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Many people are unaware of the plethora of wild food and medicine that exists just in their backyard. There are still folks who classify dandelions as “weeds” and kill them at every turn. I have never understood why someone would want to take away the beauty this flower offers, but I haven’t always understood its value as food and medicine.
A simple walk through the Boreal forest illuminates the various flora and fauna who reside there. If you know what to look for, you will be able to harness the power of some of these wild plants to boost your health and remedy illness. In a time where pharmaceuticals are endless, it is important to remember the ways to make medicine from the plants that surround you. These 20 foraging plants are a great place to start and can all be found in the boreal forest and beyond.
It is unsafe to harvest plants, and especially mushrooms, if you aren’t absolutely sure. To prevent any unsafe mix ups, I use a guide on Alaska’s wilderness medicine and a separate guide on mushrooms. That way if I stumble upon something questionable, I am able to reference the experts.
Learning to work with the natural world to stay healthy provides immense connection. There is maybe no greater way to live a simple life than to grow or gather your own food. There are no crazy additives or fillers in the food from a forest. Just simple, clean food as nature intended.
The Importance of Wild Medicine
There was once a time that it was common knowledge to know the medicinal plants around you. If there was an ailment beyond your scope, a doctor or healer, who specialized in medicine, would usually know what to use. Today this skill is lost except among those who still practice wildcrafting. Wildcrafting is the practice of harvesting herbs and plants from a natural environment to use for food or medicine.
There is a movement taking place that celebrates wildcrafting. It is leading to a shift in our desire to learn more about the natural world around us. People are moving towards natural methods of healing and eating. The desire to learn how to make medicine from the natural world is stronger now and it grows more every year.
It is important for humans to remember these lost skills so they are not forgotten completely. Wild-crafted medicine is beneficial to our bodies. Herbs and plants concocted in just the right methods work wonders for healing but also for prevention, which is the key to good health. When your body is healthy and you can make your own medicine, you consequently won’t have to rely on a doctor as much.
In this guide, we’ll explore 20 great beginner plants to get you started on your journey with wild medicine.
20 Plants to Forage in the Boreal Forest
Gathering plants for medicine heals you twice. The first time is when you are walking through the forest. Nature therapy and fresh air are just as good as medicine. The second time is when you consume the medicine you’ve crafted from the forest. From trees and shrubs, to berries and mushrooms, these 20 plants are sure to give you a good place to start.
Trees
White Spruce (Picea glauca)
Spruce is used in several ways to heal different ailments. It packs a heavy punch of Vitamin C which is perfect in the Winter. The wonderful thing about Spruce trees is that they are an Evergreen tree and do not lose their needles once it is cold. This makes them perfect for Winter Foraging.
Spruce is antimicrobial against fungi and bacteria. Steeping their needles in water creates a wonderful tea that is perfect for the common cold or flu. Spruce “gum” or the resin can be used as a lozenge for cough and sore throat. It is also used as an antiseptic on wounds.
Willow (Salix Alaxensis)
Most willows have been used as medicine for a very long time. The inner bark contains Salicin, the ingredient used to develop Aspirin in the 1800’s. It is especially helpful for headaches, colds, and fevers. You can make Willow Bark Aspirin that is comparable to the over the counter medicine, minus the other harmful ingredients.
Birch (Betula neoalaskana)
Most parts of the Birch tree are medicinal and this makes them a wonderful beginner plant. The fresh smell of a Birch tree is divine. The twigs, leaves, and catkins can all be used to make a Vitamin C rich tea which is perfect in the Winter. Birch also contains a pain relieving compound , and similarly to the Willow has traditionally been used to treat pain. Birch syrup is still a luxury used in treating cough and colds. It is very important to learn ways of harvesting that do not harm the tree.
Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera)
Also known as Black Cottonwood, this tree has a long history in treating lung ailments and skin problems. The buds are used internally to treat cough. They are used externally to treat inflammation and sprains. The bark can be ingested to soothe menstrual pain. It has long been used to treat rheumatism and scurvy. Harvest the fresh buds in early spring to make a salve, which is called Balm of Gilead, to treat sore muscles from summer work.
Shrubs
Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum edule)
Highbush cranberry is found in dense thickets and moist or swampy forests. Also known as “cramp bark,” the name speaks for itself. Because it is antispasmodic, it acts as a muscle relaxant. A tea from the bark eases menstrual cramps and stomach troubles. The leaves are used in treating sore throats. It is one of the easiest shrubs to find here in Alaska and grows in abundance in many places.
Wild Roses (rosa acicularis)
One of our personal favorites in my home are Wild Roses. These gorgeous flowers bloom in the Summer and offer the most beautiful sights across the Boreal landscape. The leaves are traditionally used in salads and teas and the rose hips left behind after the flower disappears are very high in Vitamins A and C. Steeping rose hips in hot water makes a delicious floral tea that eases coughs and colds.
Labrador Tea (Ledum groenlandicum Oeder)
This beautiful flowering shrub grows well in the swampy thickets among Black Spruce trees. Labrador tea has long been used as a tea to help ease sore throat, chest congestion, coughs, and other respiratory ailments. The leaves and flowering shoots are edible and medicinal.
Blueberry (Vaccinium ovalifolium)
What better beginner’s plant to forage than Blueberry? It is easily identifiable and most people already know the flavor profile. Blueberry leaves pack more of an antioxidant punch than the berries do and so blueberry leaf tea is a great way to fight free radical damage. Between the berries and leaves, there are many uses such as treating neurodegenerative diseases and fighting inflammation. It is also beneficial in fighting Urinary Tract Infections.
Low-bush Cranberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea ) aka Lingonberry
These edible and medicinal berries are used in a variety of ways. Tea from the leaves is beneficial in treating colds. Tea from the berries treats kidney problems. Just simply chewing the leaves provides relief from a sore throat and eating the berries helps an upset stomach. Lingonberries are a popular cuisine among Alaskans and other countries in the far north such as Scandinavia. The berries are prepared into a jam to enjoy long after they disappear for Winter.
Herbs
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Another great beginner’s plant to forage and one of our personal favorites is Dandelion. They are hard to miss and grow in abundance almost anywhere that plants can grow. Dandelion is nature’s nutritional powerhouse with vitamins A, B, C, and D as well as potassium, iron, and zinc. Every part of the dandelion is useful: the flowers, roots, and leaves.
It is traditionally used to treat kidney and digestion issues. The leaves make a lovely addition to salads and the flowers make delicious jelly that tastes similar to honey. Traditional Chinese medicine uses dandelion for breast milk production.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow has its roots in European folk medicine. It is particularly beneficial in treating wounds and minor bleeding. A poultice made of this herb speeds wound recovery times and eases inflammation. The flowers, stems, and leaves are all used to make medicine. It is powerful for fighting infections and reducing bleeding. The beautiful blooms of Yarrow can be found between June to September in a Boreal forest.
Plantain (Plantago major )
This versatile herb can be found in a variety of places and grows abundant in the Boreal forest. The leaves are used in a tea to treat coughing and respiratory issues like Bronchitis. The leaves can also be crafted into a poultice to treat blisters, sores, burns, and insect stings, and inflamed skin. Similar to Yarrow, Plantain is also great for wound healing applications.
Clover (Trifolium pratense )
Red Clover has been studied for it’s many benefits in menopausal women. The isoflavones that it contains are similar in structure to Estrogen and offer numerous medical benefits. They have been shown to reduce hot flashes and also blood cholesterol levels. Other studies have shown the benefits of Red Clover for bone structure in menopausal women. Besides being medically beneficial, the tea made of Clover is wonderfully aromatic.
Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium )
Fireweed is best to collect right after it begins blooming. You can harvest from where the leaves begin on the stem and up. Boiling this plant makes a tea that is beneficial for digestion, lung, and bronchial ailments. Fireweed is rich in magnesium, manganese, vitamin B6, niacin, folate, calcium, and vitamin A. Because of the high level of antioxidants, this herb is great for the circulatory, immune, and digestive system.
Pineapple Weed (Matricaria discoidea) aka Wild Chamomile
This herb is one of our Summer favorites because of its surprising burst of pineapple flavor. It is a powerful herb used for identical purposes as cultivated chamomile. Wild chamomile is perfect for relaxation and digestion. It can be used to treat fevers and relieve pain. The tea from chamomile is perfectly enjoyed after meals to aid in digestion and in the evenings to promote restful sleep.
Mushrooms
Birch Polypore ( Fomitopsis betulina )
One of the most abundant mushrooms and one you can find in any season are Birch Polypores. They naturally grow only on Birch trees. There is a long surviving history of humans using these mushrooms. They are incredibly useful in treating intestinal parasites. It has long been used as a tonic for the immune system and an antiseptic to treat wounds. It has antiviral, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties.
Chaga (Inonotus obliquus )
Chaga is the gold mine of mushrooms in Northern climates. It is the one that everyone seeks to find growing on the bark of Birch trees. Chaga has been used for centuries to boost immunity and health overall. You can usually find it ground into powder and used in teas.
Its health benefits are so potent that you can find this mushroom over the counter in a health food store. The modern uses of Chaga include fighting inflammation, immunity booster, aids in preventing and fighting cancer, and helps to lower blood sugar and cholesterol.
If you are lucky enough to find this gem in a Boreal Forest, then thank your lucky stars. Finding Chaga has been my biggest challenge as one who wildcrafts medicine.
Black Morel (Morchella Elata)
Arriving in early Spring, Morels boasts a pleasant taste sought after by wild food enthusiasts. They contain pleasant flavor and medicinal value, so consequently they’ve been used as traditional medicine for centuries. Modern research has demonstrated their medically potent qualities to back it up.
They contain some of the highest levels of Vitamin D among all the edible mushrooms. Morels are high in antioxidants and have been used to treat tumors. It has been identified that Morels are exceptionally great for our livers, helping to relieve our bodies of toxins and free radicals that cause heart disease, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease.
The most common way to ingest Morels is to simply cook them into your favorite meals, but a tea can also be prepared to enjoy its benefits. It is important to cook Morels before consuming as they contain a small amount of toxins that can be harmful if eaten raw in large quantities.
Chanterelle (Cantharellus Cibarius)
These tasty mushrooms love moist areas, and can usually be found after a nice rainfall. They love to hide around creeks and other moist areas. Just like many other mushrooms, Chanterelles are anti-inflammatory and help lower the risk of cancer. They contain plenty of chitin and chitosan, polysaccharides that help protect cells from damage and stimulate new cell production.
The most common form of ingesting Chanterelle is to simply eat them with your favorite dishes. A sautee of buttery Chanterelles is some of the finest food you can consume. A tea can also be made from dried Chanterelles and consumed for its wonderfully beneficial qualities.
Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus Populinus)
Another tasty mushroom sought after by wild food eaters is the Oyster mushroom. It can be identified by its gills that run all the way from the top of the mushroom and down the stem.
It has been traditionally used for treating high cholesterol, diabetes, cancer, and certain infections.
Just like Chanterelle, the Oyster mushroom makes a lovely sautee in butter. Tea is another powerful way to consume this mushroom when it is dried.
Mushroom teas pack a powerful punch. Teas made from various dried mushrooms are popular in use as tonics for immune and overall health.
In Conclusion
There are many wild foods to be found in a Boreal forest, especially during the warmer months. Many combine as food and medicine, which works hand in hand with what Hippocrates said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
When you are able to create simple foods and medicines from the forest, your health is taken back into your own hands. Whether you are a beginner with foraging or a master wild crafter of food and medicine, these 20 plants of the Boreal forest hold wonderfully medicinal value and can add flavor and health to your life.
If you are on the path to live simply, by growing and collecting your own food, living seasonally, and traditional skills, then you’ll love these other articles from Borealis Mom:
- 5 Simple Life Skills to Teach Your Children in Spring
- The Surprising Benefits of Living Seasonally
- Beginner’s Guide to Foraging with Kids: 5 Great Starter Plants
Here are some of my favorite recipes and tips on foraging for wild medicine:
