In Ayurveda, Vata dosha is characterized as “dry, light, mobile, subtle, rough, hard, changeable, and clear.” Sounds a lot like Fall, doesn’t it? The leaves dry out and a cool, dry wind blows them away, the days become colder and shorter, the air is more subtle and changeable. In Ayurveda, Fall is the Vata time…
Despite our best efforts, sometimes we end up getting sick. When this becomes our fate, we can shorten the duration and severity of the illness with certain herbs and therapies, but what about after that? How can we support our liver’s “clean up” efforts in the aftermath of a virus? The liver never stops fighting…
By Tom Wolfe R.H. (AHG) R.H. means Tom is a Registered Herbalist (since 1980) in the American Herbalists Guild (AHG) “I have worked at Smile for 49 years and believe you me have heard Smile’s customers (very best customer folks in the world) speak of every way of herbal healing many, many, many times over…
Despite our best efforts, sometimes we end up getting sick. When this becomes our fate, we can shorten the duration and severity of the illness with certain herbs and therapies, but what about after that? How can we support our liver’s “clean up” efforts in the aftermath of a virus? The liver never stops fighting…
When thinking about herbs for memory and concentration, Turmeric might not immediately spring to mind. I tend to think of Holy Basil, Bacopa, Milky Oat, and other adaptogens that slowly nurture the brain and nervous system over time. However, research has indicated that Turmeric prevents plaque build-up in the brain and can help prevent the…
By Tom Wolfe, RH “It is also well worth notice that, although grief involves great departures from the normal attitude to life, it never occurs to us to regard it as a morbid condition and hand the mourner over to medical treatment. We rest assured that after a lapse of time it will be overcome,…
I love to cook, but there are days when I want something easy, fast, and delicious, and this salad certainly fits the bill! This recipe is so easy, and so quick, you’ll be eating it all summer long! Nutritious, high protein, fun to adjust and play around with, and delicious too! It’s great for packed…
Lots of people these days are trying to reduce, or eliminate, meat from their diets. This may be for health reasons, for environmental reasons, or for other personal reasons. For many folks, used to a certain way of cooking, it can be hard to figure out how to have balanced, satisfying meals without meat. I…
There are many ways to take your herbal supplements, but in the Fall, one of my favorite ways is in hot drinks. Not just herbal teas, which are wonderful, but also herbal powders cooked into milk for a rich, frothy, rejuvenative treat. Here are a few of my favorites!
Whether you’ve got some leftover pumpkin seeds from this year’s Jack-o-lantern or are getting your seeds from the grocery store, you can feel great about the health benefits of a tasty pumpkin seed snack all year round. In the herbal world, pumpkin seeds are perhaps best known for their ability to protect and nourish the…
Hot weather, longer days, fresh local produce, Summertime is a great time to cook. This time of year we can balance the heat of the sun with cooling and refreshing meals. I love to cook, and I love to eat, but I don’t like to fuss with fancy recipes. Especially in the summer when I…
Each spring, I find that my diet starts to naturally change. I start to crave lighter foods and more greens as the sun strengthens. I also am mad about spring cleaning, and that desire to get rid of excess includes toxins and heavy foods as well as cleaning out the closets and the junk drawers.…
The Digestive and Immune Systems, an Ayurvedic Perspective Part 2 In Part 1 we discussed Dosha, or Ayurvedic constitution, and the energetic element of Fire that is an essential component in both digestive and immune function. Today we’re going to look at some specific ways that digestion and immunity can become out of balance in…
Naturally fermented vinegars are medicines in and of themselves, and they are also an excellent medium for extracting the medicinal properties of herbs. In fact, vinegar facilitates and strengthens the effects of the herbs extracted within it, especially stimulant and expectorant herbs, and we’ve been using vinegar in this way since the days of ancient…
With cold and flu season upon us, it’s a good time of year to get to know Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceous). Astragalus has an extensive history of use as an immune booster. Not only does Astragalus build resistance to pathogens, it’s also an excellent tonic for recovering from illness. It warms the tissues and builds strength…
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been spending an awful lot of time lately thinking about potatoes. Not just potatoes, but squash too, and casseroles, and thick hearty stews, and pie. I’m starting to think about my Great-Aunt’s gingerbread cake, and roasted turkey, and all those wonderful late Autumn, Holiday foods. But I’m also…
There’s a chill in the air, and it’s time for some warm, rich, harvest meals. With so many of us watching our waistlines, how can we satisfy autumn tastes without putting on inches before the holidays even officially begin? One way is to make sure that the carbs we eat are delicious, satisfying, and brimming…
“It is also well worth notice that, although grief involves great departures from the normal attitude to life, it never occurs to us to regard it as a morbid condition and hand the mourner over to medical treatment. We rest assured that after a lapse of time it will be overcome, and we look upon…
Common Culinary Herbs and their Medicinal Uses Not only do these herbs add spice and flavor to our favorite dishes, they have powerful medicinal properties too! Unsurprisingly, all of these classic culinary herbs aid in digestion, but here are some of the other health benefits you can receive from using these herbs medicinally.
Part Two Tom’s newest Pathways article came out on June 1st, and in it he describes the connection between the digestive system and the immune system, and introduces the three aspects of digestion known in Eastern traditional medicine. Not to put too fine a point on it, if your gut is weakened, so is your…
