Holistic Health | Wildcrafting: Is It Dangerous? Part One Of Two

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

Posted: Aug 24, 2010 at 7:28 PM [Today]

The greatest dangers in foraging are:

collecting too quickly

not knowing the toxic look-a-likes for safe plants

not knowing the toxic and poisonous plants for the area you are in

eating unripe or out of season foods

a poor sense of smell and taste, if you are lacking bring a friend with you who is better endowed

Your greatest assets are:

a good memory

observing plants in all seasons and over many seasons

a friend or teacher who can provide hands-on mentoring

a great plant guide – or even better, many guides

There are also some general guidelines for what can be toxic:

Marshes, wet areas, and lakes can contain some wonderful edibles, but also some very toxic and dangerous plants. Use more caution in those areas both with identification as well as sampling.

Areas that are mowed can be deceiving, the plants may be hard to identify as they will be shorter, missing parts, or otherwise mishapen.

Any plants growing near railroad tracks may have been sprayed, and if it was recently you can’t tell by looking. The same thing with plants growing under high-tension wires, or in utility right of ways. Always avoid these areas.

Taste first, before eating. That means a tiny bit of plant at the front of your mouth. That should give you a “yes” “no” or “maybe” first response.

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The only way to be certain a plant is safe is if you can make a positive (certain) identification. Without that, you are at risk either in a minimal way, or in a fairly serious way. It depends on where you are and what you are tasting. To be certain, don’t taste or eat anything unless you are certain you know the plant.

Mushrooms are more deceptive and more difficult to identity than plants. Don’t eat them in the field, and once home carefully and slowly make the identification. If you are in doubt, consult an expert or discard.

Plants will give you clues as to what is edible, but since there are always exceptions, this should be just one part of determining if a plant is safe. Mostly, plants are all about defense and sex. They need to not be destroyed until they can reproduce. Annuals will tend to have abundant seed, and use that to counterbalance a short life. Mostly the quantity of seeds, and plants, mean that they haven’t put a lot of resources into creating poisons. Many annuals are edible.

If a plant has thorns and other visible defense, it is more likely to be edible. It has the physical defense, and is less likely to need a toxic one as well.

Biennials can go both ways, but most around here are focusing so entirely on the second year significant seed production that they are mostly edible, although what part and when matters a lot. Usually the roots are edible in the fall of the first year, and early spring of the second. Before then, there isn’t much there, and after the value of the plant has gone into reproduction.

Perennials are more often in need of long term protection, and conserve seeds and foliage by having poisons in the roots and seeds and fruit. This is also what makes many of these plants so valuable as medicine – the alkaloids that protect the plant are also the parts that make potent medicinal compounds.

While there is a certain logic and wonderful brilliance to the above, the problem is that there are always exceptions, and you absolutely can’t rely on that sort of thinking to keep you safe.

When everything is combined – careful study, observation, knowledge, confirmation of how

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