Every once in a while I like to use a column in this newsletter to share a small sampling of the great articles and websites that come my way related to edible and medicinal plants, herbalism, nature connection, holistic health, gardening, outdoor recreation and other related topics. Since there is only one Herb Walks event to tell you about this month, let's take a walk around the World Wide Web:

California Truth & Healing Council The Truth and Healing Council was created by Governor Newsom via executive order N–15–19, which is common referred to as the “Governors Apology.” The purpose of the Council is to examine the historical record and clarify the nature, causes and extent of State-sanctioned depredations and prejudicial policies committed during the early decades of California’s statehood, and make recommendations to meaningfully address the historical trauma and ongoing issues caused by these early actions.

"California removes slur targeting Indigenous women from location names" ( Los Angeles Times) Officials have approved the removal of the derogatory term “squaw” from more than 30 geographic features and place names on California lands.

 "Ethnomedicinal Wisdom: An Approach for Antiviral Drug Development" (National Library of Medicine) From the article: “Scientifically, ‘Ethnomedicine’ is the study of ‘traditional medicine’ of ethnic communities, their knowledge and practices that transmitted orally over centuries, and evolved over millennia of human existence.” This one's for the science geeks. For the rest, it's an example of the scientific research going into plant medicine in the modern age.

"Pomegranate Mouthwash Had Comparable Effect to Chlorhexidine in Reducing Dental Plaque" ( American Botanical Council's HerbalGram.org) This is pomegranate season and a good time to share this article from American Botanical Council, one of my favorite sources of herbal information. Chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash is used most often for dental plaque but it has side effects and complications. CHX, meet Pomegranate Hydroalcoholic Extract!

"US Sales of Herbal Supplements Increased by 4.4% in 2023"  ( American Botanical Council's HerbalGram.org) Annual sales of herbal dietary supplements in the United States totaled an estimated $12.551 billion in 2023, according to data from the  Nutrition Business Journal. 

In 2023, for the second consecutive year, psyllium (Plantago ovata) ranked first in mainstream retail sales. The seed and seed husk are commonly used in products marketed for cardiovascular and digestive health support. (In 2020 and 2021, during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, elderberry was the top-selling mainstream herbal supplement ingredient.)

Turmeric ranked first in sales in the 2023 natural channel for the third year in a row. Pain, inflammation and joint health were the top-selling health focuses of turmeric products sold in this channel.

"Health Benefits of Gratitude"   ( UCLA Health) It's Thanksgiving season, too. From the article: "Saying thank you is nothing new. But practicing gratitude — regularly focusing on the positive parts of your life — is about more than having good manners. It can be a powerful health habit.

Research shows that practicing gratitude — 15 minutes a day, five days a week — for at least six weeks can enhance mental wellness and possibly promote a lasting change in perspective. Gratitude and its mental health benefits can also positively affect your physical health."

Please join me and Rondia for the last monthly Nature Education Walk of 2024 at Taft Nature Preserve on Saturday, December 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon. We will explore trails through the wild parts of the property, identify and discuss native plants, and observe signs of birds and animals of the local ecosystem. 

Taft Gardens & Nature Preserve was featured in an L.A. Times article on “The 16 Most Beautiful and Inviting Public Gardens in Southern California” and included in the RedBook Magazine list of “The 12 Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens in the United States.”

For lack of a better cliché, you owe it to yourself to visit this amazing place if you've never been there. You can make a reservation online for a self-guided tour of the developed garden areas but the Nature Preserve is off limits unless you are with a guide.

Registration for this event is through Taft Gardens. Please start here. 

Are you interested in joining an extended field class limited to 5 students or less? A longtime friend and Herb Walks fan recently asked if she could study plant identification with me to supplement her college class in Ecological Restoration. After we brainstormed how that might look, she created a draft of a class description, including class duration, goals, cost of program, and a cost breakdown per student for a maximum of 5 students. Here is the proposal:

Class Goals:

• Introduce students to native plants and their seasonal life cycles.
• Develop skills in plant identification and ecological observation.
• Track changes in native plants at two distinct sites for comparative learning.
• Two 2.5 hour classes a month 
• 5 or less students 
• January-June, 2025 
• During the week Mon, Tues or Wed

Cost of Program:

• Duration: 12 sessions (2.5 hours each, twice a month)
• Cost Per Session: $250 total, divided among participants

"Now, it is time to appeal to our local elected leaders in what might be our last opportunity to save Pine Mountain.

Congresswoman Julia Brownley and Congressman Salud Carbajal must step in to bring the Forest Service to the table and advocate for a meaningful compromise."

Click here to send an email to local members of Congress.