Category: herbalism
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Black Cohosh does so much more than “stop hot flashes”
Black cohosh is a gorgeous perennial plant native to North America. You’ll find it under two different Botanical names, depending on the age of the text you look in: Cimicifuga racemosa and Actaea racemosa. I can’t recall which one is the older name but botanists drive me nuts when they do this… Anyway, I used…
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My Must-Have Herbal Reference Books (as a Practicing Herbalist)
Sure, you can agree that nothing compares to hands-on, fingernails-dirty, in-the-trenches learning when it comes to herbalism. But every knowledgeable herbalist also has a handful of reliable reference books on their shelf. This list is made up of the books I reach for most often when I need support. I don’t own any A.I.-generated books,…
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The ONE wild plant I can’t live without: Plantain
Any time I hear someone ask me, “What’s the one herb you would want to have with you if you were lost on a deserted island?” my answer is almost always going to be Plantain. And no, that’s not a big starchy banana. There are three varieties of plantain species you’re likely to find in…
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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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Managing Migraines Naturally: A Holistic and Herbal Approach
Migraines are no joke–I know, I’ve had a few. But if you have chronic migraines, there’s something deeper at play inside your body. In the world of naturopathic medicine, we view a migraine not as a standalone disease, but as a “check engine light” for the body. It’s like your headache is screaming at you…
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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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Birch vs Birch: Is there a difference among them?
You probably know by now that I love birch trees, because birch bark is a phenomenal herbal pain reliever. But what are the differences among the various varieties of birch trees? Let me tell you what I have personally experienced and you can make the final decision. The first time I ever worked with Birch…
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Witch Hazel: Connecticut’s Most Powerful Wild Medicine
Did you know Connecticut is considered the Witch Hazel capital of the world? [Source] If you’ve ever stepped onto a wooded trail here, that probably doesn’t surprise you. Witch hazel is everywhere—tucked along stream banks, lining old forest roads, even growing right off hiking paths. One of my favorite fall moments is catching that faint…
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Sun-Kissed Butt Cheeks: My Experience with Calendula
Calendula, the bright orange, lions-mane-like flowers of late summer have been on my Top 5 Herbal remedies to keep in my medicine cabinet for over 16 years now. All because of little red butt cheeks. The first time I ever even heard of Calendula was as an ingredient in the all-natural diaper rash cream I…
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The Ancient Plant that hoards Precious Minerals
Horsetail is one of the world’s oldest plants, dating back over 300 million years. Many people find it on their property and decide to hate it, as it’s incredibly difficult to eradicate once it has populated an area. But those “in the know” see this wild being as the precious resource it truly is. There…