Natives and Plants
Here in California, the First Nations connection with plants extended to virtually every aspect of life, from housing, clothing, and food to the masterpieces of California Indian art: basketry. Today the resurgence of interest in botanicals, organics, native plants, and eastern herbal practices has lead to a renewal of interest in indigenous plant uses.
Starting to explore plants is easy, but there are a few things you might want to know first.
Philosophy
Use what you need; protect the rest. This is a pretty good philosophy for plants, but it also applies well to a lot of life.
Disclaimer
Remember, what may work very well for one person may not work for another, so test things out for yourself. These plant lists are meant as a helpful way to get you started exploring, not as a guarantee of effectiveness or a guide for use. If you experience any reaction to any plant, contact your doctor. If you are on any medication or experiencing any specific health problems, always talk to your doctor about your interest in plants. Even if your doctor is not well versed in drug-herbal interactions, ask her or him to research your question for you. A great deal of research is being published every month on this topic.