One of my goals before I moved to Italy was to dive into herbalism once I moved here. I've long been interested in herbs and how they can be used to treat ailments, but there aren't a ton of plants in San Diego!
This past year, I have completely immersed myself in the healing qualities of local herbs.
Finding Teachers Everywhere
Being Su, my first instinct is to buy a book or sign up for a course. And while I've done both of those (several times over), I was surprised that some of my best teachers are Italians who have been using the herbs all their lives.
Francesco's family points out the borage, chamomile, and milk thistle on their property, and tells me what's good in a frittata or a tea.
And I've met a fabulous woman, Mariangela, who has a degree in (I think) ethnobotany or herbalism. She takes groups on hikes to harvest plants and then shows them how to turn them into oils, mouthwash, creams, and more.
I'm wrapping up studies with American certified herbalist Suzanne O'Gara, but it was important for me to also learn in Italy so I'd familiarize myself with the Italian words for plants and plant parts. So I'm taking a course offered by Bosco di Ogigia.
I love the tome Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine because I can flip through to the plant I'm interested in to find out what its medical uses are.
Harvesting My Own Medicine
There's something so completely satisfying about going for a walk in the mountains with Fra and filling a basket with flowers that not only bring beauty but also can be used to make medicine.
I discovered milk thistle when I was having some issues that we thought might be related to my liver. So I boiled the flowers and drank the tea to purify my liver.
I made lavender and meadowsweet salve for pain and relaxation, as well as a calendula salve for wounds. I was so proud when Fra's aunt told me the calendula had completely cleared up an allergic reaction she had on her shoulder! My favorite project was harvesting elderberry and making a syrup that I've already used to treat a cold!
If I can't find what I need growing, there are two erboristerie shops in Soverato where I can buy dried herbs. I love chatting with the shop owners about uses!
My interest in herbalism has also had a positive side effect: I'm taking fewer pharmaceuticals. If I have a headache, I first apply an oil I created that has mint, lavender, and eucalyptus essential oil. I'm using calendula oil to moisturize my skin, stop bug bite itches, and heal wounds.
Let's Go Back to Nature, Shall We?
Outside of me making my own medicine, I admire that Italy is big on natural treatments over pharmaceuticals. Every doctor I've seen has written me prescriptions for natural supplements before anything else.
Pharmaceuticals were, after all, created with plants initially. But now we're ingesting more chemicals and additives when we buy our medicine. I'm just proud that I'm empowering myself to better understand what my body needs and then finding a plant that can help!
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