,

[00:11:44] Miss Grieve in the 1930s wrote,

[00:11:47] The bark is tonic and astringent and antiseptic.

[00:11:50] So, it does have an antiseptic quality.

[00:11:52] The berries are refrigerant and diuretic,

[00:11:54] meaning they cool the body,

[00:11:56] and, like I said,

[00:11:57] they're, uh, often, uh,

[00:11:59] used to quench thirst and hot weather.

[00:12:02] Uh, like lemonade.

[00:12:03] Very refreshing.

[00:12:04] But also diuretic,

[00:12:05] so, removes excess fluids from the body.

[00:12:08] A strong decoction,

[00:12:09] or diluted fluid extract,

[00:12:11] affords an agreeable gargle.

[00:12:13] In angina,

[00:12:15] especially when combined with potassium chloride,

[00:12:17] where tannin drugs are useful,

[00:12:19] as in diarrhea,

[00:12:20] the fluid extract is an excellent astringent.

[00:12:23] The bark in a decoction or syrup

[00:12:26] has been found useful in gonorrhea,

[00:12:27] leucorrhea, diarrhea, dysentery,

[00:12:30] hectic fever, scrupula,

[00:12:32] and profuse perspiration from debility.

[00:12:35] Combined with the barks of slippery elm

[00:12:36] and white pine and taken freely,

[00:12:39] the decoction is said to have been

[00:12:40] greatly beneficial in syphilis.

[00:12:42] Uh, an injection used for prolapse uteri

[00:12:45] and ani and for leucorrhea

[00:12:47] and as a wash of many skin complaints,

[00:12:50] the decoction is valuable.

[00:12:52] For a scald head,

[00:12:53] which is, uh,

[00:12:54] essentially psoriasis of the scalp,

[00:12:56] it can be simmered in lard

[00:12:57] and the powdered root applied as a poultice

[00:12:59] to old ulcers,

[00:13:00] forming a good antiseptic.

[00:13:03] A decoction of the inner bark of the root

[00:13:05] is helpful for the sore mouth,

[00:13:07] resulting from mercurial salvation

[00:13:09] and also for internal use in mercurial diseases.

[00:13:14] Fortunately,

[00:13:14] we do not encounter mercury as much

[00:13:17] in, uh,

[00:13:18] our time as they did in the 30s.

[00:13:20] Berries may be used as an infusion of diabetes.

[00:13:23] Uh,

[00:13:23] it has sort of a hypoglycemic effect.

[00:13:26] Um,

[00:13:27] bowel complaints,

[00:13:28] febrile diseases,

[00:13:29] as a gargle and quincy

[00:13:30] and ulcerations of the mouth and throat.

[00:13:32] There's a wash for ringworms,

[00:13:34] tetters,

[00:13:34] and skin ulcers.

[00:13:37] Um,

[00:13:39] uh,

[00:13:39] she actually just,

[00:13:40] uh,

[00:13:41] powdered the seeds

[00:13:42] and mixed them with lard for hemorrhoids.

[00:13:45] And,

[00:13:45] um,

[00:13:47] let's see,

[00:13:47] nineteen,

[00:13:49] eighteen hundreds,

[00:13:51] America,

[00:13:52] uh,

[00:13:52] Dr.

[00:13:53] Thompson,

[00:13:54] the father of the Thompsonian School of Verbal Medicine,

[00:13:57] said,

[00:13:57] um,

[00:13:58] this appears to be a new article in medicine,

[00:14:00] entirely unknown to the medical faculty,

[00:14:02] as no mentions made up by any author.

[00:14:04] Well,

[00:14:04] of course he was wrong,

[00:14:05] as we just mentioned several ancient authors

[00:14:08] who were quite aware of it.

[00:14:09] But,

[00:14:10] uh,

[00:14:10] he said,

[00:14:11] the first of my knowledge that it was good for canker

[00:14:14] was at Onion River in 1807,

[00:14:16] attending,

[00:14:17] uh,

[00:14:17] an outbreak of dysentery.

[00:14:19] Being in want of something to clear the stomach and bowels

[00:14:22] in that complaint,

[00:14:23] I found that the bark,

[00:14:24] leaves,

[00:14:24] or berries answered the purpose extremely well

[00:14:26] and have made use of it ever since.

[00:14:30] All right.

[00:14:31] Uh,

[00:14:31] let's see if we got anything.

[00:14:35] He mentioned the berries are pleasantly acid and astringent.

[00:14:39] Um,

[00:14:40] he said,

[00:14:40] fill a vessel full of berries,

[00:14:42] covered with boiling water

[00:14:43] and steeped for a half hour.

[00:14:44] Yes,

[00:14:44] that's how you make the famous sumac lemonade.

[00:14:47] And it is quite good.

[00:14:49] strain to,

[00:14:49] uh,

[00:14:50] strain and sweeten to taste.

[00:14:52] This is a good beverage to allay irritation

[00:14:54] to the bladder

[00:14:55] and in the treatment of diabetes

[00:14:57] and relief of bloody urine.

[00:14:59] King's Medical Dispensatory of 1898 says,

[00:15:02] this exceedingly valuable medicine

[00:15:04] was introduced by,

[00:15:06] we don't need to get into that,

[00:15:07] but by 1879,

[00:15:08] it found its way into official,

[00:15:09] uh,

[00:15:10] pharmaceutical use in America.

[00:15:11] At first,

[00:15:13] the use of this remedy

[00:15:13] was combined to the treatment of diabetes

[00:15:15] and other excessive discharges

[00:15:17] from the kidneys and bladder,

[00:15:18] bladder,

[00:15:20] as well as,

[00:15:20] uh,

[00:15:21] to cases of

[00:15:22] insipient albuminaria,

[00:15:25] albuminuria.

[00:15:25] more recently,

[00:15:27] in addition to the above name cases,

[00:15:29] it has been largely employed

[00:15:31] with advantage in urethral irritations,

[00:15:33] uterine leucorrhea,

[00:15:35] cholera,

[00:15:36] infantum,

[00:15:36] diarrhea,

[00:15:37] dysentery,

[00:15:38] chronic laryngitis,

[00:15:39] chronic bronchitis,

[00:15:40] and especially in the inuresis of children and aged people.

[00:15:44] Why it is undoubtable in value in many hemorrhagic states,

[00:15:50] means it can help,

[00:15:50] uh,

[00:15:51] the astringency,

[00:15:51] again,

[00:15:51] it can help stop bleeding and such.

[00:15:54] particularly in chronic hematuria,

[00:15:56] a malarial form,

[00:15:58] which is quite common in the southern states,

[00:15:59] and it was at that time.

[00:16:01] Its chief value is in inuresis

[00:16:03] with a marked atony

[00:16:04] and chronic irritability of the urinary passages,

[00:16:08] whether in young or old subjects,

[00:16:10] and it was considered a cure for bedwetting.

[00:16:12] Very,

[00:16:13] uh,

[00:16:15] um,

[00:16:16] good for the bloody flux

[00:16:17] or bloody diarrhea.

[00:16:18] They go on about all that.

[00:16:20] There are specific indications and uses,

[00:16:23] um,

[00:16:25] specific,

[00:16:26] specific indications according to Dr.

[00:16:28] McClanahan are,

[00:16:29] for profuse stools,

[00:16:31] skin cool and sallow,

[00:16:33] pulse small and feeble,

[00:16:34] loss of flesh,

[00:16:36] abdomen flabby,

[00:16:38] tongue pale,

[00:16:39] trembling and moist,

[00:16:40] trembling of the lower limbs,

[00:16:41] general sense of lassitude and languor.

[00:16:44] So,

[00:16:45] uh,

[00:16:46] and,

[00:16:47] um,

[00:16:48] let's see,

[00:16:49] uh,

[00:16:49] they also said the Stumac bark is tonic,

[00:16:51] astringent,

[00:16:51] antiseptic,

[00:16:52] and decidedly alternative.

[00:16:54] The berries are refrigerate,

[00:16:55] diuretic,

[00:16:56] decoction,

[00:16:57] being to a syrup,

[00:16:58] was used for,

[00:16:59] uh,

[00:17:00] gonorrhea,

[00:17:00] leucorrhea,

[00:17:01] diarrhea,

[00:17:01] dysentery,

[00:17:02] hectic fever,

[00:17:03] scrofula,

[00:17:04] and profuse perspiration.

[00:17:07] Um,

[00:17:08] combined with slippery elm bark and white pine was good for syphilis,

[00:17:13] and I think we covered most of those,

[00:17:16] uh,

[00:17:18] uses.

[00:17:19] They did say it was specifically good for relaxed mucus tissue.

[00:17:22] It's against a stringent,

[00:17:23] a stringent quality.

[00:17:26] Like if you have a sore throat and,

[00:17:28] uh,

[00:17:28] it's just,

[00:17:29] you know,

[00:17:29] it kind of helps pull up,

[00:17:30] draw in the tissue.

[00:17:32] Of course,

[00:17:32] it's going to work the same way on hemloids or anything else.

[00:17:34] Um,

[00:17:37] good for spongy gums,

[00:17:38] and that would have been from,

[00:17:40] um,

[00:17:41] scurvy.

[00:17:42] And of course,

[00:17:42] it's very high in vitancy.

[00:17:44] Good for ulcerative sore throats,

[00:17:46] et cetera.

[00:17:48] Uh,

[00:17:50] modern use plants for a future set of decoction of the root has been used in the treatment of dysentery.

[00:17:54] An infusion of the root has been used in the treatment of VD.

[00:17:57] We're probably talking syphilis in that case,

[00:17:59] and gonorrhea.

[00:18:00] We've already mentioned both of those.

[00:18:01] A poultice of the root has been applied to sores and skin eruptions.

[00:18:05] A tea made from the bark has been drunk to stimulate the flow of milk in nursing mothers.

[00:18:10] So it's a galactagogue.

[00:18:11] A decoction of the bark has been used as a wash for blisters and sunburned blisters.

[00:18:16] Again,

[00:18:16] that astringent bring down the inflammation quality.

[00:18:19] An infusion of the leaves has been used to cleanse and purify skin eruptions.

[00:18:23] The berries chewed in the treatment of bedwetting and mouth sores.

[00:18:27] Um,

[00:18:30] uh,

[00:18:31] let's see,

[00:18:31] they mentioned specifically the smooth sumac.

[00:18:35] It's just a different variety of sumac.

[00:18:37] Um,

[00:18:38] was good as a bath for,

[00:18:40] uh,

[00:18:40] frostbitten,

[00:18:41] uh,

[00:18:42] limbs.

[00:18:43] skin of,

[00:18:43] you know,

[00:18:45] that had been,

[00:18:46] uh,

[00:18:46] frostbitten,

[00:18:47] uh,

[00:18:47] of course.

[00:18:50] stagshorn specifically.

[00:18:51] This is one that really grows,

[00:18:52] uh,

[00:18:53] a lot around where I live.

[00:18:54] The bark is antiseptic,

[00:18:55] astringent,

[00:18:56] astringent,

[00:18:57] galactical,

[00:18:57] and tonic.

[00:18:58] We've already covered all that.

[00:18:59] Used for diarrhea,

[00:19:00] fevers,

[00:19:00] piles,

[00:19:01] or hemorrhoids,

[00:19:02] joint ability,

[00:19:03] uterine prolapse,

[00:19:04] et cetera.

[00:19:05] Infusion also said to increase the milk flow in nursing mothers.

[00:19:09] Uh,

[00:19:09] uh,

[00:19:10] inner bark said to be a valuable remedy for piles,

[00:19:12] roots,

[00:19:13] astringent,

[00:19:13] a blood purifier.

[00:19:14] That's high vitamin C content.

[00:19:17] Diuretic and emetic.

[00:19:18] Uh,

[00:19:19] infusion of the roots combined with purple coneflower or echinacea was used for the treatment of

[00:19:23] venereal diseases.

[00:19:25] Poultice of the root used to treat boils,

[00:19:27] leaves are astringent.

[00:19:29] They've been used for the treatment of asthma,

[00:19:31] diarrhea,

[00:19:31] and,

[00:19:32] uh,

[00:19:32] let's see,

[00:19:33] anything else that we don't know about,

[00:19:35] good for bedwetting.

[00:19:37] Um,

[00:19:38] infusion has been used,

[00:19:39] uh,

[00:19:39] the flowers are astringent and stomatic,

[00:19:41] and infusion has been used to treat stomach pains.

[00:19:44] Sap has been applied.

[00:19:46] It does have a,

[00:19:46] a latex-y type sap.

[00:19:48] You always want to be careful with that.

[00:19:49] Usually that can be a little caustic.

[00:19:51] You don't want to get it in your eyes.

[00:19:53] But it was used to help remove warts.

[00:19:55] Uh,

[00:19:55] it's a folk,

[00:19:56] folk remedy for warts.

[00:19:57] Uh,

[00:19:58] says some cautious of ice here since the sap can cause a rash on some people.

[00:20:03] And,

[00:20:03] um,

[00:20:04] I guess we'll wrap it up there.

[00:20:06] cover two,

[00:20:08] actually really common,

[00:20:09] uh,

[00:20:10] shrubs basically,

[00:20:11] you know,

[00:20:11] in my area,

[00:20:12] the,

[00:20:12] the rhododendrons and the,

[00:20:14] uh,

[00:20:14] especially the set of the staghorn.

[00:20:16] Sumac.

[00:20:17] And,

[00:20:17] uh,

[00:20:18] it's out right now.

[00:20:19] Right now the berries are red.

[00:20:21] Uh,

[00:20:22] the big forage for deer.

[00:20:24] So,

[00:20:24] you know,

[00:20:25] go out and spot your sumac right now.

[00:20:26] The leaves will usually turn in the fall.

[00:20:28] A really beautiful orange,

[00:20:30] sort of like,

[00:20:31] uh,

[00:20:31] persimmon leaves.

[00:20:32] But they're long and slender.

[00:20:34] And,

[00:20:35] uh,

[00:20:35] you'll have this big spike of red berries at the top.

[00:20:38] They may be a,

[00:20:38] you know,

[00:20:39] a little dry.

[00:20:40] They may be a little too old.

[00:20:41] But you can certainly,

[00:20:41] if they're dry,

[00:20:42] you can harvest them and use them medicinally.

[00:20:44] But,

[00:20:44] you can identify the plant now.

[00:20:46] And next year,

[00:20:47] you can harvest the berries and make that wonderful sumac lemonade.

[00:20:51] So,

[00:20:51] y'all,

[00:20:51] uh,

[00:20:52] have a great week.

[00:20:53] And I'll talk to you next time.

[00:20:54] The information in this podcast is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or condition.

[00:21:04] Nothing I say or write has been evaluated or approved by the FDA.

[00:21:08] I'm not a doctor.

[00:21:09] The U.S. government does not recognize the practice of herbal medicine.

[00:21:13] And there is no governing body regulating herbalists.

[00:21:16] Therefore,

[00:21:16] I'm really just a guy who studies herbs.

[00:21:18] I'm not offering any advice.

[00:21:19] I won't even claim that anything I write or say is accurate or true.

[00:21:23] I can tell you what herbs have been traditionally used for.

[00:21:25] I can tell you my own experience and if I believe in herbs help me.

[00:21:29] I cannot nor would I tell you to do the same.

[00:21:32] If you use an herb anyone recommends,

[00:21:34] you are treating yourself.

[00:21:36] You take full responsibility for your health.

[00:21:38] Humans are individuals and no two are identical.

[00:21:41] What works for me may not work for you.

[00:21:43] You may have an allergy,

[00:21:45] a sensitivity,

[00:21:46] an underlying condition

[00:21:47] that no one else even shares

[00:21:49] and you don't even know about.

[00:21:50] Be careful with your health.

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[00:21:55] you agree to be responsible for yourself,

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[00:21:58] make your own choices

[00:21:59] and not to blame me for anything ever.