Four Directions Botanica

🍄‍🟫 INGREDIENT SPOTLIGHT: REISHI MUSHROOM 🍄‍🟫

Y'all... I got these in last night and I must say they smell absolutely AMAZING!!!
🤤🤤🤤🤤

Every once in a while, I like to talk about why I choose the ingredients that go into Four Directions Botanica products.

Let me start out by saying that I prefer to grow my own herbs, plants & mushrooms or responsibly forage them. I just love having that hands-on connection with our land.

But unfortunately… I can’t grow EVERYTHING, (Even if I want to & often attempt to 🙃) so sometimes I have to source ingredients from outside suppliers. When I do, who I buy from matters to me.

For our Reishi Mushroom Tincture, I chose to source this mushroom through Frontier Co-op, and not only because they provide quality ingredients.

Frontier Co-op is a member-owned cooperative whose guiding philosophy is “Doing Good, Works.” Their approach to business puts environmental and social responsibility in the forefront.

A few things I appreciate about Frontier Co-op:

They support regenerative organic agriculture, including working with farmers to improve soil health and biodiversity.

Their Well Earth sourcing program works with suppliers and smallholder farmers around the world, with an emphasis on ethical and environmentally responsible sourcing.

They use clean steam sterilization rather than chemical fumigation to sanitize many of their herbs and spices.

They’ve preserved a portion of their headquarters property as native tallgrass prairie habitat.

They advocate for bulk purchasing and reduced packaging and participate in the How2Recycle program to make recycling instructions clearer.

To me, sourcing ingredients isn't just about what's inside the jar. It's also about the impact of getting that ingredient into the jar in the first place.

I may not be able to grow every mushroom, herb, or botanical myself, but I can be intentional about who I support when I purchase them. And that's something I think is worth sharing with y'all. 🌿💚

Although we have discontinued the production of our Fire C***r, we continue to make the recipe available so that you can make this wonderful immune supporting elixir at home! 🌿💚

✳️There are many different recipes for fire c***r. This just happens to be how I make it ✳️

For those asking about the taste, it's warm and savory, very much akin to balsamic vinegar. I do not include honey in my preparation, however it is recommended as long as you don’t have blood sugar imbalances.

Apple C***r Vinegar: aids in digestion, fights infection, clears the sinuses

Serrano Peppers: increases circulation, boosts metabolism, immune system support

Onion and Garlic: antibacterial and antifungal properties, high in antioxidants, detoxifying

Ginger Root: antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, relieves indigestion

Turmeric: antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

Thyme: expectorant and antibacterial properties, supports the respiratory system

Rosemary: has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that can aid in digestion.

Lemon: high in vitamin C, reduces inflammation, aids digestion

Elderberries: antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, contain high levels of potassium, calcium and iron, and Vitamins C and A

Curry Powder: Curry powder has been shown to have the following health benefits - cognitive disease prevention, pain and inflammation relief, heart health, liver support, antibacterial, improves digestion, metabolism booster, anti-aging, cancer prevention.

Add local honey at home for antibacterial, antifungal properties, and soothing sore throats. **Do not give honey to infants**

Fire C***r Dosage
Take a shot of fire c***r or 1-2 tablespoons daily for a potent punch of immune system support and increase that dosage to 3 times a day to use it as a natural aid to help fight off common cold symptoms.

It is not advised to consume Fire C***r if you have the following issues:

Digestive issues: Fire c***r's spicy and acidic ingredients can make indigestion, acid reflux, or diarrhea worse

Dry skin and hair: Fire c***r can be drying, so it may not be suitable for people who already have dry skin and hair

Tooth enamel: The acid in fire c***r can damage tooth enamel

People who take medications that interact with apple c***r vinegar, such as diuretics, should avoid fire c***r

Safety during pregnancy: The safety of taking fire c***r during pregnancy has not been conclusively established.

📢 WARNING - CONTAINS ELDERBERRIES. 📢
⚠️ Do not consume any product containing elderberries if you are on steroids, have inflammatory issues, are on immunosuppressants, have autoimmune disease, are pregnant or breastfeeding or are on diabetes medication. ⚠️

As always remember to please use caution, do your own research, and consult your medical professional before treating yourself or others.

Upcoming event! 🤩
September 26th
125 Tooney St Cottonport, LA
6 PM
Hope to see y'all there! 🌿💚

Y’all, hold on… I’m about to get on my soapbox. 😂

It’s that time of year again. The annual Facebook posts start circulating about sweet gumballs containing the “same ingredient as Tamiflu.” 🙄

Well kind of, sort of.... But not really.

I am ALL FOR traditional plant medicine. Our elders knew a whole heck of a lot about plants, and there is tremendous value in preserving that knowledge.

HOWEVER…

We also need to remember that Grandma and Grandpa had lead in their paint and makeup, asbestos in their houses, and c*c@ine in their carbonated beverages, ok? 🫣

So maybe we can honor traditional knowledge AND do the science. Those two things don't have to fight each other.

Here’s what the science actually says:

Sweet gum trees (Liquidambar styraciflua) contain shikimic acid.

Shikimic acid is a precursor—basically a starting material or building block—that can be used in the production of oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu).

And THAT is where the internet got the idea that sweet gumballs contain “the same ingredient as Tamiflu.”

They don't.

Shikimic acid is NOT oseltamivir.

It has to go through multiple chemical processing steps before it becomes the pharmaceutical compound used in Tamiflu. That's not something you can replicate in your kitchen with a jar, some vodka, and a prayer. 😂🤣

And importantly, there is currently no good scientific evidence that taking a homemade sweet gum tincture will prevent or treat influenza.

So… does that mean sweet gumballs are useless? Absolutely not...

Sweet gum has a whole lot more going on than a supposed Tamiflu connection.
Research on sweet gum seed extracts has found anticonvulsant activity in animal models, which has prompted interest in their potential for future research into epilepsy and seizure-related treatments.

Sweet gum resin, commonly known as storax, contains aromatic compounds including cinnamic acid derivatives and vanillin. Research has demonstrated antimicrobial and antifungal activity from various sweet gum constituents and extracts—including activity against some clinically important bacteria.

And laboratory studies have also demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity from certain sweet gum compounds and extracts.

There’s even scientific interest in compounds that may help explain some of the traditional uses of sweet gum preparations for localized muscle and rheumatic discomfort.

But here's my point:

We don't have to make a plant into something it isn't in order to appreciate what it ACTUALLY is.

Sweet gum doesn't need to be “nature's Tamiflu” to be an incredibly interesting medicinal plant. (Also, If you've ever actually taken Tamiflu you know this is probably not something that you would want to experience again 😵)

Traditional knowledge gives us the questions. Science helps us find the answers. Both are valuable.

So by all means, learn your plants. Gather knowledge from your elders. Respect traditional medicine. But please, for the love of all things herbal, don't believe every viral plant medicine post you see on Facebook just because somebody put “Big Pharma doesn't want you to know this!” at the top of it.

Also, fun little botanical fact: the amount of shikimic acid found in sweet gum seed pods is considerably lower than the amount found in star anise, which has historically been an important commercial source of shikimic acid. 😉

TikTok · bluedotfarms

UPDATED FLIER INFORMATION

We are pleased to announce that we will be at the JENA POWWOW IN THE PINES
Trout, Louisiana
SATURDAY OCTOBER 10, 2026
(We will not be there Friday)

www.jenachoctaw.org

We hope to see y'all there! 🌿💚

September 19 - Dallas, TX
Y'all go see my friends at Texas Native Health!
We won't be there this year, but we're working on some "Big" things for next year's festival! Stay tuned 👣

Take a deep breath and unwind with our new handcrafted shower steamer, “RELAX.”
Infused with soothing lavender, calming chamomile, and a subtle hint of vanilla, it’s your personal invitation to transform your shower into a relaxing escape.

Just place the steamer on your shower floor, or shower shelf, away from the direct water stream but where it still gets splashed. As it dissolves, breathe in the aroma and enjoy the relaxing vibes!