Dried and Fresh Mushrooms in the Heart of Winter by Jared Urchek, L.Ac, CZB It can be easy to assume that Winter is just a time where everything is in hibernation. The sap has sunk into the deep roots of the trees – nothing looks as if it is growing, and nothing seems to be…
Making Good Habits Making new habits is lots easier than breaking old ones. When we focus on getting rid of a “bad” habit, we spend even more time thinking about that same bad habit! If we focus our energy instead on making new, “good” habits that support our health and happiness, the old habits will…
For those of us who grew up with Christmas traditions, there are sights and scents that bring back memories of the holidays with incredible strength. Many of the plants that we associate with the Christmas season have medicinal uses as well! Here are a few commonly known holiday herbs that have medicinal action.
Five Great Self-Care Tips for Everyone Good Sleep Did you know that the average adult requires 7-9 hours of sleep every night for good health? Do you get anywhere near that much? Lack of sleep, or poor quality sleep, can lead to a host of health problems including poor memory and concentration, lowered immune function…
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to gather with family and friends, to eat, talk, laugh, and feel grateful for the blessings in our lives. All too often, however, we are so overjoyed by the menu that we eat ourselves into misery. This discomfort is easily remedied with a little attention to the balance of the…
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…
Fall is a glorious time of year, but the sudden chill in the air, the leaf mold piling up, the wind and cold rain that herald this season of transition can be very hard on the respiratory system. Colds, flus, allergies, and lung irritation can come upon us quickly and intensely, and who wants to…
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…
Autumn Lessons—The Need For Rest We have lots of traditions about Autumn: a new school year, visiting fall foliage, pumpkins, honoring our ancestors and hometowns, football games, celebrating a good harvest, marking the beginning of the holiday season, and many more. All these are wonderful things, and beloved traditions, but there is another aspect of…
There are so many methods, so many theories of the best way, the easiest way, to prepare your garden beds for cultivation. Double-digging, trench composting, mulch gardening are all viable ways to enrich your soil and keep your plants happy, but I tend toward a “middle way” approach, and actually use a combination of these…
Are Tension Headaches Getting You Down? A little irritation can weigh you down a lot Tension or Stress Headaches are characterized by dull, tight pain around the forehead, neck, or base of the skull. They do not affect vision or balance, and are not likely to cause nausea, as migraines do. While uncomfortable, they do…
North America is rich in native medicinal herbs. Unfortunately, due to unwise and unsustainable harvesting, a number of these plants are at risk in their own native habitats. Some are easily cultivated for medicinal use. Others, like Lady’s Slipper and Beth Root, are not cultivated at all and should be replaced with other herbs for…
Part Three 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…
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…
Part One 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, but if your gut is weakened, so is…
Lemon Eucalyptus Mosquito Repellent Well, despite the slow start summer really is coming to the East coast, and with it comes…Mosquitoes. Herbalists and aromatherapists have been saying for years that there are plenty of less toxic and more pleasant natural alternatives to the average bug spray, but until recently the CDC has only recommend DEET…
Drinking Tea for High Blood Pressure For generations people around the world have been using herbs to treat their ailments including high blood pressure and other cardiovascular issues. Often times, consuming these herbs as a tea is not only delicious but also extremely beneficial. Combining the right herbs into a daily tea can be very…
Probiotics Benefits There are generally two periods of time in which you may benefit from taking probiotics: when you’re taking a course of antibiotics, and when you’re not. Antibiotics kill bacteria in your intestines and don’t discriminate between harmful bacteria and the benevolent bacteria that help your body digest food and contribute to overall health.…
Relax and Refresh Throughout The Day With These Simple Yoga Poses Getting up away from your desk and computer every hour or two can greatly improve your health and concentration. Sitting still for long periods can reduce circulation, putting extra stress on your cardiovascular system, digestion, and immune system to name a few. And of…
Spring is coming fast here in the Mid-Atlantic, and for many of us, that means thinking about shedding a few pounds for a summer wardrobe. Spring is a great time for new projects, positive changes, and creating a new look. Here are some simple tips to help you succeed with your weight loss goals. Drink…