Periwinkle with Christopher Hobbs

July 25, 2025 5:31 pm

Periwinkle (Vinca spp.) may be small, but it carries a long history of medicinal and folkloric use. Traditionally, it’s been used to support circulation and brain health, thanks to compounds like vincamine, known to increase blood flow to the brain. 💡🌿

While I don’t recommend using this plant internally without expert guidance (some compounds can be toxic in large doses), it’s a beautiful example of how nature holds both power and mystery. Periwinkle reminds us that even the most delicate-looking plants can be potent allies when understood deeply.

Have you ever worked with periwinkle or grown it in your garden?

Thank you for walking the plant path with me,
Christopher Hobbs 🌿

#periwinkle #vinca #medicinalplants #christopherhobbs #herbalwisdom #plantally #herbalmedicine #circulation #brainhealth #plantlore #herbalistlife ...

Butterfly Bush with Christopher Hobbs

July 23, 2025 5:31 pm

The fragrant butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) is beloved for its ability to draw in butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds 🦋—but did you know it also has a history of use in traditional Chinese medicine?

In TCM, the flower buds (known as Mi Meng Hua) have been used to support eye health, soothe inflammation, and gently clear heat.

Do you have butterfly bush growing near you?

Thank you for walking the plant path with me 🌿

Christopher Hobbs

#butterflybush #buddleja #pollinatorgarden #herbalistlife #plantwisdom #gardeningwithintention #wildflowers #botanicallearning #christopherhobbs #herbalsimplicity #healingplants #gardenmedicine #plantlover #naturewisdom #pollinatorlove ...

Oregon Grape Root with Christopher Hobbs

July 14, 2025 5:02 pm

🌿 Meet Mahonia aquifolium, better known as Oregon grape root — a powerful native plant of the Pacific Northwest, with deep golden roots and equally deep healing potential.

This bitter, antimicrobial root has long been used by Indigenous peoples and herbalists to support the liver, digestion, skin, and immune system. Rich in berberine, it acts as a botanical ally for clearing heat, cooling inflammation, and defending the body against unwanted microbes.

I often reach for Oregon grape root when the liver needs gentle stimulation, digestion is sluggish, or the skin is expressing deeper internal imbalances.

🟡 Bitters like this aren’t always sweet, but they are some of our most profound teachers — guiding the body back toward balance through stimulation, detoxification, and resilience.

📚 You’ll find Oregon grape featured in both Western and traditional herbal traditions, often as a gentler alternative to goldenseal — and one that’s more ecologically sustainable.

Have you worked with this brilliant root?

Thank you for walking the plant path with me,

Christopher Hobbs

#oregongraperoot #mahoniaaquifolium #plantbitters #liversupport #digestiveherbs #skinhealth #berberine #herbalism #plantmedicine #herbalremedies #herbalistsofinstagram #herbalmedicine #christopherhobbs ...

We are nature

July 11, 2025 5:03 pm

We are nature. The more we remember that, the more healing becomes possible. 

Thank you for walking the plant path with me,

Christopher Hobbs

#nature #plantpath #herbalism #herbalist #herbal #healing ...

Aloe Vera with Christopher Hobbs

July 5, 2025 3:41 pm

🌿Aloe vera is one of the most time-honored medicinal plants — a succulent that’s been cherished for thousands of years for its cooling, soothing, and regenerative properties.
Used traditionally in Ayurvedic, Chinese, and Western herbal medicine, aloe is most known for its clear, gel-like inner leaf — rich in polysaccharides, enzymes, and antioxidants that support skin healing, digestion, and immune function.

🧴 Topically, aloe gel is a go-to for sunburn, minor wounds, and skin irritation — helping to calm inflammation and support cellular repair.

🌿 Internally, small amounts of the inner gel can soothe the digestive tract, supporting conditions like heartburn, gastritis, and even promoting gentle elimination. (Be mindful: the outer leaf, or latex, contains anthraquinones like aloin, which are strong laxatives — best avoided unless specifically needed and in tiny doses.)

💧 Aloe is also a deeply hydrating plant, helping to retain moisture in the skin and mucous membranes — making it a favorite in both herbal and cosmetic traditions.

Whether fresh from the plant or in high-quality preparations, Aloe vera is a beautiful example of nature’s ability to heal, cool, and restore balance.

Have you used Aloe as part of your wellness routine?
 
May the plants meet you where you are,

Christopher Hobbs
 

#aloevera #christopherhobbs #herbalmedicine #plantwisdom #naturalhealing #digestivehealth #skinhealth #herbalremedy #summerhealing #guthealth #plantmedicine #herbalwisdom #herbalremedies #herbalhealing #naturalmedicine #digestivehealth #herbalistsofinstagram #herbalcommunity #medicinalplants ...

California Tea with Christopher Hobbs

July 2, 2025 9:03 am

🌿Meet Rupertia physodes — a lesser-known gem in the pea family, quietly flowering along dry hillsides and forest edges from late spring through summer. Often called California tea, this native legume has been traditionally used by Indigenous groups for gentle herbal infusions, though it’s rarely seen in modern herbalism.

With its delicate, cream-to-yellow blossoms and deep roots in the western landscape, Rupertia reminds us that even the most unassuming plants carry stories worth listening to.
I love encountering this plant on summer walks — a quiet companion, thriving in the sun-baked soil and offering a subtle nod to the resilience of native flora.

Have you ever come across this one in bloom?

In health and harmony,🌿

 Christopher Hobbs 

#californiaplants #californianatives #nativeplantmedicine #herbaltea #wildherbalism #localplants #californiatea #plantallies #herbalinfusion #herbalistsofinstagram #christopherhobbs ...