Red Root

Here in Arizona, the Red Root species I most observe, experience, and work with is Ceanothus fendleri, or Fendler's Ceanothus. It grows abundantly in some of the areas I frequent, preferring rocky slopes in full sun, near other medicinals such as Wild Geranium, Yarrow, Mullein, Manzanita, Juniper, and Pine.

When I'm out and about mingling with the landscape, I like to think about how the plants growing together would be useful formula adjuncts. All of the plants I mentioned above have a special affinity for some fluid regulation in the body or other, including the lungs, lymph, urinary, reproductive, and blood systems. Honestly all of them could be used together in a single formula for infection, stagnation, or inflammation in any of those organ systems.

Pollinators LOOOOOVE Ceanothus Flowers

Red Root is a special plant to me, and when I moved to the mountain a few years ago and found a wild garden of it within walking distance, I was ecstatic to begin working with it. Previously I had only used the root...deeply red and potent, in tincture. But I soon discovered the tea and stems are also very good medicine - medicine that makes a DELICIOUS tea that is sustainable for the plant communities (and for harvesters, as that root provides a trecherous harvest!).

Most of my formulas for the lymph and blood in the last few years have included the leaf and stem only. Its good practice to use what's close by, easy to harvest, and does the least damage to the ecosystem. I'm not much of a root harvester for the sole reason I don't like to kill the whole plant unless I have to, but I felt it was important as an herbalist to be initiated into this red root harvest.

Red Root Leaf & Stem, Drying

Red Root supports vessel tone in the body, allowing better transport of fluids. According to Michael Moore and many of his students, it does this by restoring the electrical charge in cells - something that gets out of whack during any kind of illness or infection - and leads to chronic inflammation and stagnation.

Most often I use Red Root leaf when there is a need for gentle lymph movement. Lymphatic vessels transport lymphatic fluid, which contains immune system cells and metabolic wastes from those cells doing their job. The Root itself I prefer for a bit more severe situations, where lymph nodes or the spleen are enlarged, swollen, and the person feels pretty gross.

Kara's tenacity gettin' at it

Red Root is a great addition to formulas for people with subacute conditions, according to Michael Cottingham of the Foragers Path. Think Epstein Barr Virus or any illness that never seems to fully go away. People with recurring issues like eczema, frequent colds, or even headaches (I surmise).

Red Root seems to be most helpful for people who for whatever reason, can't let go of something. Or their body can't. I haven't looked too much into the energetics of it, but these are my hypotheses...based on being with the plant and using it internally for myself and in client formulas.

Me, a dusty & triumphant

Usually Ceanothus species' root bark is a deep cherry red, and when I went out to harvest last week I was concerned that our harvest wasn't viable - because the roots only had a hint of pink. I've found in my research since then that the medicine is still very good to use, it just may not be AS potent as when the root is the deep red the plant is named for. Seeing as how we've already had many freezing nights, I'm not sure at what point in the fall the roots would be best. I guess I'll have to keep trying.

My apprentice Kara went out with me for this harvest. We chose a small plant, and dug for around 2 hours til we finally accepted that we may never get to the end of the root with the equipment on hand and fading daylight. That root had so many thick twisting legs that seemed to go off in every direction and appeared to be connected to EVERY single shrub around us. It was wild.

The root, cleaned up pre-chop

And it was hard as hell to process. My partner eventually took a hatchet to it, shaving nice workable roots for me. The pruners only worked for a small portion. I tinctured it at a 1:2 ratio with 50% alcohol, 10% glycerine, and 40% RO water.

It's high in tannins, so the glycerine helps to keep those constituents in solution.

 

Red Root & Some Leaves Macerating (for at least a lunar cycle)

Interestingly, even though the root was white, the menstruum is turning red day by day. I can't wait to see how it turns out. I'll share more then.

Kara on the Left, Me on the Right, in Post-Harvest Bliss