Results for Category: DIY
Once in a Blue Moon Milk Recipe with Ashwagandha and Chamomile
This year has been full of surprises, and it would only be natural for the world to give us yet another surprise during the spookiest month of the year. In a typical year, we can expect to witness twelve full moons, one for every month of the year. This year is a rare exception. In […]
What is Enfleurage? Historic Perfumery Technique with Instructions
“Enfleurage” is a French word that you may have seen associated with historic perfumery techniques. If you’ve seen this myst...
Health Benefits of Cinnamon + 2 Warming Recipes
(Excerpted from Spice Apothecary by Bevin Clare. Used with permission from Storey Publishing.) Cinnamon is one of the oldest and m...
Using Goldenrod: A Late Summer Cordial Recipe
Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) flourishes abundantly on roadsides and meadows in late summer and fall. In the plant family, Asteraceae, the genus name “Solidago” is derived from the Latin word “solidare” which translates to, “make whole.” This is a helpful clue into the many ways people have been using goldenrod for centuries. Aptly named, goldenrod flowers […]
Ginger and Pineapple Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie
The following excerpt is from Jill Stansbury’s new book Herbal Formularies for Health Professionals, Volume 4 (Chelsea Green Publishing, July 2020) and is reprinted with permission from the publisher. This all-purpose anti-inflammatory smoothie is both tasty and beneficial. It can be used after trauma, to help recover from surgery, or to accompany a tea or tincture […]
Herbal Arnold Palmer Recipe: Just What You Need!
In the late 1960s, Arnold Palmer, a famous American golfer and humanitarian, was known to request a drink mixture of mostly tea wi...
Vata Massage Oil Recipe (Fall and Early Winter)
Massage oil, especially when infused with herbs, can be more than just a feel-good skin moisturizer. Ayurveda teaches that fat is ...
Homemade Massage Oil for Each Season
Massage oil, especially when infused with herbs, can be more than just a feel-good skin moisturizer. Ayurveda teaches that fat is closely connected to love, satisfaction, and protection (Svoboda, 1999). In addition to nourishing and nurturing the skin, using herbally infused homemade massage oils produces a grounding, supportive, and protective effect on the body and […]
Pitta Massage Oil Recipe (Summer and Late Spring)
Massage oil, especially when infused with herbs, can be more than just a feel-good skin moisturizer. Ayurveda teaches that fat is closely connected to love, satisfaction, and protection (Svoboda, 1999). In addition to nourishing and nurturing the skin, using herbally infused homemade massage oils produces a grounding, supportive, and protective effect on the body and […]
Kapha Massage Oil Recipe (Late Winter and Early Spring)
Massage oil, especially when infused with herbs, can be more than just a feel-good skin moisturizer. Ayurveda teaches that fat is ...
Study Snack! Nut Butter Recipe with Herbs for Memory and Focus (+Video)
As back to school season begins and a new year of learning stretches before us, many of us are wondering about herbs for memory an...
Homemade Sunburn Spray for After-Sun Care (With Video!)
Many a fun summer day has ended with the sting of a sunburn. Maybe you could have seen it coming, but now what can you do? The tight, hot, burning feeling is not only uncomfortable, it can prevent us from savoring long summer days and enjoying further outdoor activities. Thankfully, our herbal allies can help […]
Handmade Floral Paper: A Family-Friendly Project
Herbal craft projects help fuel our creativity and reinvigorate our connection with the natural word. Like all plant lovers, our hearts skip a beat whenever we’re presented with just-for-fun herbal creations, like homemade floral cookies and pressed flower arrangements. As such, you can imagine our excitement when a few of our resident herbalists presented the […]
Comfrey Cream Recipe for Achy Joints and Muscles
Can a comfrey (Symphytum officianale) root extraction help ease aching joints and muscles? Many of those following the folk use of...
Try A Cooling Herbal Compress for Hot Summer Days
Summertime arrives and life feels easier. Crisp iced lemonade, smells of freshly mowed grass, and sounds of children splashing in ...
How to Make Alcohol Intermediary Herb-Infused Oils
Have you heard the phrase, there’s more than one way to garble an herb? If so, you can certainly apply that to herbalism when it comes to making various herbal preparations. There are many variations and methods of making herbal infusions, tinctures, syrups, and yes, even herb-infused oils—there’s something for everyone’s skill level and preference. […]
6 Herbal Cocktail Recipes for Summer
Although summer gatherings may be smaller this year, they don’t need to be any less festive! We recently screened-in our front porch, and our calendar is quickly filling with small soirees in our new, outdoor space, which allows us to follow safe social-distancing guidelines and spend time with loved ones. In my excitement to host, […]
Plantain Leaf Benefits and Recipes
Since the launch of The Foraging Course, we’ve had a renewed interest in the humble, helpful herbs that grow right outside our d...
Refreshing Monarda-Mint Ice Pops Recipe
As temperatures climb and spring fades into summer, you may find yourself craving a sweet and healthy treat that doesn’t require...
Floral Cookies to Celebrate the Summer Solstice (+Video!)
Many herbalists find deep meaning in connecting with nature and embracing the seasons. Special holidays and natural occurrences mark time and allow us to acknowledge and appreciate the gifts nature provides.The summer solstice is one such event, and herbal lore and traditional wisdom have left us with a multitude of ways to celebrate this annual […]
Calming Tea Recipe & Natural Stress Management (With Video!)
Sometimes it seems as if stress is all around us. From big traumatic events to small irritations, stress is an inevitable part of life. Because stress can have a detrimental impact on our health and quality of life, it’s imperative that we develop habits—from simple lifestyle practices to go-to formulas, like our Calming Tea Recipe, […]
5 Aromatherapy Mood Sprays for Summer
Summer is right around the corner here in the Northern Hemisphere, and if you can’t wait for it to get here, an aromatherapy moo...
Stress-Be-Gone Balm Recipe (and Video!)
In trying times, it’s inevitable to feel anxious and stressed. When we are burdened with these emotions, everyday tasks often be...
Pantry Herbalism for Cold and Flu Support: Free eBook
How many weeks have we been sheltering in place? We may be losing track of time, but it’s impossible to lose track of our once well-stocked apothecaries! If you’re biting your nails worried about your dwindling herbal preparations and the current status of the herbal marketplace, then this ebook is for you! In our FREE […]
3 Alcohol-Based Hand Rub Recipes
The most important prevention measures we can take right now are staying home and practicing social distancing if leaving the house for essential work or trips to the grocery store or pharmacy—that is, staying at least 6 feet away from other people (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2020a). Washing hands thoroughly with soap and warm […]
Dark and Stormy Mushroom Bitters Recipe
There are plenty of ways that mushrooms can be used to support digestive health and vitality. One such way is through their bitter...
Herbs to Boost Creative Power
If you are looking to boost creative power and cultivate more clarity in 2020, the classical Ayurvedic formula, Saraswati churna, ...
3 DIY Honey Face Wash Recipes For Your Constitution
I once heard that you should never put anything on your skin that you wouldn’t eat. Truly, caring for your skin is as important as caring for any other organ. After all, our skin is our shield, our protection, and our presentation to the outside world. If you are looking for simple, wholesome DIY face […]
An Irresistible Herbal Aphrodisiac Recipe for Valentine’s Day: Cleopatra’s Love Bites
With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, you may be scrolling page after page on Pinterest for date night dinner menus, gift ideas for that special someone, and new ways to spice things up for your romantic night out (or in!). While we may not have ALL the answers to your browsing history questions, we do have […]
Herbal Support for Wildfire Crisis
Our hearts are saddened by the great pain and loss caused by the wildfires that have caused fatalities, wide-spread destruction of...
