Spoiler alert: my spine survived, and I didn’t have to Google “Is it bad to take 12 Tylenol in one day?”
There comes a time in every adult’s life when their back decides it’s had enough. Maybe you sneezed too hard. Perhaps you slept weird. Or maybe—like me—you dared to lift a laundry basket like a mortal, not a Greek god. Normally, this is where I’d reach for the little orange bottle of doom and ride the ibuprofen wave. But on this particular day, I made a bold choice. I reached for my Wild Lettuce tincture—crafted right here at Redstone Apothecary UT—and let the plants do their thing.
🌀 The Scene of the Incident
I bent over to pick up something wildly heavy and dangerous—a.k.a. a pair of jeans fresh from the dryer. My back made a sound. Not a cute pop or a dignified crack. No, it made that “you’ve angered your spine god” kind of noise. Cue the slow-motion collapse onto the couch, the dramatic groan, the internal monologue: Is this how it ends?
🧪 What I Could Have Done
- Taken a pain reliever and played "Which Side Effect Will I Get Today?"
- Slathered on a menthol rub and cried about the smell
- Googled “emergency chiropractor who accepts walk-ins and bribes”
But instead, I walked (okay, hobbled) over to my shelf and grabbed my trusty Wild Lettuce tincture—nature’s chill uncle who tells you to lie down and breathe through it.
🌿 What I Actually Did
I took a dropperful of Wild Lettuce tincture (California Poppy is another go-to of mine), and let the herbal magic do its work. No, I didn’t instantly do a backflip. But I did feel like my muscles started to let go of their grudge against me. It wasn’t a numb, zoned-out kind of relief. It was more like my body whispered, “Okay, okay. We’re cool now.” I spent the rest of the evening horizontal, watching documentaries about mushrooms and congratulating myself on not making things worse.
🧙♀️ Plants: 1, Panic: 0
Here’s the thing: I’m not against conventional medicine. It absolutely has its place. But for me, reaching for a plant-based tincture feels like less of a chemical sledgehammer and more of a gentle nudge back to center. Both Wild Lettuce and California Poppy have long histories of supporting folks with tension, soreness, and general “I’m-too-young-to-feel-this-old” vibes. No promises, no magic—just good plants doing honest work.
🧾 Official Disclaimer
I’m not a doctor. I don’t play one online. I’m just a long-time plant enthusiast who crafts small-batch remedies here in Southern Utah and believes that natural options deserve a spot on the shelf. Please consult a healthcare provider for serious stuff—and always listen to your own body.
🌱 In Conclusion…
You don’t have to burn your medicine cabinet to explore the world of herbal support. Sometimes, swapping out just one thing makes a difference. Whether you try California Poppy, Wild Lettuce, or something else entirely—just know you’ve got options that come from the earth, not a lab.
Until next time: lift with your knees, love your spine, and let the plants help when they can.