Muicle, Muitle, Mexican Honeysuckle: an ancestral plant native to México & Central America, gifted to me by a dear friend upon my return to California in 2018. Justicia spicigera is a member of the Acanthaceae family, that features the most incredible bright orange flowers when in bloom. Other names for this plant are trompetilla (due to their trumpet shape flowers), moyotli, moyotle & ych-kaan in the Mayan language.

The first time I made a tea from the flowers & leaves I watched in amazement how the swirl of colors in my mason jar went from soft pinks, to deep purple to what seemed to be an almost indigo hue. The plant is traditionally used as a dye by Indigenous communities in Oaxaca and other textile artists.

Muicle has many uses! The plant is rich in iron, and intimately tied to blood as they help purify, detoxify, clarify and increase repair in our circulation. They also support our bodies through digestive issues like stomach aches, diarrhea, dysentery and makes a great ally for menstrual concerns like cramps & associated pain. If needed, the plant can be used to alleviate fevers. For skin problems, muitle can be used as a disinfectant. When fresh, the plant doesn't seem to carry any aromatics but once dried the overall scent I can define is ‘earthy’. When used energetically & spiritually, muicle aids in susto or what I consider spiritual dislocation/disassociation. In her book Nuestra Medicina: de los remedios para el aire y los remedios para el alma Estela Román suggests a baño of this herb or ingested as an infusion. Mexican honeysuckle has also been known to aid in the treatment of nervous system ailments such as anxiety & epilepsy.

Ingredient & Relationship : Dried leaves & stems of Justicia spirigosa from 2024 harvests. Grown & harvested by my family and I in the San Gorgonio Pass & dried and processed by myself on the traditional lands of the Tiwa people in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Use: One tablespoon per 8-12 oz of hot water Your purchase contains 10 tablespoons of dried plant material. *Boiled water will harm the plant material so please practice intention when brewing medicinal tea.

Storage: The dried tea is stored in a resealable bag to help keep the contents fresh! Your tea can be used up to 2 years when properly stored away from heat, light & water while closed.

*This product is not FDA approved, it is not intended to prevent, cure, treat or diagnose any disease.

***Albuquerque Residents: Please choose Store Pickup at checkout to bypass shipping costs and arrange to pick-up your purchase from me at Project Feed the Hood’s Community Garden in the Southeast Heights neighborhood. Once your transaction has been processed you will receive a follow up email to organize your pick-up.

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