The pink, purple, white and yellow flowers of Spring are popping out all over Tree Frog Farm. The lemon-yellow flowers of the Oregon grape (Mahonia nervosa) evergreen shrub are beginning to open-up here and in the surrounding Douglas fir woods. There is an abundance of Oregon grape on Lummi Island, but in other parts of its natural range from southern British Columbia to central Oregon it is in decline due to unsustainable herb harvesting and loss of natural habitat. (See United Plant Savers – a non-profit educational organization dedicated to preserving North American native medicinal plants.)
Being Your Authentic Self: Oregon Grape
Oregon grape’s blue/purple tart berries are edible and make a nice jelly. Natural dyes for cloth and porcupine quills are made from the Oregon grape berry (purple/black) and roots (yellow). Indigenous peoples used the berries, bark, and root for liver, gallbladder, and eye problems. Oregon grape is still valued medicinally for the same purposes. It is also used to treat digestive weakness and skin ailments – such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, boils and herpes.
Oregon Grape says of itself:
Releases the habit of valuing yourself in relationship to others. Encourages knowing your true vital unique nature. I AM simply myself engaged in expressing my Being.
Oregon grape flower essence is called for when you look to others for approval or give away your power, instead of valuing yourself for who you uniquely are – codependence. This may encourage the physical body to hold onto toxins that lead to liver, gallbladder, skin, or eyes diseases.
Oregon grape flower essence turns your gaze back onto yourself in a light-hearted and kind way, so you can discover the beauty of who you really are. It may also help to clear physical problems related to liver and gallbladder such as those mentioned above. The bottles in which the essence was made were placed among the plants along with drusy quartz crystals, charoite, malachite, and shattukite stones during the essence making process. The qualities of the gemstones influence the way the essence grounds into your body. Drusy quartz crystals help to energize and stabilize your subtle bodies. Charoite stone releases victimization and negative emotions; it enhances courage and appropriate assertiveness. Malachite stone counteracts self-destructive romantic tendencies and helps to encourage true love. Shattukite stone helps you to speak your truth.
» More information on Oregon Grape
We are happy to answer your questions about our products or set a personal consultation time during regular business hours – Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm Pacific Time at (360) 758-7260; or e-mail us atinfo@treefrogfarm.com.