Jack Frost has arrived and all the beautiful plants are going to sleep for the long winter months to be awakened with the warmth of spring. The plants energies are being directed back in to the roots and now is the time to tap into some of this powerful medicine. We carefully unearth some roots of the legume Astragulus, now 3-4 years old and clean and peel into strips. It is a nourishing tonic herb that helps build our immune system and ward off colds and flu, Astragalus is called an adaptogen, meaning it helps protect the body from physical, mental, or emotional stress. It conbines well with another perennial herb, Echinacea,, especially at the onset of a cold or flu!. My favorite lung herb is Elecampane root. Be mindful when digging any perennial root to remember to replace the crown to grow again. Roots can be used in many ways, i.e: added to soups, decocted for tea or tinctured .So many more to get before the snow, Arctium lappa(burdock), Rumex crispus (yellow dock), Polygonatum biflorum (solomon’s seal). Happy digging-