5 Herbal Roots to Try This Autumn

What Is the Fall Equinox?

The fall equinox is a celestial event that marks the first day of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. On the equinox, the sun crosses the celestial equator, moving from the north to the south. After the fall equinox, days will be shorter and nights will be longer. This pattern ends on the winter solstice, when days start to slowly grow longer again (even if it’s just a minute at a time!).

And, fun fact, the full moon that appears closest to the fall equinox is always called the “Harvest Moon” because it tends to rise as soon as the sun sets, and traditionally gave farmers a little more light to finish their harvests before hard frost sets in.¹

[1] Old Farmer's Almanac. Autumnal Equinox 2019: The First Day of Fall. Old Farmer’s Almanac. Published September 22, 2018. https://www.almanac.com/content/first-day-fall-autumnal-equinox

Get Back to Your Roots This Fall

We can see leaves changing color and notice the days getting shorter, but there’s profound change happening underground, too. As leaves and flowers die off, plants direct nutrients to their roots to help them get through winter. We can turn to these roots for support, as well! Discover 5 roots you can add to your herbal rituals this autumn.

Ashwagandha

Generally speaking, harvesting happens nearly year-round on our Regenerative Organic Certified^® farm depending on the plant part we’re collecting. However, things definitely wind down in the late fall. Come October and early November, we’ll begin harvesting Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root, which we’re fortunate to grow on our farm.

Ashwagandha is frost intolerant, and we harvest it as soon as the leaves begin turning yellow with the cooler temperatures. Ashwagandha is also an adaptogen that promotes a balanced response to stress.*

Horseradish

You may be familiar with Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) as a spicy culinary ingredient, but did you know it also offers traditional support for the respiratory system?*

Horseradish is also a member of the Brassicaceae plant family, similar to Broccoli, Bok Choy, Cabbage, and Cauliflower. We make our Certified Organic Horseradish liquid herbal extract with roots that are harvested in both spring and fall and carefully shade-dried.

Maca

This fall, consider incorporating a tonic herb like Maca (Lepidium meyenii) into your routine. If you look at a raw Maca taproot, you’ll notice it looks a whole lot like a Turnip! Similar to Horseradish, Maca is also a member of the Brassicaceae plant family. In herbalism, Maca is used for sexual health support and to promote healthy sexual libido and function.*

We prepare our Maca liquid herbal extract and capsules with the dried root of Certified Organic Maca plants. These plants are grown for us in their native region of South America, at a high altitude in the Andes Mountains of Peru (up to 15,700 feet elevation above sea level).

Oregon Grape

Just as the name suggests, Oregon Grape (Berberis aquifolium) is a plant that’s native to the Pacific Northwest and grows commonly in Oregon. The process of harvesting Oregon Grape root is highly labor-intensive. We make our Oregon Grape liquid herbal extract using responsibly wildcrafted Oregon Grape roots that are wild-harvested in the Cascade Mountain range near our southern Oregon farms. As with all wild-harvested plants we use, we only turn to trusted partners to collect these roots respectfully and ethically.

Turmeric

In fall, you may also want to balance out cooling temperatures by warming your body up with movement. It gives you a chance to enjoy the sunshine and relatively nice weather before it shifts. Turmeric (Curcuma longa) root is a tonic herb you may appreciate after getting some exercise. This golden herbal ally supports healthy joint function and post-exercise recovery for all ages.*

The list of Turmeric’s benefits is quite impressive. In addition to helping you out after an active day, Turmeric provides comprehensive support for the hepatic, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and digestive systems, and is traditionally used to promote skin health.*