When I first started taking herb classes in the mid-1980’s, herbs like lady’s slipper, osha, and goldenseal were being widely taught about and consumed. As herbalism gained in popularity, these precious herbs were sought after, beyond what could be sustainably harvested. Many of them also became very expensive, and were being wild harvested as a way of making money without regard for the long-term impact of over-harvesting.
I had developed formulas and healing protocols using herbs that were becoming endangered and it was hard to imagine letting them go. In the 1990’s, Jane Bothwell began teaching about herbal analogs and helped lead the way in thinking about how to lighten the load on these beloved plants that were disappearing. Herbal analogs are plants that share similar actions and energetic qualities that can be substituted for a plant that you no longer want to use. Learning about herbal analogs is important for anyone studying or practicing herbalism, as it allows threatened species a chance to recover and gives us time to possibly cultivate them as a long-term solution.
The United Plant Savers’ “At-Risk” list became a guiding source for which herbs we needed to develop analog solutions for. United Plant Savers describes an herbal analog as “indicating parallels in function or end results between two or more medicinal herbs”.
Bringing the concept of herbal analogs into your herbal studies is about practicing ethical and sustainable herbalism so that our love of working with plants doesn’t contribute to their demise
I have to admit, I relied heavily on goldenseal root for at least a decade until I became aware of how endangered it was becoming. The habitat was shrinking, the roots are small, it takes many years to mature, and widespread poaching was a problem because it was fetching such a high price. I was so excited to discover I could use the usnea that was abundant where I lived and it is readily available online. Combining equal parts of usnea with Oregon grape root became an inexpensive and highly effective analog that I have great success with, and I now rarely use goldenseal.
Oregon grape is Oregon’s state flower, but in herbalism, we use the root. Its deep yellow root color shows it contains berberine, the compound that gives goldenseal its deeply cleansing qualities. Oregon grape is prolific in a limited habitat range, so look for cultivated sources.
Usnea, commonly known as ‘old man’s beard’, hangs like a beard from oak and conifer trees. It’s a lichen consisting of a symbiotic combination of algae and fungi. Usnea contains polysaccharides that support immunity, and it strengthens tissue with soothing mucilage. Used as a pair, Oregon grape and usnea make a sustainable stand-in for goldenseal.
1 to 1 substitution of organic marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis)
Slippery elm soothes irritation and brings moisture to dry, irritated tissues. Since the inner bark comes from slow-growing trees, harvesting has put a real strain on the species. Marshmallow root is a great replacement and is easily grown in abundance in gardens and even pots on the porch.
Marshmallow is a demulcent herb, rich in mucilage, the slippery substance that coats and comforts dry tissues. I use it for digestion and for the lungs. It blends beautifully with other herbs and fits easily into formulas that support recovery after occasional smoke exposure.
I haven’t used slippery elm for more than 30 years, even though I still see it listed in many recipes. I have 100% replaced slippery elm with marshmallow root and have been happy with this abundant herbal analog.
Lady’s slipper (Cypripedium spp.) analog
Lady’s slipper was a popular herb for calming the nervous system, but it’s now rare and should be left to grow undisturbed. The very first herb class I attended, we made a sleepy-time tea that contained lady’s slipper. I loved that tea. It wasn’t long after that, the beautiful Lady’s slipper orchid made it to the endangered list. I treasured the last few ounces I had, knowing that I would never buy it again. I put together a combination of skullcap, hops, and lemon balm, and do just fine with that analog tea!
Hops helps to soothe nerves and ease tension in the digestive tract, which often reacts when we’re stressed. Skullcap helps the body unwind and quiet racing thoughts. Together, they bring a similar gentle comfort that lady’s slipper was known for.
Osha is an aromatic root used to open the respiratory system and clear congestion. Because it grows slowly and has been harvested heavily, it’s best to give this plant time to recover in the wild and choose an herbal analog.
Angelica belongs to the same plant family as osha and works in a similar way, helping to loosen mucus and support the lungs. Elecampane has warming and aromatic energetics that are similar to osha, and helps to support digestion and helps with coughing. Marshmallow is soothing to irritated respiratory tissue. Together, these three herbs can add up to some ‘osha similar’ support.
I want to take a moment and say how grateful I am for the important role Mountain Rose Herbs has played in nurturing ethical and sustainable herbalism over the years.
Their new FairWild Certificationis an incredibly conscious regulation process with checks and balances that ensure equitable distribution of wild harvested herbs while supporting wildcrafters and the ecosystems they harvest from. With the rapidly growing interest in herbs, it is exactly this kind of innovative groundwork that we need to ensure a sustainable future in herbal medicine.
You start to understand herbalism on a deeper level when you begin looking for analogs. Knowing which herbs need to be protected is the first step, then start asking what you can use instead. This is one way we can give back to the earth for the abundance we receive. This is about being responsible and taking care to let the overused herbs rest and find the herbs that can be cultivated or are growing in abundance.
What herbs have you substituted for the plants that have become rare,
are harvested far from where you are, or live in declining habitats?
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