- Susun Weed, Grandmother of the Wise Woman Way
A Holistic Approach to Healing
The Wise Woman Way is an ancient healing tradition that embraces the uniqueness of every individual. Rather than seeing pain and problems as symptoms to be fixed, this approach recognizes them as integral parts of our personal stories—narratives to be honoured and embraced. Unlike modern medical models that often seek to purify or eliminate discomfort, the Wise Woman Tradition focuses on nourishment and rewilding, understanding that unconditional love is a profound healing remedy.
This tradition calls upon the wisdom of our ancestors, particularly the grandmothers and wise elders who understood the power of nature. These women knew how to gather wild herbs, plant healing seeds, and nurture their families with simple yet powerful remedies. Although modernization and medicalization have overshadowed these practices, they remain alive within us—a yearning to reconnect with both nature and our own intuitive wisdom.
Be Your Own Healer
A fundamental principle of the Wise Woman Way is self-empowerment. This tradition encourages us to become our own healers, placing the responsibility for health back into our own hands. It urges us to trust our intuition and recognize the deep patterns shaping our well-being.
From the way we eat, move, and sleep to the ways in which we love and connect, every aspect of our lives plays a role in our overall vitality. The Wise Woman Tradition teaches that true health stems from our connection to nature and to ourselves. By looking beneath the surface of our challenges, we can find our way back home—home to our bodies, the land, and the wild plants that support our healing journey.
Wild Weeds: The Resilient Healers of Our Time
Many people see weeds as mere garden nuisances, but in reality, these plants form the foundation of many Wise Woman remedies. Rich in micronutrients, weeds have adapted to survive in even the harshest conditions, making them powerful allies for modern healing.
Uncontainable and resilient, wild weeds defy monocropping and industrial agricultural practices, thriving despite adversity. While often dismissed by the mainstream, they remain a potent source of medicine on the fringes of society. These rebellious plants, with their unshakable roots and resistance to destruction, serve as symbols of strength and perseverance—qualities we can embrace in our own lives.
At a time when disconnection from nature is at its peak, turning to these wild healers offers a way forward. The Wise Woman Way reminds us that nature’s wisdom is always available to us, waiting to guide us back to balance and wholeness.
Foundational Weeds for Nourishment
The Wise Woman Way honours nature’s simplest and most abundant gifts—wild weeds brimming with healing properties. These botanical allies grow freely across the world, offering vital micronutrients to nourish and support all stages of life. Below are three of the most treasured plant companions in this tradition, each embodying the wisdom and resilience of nature.
Nettle: The Wise Woman’s Superfood (Urtica dioica)
Nettle is a true powerhouse of the Wise Woman Way, revered for its ability to restore vitality and deeply nourish the body. This wild green is one of the most nutrient-dense plants on Earth, offering a rich supply of vitamins, minerals, and proteins.
A natural adrenal tonic, nettle helps ease reliance on stimulants like coffee, replacing depletion with steady, grounded energy. Drinking a daily nettle infusion can enhance mood, strengthen immunity, and promote glowing skin, hair, and nails. Those who embrace her medicine often experience a profound renewal, feeling recharged and resilient, just as nettle herself grows back stronger with each season.
Red Clover: A Feminine Ally for Balance (Trifolium pratense)
Red clover is a quiet yet potent force, offering deep nourishment for hormonal harmony and overall well-being. Often overlooked as a common field weed, she is in fact a powerhouse of phytoestrogens, antioxidants, and vital micronutrients.
Renowned for supporting fertility and easing menopause symptoms, red clover also provides gentle detoxification and promotes vibrant health. As a foundational herb in women’s wellness, she enhances the body's natural resilience and can be especially helpful in managing stress and supporting long-term vitality. Best enjoyed as an infusion, red clover is a treasured companion on the journey to holistic health.
Oat Straw: A Gentle Tonic for Strength & Serenity (Avena sativa)
Oat straw is the embodiment of soft strength, offering deep nourishment for the nervous system—a fundamental principle of the Wise Woman Way. Rich in calcium and magnesium, this golden grass supports strong bones, a calm mind, and a balanced heart.
Known for restoring emotional flexibility, oat straw infusion helps those who feel burned out or disconnected from their inner joy. With its malty sweetness and soothing properties, this ancient remedy strengthens the body while inviting relaxation, pleasure, and overall well-being.
Embracing the Wise Woman Tradition with Herbal Infusions
To fully receive the nourishment these wild plants offer, the Wise Woman Way encourages long-brew herbal infusions. Unlike quick teas, infusions steep for four to eight hours, allowing the plants' full spectrum of vitamins and minerals to infuse into the water. This simple yet powerful practice is a cornerstone of natural healing, connecting us back to the earth’s wisdom—one cup at a time.
What You Will Need:
- 1 litre console jar (that can handle boiling water)
- Wild-foraged dried weeds or weeds from Wild Nettle
- Springwater
- Strainer (or Wild Nettle Ritual Pack) This can be a link directly to your ritual pack.
- Patience
How to Make Nourishing Infusions
- Place roughly 28g of dried weeds into your console jar (warm jar first to prevent breakage).
- Pour boiling water into your jar, using a metal spoon to stir away any air bubbles.
- Put a tight lid on your jar and let the weeds steep for a minimum of 4 hours or up to 9 hours.
- Strain weeds with a sieve, squeezing all liquid from the plant.
- Drink strained infusion immediately or refrigerate—must be consumed within 2 days of refrigeration.
- Compost leftover plant material or feed to houseplants for a mulchy-mineral boost.
When making an infusion, remember that the Wise Woman tradition has no rules. Connect to your intuition, spend time in nature, and see which weeds call for your attention. Re-wilding and re-wise-ing is a remembering of something innate in every single one of us.
Trust yourself.
Trust the weeds.
Drink wisely and wildly.
By Wild Women, Annette Müller for Holistica Magazine
Annette: https://houseofana.substack.com/
Social: https://www.instagram.com/annettemuller
Holistica: http://www.holistica.net/
Photographs by: Katinka Bester
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