Berries, Berries, And Look, More Berries!

As the alder buckthorn is passed down the line, Wylan pipes up with a smart question and Andy smiles warmly at him as she says, “That is a great question! Yes, the berries can be used for just that purpose because, while they make a wolf feel sick, they are not actually poisonous. Still, it is important to be careful with the amount you give because it will make the patient extremely uncomfortable.”

Eyes then track over to Oleander who asks what the bark for and Andy offers him another bright smile for the boy while she takes back the bunch of berries and says, “Great catch! I didn’t give the purpose of them did I?” A wink is given to the boy before she explains, “The bark is used as a laxative. It is helpful if the patient needs to pass something quickly or if they do not seem able to pass stool by themselves.”

With that done, Andy replaces the bundle on her table and picks up the ginseng root and, just like before, she passes it to Zion first while saying, “This is ginseng root. As the name suggests, it is the root that is the most useful part. Ginseng tea is a wonderful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, which can help boost weaker immune systems in the winter months. While this herb is harder to find, it is those bright little red berries that will alert you to where it rests.”

Once it makes down the line she takes the herb and swaps it out for the elderberries and passes it off to her students. With a smile, Andy explains, “And finally, we have elderberries. The berries themselves can be eaten to boost immune systems as well. These are more common to find so it is reasonable to give these to patients first before using the ginseng root. They are also really good for helping to treat respiratory infections. Much like the buckthorn, the bark and root of these berries will cause intense vomiting if ingested, so be careful with them.”

Taking the bundle once it reaches the end, Andy puts it back on the table and faces her students. A warm smile rests on her lips as she wraps up the lesson, “So, as you can see, the berries that you might find in the wild have very different uses and it is always wise to learn what can be ingested and what shouldn’t be.” Looking to each student, she then says, “And that’s it! If you have any further questions, you can stay behind and talk to me, otherwise you are free to go! I hope you all enjoyed them lesson.”

With the lesson officially over, Andy watches the young wolves for a long moment before turning to her table to clean up after herself.


"Andromeda Fatalis"