Results for Category: Live Well
Herbal Aphrodisiacs: What They Are & How to Use Them
Have you ever heard of eating oysters, birds nest soup, iguana, or the many other bizarre foods that people believe to be arousing? Aphrodisiacs have been long sought after, admired, and rumored for their effects on libido — but do they actually work? An aphrodisiac, named after the Goddess Aphrodite, is a substance that, when […]
6 Steps To Revitalize Your Health With Herbs This Spring
With new plant life beginning to stir in the ground from their winter slumber, poking their heads up from the earth, so it is with...
Nourishing the Blood: TCM and Ayurvedic Perspectives
Blood isn’t just platelets and plasma; it is our vitality. Blood carries the story of our ancestry. It is essential, and it is e...
The Ultimate Essential Oils Guide
Here at the Herbal Academy, essential oils are an important and beloved component of our herbal toolkits. You’ll find essential oils peppered amongst the tinctures, infused oils, salves, and jars of dried herbs that line our shelves, and we turn to them often to support our health and wellbeing. Just like any remedy, essential oils […]
Ayurvedic Uses of Herbal Oils and Ghee
If you enjoy the taste of ghee and the feel of a luscious body oil, it’s for good reason! Not only are fats tasty and skin smoothing, these lipids have the power to tremendously benefit our well-being. In this article, we will largely explore the uses of herbal ghees. You will also be exposed to […]
Essential Oil Myths And FAQs Answered
With all of the information in circulation regarding essential oils, you may find yourself repeatedly running into information tha...
How to be an Environmentally Sustainable Herbalist
Herbalists often come to this enchanting practice via a connection to plants and care for the earth. Many will find that the study...
Biphasic Formulation for Menstrual Cycles 101
Many females simply write off their menstrual symptoms as part of who they are as a female. It’s simply “that time of the month” again and there’s “nothing I can do about it.” Although we should recognize and respect the menstrual cycle and the patterns we notice within, there are ways to positively change and […]
How to Incorporate Reiki Therapy into Your Holistic Wellness Routine
Self-care is essential to our overall health, happiness, and wellbeing. But what comprises a wellness routine, and how can we incorporate Reiki therapy and other alternative approaches into it? Whether you already have an established wellness routine or are looking to create a holistic self-care practice, incorporating Reiki therapy can have wide-reaching positive impacts on […]
5 Steps To A New Year Skincare Reboot
With the new year upon us, it’s customary to consider ways to make this year better than the last. We use the fresh start symbol...
14 Must-Have Supplies For Herbalists (Plus A Free Printable Herbal Toolkit Supply List)
Whether you’re brand new to herbalism or you’re trying to set up your home apothecary, you’ll want to stock up on some parti...
How Does Hot Water Temperature Affect The Nutritional Content Of Herbs?
When it comes to health and wellness, herbs can be one of our greatest allies. Herbal tea is a go-to for soothing common ailments like cold and flu symptoms, while herbal infusions are beloved as nature’s “vitamin supplement.” When it comes to steeping nutritional herbs for vitamins and minerals, most of us turn to a […]
Introduction to Ayurveda: What’s My Dosha?
Ayurveda and the terms vata, pitta, and kapha are slowly making their way into alternative health lexicons. However, many readers may still be mystified by these concepts, or perhaps this is the very first time you are learning about these terms. This post is intended to provide you with a basic introduction to Ayurveda. However, […]
How To Dilute High-Proof Alcohol To Use In Herbal Tinctures
Have you ever prepared to make an herbal tincture and found you were out of your favorite variety of 80-proof or 100-proof tinctur...
DIY Hand Poured Herbal Candles
As the winter months draw near, we find ourselves spending more time indoors than outdoors. This lack of time outdoors can create ...
What Research Says About Essential Oils For Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Watching a friend or family member suffer from a neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer’s or dementia, creates powerful feelings of helplessness, grief, frustration, and even anger. Although our knowledge of the brain is currently growing by leaps and bounds, we still know so little about how our brain creates and processes memories. Since medical research […]
How To Nip Holiday Stress In The Bud
The holiday season is a double-edged sword—festive and heartwarming on the one hand, a mad dash of colossal proportions on the other. We tell ourselves that all the work is worth the effort, but when we’re left exhausted and crabby, holiday spirit is about the furthest thing from our minds (and hearts). How do we […]
Tips For Staying Healthy This Cold and Flu Season
As cold weather arrives, cold and flu virus infections begin to increase in number. Have you thought about what you will do to sup...
Two Personal Inhaler Essential Oil Blends To Help You Through Stressful Times
I think it’s safe to assume that everyone, at some point, feels the weight of stress in his or her life. Whether it’s kids, sc...
Essential Oil Terms To Know: How To Use “Dilution,” “Dispersion,” and “Dose” Correctly
If you have read much about the use of essential oils or essential oil safety, you have undoubtedly encountered discussions regarding “diluting” essential oils for topical use by mixing a certain amount of essential oil in a carrier oil. This is only one of the important “d-“ words regarding essential oil usage and safety, the […]
How to Choose the Right Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender essential oil is probably the most frequently suggested essential oil, one of the first we purchase, and the one we reach for most often. What we often do not realize until we have been using essential oils for a while is that there are several varieties, and even species, of lavender available as essential […]
The Interesting Story Behind Victory Gardens
Community gardening and composting have become common in the last 10 to 15 years, but their history goes back to World War I (1914...
What Every Clinical Herbalist Should Know About Supporting Clients With Stress
Everyone experiences stress to some degree, but a large percentage of people deal with chronic stress on a regular basis. Chronic ...
28 Skin-Friendly Essential Oils for Your Next Salve
Essential oils are often included in herbal and cosmetic preparations for aromas, their anti-inflammatory or antimicrobial actions, or their effects on our psyches. The problem with using essential oils topically is that many of them are drying or irritating to the skin and can even cause allergic reactions in some people. Which essential oils are […]
5 Child-Friendly Herbs For Topical Use
If you have children (or if you’ve ever been a child, for that matter), you’re familiar with all of the common childhood ailments, from colds and flu to basic boo-boos (like cuts, scrapes, and bruises). As a mother of two, there are a handful of herbs and very simple-to-make topical remedies that I like to […]
A Beginner’s Guide to Using Essential Oils with Confidence
How many of these phrases have you read or heard? “Essential oils are natural.” “Essential oils are safe.” “Essential oi...
An Herb And Essential Oil Resource You Won’t Want To Miss Out On!
We’re always learning here at the Herbal Academy, whether from the informative posts written by our blog contributors, the in-de...
What Exactly Are “Parts” in Herbal Recipes?
In the sleepy morning hours, I often find myself brewing a warm pot of tea to accompany me through the day. Spoonfuls of beautiful dried herbs, fragrant and colorful, say their hellos to me as I measure them into the pot. Easily measured out with my trusty spoon, it only takes a moment or two […]
How To Use Essential Oils For Hair Care
As you walk down the drugstore aisle, you can be overwhelmed with the number and variety of hair care products. Their costs range from very inexpensive to an amount that would rival the gross national product of some countries. However, if you look closely, you will notice that the ingredients contain some startling similarities. Water […]
5 Herbal Books For Parents Who Want To Support Their Child’s Health Naturally
As parents, we all want what is best for our children. For those of us who turn to herbs for life’s little ups and downs as well...