this (fall 2025) was my first year harvesting aralia racemosa
it took me a few years to find a stable stand of plants that could sustainably + respectfully be harvested
i dug roots on a new moon in fall when the berries were mostly spent
and the plant's season was over + starting to turn inward

i triple washed the fresh roots and tinctured them fresh in grain
my pictures are from earlier in the season when i first found the stand.
i am new to using this remedy, but will say that it has a clear ginseng-like tonic effect.
it has a very unique taste, which implies that it has deep and novel properties.
taste is the beginning of herbal actions and speaks to medicinal constituents.
it almost reminds me of elecampane root in a way, which also has an unusual taste.
this may speak to the fact that wild spikenard's most common indication in old books,
as it's no longer en vogue,
speaks to its use for respiratory support in chest colds and bronchitis type presentations.

both dr. christopher and michael moore speak to this extensively.
i also found multiple native american accounts. of using spikenard for chest colds and congestion.
it's common for drawn out illness to lead to incomplete recovery with wheezy aftermath.
the covid years really exacerbated this with many people developing 'long covid'
but this kind of situation has always been known.
cross culturally and throughout history, everyone has written about these incomplete recoveries.
there's lots of gnosis on how to address this.
we usually need a tonic to regain strength as well as an antispasmodic decongestant to open + clear the space.
i have reliably used a bag of the hermit and a white pine + elecampane tincture for this presentation,
both used daily for a month, and it has been a silver bullet for me.
i often like reishi based teas for for strongly turning around a difficult situation.

but i had not worked with wild spikenard until fall of 2025.
it’s not a super well known or widely used remedy in modern practice. i was only vaguely aware of its indications.
i was more focused on its relation to ginseng and clear tonic properties.
a few drops a day promptly improved my appetite and digestion, which are both constitutionally weak.
it offered pleasant and clear stamina support.

it was apparent that this would be a very pleasant and safe low dose tonic for people who need a leg up.
i think elderly people would particularly like it, although it does taste a bit odd.
i feel really good about the respiratory indications and wild spikenard tincture will be my new option for people who aren't interested in the hermit tea,
which is also bitter and requires an extended brew for full bioavailability. it's also a really pivotal formula in my practice and i struggle to keep it in stock.
hello wild spikenard tincture! it's cheaper. it's easier. we're here for it. it’s a new era.

there is something kingly about spikenard.
as i was harvesting it, it's roots were looped into what looked like a crown. part of that crown trailed off into a new loop for its next generation.
it seems to reproduce by seed and by trailing roots.
it grows into a not so small shrub that dies back to the root and begins its regrowth in the spring.
that's a lot of resilience and growth for a single season.
as a small lady, i found a few drops 1-2x a day to be lovely without being overwhelming.
tonic herbs can be overtly stimulating (or over stimulating) at too stiff of a dose, which we don't want.
but stiffer doses are safe and appropriate if necessary. everyone has a little bit of a different tolerance.

as a general rule of thumb, if you’re very sensitive to things like caffeine and alcohol, start very low and slow. a few drops rocks.
it you’re a tough cookie, i’m not too worried about you. start with 3-5 drops and if you want to inch up, go for it.
half a dropper is a solid stiff dose. if it’s comfy for you and you can’t kick a chest cold, you can take that 1-3 times a day
with a mug of hot water for up to a few weeks without concern.
to rebuild reserves in a more long lasting way, i like tiny consistent doses for several months. 1-5 drops 2x a day
if your lungs are raspy and clunky, follow tincture with a mug of hot water to facilitate deeper opening and expectoration properties.
or i always like to tell people to be sure to dose before you take a hot shower or bath.
the heat guides the remedy deeper into the system and catalyzes its good work.

it's ok and normal and good to sweat a little bit.
the lungs and skin are closely tied in holistic paradigms. opening one means opening the other.
that shows (and you can feel) the nervous system adjusting itself on a deeper level as well.
this neurovascular tension can be in the bronchioles causing asthma,
in the female reproductive system causing tension/spasm/dysregulation,
in the nervous system or head for some patterns of migraine,
in the extremities causing Raynaud's or some patterns of neuropathy.
it could also be one of the patterns of high blood pressure.
relaxing that nervous tension/spasm opens things up leads to better blood flow
sometimes the body has a constitutional weak point where there is a tendency to spasm.
herbs have sets of properties and spaces that they are specific to,
which is why we need to look at the full herbal profile to understand how it acts in the body.
we want to find our own 'pattern of disharmony' and match it to a remedy's full herbal profile.
1. making examined choices where you get the most bang for your buck and
2. using a high quality remedy
is the most effective and responsible way to navigate natural medicine.
give the right remedy in its best form a lot of space to do its work.

as always, stay well hydrated my friends.
teas and tinctures work through the waters of the body, so give them an ample and clean medium to do their good work.
i consult for free for your safety and benefit. if you have any questions at all, please reach out!

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