The Super Nutrient You May Not Be Thinking About, But Should Fiber. It’s one of those things you know you should be getting enough of, but it’s easy not to think about. Most of us only get 15 or so grams per day, when we should be getting around 30 grams (25g for women, 38g…
CCF Tea, Ayurveda’s Little Secret Miracle Okay, yes, it’s a bit strong to call tea a miracle, but this simple and tasty tea is pretty darn close! CCF stands for Coriander, Cumin, and Fennel, three spices that are digestive superheroes. Combined, they make a daily drink that improves digestion, aids healthy elimination and detox, and…
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…
Aloe, Aloe barbandensis, chinensis is an easy-to-grow evergreen succulent. Originating in the Middle East, it is now grown commercially all over the world. It makes an excellent house plant, and has become well-known in the West as a first-aid remedy, especially for burns. Many households have an Aloe in the kitchen, snipping off a leaf…
Turmeric, Curcuma longa This beautiful golden root is a powerful medicinal herb. Best known, perhaps, as the spice that gives Curry powder its distinctive color, Turmeric is used alone and in blends to season food, support digestive and joint health, and treat many internal and external health complaints. I could go on an on about…
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.
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…
It’s not quite time yet for full-on spring cleansing, but if you’re anything like me, you may be getting eager to make some changes from the early winter/holiday diet and start getting ready for spring! It may not be a good time to cleanse or fast intensely, but we can start to prepare our digestive…
There can be a lot of pressure to jump-start a new diet or cleansing regimen in the month of January. But if you ask your body, you might end up hearing it say that it wants to hibernate just a little longer, that it’s still winter. Just like spring and fall cleaning, physical cleansing is…
‘Tis the season for joyful eating, and for doing it at other people’s houses and far-off places. Big meals and travel can put stress on the digestive system, and a stressed out digestive system can really ruin a good party. Here are some simple, easy, and portable remedies that can help not only with the…
Mild to moderate heartburn, also called GERD, is pretty common. It’s not a serious condition, in terms of threat to your health, but it can be frustrating and uncomfortable. If left untreated, GERD can develop into more serious conditions, like stomach ulcers, but if dealt with while mild it can be managed. There can be…
Herbs can be subtle medicine, gently but inexorably changing the body on a cellular level. Some herbs and herbal formulas are fast-acting for acute conditions, and their effects can be felt right away. But the long-term, systemic changes brought about by herbal medicine are also powerful, and depending on the herb they can happen so…
Digestive 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…
If 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…
The Digestive and Immune Systems, an Ayurvedic Perspective Part 2 In Part 1 we discussed Dosha, or Ayurvedic constitution, and the energetic element of Fire that is an essential component in both digestive and immune function. Today we’re going to look at some specific ways that digestion and immunity can become out of balance in…
The Digestive and Immune Systems, an Ayurvedic Perspective Part 1 Ancient systems of medicine have long known the close relationship between the digestive and immune systems. Today, clinical research is providing new evidence to support that ancient knowledge. It’s exciting for herbalists and practitioners to see the research supporting what we have known. I’d like…
Naturally fermented vinegars are medicines in and of themselves, and they are also an excellent medium for extracting the medicinal properties of herbs. In fact, vinegar facilitates and strengthens the effects of the herbs extracted within it, especially stimulant and expectorant herbs, and we’ve been using vinegar in this way since the days of ancient…
Catnip, Nepeta cataria, is a perennial herb, a member of the mint family, and one of the friendliest plants around. Its soft, aromatic leaves give you an idea of its gentle, calming effect on the mind and body. The square stems are a dusky purple color and grow quickly and abundantly with lots of water and…
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to gather with family and friends, to eat, talk, laugh, and feel grateful for the blessings in our lives. All too often, however, we are so overjoyed by the menu that we eat ourselves into misery. This discomfort is easily remedied with a little attention to the balance of the…
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been spending an awful lot of time lately thinking about potatoes. Not just potatoes, but squash too, and casseroles, and thick hearty stews, and pie. I’m starting to think about my Great-Aunt’s gingerbread cake, and roasted turkey, and all those wonderful late Autumn, Holiday foods. But I’m also…