Arjuna is an herb used in Ayurvedic medicine that specifically cares for and strengthens the heart. Its botanical name is Terminalia arjuna, and it is a beautiful, green-leafed tree that grows in parts of India and Bangladesh. The bark of the tree is harvested and used for its rejuvenating, strengthening effects on the cardiovascular system.…
Camellia sinensis is an amazing plant with so many benefits and varieties, depending on how it is picked and processed. In our previous post we explored the general health benefits of C. sinensis and two of the forms available: white and green teas. This week we are diving right in to examine the other two:…
Whether you are celebrating a mature romance or pursuing a new romantic adventure, Valentine’s day can be very exciting. But it can also put a lot of pressure on our perceived need to perform. Some may feel drawn to herbs with heroic reputations of “boosting” libido or “revving up” stamina. While some people may experience…
Did you know… The very same plant that produces green tea, also produces black, white, and oolong tea? Camellia sinensis originated in Southern China but is now grown globally in tropical and temperate climates. Camellia is a versatile herb that produces differing flavors depending on the age of the leaves when picked, the season, and…
Mistletoe has been part of human culture and medicine for millennia, appearing in mythologies and medicine books across the world. There are hundreds varieties of mistletoe with different medicinal qualities, and today the focus is on the European variety, Viscum album– Viscum for the viscous stickiness of mistletoe berries, and album for their whiteness. Before…
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…
The Ginger plant, Zingiber officinale, is native to southeast Asia, and its pungent roots have a long history of culinary and medicinal use. The gnarled, beige rhizomes also grow wild in Africa and Australia, and it is cultivated in many other warm climates of the world. You can easily grow ginger in a pot at…
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…
Of the hundreds of species of hibiscus in the world, almost all of them originate in hot, tropical climates. In hot-weather cultures the world over, hibiscus is used to cool the body, relieve stress, and mitigate the effects of excessive heat. Today we will share three summer recipes to bring the cooling beauty of hibiscus…
Fish oil supplements have never been so popular as they are now. Many people have started taking supplements on a daily basis without understanding of the full effects of fish oil or how it benefits the body. The truth is that fish oil has been shown to prevent and treat a host of medical conditions…
You may know of hawthorn as the “heart herb”, and for good reason. It strengthens the heart muscle, regulates the heartbeat, and raises or lowers blood pressure depending on the need. Clinically it is used with heart problems such as angina, mild congestive heart failure, and recovery from/prevention of cardiac arrest. But hawthorn has another…
“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…
By Tom Wolfe An Example of Current Herbal Understanding in One Major Chronic Illness Globally, nearly one billion people have high blood pressure (hypertension); of these, two-thirds are in developing countries. Hypertension is one of the most important causes of premature death worldwide and the problem is growing; in 2025, an estimated 1.56 billion adults…
When I was growing up in Maine, it was a short walk down to the cove where the granite boulders that we called a “beach” were covered in Bladderwrack. As a kid, I would grab huge handfuls of the seaweed, looking for the mussels tangled in it. If you wrap the mussels in the seaweed…
Of the hundreds of species of hibiscus in the world, almost all of them originate in hot, tropical climates. In hot-weather cultures the world over, hibiscus is used to cool the body, relieve stress, and mitigate the effects of excessive heat. Today we will share three summer recipes to bring the cooling beauty of hibiscus…
Mistletoe has been part of human culture and medicine for millennia, appearing in mythologies and medicine books across the world. There are hundreds varieties of mistletoe with different medicinal qualities, and today the focus is on the European variety, Viscum album– Viscum for the viscous stickiness of mistletoe berries, and album for their whiteness. Before…
Ginger, Zingiber officinale, is a root with a characteristically spicy flavor used in cooking all over the world. Gingerol, one of the identified essential oils in the fresh root has many soothing and anti-inflammatory properties that make it a very useful substance. According to Ayurvedic medicine, which has used ginger root for centuries, the fresh…
In addition to warding off vampires, garlic has many non-supernatural health benefits. Grab the breath mints and read on to learn more about why this pungent veggie is a nutritious addition to any diet. 1. Garlic improves your immune systemThe antioxidants in garlic can not only help protect you from developing the common cold, they…
Coenzyme Q10 Benefits Coenzyme Q10 is a large molecule that performs somewhat like a vitamin in the body, though, unlike most vitamins, the body can synthesize its own supply. Coenzyme Q10 is found in the tiny power plants in the cells called mitochondria, and is especially abundant in the mitochondria of the liver and the heart.…
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…
