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…
Detailsby Claudia Joy Wingo, MPH, BApSc, RN, DMH, Clinical Herbalist As a Washington DC native recently returned from 4 ½ years in Australia, I had forgotten the abundance of both plant and animal species on display in the Washington area. My delight at sighting a number of rabbits, a handsome red fox and a small…
Details5 Herbs to Manage Stress Stress is often seen as unpleasant and annoying, but it can also cause real health problems by raising your blood pressure, upsetting the digestive system, and increasing muscle pain and inflammation. Fortunately, stress can be managed well. Lifestyle changes and taking these soothing herbs is a great way to reduce…
DetailsEasily Grown Medicine Plants and Food Crops in the DC area I am often asked the questions, “What are the easiest herb plants to grow in this area?” and, “As an herbalist, what are the first herbs you would recommend to start with in order to learn how effectively herbs can heal?” In this article,…
DetailsEvery day, more and more studies are popping up proving the immune benefits of forest walks, or the anti-depressant effects of activities like kneading bread and working in the soil. Working in the ground is literally grounding, and meditative gardening is one of the best antidotes for anxiety that I have found. Even if you…
DetailsAre 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…
DetailsBenefits of Wheatgrass Wheatgrass is one of the most nutrient-dense foods in the world, but most of us have not made this plant a part of our daily diet. If you are ready to improve your health, then it might be time to take a fresh look at the many benefits of wheatgrass. It Stimulates…
Detailsby Betsy Miller, M.S., CNS, LDN Spicebush, Lindera benzoin, is a small deciduous tree that typically grows in the understory of forests. The tree is native to eastern North America, and ranges along the Appalachian mountains from Florida to as far North as Ontario and as far west as Kentucky and Texas. The leaves and…
DetailsSleep. It’s such a basic and important part of life, we could fill volumes with all there is to say about it. The whys and wherefores behind sleep disorders are often highly individual and tied in to one’s own personal history. But for today, let’s keep it basic. This list of do’s and don’t’s applies…
DetailsThis ancient spice is the answer for just about anything Famously referred to as the “Queen of Spices,” turmeric (also known as curcuma longa) is an herb that originated in India and Asia dating back to 2,000 BC., and has since been used for culinary and medicinal purposes.Known for its pepper-like aroma and bright golden…
DetailsNorth 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…
DetailsIn October 2011, the Washington Post reported our teeming world reached a milestone in population for the first time with 7 billion people. The World Health Organization reported in 2010 that 1.56 billion folks of the 7 billion will soon be “living with high blood pressure.” What say thee, Herbal Friends? Do 1.56 billion people…
DetailsWhat is Stress? Stress is such a wide category isn’t it? So many people use the word stress every day and attribute their problems and conditions to stress that sometimes the meaning of the word has become lost, yet stress truly does cause a myriad of conditions across the world, especially in fast paced urban…
DetailsEczema and Herbal Lymph Symphony Eczema is a chronic and painful inflammation of the skin. It appears as blisters, itchy rashes, or scaly patches of skin. While modern medicine can treat eczema, these medicines simply treat the symptoms and not the underlying cause. Herbalists treat eczema by soothing symptoms, yes, but also by looking at possible…
Details“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…
DetailsFood Based Vitamins Are Better Once upon a time, there was a belief that no difference existed between food-based vitamins and synthetic vitamins. But now we know this simply isn’t so. Your body can absorb natural, food-based supplements so much easier, but there’s also something else of importance here. Many of the compounds that are…
DetailsI 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 choose in order to learn from listening to your…
DetailsRaw honey is unprocessed honey straight from the beehive, and it is a nutritional wonder. Real raw honey is never heated, never strained, never pasteurized, and never processed in any way. Make sure you read your honey labels carefully to make sure you’re getting the good stuff! Here are just a few of the many…
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