Unveiling Ancient Wisdom: My Journey into Ancestral Herbalism with a Medicine Woman in Mexico City

Exploring Centuries of Healing Traditions and Cultural Heritage in the Heart of Mexico

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One of the most thrilling aspects of my travels is embarking on solo adventures. It never fails to surprise people when I reveal that some of my most memorable experiences have been discovered through Airbnb Experience. This trip to Mexico City was no exception. After bidding farewell to my friends after our weekend escapades, I treated myself to a solo date with an excursion I had been eyeing since the moment I booked my ticket—an ancestral herbalism lesson from a local medicine woman. The prospect of delving into the world of local plants and herbs had me buzzing with excitement so much that I felt like a child on Christmas day. 

With the sun barely peeking over the horizon, I embarked on an hour-long Uber ride to the location, my excitement growing with each passing minute. As I stepped out of the car, I was greeted by my guide, Citlali, with a warm embrace. Our adventure began as we strolled down a winding path flanked by small gardens and a calm river. The first plant she introduced me to was the Dragon Tongue, a plant known for its soothing properties against headaches and migraines, best enjoyed in a refreshing tea with a hint of lemon.

Our journey along the main road was a treasure trove of botanical discoveries. We encountered the Eucalyptus, a personal favorite of mine, and the Ahuehuete tree, also known as the Montezuma Cypress in English. Citlali shared intriguing insights, explaining that the seeds of this tree are used to make syrup for coughs and bronchitis. Further research revealed a myriad of other uses. The wood is often used for house beams, the resin for gout, ulcers, and toothaches, and a decoction from its bark can be used as a diuretic and to stimulate blood flow. This was a true testament to the versatility and power of nature's remedies. 

Further down the road, we found Malva, a plant that can aid in digestion, inflammation, and diarrhea. Right beside them was a bed of baby artichokes, and Citlali told me that artichokes can help improve liver function. We also spotted a Pirul tree or Pepper tree and were lectured about the multiple uses one could do with this plant – one of them being cleansing negative energy and I was given a much-needed energy cleansing with its branches. 

Other notable plants we spotted while heading to the herb garden were: 

• Jarilla is a plant that aids menstrual problems and belly aches, is an anti-inflammatory, and helps with infections. 

• Higuerilla, also known as the Ricinus, has seeds that are used to make castor oil. Citlali told me that the seeds are toxic to consume, and upon further research, it is extremely allergenic and has an OPALS allergy scale rating of 10 out of 10

• Estafiate, also known as sagewort helps with stomach infections and other digestive issues. It is best consumed in a tea. 

• Ajenjo, also known as the Common Wormwood, has benefits similar to those of the estafiate plant and helps with intestinal worms and skin infections. It has an extremely bitter taste that took forever for me to rinse out of my mouth. 

• Horsehound, which I was told can help with lowering one's cholesterol and help with fatty liver. Upon further research, I learned it can also help with digestive issues such as diarrhea, gas, constipation, and bloating.

Once we arrived at the herb garden, my heart skipped a beat. I recognized so many of my favorite herbs, each one a familiar face in this new environment. The anticipation of learning more about them from my wise tour guide was almost overwhelming. As we toured the garden, she told me that I could pick some of the flowers and herbs if I wanted to, but I had to make sure to ask permission from the plant and share what my intentions were beforehand. Later, as I walked around, I spotted a ladybug on an Argula plant and found some Calendula, Chamomille, Celery, Dandelions, Dill, and Lemon Balm.

After the tour, we sat down to enjoy breakfast, with homemade Tlacoyos stuffed with black beans and a nice heaping cup of fennel tea. Citlali even brought homemade tomato salsa that I used to spread on top of my Tlacoyos, and it was one of the best tomato salsas I have ever had. As we ate, we chatted about what I had learned, took in the beautiful natural scenery, and made homemade tinctures. Later I was given homemade lavender and chamomile soaps as well as rosemary shampoo as a parting gift. 

To say that I had a wonderful time would be an understatement because this experience gave me one of my favorite days in Mexico. Getting the opportunity to spend time with locals and learning about how they used plants to heal themselves was such an amazing experience and it showed me just how passionate I am about plant medicine and learning the ways that nature can heal us. I couldn’t wait to go home to use my new soaps and tinctures. However, I will have to wait to use the tinctures as they need to sit for 15 to 20 days before usage.

If you find yourself in Mexico and are interested in herbalism, I highly suggest you book this excursion. Getting the chance to spend time in nature gave me a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of city life.