Ancient knowledge.
Modern science.
A journal with equal room for science, traditional medicine, ancient wisdom, Taoism, plant knowledge, and spirituality.
Traditional use is a body of knowledge.
Science is important to me. So is traditional use. Generations of people have observed plants, prepared medicines, tended their communities, and passed on what they learned. That accumulated knowledge deserves serious attention.
When a practice has a long history of use, I want to understand that history: who used it, how it was prepared, and what they observed. If modern clinical research is still developing, I will say so precisely, while giving the traditional record its full place in the conversation.
Modern studies help us ask focused questions about benefits, mechanisms, and safety. Traditional medicine holds knowledge of preparation, relationship, season, and lived experience. Each brings something valuable. A long history of use still calls for attention to the particular plant, preparation, and person.
Medicine Wild balances ancient knowledge with modern science. Here, plant knowledge, Taoism, spirituality, and the wisdom of lived experience have room to speak in their own language.
Sources, with their context.
Each article brings its references and further reading into view. Traditional and historical sources sit alongside botanical monographs and modern research. We distinguish recorded traditional use, laboratory work, observational research, and clinical trials so the reader can understand what each source contributes. A study of one extract or preparation does not describe every way of working with a plant.
A living journal.
This edition revisits the original Medicine Wild archive, preserving its subjects, personal stories, authorship, and original publication dates. Revised editions have an update date; new features are identified by their own publication dates. References are selected reading, rather than an exhaustive review of every available study. The work continues as new research and understanding emerge.
Care, with attention.
Articles focus on botanical knowledge, food, water, lifestyle, traditional practices, and spiritual life. They include relevant contraindications and reasons to seek additional care from a qualified clinician or appropriate specialist. Severe or unusual symptoms deserve prompt attention.
Photography & illustration.
Original Medicine Wild photography and Michele’s early blog images carry the journal’s history forward. Greek Life and the Greek Diaries use photographs from Michele’s own archive. A small number of AI-generated editorial illustrations accompany them, including the botanical hands on the homepage, the creek-side ritual, the botanical cream still life, the midnight floral collection artwork, the botanical oils collection, the sparse sage-and-lemon-balm footer, a forest-water scene, and selected food and still-life images. These images create atmosphere; they do not document Michele, her home, or a specific location. Plant identification should rely on appropriate botanical references.
The archive keeps its history.
The Greek Diaries and historical press appearances remain accessible as records of earlier work. Updating this journal does not change the original third-party publications.