When the Plants Find You

And how we receive their gifts

The plants have a way of finding us when we need them, when we’re open and paying attention. Sometimes they are generous enough to appear even when we’re not listening. When I experience their gifts, I’m left in awe and appreciation. Herbalist Kat Maier discusses the phenomenon in Energetic Herbalism:

“(Bioregionalism) is an interesting phenomenon I have witnessed for over thirty years: an uncanny relationship with where people live and the plants that are growing there. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard a client's story and when they tell me what is growing in their yard it happens to be exactly what they need…And a related phenomenon: Plants have appeared in my garden that I am certain I did not plant, and not long after they showed up, a need arose for that very medicine. This is the ultimate act of reciprocity, where the gift being given (our medicine plant) arrives before we realize we are in need!”

Flor de azahar

Over the weekend I stopped by a market where a couple sells herbs from their home near volcanoes outside of Mexico City. Plants we find in Southern California often overlap with parts of Mexico, though I still encounter new ones regularly. Some of the familiar plants feel novel as I learn their Spanish names.

My gaze fixed on Flor de azahur, or orange blossom, whose cream-colored petals remind me of weathered cotton. Curiously, I’ve never worked with this flower, despite California growing full of citrus. With a gentle urgency, I made a tea when I returned home.

I sat and I sipped. And I listened. Sweet, familiar aromas settled my body into a deep, quiet relaxation. The energy moved downward into my toes, as my heart lifted upward into a smile. Exhale. Sigh. Relief.

Later, I researched Flor de azahur’s medicinal properties. Flowers of both Bitter Orange (Citrus aurantium) and Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis) are used similarly.

• Anti-inflammatory

• Antispasmodic

• Antidepressant

• Antidiarrheal

• Antihypertensive

• Antimicrobial

• Carminative (digestive support)

• Diuretic

• Nervine (calming, anxiolitic)

Natural Medicines Research Collaboration: 1, 2.

I had been in bed the entire week prior with a nasty stomach bug and fever. At the market, my stomach still cramped. Flor de azahur found me, offering gifts as an antispasmodic and carminitive for my belly. As a medical doctor, I have no scientific way to explain how this happens. But that’s part of its beauty, this open receptivity and release of the needing to know, needing to explain.

Skilled Teachers

In the School of the Sacred Wild, teacher Marysia Miernowska reminds us that not only will the plants find you when you need them, but that these wise, patient, skilled teachers will meet you where you’re at. A few years ago when I first sat with Tulsi, or Holy Basil, I felt the plant strongly in my root and heart. She offered safety as I settled into a new home and soothed me as I traversed heartbreak. A couple years later, I felt her energy strongly in my solar plexus and throat - areas of my body that were ready for tending to.

As a doctor who focuses on reproductive health, it is no surprise that Mugwort abundantly grows where I hike. When I started wild harvesting this magical plant, smoke from burning leaves cleansed and protected my space. Soon I drank her tea, feeling warmth in my womb during meditations. Mugwort is a known emmenagogue that helps bring down a menstrual bleed. Now, I often recommend the plant for support to people with dysmenorrhea or those moving through a pregnancy release.

The list goes on with various plants that have appeared when I’ve needed them, beyond intentionally seeking them out at an apothecary. As I slow down and pay more attention, they feel ever present. This work fills my cup and I’m so grateful and humbled to share it. Contact me if you’re interested in a 1:1 herbal consultation to work with healing plants.

Nourish

A floral matcha for clarity & heart

Matcha green tea offers smooth energy support without the post-coffee crash and has lower acidity than coffee. It contains potent antioxidant catechins and is high in L-theanine, an amino acid that supports neurotransmitters like GABA, dopamine, and serotonin for a calming effect.

Blue Lotus is a stunning flower - in appearance and taste. The indigo petals are calming, uplifting, and support mental clarity. Rose is also uplifting, supports the heart, and offers anti-inflammation, among many other benefits.

⚘Whisk 1/2 - 1 tsp matcha powder with ~1.5oz hot water — I often add 1/2 tsp of powdered Eleuthero for its adaptogenic effects
⚘Add steamed milk of choice
⚘Raw, local honey to taste
⚘1/2 dried Blue Lotus Flower
⚘1 pinch dried Rose petals

Herb sources, in-store or delivery:

Wild Terra (Los Angeles)
Oshala Farms  (Oregon)
Mountain Rose Herbs (Oregon)