Waḣp̄e Waṡtemna - Wild Bergamot

Known for its pleasant smell, Waḣp̄e waṡt̄emna (also called Bee Balm or Wild Bergamot) has is used for medicine and ceremony.

When you go to pick a plant, that plant is alive. It has a spirit and a name, a flower, children and grandchildren. When you go to pick a medicine, sing a song to it, tell it what it's going to be used for, and ask if you have its permission to take it. Be aware of everything around you and watch for a sign. It may be a bird or a bug that tells you to leave it alone or to take it. Sing it a song and remember that it is a relative.
Waḣp̄e waṡt̄emna reaches full bloom in the first part of August, but watch out for the flying relatives (especially bees) that it nourishes! Pick the flowers and the leaves.
When you harvest the flowers and the leaves, leave the root underground so that the plant can grow back.
In addition to its uses in ceremony, Waḣp̄e waṡt̄emna is good for the lungs. It can help with asthma, polyps on the lungs, and pneumonia when it is made into a tea or inhaled. It contains antibiotics and is good for all our flying and four-legged relatives as well.

What to know

Presented by Lessert Moore.