There’s nothing quite like coming upon medicinal herbs “in the wild”. It’s an exciting reminder that medicine grows wherever it can, and once you know an herb, finding it is like meeting an old friend. I recently took a walk around a lake in a residential area north of College Park, and was rather stunned…
DetailsWhen you think of roses, you probably think of love, romance, summer gardens, weddings, special days and celebrations. The rose has a rich cultural history in both East and West, appearing in folklore, poetry, art, and healing. There are over 10,000 varieties of Rosa cultivated in the world, and all are beautiful. The most common…
DetailsUsing the Tastes to Stay Cool in Summer In Ayurveda, one of the ways we can choose foods and herbs to stay in balance is by understanding the six tastes. The tastes are both literal, what you taste on your tongue, and energetic, meaning they have an effect on body and mind. The Doshas—Vata, Pitta,…
DetailsAccording to author Susanne Fischer-Rizzi, lavender oil has 167 medicinal uses that have been tested! Today we’ll talk about just a few of these uses and why lavender oil is so good to have around. If I had to sum it up, I would say lavender oil is the most valuable, versatile oil because there’s…
DetailsSt. John’s Wort, Hypericum perforatum You’ve probably heard of this herb as a treatment for depression. And it’s true, St. John’s Wort extract can be helpful for mild or temporary depressions, particularly Seasonal Affective Disorder. It is not as useful for more serious depression, or other mood disorders, and can mix badly with prescription anti-depressants.…
DetailsDigestive distress is all too common among Americans. There are probably plenty of reasons for it: stress, eating on the run, eating over-processed food, eating too much or too little or the wrong foods for our body type. There are some digestive issues that are more serious, but for most of us it’s the everyday…
DetailsPlantain is an herb that has made itself so widely available to us, it practically calls out to be of use. City sidewalks, roadsides, fields, practically any place with lots of sunshine, Plantain will be there, and its uses are precious and practical. One of Plantain’s finest uses is as a first aid herb. One…
DetailsIt’s great to know that there are so many plants that help remove toxins from the air inside our homes. But for pet lovers, there’s always the question: what happens if my cat or dog nibbles on this? We want our homes to be as safe and welcoming to our pets as they are for…
DetailsHot 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…
DetailsYellow dock is a go-to herb for chronic and acute skin conditions like psoriasis and acne. Yellow dock encourages “flow”. Skin problems can often trace their source to a congested liver and sluggish system generally overwhelmed with toxins. Yellow dock encourages the production of bile and promotes bowel cleansing. It strengthens and astringes the stomach…
DetailsThis is a post about a specific product. I don’t usually do that, but I have to say Zyflamend is pretty special. It’s been New Chapter’s best-selling product for many years, and I’ve been taking it nearly that long. Zyflamend Whole Body, as they’re calling it now, is an anti-inflammatory blend whose “10 herbs showed…
DetailsHerbs For Summer Skin Care By Tom Wolfe, RH I am often asked the question, “What are the best plants and botanical products for herbal skin care?” Summertime puts us out in the sun, which is a big change for the skin. In this article I will share the plants and botanical products I would…
DetailsWe’ve all seen Burdock’s large, green, slightly fuzzy leaves, in the woods or in the park. If you have pets you may have spent long hours, as I have, picking pesky burrs out of fur (or clothes, or hair *sigh*). It is a hardy, stubborn plant that will grow just about anywhere. And I have…
DetailsLemon Eucalyptus Mosquito Repellent Summer 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 as a mosquito repellent. Of course…
DetailsAloe is a great plant to have around. I was reminded of this the other night when I spilled some boiling water on my foot and found myself yowling in pain. Fortunately the burn wasn’t serious, and fortunately I had some aloe leaves in the fridge that I had cut that day. After applying Lavender…
DetailsPassion Flower’s fantastic beauty is a medicine in itself, but this lovely vine has much more to offer than its stunning, dramatic blooms. This time of year in the garden, Passion Flower vines are 4-5 inches tall with a few tiny leaves. But given time, sunlight, and water, they will climb as high as any…
DetailsIf you’re looking to try something new and different for your health, try chewing on some Frankincense resin instead of commercial gum. Pop a tear of Frankincense in your mouth and it soon becomes the consistency of chewing gum, with the aromatic, gently invigorating flavor of the ancient Frankincense herb, Boswellia spp. Unlike commercial chewing…
DetailsEach 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.…
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