Results for Category: We’ve Come To Know
Giving Thanks for the Fall Harvest
The time has come again. Fall is right around the corner and it is time to start collecting and harvesting what Mother Earth has given to us. She has been very good to us this year, here in Michigan, with all the good heavy rainfall that we had at the beginning of spring which has…
Relieving Stress through Yoga – 9 Useful Tips
For me, setting aside every task and “to-do” I have for the day to take a yoga-break is indispensable. Sometimes, I wonder wha...
Health Benefits of Popular Autumn Spices
Soon the air will turn crisp and the leaves will begin to change colors. And along with these wonders of fall come the smells of a...
Basic Botany: Describing Leaves
There’s a lot going on in a leaf. Thousands of chemical reactions occur in each one as part of photosynthesis – the process plants use to turn sunlight into energy. Each plant develops their own unique blend of ingredients from sunlight, water, and the nutrients they pull from the soil. The unique makeup of each…
Botanical Families: How Herbs Are Related
The number of distinct botanical species recorded in the world is impressive. 500 species of conifers, 12,000 species of ferns, 14,000 species of mosses, and a staggering 300,000 different species of flowering plants. Most of our herbs are flowering plants, but how can we make sense of such an overwhelming diversity? Within that giant group…
Prepare for Fall with an Herbal Transition Kit
Late August is a time of transition, as summer is drawing to a close and a new school year begins. We know that many herbs are imp...
How to Plan a Seed Swap in Your Neighborhood
Seed swaps are an excellent way of sharing your plant knowledge—and your seeds—with your local community. What’s more, seed ...
Local Herbs for the Home Apothecary
With so much interest in the local foods movement and how it benefits the environment, our local economies, and food security in our communities, it’s natural that some herbalists want their home apothecaries to be as local as possible, too. For some of us, we long to connect with native plants in our surroundings as…
Herbal Support for Back to School
The hot, lazy days of summer are swiftly flowing by and many students are already getting ready to go back to school. As with any big transition, this time of year can bring forth challenges for students big and small. Herbal support may be useful in lending a helping hand during this exciting time and ease…
Creating Your Organized Apothecary
Building a home apothecary is an exciting part of learning herbalism. There is a sense of satisfaction that comes from having ever...
Art of the Alcohol-Free Apothecary
Extracting herbs in alcohol is a quick and simple way to preserve their benefits for later use, so it’s no wonder that the littl...
Herbal Comfort for Aches and Pains
New Warnings on OTC Pain Relievers Over the counter NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like naproxen (Aleve), and ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) are what many people reach for when they need temporary relief from back pain, a toothache, sore muscles, or a headache. NSAIDs have recently been in the news as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)…
Learning Botanical Names
If you have spent time reading about or studying herbs, chances are you have come across botanical names. Usually in italics, botanical names are found in herb profiles, scientific studies, and even in everyday places, such as the back of your favorite herbal tea blend. If you are a HANE student, you may have seen botanical…
The Herb Safety Continuum Scale: A Guide to Herbal Safety Use
Herbal safety is an important consideration when it comes to determining which herbs to use, and it’s important to thoroughly re...
One Herb at a Time: 7 Ways to Inspire Your Herbal Studies
When you begin your herbal studies, the sheer number of herbs you encounter can be intimidating. While it’s useful to learn...
Stress Management for Parents: 3 Ways To Deeply Care For Yourself
“Self-care is never a selfish act – it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others. Anytime we can listen to the true self and give it the care it requires, we do not only for ourselves but for the many others…
Can Reiki Support Us? An Alternative Approach in America
The United States has become a place where people are quick to pop a pill for everything that ails them. There seems to be a pill for every imaginable (and unimaginable) ailment or ache. According to a recent Mayo Clinic study, more than 70 percent of Americans take some sort of prescription drug, with 20…
Must Haves for Your Family First Aid Kit
Every parent knows the drill – you are out on a hike or playing at the park when your child takes a tumble and is injured. C...
The Grass Isn’t Greener: Inviting Bees Into Your Yard
For bees and beekeepers, the sight of closely-cropped lawns bordered with rows of non-blooming shrubbery will never garner any vot...
What is a Materia Medica?
Every field of study employs its own language, words, and phrases that become an integral part of engaging with the discipline. In herbalism, one such phrase is “materia medica,” which comes from Latin and literally means “healing materials.” More specifically, a materia medica is a body of knowledge that describes how plants have been used therapeutically throughout the…
The Limits of Herbalism
Herbs have limits, too. For all the amazing ways that herbs can enrich our lives and help us heal, there are still things for which they should not be relied upon. But that’s not all – there are also legal considerations and limits that herbalists need to know. By approaching herbs with awareness of our limits…
Herbal Allies for Families During Allergy Season
Springtime brings the waking of green things from the Earth. The air is fresh and wild, and we feel called to the out-of-doors, to...
The Importance of Finding an Herb Mentor
Community is an important aspect of herbalism. Herbalism is all about relationships, after all – the relationships we have w...
Herbs Work in All Seasons
Herbs work in all seasons – both in the seasons of nature and in the seasons of our lives. There to support us in the unique challenges our bodies face each season – the allergies of spring, summer’s heat, winter’s colds – herbs work with us year round. In the seasons of our lives, herbs…
Herbs Work for Families
Herbs work as part of many different lifestyles, and family life is no different – herbs are the perfect complement to family life. They enrich our lives in a multitude of ways. Not only are herbs are a healthy choice for all ages, but they connect us to the natural world, give us seasonal traditions to share…
Herbs Work as a Foundation
One of the most beautiful roles we fill as herbalists is that of teachers. In a way, it really doesn’t matter what path we take ...
Seasonal Allergy Support With DIY Aromatherapy Shower Tablets
Spring is finally here and it is so beautiful! Gardens are waking up and bees are searching out all the flowers that have suddenly...
Herbs Work as a Lifestyle
Herbs work, but they work best if we do a little work, too! In order for us to receive the most benefit from the herbs we use, we need to focus on right living – on developing a lifestyle that allows us to grow into our best health. Herbs work their best work within the framework…
Herbs Work As Our Companions and Allies
As herbalists, it’s important for us to learn about plants through hands-on experience, and we are richly rewarded for the time we invest in learning to live side-by-side with our herbs. As we grow them in our gardens and help the continuation of their species, they nurture our health in return. Because of the nature…
Herbs Work For Our Highest Good: Tonics, Adaptogens, and Alteratives
One of the views that sets herbalism apart as a philosophy of the human body is the way herbs teach us to see our relationship wit...
