Category: herbalism
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The Simple Herbal Tea That Finally Stopped My Heavy Bleeding
It sounds like an exaggeration, but I’m writing this from my desk with a profound sense of relief at the fact that one cup of red raspberry leaf infusion has managed to slow my bleeding down to a manageable level. It feels like this plant saved my life today. Warning: This post is going to…
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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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Feeling better about tasting bitters
Why do we eat a salad first? Think about it– you go to a restaurant or you sit down at Aunt Martha’s house for Thanksgiving and what’s the first course you get? Salad. Has it always been this way? What’s the point of eating cold greens before the ham casserole comes out? It’s not just…
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Wild Lettuce: How to Identify, Forage, and Work With This Powerful Plant
Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. I’m an Herbalist, not a Doctor. Wild Lettuce (Lactuca spp.) quickly became one of my top favorite herbal remedies as soon as I was confident enough to recognize it and try it. Why? Because it is hands-down the strongest natural painkiller I’ve ever experienced. Traditionally speaking, this plant has…
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The Vitamin C Powerhouse Growing in the Wild: Rose Hips
You’ve heard that you need Vitamin C, so you eat oranges regularly and figure you’re doing a good deed for your body, right? Why do you even need Vitamin C? According to the pharmacy aisle at Walgreens, you NEED vitamin C to stop your cold and if you don’t take their products you’ll never get…
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Making Herbal Remedies for Fun and Profit
You’re watching videos about how “this herb does that” on social media every day. You’ve taken the step into making your own tinctures, teas, and infused oils. Maybe you’ve even tried putting together some salve or lotions. Are they working? Are you remembering to use what you made? Did they come out right? Or has…
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Why Red Clover is one of my favorite plants
Red Clover (Trifolium praetense) as you can see in the photo above, isn’t red. It’s purple. Crimson clover is red (and is super tasty if you can find it) and White clover is white with a slightly pink tinge. Red clover grows abundantly in my yard ever since I tossed some seeds on the ground…
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Dandelion: Nature’s Healing Power Unleashed
Dandelions (for the purpose of this article I’m referring to Taraxacum officinale, though there are over 400 other varieties) are more than just a sunny weed dotting our lawns—they’re one of the most versatile and healing plants in the wild. Every part of the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), from flower to root, is edible and medicinal…
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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…