Results for Category: DIY
Moon Cycle Tea for Painful Period Cramps
Many people have experienced painful period cramps at some point. Period cramps may be anywhere from mild to debilitating, making someone want to stay in bed all day long. Severe period pain is not normal and warrants a professional assessment as it can be a sign of conditions such as endometriosis. Mild to moderate pain […]
Love Your Liver Herbal Tincture
Urban dwellers should consider an herbal liver tincture as part of their daily routine. When living in an environment where air qu...
Moon-Inspired Herbal Pancakes and Cookies
It was a full moon day, so I decided to create herbal pancakes and cookies inspired by the moon. This is how I often start my kitc...
Bedtime Herbal Bitters Recipe
Making your own herbal remedies feels empowering in a cultural climate that seems increasingly disconnected from nature. There’s a beauty to the process, and a sense of simplicity, too. One of the most accessible remedies for new herbalists is a tincture of bitter herbs. It’s easy to make, and it gives you a little freedom […]
California Poppy Benefits + Recipe
California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), the state flower of California, is a beautiful wildflower that has been an ally to western-dwelling Indigenous peoples for long before there was a United States, let alone a United States Pharmacopeia. In this post, I will share with you a materia medica on the beneficial California poppy benefits, which should […]
Herbal Soap Recipe for Eczema
If you’re living with eczema, bathing may cause more pain than pleasure. However, there is hope! Switching from commercial soaps...
A Floral Craft Project to Celebrate Herbalist Day
Herbalist Day is right around the corner (April 17!), and it’s the perfect opportunity to thank the herbalists in your life for ...
Herbal Cough Syrup Recipe for a Dry Cough
A dry unproductive cough can be caused by irritation such as dry air, smoke, allergens, and pollution, or develop during a respiratory infection. Worst of all it can be really uncomfortable, disrupting sleep, work, school, travel, and other activities, and can cause a headache or a sore throat that lasts. A dry cough and sore […]
Pain-Be-Gone: Try This Meadowsweet Tea with Rose
This meadowsweet tea recipe offers a chance to calm the mind and gently soothe aches and pains while hydrating the body. A great way to practice self-care, this cup of herbal tea contains ingredients known to quiet a busy mind. Also known as Queen of the Meadow, meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) flower appears to have analgesic […]
Teenage Skin Care: Herbal Recipes & Simple Routines
When it comes to teenage skin care less is more, despite parental urges to fix, research, and monitor. This is especially true whe...
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Homemade vanilla extract is worlds apart from the generic imitation vanilla typically found at big box stores. Mmm…vanilla. Its ...
Homemade Cough Syrup for a Wet Cough
Late winter is the time of year in which heavy, wet conditions can start to really settle in our lungs. Luckily, nature’s apothecary has many beneficial plant allies for coughs and colds that can support you in the form of an herbal homemade cough syrup when you most need it! This herbal cough syrup isn’t […]
Nutrient Deficiencies + 4 Vitamin and Mineral-Rich Recipes
The well-known adage “we are what we eat” is so true when we think about our daily needs for vitamins and minerals. Typically, when we sit down for a meal, we might be thinking about how hungry we are or how good it tastes, not realizing that we are also consuming micronutrients to meet our […]
Nourishing Herbal Soup Seasoning Mix
A healthy immune system serves as your personal smooth-running militia, with the number one goal of protecting your body from path...
Damiana and Vanilla Cordial
Homemade vanilla cordial with damiana is a lovely introduction to using vanilla as a home herbal. While used widely as a flavoring...
Winter Wellness: Fresh Horseradish Recipe & Benefits
The cold, dry winter weather is here and so is sinus congestion. Prevention is the best approach, but there is also much we can do once discomfort hits! Luckily, there is one powerful root you can use to soothe sinus pressure and shorten the duration. Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) is not only a delicious condiment for […]
Herbal Throat Gargle Recipe: Triphala, Turmeric, and Licorice
One of the great things about this simple herbal throat gargle is that all its ingredients have multiple uses. So, if you keep these herbs in your travel kit, you may be able to use them for other purposes in addition to a throat gargle. Triphala (Emblica officinalis), a combination of three fruits, is a […]
Stay Calm Adaptogen Syrup with Ashwagandha and Eleuthero
Provide your body with the tools it needs to improve its stress response through an adaptogen syrup. Adaptogens are those herbs fo...
Evergreen Forest Bath Salts Recipe with Juniper and Pine
As we head into the new year, winter has deeply enveloped many parts of the country. Most plants and animals are dormant or hibern...
Mushroom Immunity Broth with Astragalus and Calendula
Make your own mushroom immunity broth by blending nutrient-rich mushrooms with herbs that are well-known for their positive effect on the immune system. Winter is known as the cold and flu season, and supporting your immune system is a must for those wanting to stay productive and healthy during the colder months. This mushroom-laden brew […]
After-Dinner Tea Recipe: Chamomile, Fennel, and Orange
‘Tis the season for digestive problems and the perfect time to try making your own fennel tea with chamomile, orange, and bee balm. Help your body by harnessing the digestive benefits of fennel tea to combat the less than ideal side effects of a rich and varied diet. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seeds are renowned for […]
Spiced Apple Cider Recipe with Orange, Ginger, and Cinnamon
We like to keep mulled cider warming away on the stove or in a slow cooker regularly during the winter months. The intoxicating sc...
Cranberry Hot Toddy Recipe with Clove, Cinnamon, and Ginger
Hot toddy recipes are wonderful additions to your winter herbal cocktail lineup. Whether you are planning a holiday party video ca...
Chai-Spiced Apple Cider Mocktail Recipe
The flavor of chai is as festive as festive comes. This particular apple cider mocktail is a great make-ahead recipe if you’re under a time crunch or want to prepare a big batch. The homemade chai concentrate will keep well for at least a week in the refrigerator. More Winter Herbal Cocktails Cranberry Hot Toddy […]
Winter Herbal Cocktails to Toast the New Year
What a year it was! With the ups, downs, twists, and turns of the last 12 months, we’re approaching 2021 head on and with fervent hope. To reflect on a year gone by and to anticipate a year ahead, we’re pouring ourselves some winter herbal cocktails and jotting down what we envision for this new […]
Pine Needle Gimlet Recipe
The addition of a conifer simple syrup to any beverage adds a level of richness and earthiness to the recipe. The pine needle simp...
Herbal Hot Toddy Mocktail Recipe
While traditional hot toddy recipes feature dark liquor like rum, whiskey, or bourbon, you can still get the same warm, cozy effec...
Conifer-Infused Vodka and Simple Syrup Recipes
Evergreens not only provide a much-needed pop of color during the winter months, they are also a wonderful natural source of vitamin C. Conifer needles also have anti-inflammatory properties, and in addition are antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal (Walker, 2015). If you find yourself out foraging this winter season, harvest a cup or two of conifer […]
Nettle Leaf Nursing Tea with Oatstraw and Alfalfa
Nursing tea, sometimes referred to as lactation tea, is an herbal tea blend thought to promote milk supply in nursing mothers. Nettle (Urtica dioica) leaf, alfalfa (Medicago sativa) aerial parts, and oat (Avena sativa) leaf and stem, known as “oatstraw,” are often found in nursing tea blends due to their nutritive properties. While many feel […]
Adaptogen Cherry Bites
Adaptogen cherry bites are the ideal winter snack, blending good taste with good balance. This recipe calls for nourishing ashwaga...
