The return of flora to Hades — Mo Wilde tells us of the medicinal roots, berries and bark to forage as we approach the Autumn Equinox throughout September.

September is marked by the Autumn Equinox — a lunar festival in both the Celtic calendar, as Mabon, and the druidic calendar, as Alban Elved (The Light of the Water). The Autumn Equinox, occurring around 21st September, marks the end of the six months that Demeter and Persephone have on the earth. In Greek mythology, the goddess of the harvest, Demeter, is the granddaughter of Gaia, Mother Nature herself. Her daughter Persephone was kidnapped by Hades, the king of the underworld and, only after much trauma and negotiation, now returns to her mother for six months of the year. Between the Spring to the Autumn equinoxes, with Persephone above ground, Demeter is happy and everything grows. From the Autumn equinox she is sad and everything dies. So, winter is born. 

These tales are fascinating ancient ways of describing the plant energy cycle of the temperate world. As the equinox approaches, the flowering plants have dropped their seed. Their foliage goes brown and starts to die back. The energy descends down into the roots — fattening and swelling them in some cases — but, most of all, returning the power of the medicine underground. Stored in bulbs, corms, rhizomes, tubers, and tuberous roots the medicine was now ready to be dug. This was understood in old herbals. Their instructions, e.g. for comfrey (Symphytum officinale), directed a herbalist to treat with the leaf in the spring and summer, but treat with the root in autumn and winter.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a root that I harvest from September onwards, once the leaves have died back. The roots spread underground and it quickly forms large mats excluding other plants, which makes it easy to weed out any non-valerian roots. It will also carry on spreading underground to regenerate the colony. Do remember that root harvesting can kill plants so must be done with mindfulness for the ecological impact. Also, in the UK and Ireland, it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner’s permission.

Valerian is excellent for treating anxiety, panic attacks, fear of flying, public speaking and any occasion which needs some speedy internal calm. Although many herbal medicines are dosed at three times a day, I find valerian works really well when given at short intervals during a crisis. For example, a teaspoonful (4 ml) of a tincture at the onset, then a quarter spoon (1 ml) taken every half an hour until the crisis passes (not exceeding 15 ml in any one day), helps to shorten its duration. Valerian can be found right across the British Isles but is often not noticed until its pale pink flowers appear. My feeling is that it likes living near water — although not in wet ground — as I often notice it on coastal paths, river banks and ditch verges.

Wood avens (Geum urbanum)

Another root that I’m very fond of is wood avens (Geum urbanum). It is nicknamed herb Bennet (after St Benedict) and also clove root because the roots taste so strongly of cloves! This is due to the presence of eugenol, a taste familiar in dentist’s mouthwashes and some oral care products. It is no coincidence that chewing wood avens root will help to dial down the pain of toothache as eugenol has anaesthetic and antiseptic properties. Gently dried avens roots can be put amongst your woollens to repel moths. Culpeper considered a daily dose of infused root tea helped to ward off plagues — especially those characterised by aches and body pain. Although the roots have some flavour during the summer months, it intensifies in the autumn and over the winter keeping its flavour until around mid-March. 

Wood avens can be found beside the trail through most beech woods. It has a hooked achenes on its seeds that cling to clothing, fur and feathers so it must grow along paths in order to spread, unlike plants that grow in open meadows that need the wind to travel and so produce fluffy parachutes for their seeds. Many people overlook the personal preferences of plants when they go foraging but plants often give us little clues like that!