Healing Plants of The Smokies
Herbs, flowers, saps and roots have captivated me for almost a decade. After experiencing first-hand the power and healing properties of dried herbs and essential oils, I became a true believer in nature’s ability to support the health of the human body.
Long-time readers of Smoky Mountain Living may recall my 2018 interview with Maia Toll, author of The Illustrated Herbiary. She and I sat in a cozy tea room in Asheville, North Carolina, and discussed herbs at length. She told me the enchanting tale of her time in Ireland serving as an apprentice to a medicine woman.
In her book’s introduction, she says, “Living in the middle of cow pastures with no car, an hour’s walk from town, leads to introspection, experimentation, and a lot of listening—to the wind, to the birds, and to the plants.” Toll spent a full year in Ireland, entrenched in the natural world where she experienced “somatic learning at its finest.”
Toll and her husband, Andrew, are the owners of Herbiary, a charming store in downtown Asheville that specializes in organic herbs, teas, tinctures, flower essences, essential oils, body care, and books. They own a second location in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Since meeting Toll in 2018, I’ve become a regular visitor to Herbiary.
Mary Hatley is an herbalist and a staff member at Herbiary. She developed a deep interest in herbs years ago and obtained her certification through the Appalachian School of Herbalism.
“It’s common for folks to delve into herbalism when they’re not finding answers through modern medicine,” Hatley said. “For me, herbalism really shines when it’s used to assist with chronic conditions. And by ‘herbalism,’ we mean using herbs as a component of an overall wellness plan that also includes healthy eating and working to decrease stress.”
Hatley’s words rang true for me. I became enthralled in herbalism when I was experiencing ongoing ear infections and migraines. Once I eliminated toxic products from my home and introduced herbs and essential oils into my everyday health routine, the ear infections and migraines stopped.
As my own knowledge of herbs deepened, I began to wonder which healing herbs and flowers were indigenous to the Smoky Mountains. While there are a number of medicinal plants throughout these ancient hills, many that were used by Native Americans, the four listed below are perhaps the most well-known and commonly used.
American Witch Hazel
American witch hazel blooms in an explosion of yellow and is extraordinary in its flowering pattern. These blooms are persistent, lasting until the end of fall and into December. In the spring, witch hazel’s deeply veined leaves will turn a lush green.
“Witch hazel has a long history of use,” Hatley said. “It’s primarily considered an astringent to help with oily skin by tightening the pores.”
The tannins in witch hazel bark and leaves (the same tannins found in most red wine) are believed to heal broken skin, fight bacteria, and relieve swelling.
Healing Plants of The Smokies
St. John’s Wort
Dried St. John’s Wort blooms have been used as a mild sedative. The National Institute of Health says, “the herb has a long and particular background as an antidepressant, anti-septic, anti-inflammatory, expectorant and tonic for the immune system.”
Greek physician and philosopher Hippocrates recommended St. John’s Wort for ‘nervous rest.’ During the 16th century, physician Paracelsus recommended using St John’s Wort to heal wounds and contusions.
Regionally, St. John’s Wort is a rare wildflower that speckles the western border of the Great Smoky Mountains.
“St. John’s Wort has a lengthy list of purposes and studies supporting its effectiveness,” Hatley said. “Traditionally it is used for nerve pain and nerve discomfort. It helps relax the muscles. It’s an antispasmodic. It’s also been used to elevate mood.”
It’s not advised to use St. John’s Wort in a tea or any other form if you’re taking prescription medications. The flower could interfere with the medicine’s efficacy.
Healing Plants of The Smokies
Reishi mushroom tincture macerating.
Wood Nettle
Creeks and mountain streams abound in the Smoky Mountains and that’s why wood nettle has populated the area. Nettle grows abundantly alongside these water sources.
Healing and harm often co-exist in the same plant. Nettle’s hairy leaves produce formic acid and histamine that will leave a rash and irritate exposed skin, but once you’ve safely (with gloved hands) gathered these leaves, you can make a tea or tincture from them.
Nettle has been described as a super healing herb that is great for daily use. Research at Mount Sinai in New York suggests nettle leaves and roots support healthy joints, kidney function, and blood flow.
Thin-Leaf Mountain Mint
Beginning in mid-summer, mountain mint explodes with small but showy white flowers borne at the top of the stems. These flowers are full of nectar and attract a diverse mix of beneficial insects and native pollinator species including bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, beetles, and moths. The leaves are packed with vitamins A, C, B6, folate, and riboflavin.
“Like all mints, mountain mint has a lovely smell and serves as a carminative, which means it improves digestion,” Hatley said. “It can also increase mental clarity.”
It has been told that the Cherokee used parts of this plant to treat an array of maladies, from fevers and colds to an upset stomach. It’s also been suggested that crushed mint leaves can be rubbed on your skin as a natural mosquito repellent, or chewed in the mouth to promote clean teeth and gums.
Healing Plants of The Smokies
The Ongoing Mystique of Herbs
“There is a lot of energy and new information surrounding herbalism,” Hatley said, “but people must remember that herbalism as a practice goes back thousands of years. During all this time we have interacted with the different compounds and co-evolved with herbs. Similar to how food and food sources have changed through the years, herbs have evolved along with us.”
From apothecaries to midwives and beyond, herbs have stood the test of time and will continue to do so. There is no denying the interconnectedness within nature and when it comes to humans and herbs, the connection continues to expand despite interruptions from modern pharmaceuticals.
Circling back to Maia Toll, she said something to me many moons ago in that tea room that I’ve never forgotten. Whether it’s herbs and flowers or something entirely different, Toll’s words can resonate with everyone. She said, “We all need to feel connected to something beyond the common. Plants were my way in, but there are many ways. Many ways up the same mountain.”