I must admit, I have a penchant for a good post-apocalyptic narrative. It’s become quite a common trope in popular culture lately, and I am fascinated by the various depictions of societal collapse and the humanses response to it. So it shouldn’t be too surprising then, that I am a fan of the show the Walking Dead. (Yes, I watch tv. Well, I watch tv on a hand-me-down laptop, because I don’t own a tv. Well, actually I do have a wee, hand-me-down tv that my old boss gave me, but since moving a year and a half ago, it hasn’t been plugged in. Hmmmm…. maybe I should free up that space?) But so, while I am sympathetic to Neo-Luddism and my favourite piece of technology is my scythe, a tool that was invented over 2500 years ago, I still tune in to the internet every week to see how Rick and the gang are managing against the walkers. And maybe also a little bit to get a weekly dose of Daryl Dixon…sigh… (I mean, the man rides a chopper and fires a crossbow! He’s totally on my post-apocalyptic fantasy team. )
Spolier Alert: If you’re a couple of weeks behind on the show, I am about to reveal details you might not want to hear.
In a recent episode, the survivors are beset by a particularly virulent strain of flu and are dropping like flies, quickly transforming into zombies post mortem. This of course is problematic and unpleasant. And while a party prepares to leave the prison compound in search of medication, Hershel decides to take matters into his own hands and goes wildcrafting in the woods in search for elderberries.
Elderberries!
Nothing gets me more excited than when herbal medicine makes an appearance in a post-apocalyptic world! And Hershel definitely knows what he is doing. Elderberries are exceptionally helpful in preventing and shortening the duration of a cold or flu. Research has shown that elderberries are effective against at least 8 different strains of the influenza virus, including the dreaded H1N1 virus.
Herbalist Paul Bergner has reported on some research:
“In clinical trials, patients who took the elderberry juice syrup reported fast termination of symptoms. Twenty percent reported significant improvement within 24 hours, 70% by 48 hours, and 90% claimed a complete cure after three days. Patients receiving the placebo required six days for recovery. As proof that elder has more to it than the enzyme neutralizing constituents, researchers found that the patients who took it also had higher levels of antibodies against the flu virus.”
I don’t know what’s in store for the infected characters on the show, and I’m a week behind on episodes, but if it were me, I’d definitely have everybody taking elderberries, and yarrow and boneset for that matter. Really, those poor people need an herbalist! (And someone should maybe tell the set designers that what they had Hershel pick from didn’t remotely look like elderberry bushes.)
For anyone interested in building their wild plant and medicinal herb skills, I’ve got two more plant walks and a few workshops coming up. And even though you might never need to use them in a zombie apocalypse, you never know when those skills might come in handy.
Plant Walks
Saturday November 9th 2-4pm, Fletcher Wildlife Garden
Saturday November 16th 2-4pm, Kilborn Allotment Gardens
Workshops
Sunday November 17th 9-12pm, Herbal First Aid
Saturday November 30th 1-4pm, Wild Coffee
Saturday December 14th 1-4pm, Herbals Oils & Salves
For more information or to register, visit here.
Image source: http://faustissima.deviantart.com/art/Post-apocalyptic-city-181825393
Spolier Alert: If you’re a couple of weeks behind on the show, I am about to reveal details you might not want to hear.
In a recent episode, the survivors are beset by a particularly virulent strain of flu and are dropping like flies, quickly transforming into zombies post mortem. This of course is problematic and unpleasant. And while a party prepares to leave the prison compound in search of medication, Hershel decides to take matters into his own hands and goes wildcrafting in the woods in search for elderberries.
Elderberries!
Nothing gets me more excited than when herbal medicine makes an appearance in a post-apocalyptic world! And Hershel definitely knows what he is doing. Elderberries are exceptionally helpful in preventing and shortening the duration of a cold or flu. Research has shown that elderberries are effective against at least 8 different strains of the influenza virus, including the dreaded H1N1 virus.
Herbalist Paul Bergner has reported on some research:
“In clinical trials, patients who took the elderberry juice syrup reported fast termination of symptoms. Twenty percent reported significant improvement within 24 hours, 70% by 48 hours, and 90% claimed a complete cure after three days. Patients receiving the placebo required six days for recovery. As proof that elder has more to it than the enzyme neutralizing constituents, researchers found that the patients who took it also had higher levels of antibodies against the flu virus.”
I don’t know what’s in store for the infected characters on the show, and I’m a week behind on episodes, but if it were me, I’d definitely have everybody taking elderberries, and yarrow and boneset for that matter. Really, those poor people need an herbalist! (And someone should maybe tell the set designers that what they had Hershel pick from didn’t remotely look like elderberry bushes.)
For anyone interested in building their wild plant and medicinal herb skills, I’ve got two more plant walks and a few workshops coming up. And even though you might never need to use them in a zombie apocalypse, you never know when those skills might come in handy.
Plant Walks
Saturday November 9th 2-4pm, Fletcher Wildlife Garden
Saturday November 16th 2-4pm, Kilborn Allotment Gardens
Workshops
Sunday November 17th 9-12pm, Herbal First Aid
Saturday November 30th 1-4pm, Wild Coffee
Saturday December 14th 1-4pm, Herbals Oils & Salves
For more information or to register, visit here.
Image source: http://faustissima.deviantart.com/art/Post-apocalyptic-city-181825393
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