PHOTO PROVIDED Sue “the Salvelady” Morris, of Mill Hall, speaks at the Clinton County Herb Guild in May 2024 about Aromatherapy and Botanical Perfumery. This year, Morris is speaking on “Herbal Allies: the medicinal, nutritional, economic and ecological benefits of herbal medicine” at 7 p.m. on April 14.

LOCK HAVEN — Herbs aren’t just to make your food taste better or fill a room with fragrance … not according to Sue “the Salvelady” Morris, of Mill Hall, who is speaking on “Herbal Allies: the medicinal, nutritional, economic and ecological benefits of herbal medicine” at the next Clinton County Herb Guild meeting, slated for 7 p.m. on April 14.

“It is always a privilege and an honor to be invited to speak to this group,” Morris said. “I’m looking forward to presenting this talk … at … Big Woods Bible Church.”

Morris, who has given other presentations to the Guild in years past, said she chose this year’s topic because the members seem as though they’d find value in this perspective on herbalism.

“I think the Herb Guild will enjoy it,” Morris said. “(I’ve) given this talk to other herb and garden groups in Pennsylvania and I’m told that it was one of the best and most timely talks they have heard me present.”

One of those members is Gerri Miller, of Lock Haven.

“Sue is a dear friend of mine,” Miller said. “She cares deeply about nature, healing and sustainability. She has a vast knowledge of herbs and their many benefits. I enjoy her presentations because they are easy to understand, informative and inspirational. The Clinton County Herb Guild felt that our community would also benefit from ‘Herbal Allies,’ and Sue is very happy to help by passing on her knowledge. We hope that our friends and neighbors will come out to learn and will be inspired by Sue’s presentation, too. Healing with nature is a wonderful gift that we can all benefit from.”

Morris designed the presentation so it is easy to comprehend, provides useful and practical information and inspires different ways of thinking.

“This is Herbalism 101, nothing complicated or out of anyone’s reach,” Morris said. “Herbs provide numerous benefits for a wide range of needs and support us physically, emotionally and spiritually. My goal is to encourage people to find solutions to their health care needs that come from nature where the true intelligence of plants can provide us with what our bodies need to stay healthy. I focus on medicinal and culinary plants that anyone can grow in their garden, on a windowsill or in a planter in a sunny spot on the porch.”

Plant-based medicines is a topic near and dear to Morris’ heart.

“This is fundamentally where my passion lies,” Morris said. “I came to the plant path through my own intuition. I knew at an early age that I needed to live close to the earth although I had no idea what was driving me at the time. I grew up in a city, far removed from nature. I would tell my parents I wanted to live on a farm and they laughed. Something in me knew I was better suited to living in the country than the city. I followed that inner guidance and somehow grew up to be an herbalist. As a teenager I had an experience I will share with the Herb Guild, a story that I believe gave me my earliest inspiration to connect to nature. It’s my herbal origin story.”

This passion has led Morris to develop her own line of salves and be invited to speak all over the state. She has been the featured speaker at the Pennsylvania Herb and Garden Festival for over 25 years, a speaker at The Mother Earth News Fair and an instructor of Intro to Herbalism classes for local adult education classes, run through Keystone Central School District. Recently, Morris presented “Herbal Allies” to the Fishing Creek Herb Guild in Bloomsburg, a group with at least 75 members who grow herbs in their gardens, though only a few were using them for medicinal or nutritional purposes. After Morris’ presentation, nearly every member expressed an enthusiasm to use the herbs in their gardens to improve their lives.

“It is rewarding when fellow gardeners and herbal enthusiasts respond so positively and feel motivated to keep working with plants in more self empowering ways, as in learning to value their garden as a source of nutrition and home grown medicinal remedies,” Morris said. “I believe herbalism functions best as a preventative path, just as a lifetime of good nutrition does. Herbs can support us every step of the way. I believe it is more timely now than ever considering the state of our healthcare system and the chronic health conditions so many people are trying to cope with.”

All that said, Morris doesn’t believe herbal medicine can, or should, replace pharmaceuticals when they are needed.

“Honestly, I recently had a serious bacterial infection that required antibiotics,” Morris said. “I took them and recovered. There is a place and time for everything. Herbs and plants for food and medicine provide us with natural remedies that support our health in very simple, affordable and practical ways.”

Included in the Salvelady’s presentation on Monday is how to get started with using herbs in this manner and the many benefits of herbs such as comfrey, peppermint and Tulsi.

“Just grow a small medicine garden,” Morris said. “I choose to use herbs that I can grow organically and harvest from the earth I tend to. This way I know exactly where they are coming from. I also turn to herbs depending on the condition I hope they can support me with. Everyone knows me as the Salvelady. The reason for this is that I grow a lot of a plant called comfrey. This plant has a remarkable, second to none value for wound healing. Topically it can aid in the regeneration of skin tissue, help relieve chronic skin conditions, wounds, scars and bruises, sprains and arthritic conditions. Also used for thousands of years, it is a powerful plant ally. By crafting herbal salves I’m just following the teachings I’ve learned and skills I’ve honed. By putting my hands in the earth and crafting simple remedies my salves help people with their topical skin care conditions that very few other options address as effectively and safely. I have 25 years of salve making experience with countless testimonials as to the effectiveness of comfrey salve. If I need a digestive aid, I might have indigestion or stomach cramps, I can simply drink a cup of peppermint tea. Not only is it good for aiding digestion but it turns out it is also a powerful ally for IBS. Peppermint also stops the growth of many different bacteria (and is) a great source of vitamins C and A. If I feel like my immune system is weak, I’m having respiratory problems or a lot of gas and bloating, getting frequent colds or infections or just plain feeling stressed out, the first plant I’m going to turn to is Tulsi, or Holy Basil. As a tea or tincture this plant has been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine to help alleviate these symptoms and build immunity. It is a physically supportive adaptogen, but also renowned for its spiritually uplifting benefits, quite helpful for lowering stress and calming the nervous system. It is easy to grow and dry for tea to drink throughout the winter months. I will review these plants and other easy to grow plants in my presentation.”

Morris hopes to inspire people to return to nature as a path toward health and healing.

“A garden is a place for beauty, for food and for simple herbal remedies,” Morris said. “Gardens bring joy, exercise, wisdom and self empowerment. This has been my message for many years. Plants are our herbal allies.”

The Clinton County Herb Guild meets on the second Monday of each month from March through November in the Multipurpose Room at Big Woods Bible Church in Lock Haven.