Before flowering plants, the earth was dominated by so-called, more primitive vegetation. Plants and fungi moved from the oceans onto land and created symbiotic relationships that continue today.

The medicinal uses of ferns and their allies, including horsetail, clubmoss, liverworts, mosses and lichens is poorly explored.

In this volume you will find a plethora of reasons to appreciate and utilize these ancient healing remedies.

First Nations and natives of North America classified medicinal plant according to energetics of animals.

Bear medicine, for example, is related to Bear Root ("Hedysarum alpinum"), Osha, Angelica root, and Lomatium ("Lomatium dissectum"). These are brown, furry, oily plants that bears seek out in spring after hiberation. Burdock, an introduced herb, could be included in this group, as the genus name Arcticum is from the Greek, meaning Bear. Bearberry ("Arctostaphylos uva-ursi") literally means grape of the bear.

Bear medicine is useful for building up reserve energy via the adrenal system.

Snake medicines, such as Tarragon, "Polygala seneca," and "Sanicula marylandica" have twisted roots that look like serpents. They are often added to herbal combinations to add wisdom or direction to the medicines.

Rabbit root ("Aralia nudicaulis") gives flexibility, agility and muscular strength.

Elk medicines are associated with luck, in hunting, fishing, gambling and love. These antler-shaped herbs help increase kidney strength and sexual energy. Examples include Cleavers, Staghorn Sumach, and Wild Bergamot ("Monarda fistulosa").

In this volume we will look at plants associated with and named after elk, bears, deer, moose, skunk, muskrat, beaver, snakes, buffalo, turtles, fox and rabbits. Not just the plants, because wild moose, elk and beaver parts are valuable sources of food and medicine as well.

We all know and love members of the rose family.

They are most easily identified by the number 5, present in leaves, petals, and sepals, often with five alternate bractlets.

The fruit comes in different forms called achenes, follicles, drupes or pomes. For purposes of simpilicity in this book, I will use the common term fruit to identify all.

The following chapters are arranged by genus not common names. Recent taxonomic revisions suggest moving some plants out of the family, but this volume contains recent opinion on placements, and reflects my personal bias.

The Rose family contains some of our most healing plants, for uses both internally and externally.

This book is a whimsical look at the relationship between members of the Cat family and medicinal plants and fungi. From cattail to pussytoes, from tiger lily to lion's mane, the book provides in-depth health information on a wide variety of easily identified, collected and prepared plant and mushroom medicines.

The doctor of the future will give no medicine,
but will interest... patients in the care of the human frame,
in a proper diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease. THOMAS A. EDISON

This volume focuses on vegetables and health. Everyone knows a diet containing a variety of phyto-nutrients is our best insurance to maintain wellness and prevent dis-ease.

Every day, scientists are discovering a wealth of health supporting nutrients in our vegetables.

It may surprise you the wealth of protection and goodness in your next salad or smoothie. Enjoy

"Men have forgotten this truth," said the fox. "But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed." ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPERY

Wild plants have for long, been used by herbalists and folk healers for medicine. Many insights into the value of indigenous plants were gathered by observing animals heal themselves by ingesting plants in their environment.

First Nations peoples of North America related certain qualities of animals to plants, giving powers of strength, bravery, swiftness, wisdom, or patience to plants and in turn, to themselves.

The book is dedicated to dogs, wolves, foxes, coyotes and other members of genus canis. Common names are often scorned by taxonomists in favor of the binomial system of plant identification developed by Linnaeus. In this book you will find reference to both, a less dogmatic approach if you will.

I was a wolf cub (cub scout) when younger, and this may be what led me to this writing this collection.

Or maybe being married to a beautiful woman who teaches dream work, mythology and depth psychology has rubbed off. "Women Who Run With the Wolves" by Clarissa Pinkola Estes is the foundation of one course, and of course, my dogged unconscious can run wild. To quote Clarissa: ""It's not by accident that the pristine wilderness of our planet disappears as the understanding of our own inner wild nature fades. It is not so difficult to comprehend why old forests and old women are viewed as not very important resource. It is not such a mystery. It is not so coincidental that wolves and coyotes, bears and wildish women have similar reputations.""