Category: Feeling Sick
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Dry Cough vs Wet Cough: An Herbal Approach
We’ve all dealt with it — a nagging cough from allergies, a virus that caught up with you, or a chronic condition like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. But not all coughs are the same. A wet cough requires a different strategy than a dry one, and choosing the right herbal approach starts with understanding that…
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Mucus Overload? You Need Ground Ivy
I’ll admit it—I didn’t even know what ground ivy was until about 7 years ago. I heard a podcast episode about it and immediately went in search of this diminutive plant because I heard that it was “better than Mucinex” for mucus overload in your sinuses. Boy, were they right! What is ground ivy? Ground…
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Is Oil of Oregano Really So Great?
If you’re reading this, I’m assuming you know what oregano is and you’ve probably eaten it before, even if you only recognize the flavor from the pizza you had last Friday night. What exactly IS “Oil of oregano” though? You’ve probably heard someone suggest you take it, but you don’t really understand why, right? First…
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The Benefits of Marshmallow: A Healing Herb Guide
Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) is a herbaceous perennial plant native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia. It is found on the banks of rivers and in salt marshes, preferring moist, sandy soils. When I first learned that marshmallow was a plant and not just a treat to throw into my hot cocoa, I started looking…
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Bee Balm: Beautiful Beneficial for Boogers
Have you ever been walking through a field suddenly caught a whiff of something simultaneously pungent, spicy, and floral? You might have encountered Bee Balm! Monarda fistulosa and Monarda didyma are the two varieties of Bee Balm I’m referring to in this post, though Monarda punctata also shares the same medicinal qualities. I grow both…
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Garlic: A Powerful Food and Medicine Combination
I finally got my small garlic crop into the ground this past week and I thought it would be a great time to talk about why I think EVERYONE (who isn’t allergic) should be eating garlic. I’ve come a long way from the time some garlic bulbs sprouted in my pantry and I dug a…
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Why Tinctures are my favorite
There is a time and a place for each and every different medicinal preparation. Each remedy can be helpful for multiple reasons. Tea is excellent and my preferred method for healing upset stomach, digestive problems, stomach flu, or simply to warm a body up in cool weather. Flower essences are super helpful at changing your…
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Preparing yourself for fall
It’s late August now, which in the northern hemisphere signals the high point of the harvesting season. I’m still planting some of my fall crops and I’m thinking about which herbs are the most important for me to get picked before the bugs eat what’s left and the frost arrives. Autumn is my favorite season.…