You hear a lot about Nettle this time of year, don’t you? As an herbalist, my relationship with Urtica dioica, the Stinging Nettle, always deepens at this time of year. I depend on Nettle for allergy relief, its energizing mineral content, and its gentle spring cleansing properties. This year, I began to feel allergy symptoms…
Well, here it comes – the grey, cold, rainy days of late fall and early winter. For many, this can be a challenging time: the days are shorter and darker, there’s less to do outside, and the cold can really get to you. Seasonal depression, whether it’s a mild case of the blues or a…
Stinging Nettles Can one herb really… The answer is yes! And the herb in question is none other than Stinging Nettle, or Urtica dioica. This herb is often seen as a pesky weed, but we know better. Many people turn to Nettles to help them survive allergy season intact. In addition to helping the body regulate its…
“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…
Last week I shared some herbs that may be supportive in more acute anxiety situations, including insomnia. We all want (immediate) relief when we are suffering with pain, whether it be physical or emotional! But with complex mental conditions such as anxiety, there is almost always more to them than meets the eye, and simply…
To gain confidence as an herbalist, Jim McDonald suggests picking just one or two herbs and focus on them completely– Grow them, eat them, read about them, make medicine with them, etc. If you really got to know, say, Peppermint and Chamomile, you could work with an enormous variety of health problems with those two…
Whether you’ve got some leftover pumpkin seeds from this year’s Jack-o-lantern or are getting your seeds from the grocery store, you can feel great about the health benefits of a tasty pumpkin seed snack all year round. In the herbal world, pumpkin seeds are perhaps best known for their ability to protect and nourish the…
The Importance for Calcium and Magnesium for Bone Strength Bone strength is something to protect and nourish, especially as we age. Osteoporosis, a disease defined as the loss of bone strength, can lead to bone fractures. Older folks are particularly vulnerable because they are more likely to suffer from falls. And if a fall results…
Warning Signs You Are Deficient In Magnesium Magnesium is a mineral that is necessary for nearly every bodily function, yet some people are deficient in it. Pre-existing conditions such as alcoholism and the use of some prescription medicines can reduce the body’s stores of magnesium. Magnesium deficiency in healthy people is relatively rare, but becoming more common…
Holy Basil Called “The Incomparable One” in its native India, this beautiful plant is a powerful and easy to grow medicinal herb. Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum or Ocimum tenuiflorum, also known as Tulsi) isn’t your ordinary Basil. While it makes a great pesto, it does lots more than add flavor to a dish; its antioxidant and…
Shilajit Benefits Shilajit is a rock-like substance that is found in the mountainous regions of Asia. When the weather gets hot, this tar-like substance oozes out from the mountains. Shilajit takes hundreds of years to form, and comes from plants that decompose combined with the activity of microorganisms. It is incredibly mineral-rich and known for…
Benefits of Magnesium Magnesium Is Considered a Necessary Daily Mineral Magnesium is considered a necessary daily mineral, which means the body depends on proper levels of it for functioning. It also has several health benefits. The general benefits of magnesium include a steady heartbeat, it helps to strengthen bones and it assists in keeping the…
Noni Health Benefits The noni tree is a small evergreen that thrives in the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, Australia, and India. It’s been known for years now as a medicinal plant that can maintain a healthy body. It seems like every part of the noni can be used for beneficial purposes, including its fruit, leaves,…
When we think about what makes a “healthy diet”, we often think of vegetables. And we’re right to do so- vegetables are one of the most important aspects of a healthy diet. They provide much of the vitamin and mineral content we need, plus fiber, antioxidants, nutrients, and water. What many of us don’t realize…
Spring is coming fast here in the Mid-Atlantic, and for many of us, that means thinking about shedding a few pounds for a summer wardrobe. Spring is a great time for new projects, positive changes, and creating a new look. Here are some simple tips to help you succeed with your weight loss goals. Drink…
Spirulina, Supergreen for a Super Spring Spirulina is super-concentrated nutritionSpirulina, also known as Blue-Green Algae, may be the most nutrient-dense substance on earth! It is rich in protein, anti-oxidants, Omega-3’s, Vitamins B1, B2, and B3, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, and Potassium, all in one small organism that grows in both fresh and salt water.
Sea Buckthorn Benefits Nutritional Content What makes Sea Buckthorn oil so beneficial? Containing more than 190 nutrients and phytonutrients, it’s packed with nutritional value! The Vitamin C content of Sea Buckthorn is over 12 times that of an orange. The Vitamin E content is equal to that of wheat germ. The Vitamin A content is…
Are you feeling the winter blues? It could be that your fatigue and sense of the blahs is due to low Vitamin D. In the winter months it’s hard to get enough sunshine for our bodies to naturally produce the vitamin D we need. So it makes sense to take a supplement. Vitamin D deficiency…
Getting enough vitamin C every day is essential for good health. The vitamin helps protect against cardiovascular disease, eye issues, prenatal health problems, immune system deficiencies and more. Although it is most commonly associated with citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit, there are plenty of other ways to get the daily recommended dose of vitamin…
