My mountains are on fire. I watch the hungry flames lick at my familiar skyline. Fire trucks zip up and down our canyon road as helicopters wheel overhead. I smell smoke, and know what comes next: weeks of gray skies raining ash, then months to years of barren blackened slopes and tree stumps where yesterday I petted my favorite sages and lingered under expansive old oaks.
This is California now, as it has always been: a landscape shaped in constant conversation with fire. Fires used to roam freely, waking serotinous seeds that wait for the fiery heat to burst open their seed cases and rejuvenate the landscape. Now humans, houses, and other anthropocentric technologies seek to dominate. Fires still burn. We suffer the repercussions of what and how we’ve created and destroyed.
As we experience earlier, longer, more unpredictable—and oftentimes more devastating—fire seasons, we collect stories, smoke, and sorrow in our chests, lungs, and bodies. Perhaps we or someone we know has lost a home, or even a loved one. Perhaps we inadvertently inhale smoke and ash that create a short-term burden on our system, which may spark long-term damage.
Photo courtesy of Jiling Lin.
Proximity to a wildfire emergency can create fear, confusion, and other psychological manifestations of stress. Exposure to wildfire smoke can also cause physiological symptoms that impact the nervous, respiratory, integumentary, and other body systems. Symptoms may include:
How do we prepare and adjust to our planet’s rapidly shifting climate, which is manifest here in California and other fire-prone areas as life-giving destruction?
If you live in a fire-prone area, then prepare a run-bag of important items before the drier and hotter weather heralds fire season. See CDC guidelines and reference your local fire station for more suggestions.
If you have an indoor place to stay, then keep doors and windows closed. Maintain good air circulation with a HEPA air filter if possible, and keep your spirits up with fresh food, supportive herbs, and gentle music. Breath-focused meditations, drawing, writing, and other calming strategies can be helpful in maintaining internal equilibrium.
Remember to hydrate extra well! Drink more water, tea, and soup to help flush and rehydrate your body. Include antioxidant-rich foods like citrus and berries. Enjoy cooling and clearing fresh fruits and vegetables like cucumbers and watermelon. Savor colorful salads and ferments, and add just a little extra salt and healthy fats. Include moistening foods like mushrooms and seaweeds in your soups, and remember to sit down and slowly enjoy your meals, even amidst potential chaos and confusion.
Focus on herbs specific to what you are experiencing, and/or body systems typically impacted for you, such as respiratory, stress, digestive, or other symptoms. For example if you tend to get a dry throat during fire season, then be prepared with ample demulcents. If fire season tends to stress you out, then be prepared with delicious nervines, or nervous system support.
Many mint family plants (Lamiaceae) are aromatic and adaptive to various purposes, such as easing tension, opening stuck nasal passages, and soothing inflamed respiration.
Mint family expectorants to help move gunk out of the throat:
Mint family nervines for soothing stress:
Other nervines to reduce stress:
Mallow family (Malvaceae) Demulcents
These can help soothe parched mucous membranes like dry skin, throat, or nose. Prepare as a cold infusion, perhaps with a little squeeze of lemon or another citrus, and some honey or maple syrup.
Corrigent demulcents that can help unify and flavor formulas
Consider both internal and external applications of herbs to support your fire response and recovery process.
You can take the herbs above as teas, cold infusions, tinctures, or honeys. Tinctures are easy to keep on hand for first aid and in your run-bag. Teas are particularly helpful during fire season to increase hydration and maintain small grounding rituals. You can also pack teas into your run bag if you will have access to hot water. If preparing teas ahead of time for storage, then keep in a sealed container in a cool place. Honeys are lovely for a taste of medicinally infused sweetness during likely harrowing times.
Applying herb-infused oils topically not only soothes dry skin but is also a grounding ritual to help maintain a sense of normalcy when the world is on fire. Consider calming herbs like lavender and vulnerary skin-supporting herbs like calendula (Calendula officinalis, Asteraceae).
Complete your day with an herbally-infused oil massage before or after bathing, to let the oils soak in overnight.
Gently applying oil to the inside of your nose with a clean pinky finger or cotton swab before bed can be extra soothing to lubricate dry or smoky nasal passages.
You may also be interested in:
*The statements in this blog have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications. For educational purposes only.
Topics: Herbalism
Jiling Lin is a Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc), herbalist, and artist. Her integrative medical practice in Ventura, CA and holistic workshops, retreats, and writings empower thriving health and environmental stewardship in our bodies, communities, and world. Interweaving nature, art, movement and ritual, Jiling’s classes range from seasonal wellness to immersive Five Elements retreats. “Tea Talks” podcast host on Herbal Radio and writer for various publications, Jiling is also an avid traveler, multidisciplinary artist, and wilderness adventurer. Find Jiling backpacking the Sespe, surfing at C-Street, and on JilingLin.com, Substack @Jiling, Instagram @LinJiling, and Facebook @JilingLAc. Join her newsletter and Substack for adventure-notes, book updates, and seasonal beauty!
My mountains are on fire. I watch the hungry flames lick at my familiar skyline. Fire trucks zip up and down our canyon road as helicopters wheel overhead. I smell smoke, and know what comes next: weeks of gray skies raining ash, then months to years of barren blackened slopes and tree stumps where yesterday I petted my favorite sages and lingered under expansive old oaks.
This is California now, as it has always been: a landscape shaped in constant conversation with fire. Fires used to roam freely, waking serotinous seeds that wait for the fiery heat to burst open their seed cases and rejuvenate the landscape. Now humans, houses, and other anthropocentric technologies seek to dominate. Fires still burn. We suffer the repercussions of what and how we’ve created and destroyed.
As we experience earlier, longer, more unpredictable—and oftentimes more devastating—fire seasons, we collect stories, smoke, and sorrow in our chests, lungs, and bodies. Perhaps we or someone we know has lost a home, or even a loved one. Perhaps we inadvertently inhale smoke and ash that create a short-term burden on our system, which may spark long-term damage.
Photo courtesy of Jiling Lin.
Proximity to a wildfire emergency can create fear, confusion, and other psychological manifestations of stress. Exposure to wildfire smoke can also cause physiological symptoms that impact the nervous, respiratory, integumentary, and other body systems. Symptoms may include:
How do we prepare and adjust to our planet’s rapidly shifting climate, which is manifest here in California and other fire-prone areas as life-giving destruction?
If you live in a fire-prone area, then prepare a run-bag of important items before the drier and hotter weather heralds fire season. See CDC guidelines and reference your local fire station for more suggestions.
If you have an indoor place to stay, then keep doors and windows closed. Maintain good air circulation with a HEPA air filter if possible, and keep your spirits up with fresh food, supportive herbs, and gentle music. Breath-focused meditations, drawing, writing, and other calming strategies can be helpful in maintaining internal equilibrium.
Remember to hydrate extra well! Drink more water, tea, and soup to help flush and rehydrate your body. Include antioxidant-rich foods like citrus and berries. Enjoy cooling and clearing fresh fruits and vegetables like cucumbers and watermelon. Savor colorful salads and ferments, and add just a little extra salt and healthy fats. Include moistening foods like mushrooms and seaweeds in your soups, and remember to sit down and slowly enjoy your meals, even amidst potential chaos and confusion.
Focus on herbs specific to what you are experiencing, and/or body systems typically impacted for you, such as respiratory, stress, digestive, or other symptoms. For example if you tend to get a dry throat during fire season, then be prepared with ample demulcents. If fire season tends to stress you out, then be prepared with delicious nervines, or nervous system support.
Many mint family plants (Lamiaceae) are aromatic and adaptive to various purposes, such as easing tension, opening stuck nasal passages, and soothing inflamed respiration.
Mint family expectorants to help move gunk out of the throat:
Mint family nervines for soothing stress:
Other nervines to reduce stress:
Mallow family (Malvaceae) Demulcents
These can help soothe parched mucous membranes like dry skin, throat, or nose. Prepare as a cold infusion, perhaps with a little squeeze of lemon or another citrus, and some honey or maple syrup.
Corrigent demulcents that can help unify and flavor formulas
Consider both internal and external applications of herbs to support your fire response and recovery process.
You can take the herbs above as teas, cold infusions, tinctures, or honeys. Tinctures are easy to keep on hand for first aid and in your run-bag. Teas are particularly helpful during fire season to increase hydration and maintain small grounding rituals. You can also pack teas into your run bag if you will have access to hot water. If preparing teas ahead of time for storage, then keep in a sealed container in a cool place. Honeys are lovely for a taste of medicinally infused sweetness during likely harrowing times.
Applying herb-infused oils topically not only soothes dry skin but is also a grounding ritual to help maintain a sense of normalcy when the world is on fire. Consider calming herbs like lavender and vulnerary skin-supporting herbs like calendula (Calendula officinalis, Asteraceae).
Complete your day with an herbally-infused oil massage before or after bathing, to let the oils soak in overnight.
Gently applying oil to the inside of your nose with a clean pinky finger or cotton swab before bed can be extra soothing to lubricate dry or smoky nasal passages.
You may also be interested in:
*The statements in this blog have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications. For educational purposes only.
Topics: Herbalism
Jiling Lin is a Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc), herbalist, and artist. Her integrative medical practice in Ventura, CA and holistic workshops, retreats, and writings empower thriving health and environmental stewardship in our bodies, communities, and world. Interweaving nature, art, movement and ritual, Jiling’s classes range from seasonal wellness to immersive Five Elements retreats. “Tea Talks” podcast host on Herbal Radio and writer for various publications, Jiling is also an avid traveler, multidisciplinary artist, and wilderness adventurer. Find Jiling backpacking the Sespe, surfing at C-Street, and on JilingLin.com, Substack @Jiling, Instagram @LinJiling, and Facebook @JilingLAc. Join her newsletter and Substack for adventure-notes, book updates, and seasonal beauty!
