When cooler, drier air comes rolling in, sometimes drinking more water isn’t enough to stay hydrated. If you’re like me and lack a humidifier, these simple self-care techniques help make the cold months of the year much more enjoyable! Here are a few easy ideas to soothe the senses and stay supple this season, inside…
In light of current world events, I wanted to take some time to talk about one of my favorite formulas for depression, anxiety, and grief. Grief Relief is a simple but powerful combination of Mimosa, Rose, and Hawthorn. Taken separately, all three herbs support mental health, heart health, and peace of mind. But when they’re…
You’ve probably seen enough articles on anti-viral herbs, immune herbs, and remedies for the lungs for the moment. So let’s turn to an equally important aspect of health and preventative care in challenging times: herbs to support us when we are experiencing anxiety, stress, uncertainty, and fear. There is a group of herbs known as…
If you’re looking for a fun, simple, at-home project right about now, why not try your hand at making ghee? Ghee is the result of cooking unsalted butter to separate the pure butterfat from the milk solids. It’s an ancient superfood that can be used for cooking, cleansing, and body care alike! Making ghee at…
Feeling Stir-Crazy? Some Tips From The Housebound Hi, my name is Susan and I’m just as stressed out and confused as you are right now. But, I’ve been living with chronic pain and fatigue, as well as generalized anxiety disorder, for many years and I believe that experience has given me a bit of an…
Simmer elderberries in water and you get a rich, dark, syrupy infusion that’s bursting with flavor and perfect for summer drinks. Because elderberries are antiviral, many folks reach for them in the Fall or during cold season, but I say, why wait? You can start bolstering your immune system now and be ready for Fall…
The live plants have arrived at Smile! With dozens of herbs to choose from, the variety can be overwhelming. If you’re looking to grow herbs at home but aren’t sure where to begin, here are our top 3 picks for the easiest herbs to grow with the most crossover health benefits. These 3 favorites taste…
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…
There are so many reasons to love dandelion, especially its insistence on showing up absolutely everywhere. From its liver-cleansing properties to the deliciousness of blood-cleansing dandelion wine, this scourge of landscaped lawns is one of our most beloved and valuable cleansing spring tonics.
The word “Ginseng” tends to be synonymous with vitality and energy, and for good reason! Its botanical name, Panax, has the same root as the word “panacea”, healer of all ills. It has been considered “king of herbs” in Native American and Chinese medicine traditions for thousands of years. Like many adaptogens, ginseng helps with more…
I love to see the crocuses blooming, a sure sign that winter is finally on its way out. The lovely spring crocus is cousin to the fall-blooming saffron crocus, which gives us the wonderful, subtle spice known as saffron. Saffron threads are the dark-orange stigmas of the crocus. The saffron crocus produces three stigmas per…
You may know of Passionflower as a premier herb for stress, anxiety, and insomnia. This gorgeous flowering vine relieves pain, calms the mind, and relaxes the muscles. You can often find bees drowsing in the beautiful blossoms, proof of the passionflower’s soporific effect! Passionflower was used by tribes in the Americas for millennia before making…
Mugwort is such a widespread and hardy plant that it is often taken for granted or condemned as a weed. But this fresh, lively herb has a time-honored place in healing traditions from all over the world, and its medicinal applications are powerful and diverse.
Shatavari is one of my favorite adaptogens. Shatavari’s name translates to “she who possesses one hundred husbands,” which gives you an idea of its rejuvenating effect on the female reproductive system. Although it has a special affinity for women, shatavari has significant health benefits for everyone– men, women, and children alike. These days, we all…
Intelligent Spring Cleansing To Heal The Five Major Organs Of The BodyA Sensible and Gentle Six-Week CleanseBasically from my 30 years of herbalism I have found that there are six stages to the cleansing process. Each of these stages takes one week to perform and spring is the perfect time according to Ayurveda to do…
As the spring herbs start to make their appearances, burdock root will soon be among them and ready for digging. Like astragalus, burdock’s rich, earthy flavor lends itself well to cleansing soups and nutritive broths.
With spring cleansing on my mind, I found myself thinking of how much I value myrrh as an incense for purifying the air. It has a unique ability to cleanse a space and inspire new beginnings. Its powerful antiseptic qualities are comforting and extend to the emotional realm. The effects are the same when this…
The first herbs to come up in the springtime are bursting with cleansing chlorophyll and lymph-moving moisture. They flush out metabolic wastes that have accumulated over the long winter and bring life, moisture, and movement to the winter-worn system. Taking advantage of these seasonal green allies can result in a glowing complexion, luxurious hair, elevated…
Reishi’s Chinese name translates as “Spirit Plant”, or “Herb of Spiritual Potency”. It is a remarkable, adaptogenic mushroom that has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Like all adaptogens, Reishi has a normalizing effect on our overall physiology, and it can help restore us to health from a truly incredible range of…
When it comes to herbs, sometimes 1+1 is greater than two. In the science of herbal formulations, synergistic combinations of herbs are discovered in which the herbs enhance each other’s activity to achieve a specific medicinal purpose. In these formulas, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Lemon Balm and St. John’s…