Why We Love Echinacea
Echinacea has long been adored for its ability to boost the immune system. Recent studies prove that it can relieve anxiety and enhance mood.
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Chamomile: The Underappreciated Multitasker
One of the first medicinal herbs many people encounter is German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla syn. or Matricaria recutita). It is a ubiquitous tea herb with a history of use going back thousands of years, found on shelves of supermarkets and referenced in both Peter Rabbit and pop music. For such a well-known herb, however, in…
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Herbs for Kiddos
By: Yah-elle (Yaya) Many people become interested in herbalism because they want to have more power in regards to caring for their health. But when we have little ones to care for, we may find ourselves more nervous than if we were just caring for ourselves. With a few safety precautions, children may also enjoy…
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Cardiovascular Health for Women
Cardiovascular health is an essential concern for all genders. Heart disease in women has been less studied, and more poorly understood, than in men, but there have been some improvements in recent years that help us understand what women can do to protect themselves from the danger of heart attack and stroke. The basic preventative…
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4 Scientifically Proven Ways Herbs Help in High Blood Pressure
Ending our presentation on Garlic and Hawthorn & High Blood Pressure (1997) to Society of Teachers of Family Medicine in Atlanta dozens of Family Practice M.D.s gave us a standing ovation. Why Was that? It was because of 4 proven arguments (using over 500 published peer reviewed studies) on the scientific basis for using two…
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Herbal Support for Arthritis & Joint Pain
A frequent issue we are asked about in the shop is joint pain. Whether caused by arthritis, injury, or autoimmune disease, joint pain is challenging and can seriously limit our activity and enjoyment of life. It is one of the most common forms of chronic pain that Americans suffer with – approximately 53 million adults…
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Self-Massage for Health
By: Yah-elle (Yaya) According to Ayurveda, Autumn and early-winter are associated with the Vata dosha. Vata is characterized as creative, quick-witted, dry, light, mobile, subtle, and changeable. A Vata imbalance may result in an increase in anxiety, dry skin, brittle hair, and arthritic symptoms. We may find ourselves naturally gravitating to heavier food and sedentary…
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Essential Oils for Seasonal Depression
By: Meredith Morckel Wintertime means less daylight, colder temperatures, and holiday celebrations. It’s a time of joy for many. For others, it’s a season of stress and sadness. If you feel “down” sometimes and sleep and eat a little more than usual, you may be experiencing the “winter blues.” This is common, and not alarming.…
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Nutritive Herbs for Better Health
“Let food be thy medicine” is often quoted to make the point that a healthy diet is the best way to get all of the nutrients that our bodies need. In an ideal world, we’d all have perfect diets that supplied us with a complete profile of vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients to keep our bodies…
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Herbs For Women’s Health
For women*, staying healthy and vibrant can feel overwhelming, especially in a stressful world. The cycles of menstruation and menopause can put body and mind through many changes. For some people, the process is relatively smooth, but for many, there are struggles along the way. Fortunately, there is a lot you can do to support…
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The Hormonal Wave & Romance
By: Yah-elle (Yaya) Every once in a while, a beautiful woman comes into the store, approaches me and leans in to whisper, “I need something for libido.” Sex is a wonderful way to bond with our partners, explore self expression, and de-stress. But with the heavy pressure to “perform” or look a certain way, sex…
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Fall Plant Sale – HALF OFF!
It’s Autumn in Maryland and Smile Herb Shop has the perfect plants for your front porch! Our Fall plants are on sale. Everything but the aloes are 50% off! Come visit today to get your asters, mums, violas, pansies, and aloe vera!
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Katemfe: A Non-Calorie Sweetness Without Aftertaste
A farm of Katemfe trees in West Africa. I take great joy when customers at Smile Herb Shop are amazed to compare Katemfe Fruit to Stevia Leaf and other sweeteners to find INCREDIBLE sweetness with no aftertaste. This photo shows how fried fish is cooked in Katemfe leaves for the sweetness (West…
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Eye Fatigue: An Ayurvedic Approach
Our eyes take in a great deal of information from the world around us, and sometimes they may become overwhelmed with what they see. There is a great deal to digest in the form of light and images, since most of us get our news and entertainment from digital screens. Fortunately, there is…
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Green Tea: An Everyday Ritual
Yaya Patterson, Root Woman & Smile Herbalist Green Tea refers to teas made from the leaves of Camellia sinesis, a beautiful shrub native to East Asia. The leaves may be harvested at different times of the plant’s life cycle or undergo varying processes to impact the tea’s flavor profile. In Japan, green tea…
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Smile’s Owner Writes a Book for Peace
All religions talk of Peace. Yet Christians are fighting Christians in Ukraine, Jews and Christians are fighting Muslims in the Middle East, Hindus and Muslims struggle to live in Peace in India, etc. etc. What if our approach to Peace based on “Our Religion” as opposed to “Other Faiths” turns out to be completely misguided?…
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Insomnia Strategies: Helpful Herbs for Sleep
Susan Trial Wolfe Getting good sleep is one of the most important things we can do for our health. Most of us, though, struggle with sleep, both getting enough and feeling refreshed by the sleep we do get. Fortunately there are things you can do to improve your sleep, improve your health, and feel more…
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Basic Herbs Of Ayurveda (Ayurveda is Yoga’s Herbal Sister)
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…
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