One of the biggest challenges of studying herbalism is figuring out where to begin. You discover a course on making herbal remedies. Then a workshop on women’s wellness. Then a tea-blending class. Then a teacher whose work you admire. Then another fascinating herbal event.
Sound familiar?
Before long, your wish list has grown into hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars in courses and resources.
But what if you didn’t have to choose just one path?
The Herbalism Collective Bundle is officially open, and it’s amazing! This rare collection brings together more than 50 respected herbal educators, schools, authors, and creators in one place.
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🌿 Rosemary Gladstar 🌿 Herbal Academy 🌿 The School of Evolutionary Herbalism 🌿 Sacred Science 🌿 Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz 🌿 Anima Mundi 🌿 Asia Suler 🌿 David Crow …and dozens more trusted voices in the herbal community.
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If you’ve been wanting to explore herbalism more deeply, this is a wonderful opportunity to follow your curiosity and learn from some of the most respected voices in the field.
I know my posts seem to have dried up lately. Believe me, it’s not because there’s no drama going on in La Yacata. On the contrary, the melodrama is so pervasive, you’d think I was the star of my own telenovela. However, since I am still working through the red tape of a Mexican divorce, I am trying to be prudent and not air the dirty laundry flying everywhere (not necessarily my own) until such time as I have that final divorce decree. So even though there is a frog prince, lawyers brawling in the streets with el transito, and the devil herself strutting her stuff in red, you’ll have to wait a bit longer for those stories.
In the meantime, here are several of my books you can download for FREE over the next few days. Enjoy!
Aspiring authors can discover practical marketing strategies in Book Hawking: A Beginner’s Guide to Marketing Your Self-Published Book.
Women living in or considering a move to rural Mexico can find valuable preparedness information in A Woman’s Survival Guide to Disasters in Rural Mexico.
Natural remedy enthusiasts can continue their botanical journey with Exploring Traditional Herbal Remedies in Mexico Volume 5: Botanical Treasures from Acuya to Zarzaparrilla.
Families and young readers can enjoy the bilingual children’s story Abuelita ¿Qué Vamos A Hacer Hoy? Let’s Make Rosca de Reyes!, which celebrates the traditions surrounding Los Reyes Magos.
For those who enjoy faith-based activities, Biblical Trivia: Women of the Bible Activity Book offers an entertaining and educational challenge centered on women of the Old Testament.
Azomiate, Barkleyanthus salicifolius has the botanical synonym of Senecio salignus and is native to Mexico and Central America. Common names include chilca, jarilla, izcatzoyatl (faja de algodón) or necheloli (para recoger la bilis) in Náhuatl, it oksini in Purhépecha, ra-yhotitha in Otomí, baldag shi ingol in Zapotec, alzumihatl in Oaxaca and willow ragwort in English.
Azomiate is classified as a cold plant. The leaves are boiled to make a mouthwash. In Sonora, azomiate is prescribed for gastritis, sores, wounds, laryngitis, and vomiting. In Chiapas, it is utilized as an insecticide. For back pain, a wash is made from fresh leaves. For acne, crushed leaves mixed with mezcal are applied to the blemishes.
In Puebla, it’s prescribed as a way to combat fever through a confortativo (relief) placed on the stomach. Crushed leaves from aliso (Alnus jorullensis subsp. jorullensis), lengua de vaca (Rumex crispus), and azomiate are placed on the stomach as a poultice. Another fever confortativo consists of azomiate leaves and petals from rosa de castilla (Rosa gallica) that are applied to the stomach and covered to keep it in place for three hours. The remedy is affected when the herbs appear cocidas (cooked), having absorbed the fever’s heat.
Another confortativo combination is made for diarrhea. Azomiate leaves, rosa de castilla (Rosa gallica) petals, tomillo leaves (Thymus vulgaris), orégano mexicano leaves (Lippia graveolens), a clove of ajo (Allium sativum), slices of cebolla (Allium cepa), mirto leaves (Loeselia mexicana), mastranzo leaves (Mentha rotundifolia) and hierbabuena leaves (Mentha spicata) are chopped and added to alcohol with a few drops of vinegar. This mixture is placed at the base of the stomach and wrapped to keep it in place for at least six hours.
The most common use for azomiate in central Mexico is in limpias (cleansings). Ailments known as mal de ojo (evil eye) caused by mirada fuerte (hexing), mal aire (bad air), espanto (sudden fear), and coraje or bilis (excessive rage) are diagnosed when the affected has diarrhea, fever, nausea, restlessness, weeping, and pérdida del alma (spirit loss). Mal aire is believed to be caused by stepping into a space a spirit is already inhabiting or the area where someone has died. The malignant air the remains can move into a body, causing illness. Confirmation of mal aire is made by surrounding the patient with copal incense. If the smoke eddies, then mal aire is the diagnosis. Another way to diagnose the illness is the limpia con blanquillo (egg cleansing). An egg is rubbed over the ailing person’s body and then cracked into a glass of water. If the yoke has air bubbles or looks like a remolino (swirls), then treatment for mal aire beings. Treatment consists of brushing the affected person with branches of azomiate, ruda (Ruta chalepensis) pirú (Schinus molle), and retama (Cassia tomentosa), which are then disposed of outside so that the spirit doesn’t transfer to another person.
A tincture for rheumatism is made from crushed leaves marinated in tequila for three weeks and applied daily for one or two weeks before bed. For digestive pain, the tincture is massaged on the upper portion of the stomach twice a day. A poultice is made for from a branch with leaves soaked in alcohol and rubbed on bruises. A wash is made from the infusion of leaves and used to clean wounds, then a poultice of leaves is placed over the area. Irritated skin is treated by rubbing fresh azomiate leaves over the area.
Note: Many Senecio species are toxic. There’s no evidence that azomiate (Barkleyanthus salicifolius) is dangerous. However, all the remedies cited call for its topical use rather than ingestion.
Surviving Mexico 
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