Tag: herbs
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Beyond the Cat Toy: Why Catnip Belongs in Your Herbal Cabinet
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is widely known as the stuff that makes your cat go crazy, but it has a long history as a gentle, versatile remedy for humans. And it’s easy to grow! Plant Snapshot Helpful Videos: Catnip vs Catmint (to help you identify the right plant Can you make tea with your cat’s catnip…
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Why You Probably Need Burdock Root in Your Life
If you have ever walked through the edges of your backyard or weeded a particularly tough spot of earth in your garden, you have likely crossed paths with burdock (Arctium lappa). You might even know it best by its stubborn, sticky burs that cling to your socks and dog fur. But beneath those big, beautiful…
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Which Herbal Preparation Should You Use? A Simple Guide
If you’re already a seasoned herbalist, you can keep scrolling by, but if you’re new to herbal medicine, you might want to linger on this post for a few minutes. You hear me talking about tinctures, teas, salves, and more, but you’re not sure which one does what or which thing you actually need. Let…
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Solomon’s Seal: The King of Herbs for Connective Tissue Problems
Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum spp.) is a plant native to the Americas that most people just plant as an ornamental in their garden is by far one of my favorite medicinal herbs. Its unique, bone-shaped roots strengthen bones, marrow, and especially tendons. Note: I am an Herbalist, not a doctor. This post is not intended as…
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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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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…
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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…