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 the backyard pool at once evoke a mindful appreciation for the present and tug at childhood nostalgia. Spending all day in the sun at the beach or in the garden helps increase vitamin D intake […]
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. […]
3 Cooling Salads for Summer
As summer days grow warmer and longer, you may find yourself reaching for cooling, refreshing foods that require less time in a hot kitchen and allow more time to enjoy the long, lazy days of summer. These inclinations speak to the innate wisdom of the body; when temperatures heat it up it is better to […]
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, […]
DIY Natural Citronella Candles
We have finally started to feel the warmth of summer. It was 80 degrees Fahrenheit here in the Midwest yesterday, and you can bet we spent the better half of the day outdoors. We welcomed summer with a playful game of baseball, refreshing strawberry lemonade, and s’mores roasted over a bonfire. All the while, our […]
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 doors. Plantain leaf (Plantago spp.) is one such wonder “weed” that’s found all over the globe. Two of the most common species, broadleaf plantain (P. major) and ribwort plantain (P. lanceolata), have followed […]
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 heating up the house with your oven. Fruit is always a wonderful option, but what else? Our Refreshing Monarda-Mint Ice Pops recipe, below, offers a simple and delicious dessert that your whole family is […]
How and Where to Buy Herbs in Times of Upheaval
At the outset of the current global pandemic, herbalists were more grateful than ever for the revered roots in our own apothecaries. While treasuring what we already had on hand, we also took note of those less glamorous, generous green allies that grow wildly around us. We collectively found ourselves wondering where to buy herbs […]
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 […]
New eBook! Cooling Herbs for Hot Summer Days
Summer days are ripe with joyful pleasures, including fresh lemonade, cool mornings in the garden, and lazy afternoons by the pool or pond. While there are many uplifting moments and simple joys of summer, many parts of the country also endure soaring temperatures that can feel nearly unbearable. Whether you experience jungle-like humidity or bone-dry […]
How to Use Herbs to Rebuild from Burnout
Long-term stress takes a huge toll on one’s body and mind. Sometimes that stress can chip away at vital reserves and one’s sense of wellbeing, ultimately leading to a state of burnout. In digging into the exact meaning and causes for burnout, it is clear that its defining borders can be quite nebulous. Unlike depression, […]
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, […]
Calming Canine Herbs for Your Four-Legged Friends
There are a number of things that can cause stress and anxiety for our beloved pets, from separation anxiety to loud noises. Whenever my dog hears a loud bang that resembles a gunshot sound, his ears fold back, he gets as close to the ground as he can, and he frantically scrambles to hide. This […]
7 Reasons to Forage Wild Food and Herbs
Before the advent of agriculture, our ancestors were hunter-gatherers, relying on the wild food and herbs they brought home in their baskets to keep them alive and well. Foraging is a way to return to those ancestral roots and re-learn what our ancestors knew: that nature provides an abundance of botanicals that can be consumed […]
Purple Dead Nettle: Nutrition and Recipes
If you enjoy foraging and using plants that grow naturally around you, then purple dead nettle (Lamium purpureum) is a wonderful plant to become acquainted with. Available across most of the United States, this common “weed” is easy to find and its mild flavor blends well with a wide variety of recipes—from salads and smoothies […]
Introducing Our NEW Foraging Class!
As herbalists, we are passionate about all things botanical, and foraging is top of the list! With spring in full swing and summer inching closer, we are enjoying our foraging forays and plan for even more time in the fields and forests as the green world bursts into a riot of growth! To make the […]
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 mood spray may be just the thing you need to give you that summer feeling right now! In this article, you’ll learn how scent can help put you in a positive frame […]
Herbal Allergy Support Using Ayurvedic Herbs
Allergies manifest in many ways. There are food allergies, seasonal allergies, skin allergies, and allergic reactions to fragrances. As is the case with any health imbalance, it’s easy to get distracted by symptoms and acute discomfort. However, Ayurveda has a holistic approach to wellness—and allergy management follows that approach. In this article, you will learn […]
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 become more difficult and we don’t feel like ourselves. While there are many ways to ease stress and anxiety, including nutrition, exercise, and various herbal preparations, it’s nice to have something on hand that’s quick […]
New Intensive! Identify and Manage Estrogen Excess
Estrogen. It’s a well-known hormone, but how many of us truly understand the many ways it affects our bodies? As one could guess, estrogen is a key player in reproductive and sexual development, but it also affects cholesterol, metabolism, bone formation, cognition, and more. When estrogen levels are balanced, we hope to operate within a […]
Lion’s Mane Mushroom: What You Should Know
For many years, mushrooms have received most of their attention as a popular pizza topping. But recently, these members of the fungi kingdom are getting a lot of spotlight as a “superfood” and functional mushrooms, like lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus), are becoming increasingly popular. These days mushrooms are being studied for their wellness properties and […]
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 […]
Best Herbs for Lungs and Respiratory Support
When addressing viral respiratory infections, we want to think about herbs that have strong immune or antiviral actions in addition to herbs for lungs and basic respiratory support. During the current outbreak of viral infection, it’s better to use what you already have on hand than to spend an extended amount of time out of […]
Nettle Vinegar: A Spring Alterative Recipe
A number of herbal allies are especially well-suited for spring—alterative herbs being one of our favorites. Alterative herbs are a great support to the liver and are useful for gentle cleansing and detoxification. The great news is that they can be incorporated into your daily wellness routine with simple recipes, like nettle vinegar, to help […]
COVID-19 School Lunch Programs: Keeping Children Fed
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, we’ve become particularly aware of the simple, daily blessings that we take for granted, including access to healthy, year-round produce. As we collectively give thanks for what we’re fortunate to have — from a safe home, to a healthy meal, to our ability to care for our families’ wellbeing — […]
The Four Humours of Ancient Greek Medicine: Ancient Thought in Modern Practice
Herbalism is an ancient practice with thousands of years of historical applications. Today, the well-recognized ancient traditions of Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine remain instrumental as effective herbal practices. Equally important is understanding and recognizing the contributions of ancient Greek herbalism, namely the four humours. Although these concepts are no longer mainstream theories, they continue […]
A Heart-Warming Herbalist Day
April 17th marks Herbalist Day — a celebration of the many teachers, peers, and herbs that have guided you through your journey as a herbalist thus far. As we all navigate a time of uncertainty, one thing that remains vital is the need to tend to the heart, both physically and energetically. This Herbalist Day, […]
Safe Antiviral Herbs for Autoimmune Disease
Immune support is on everybody’s mind right now, and not just for our own benefit but also for the greater good! The changing news and recommendations during the current outbreak of viral illness is enough to make even those who are generally well a little bit uneasy about what to do. For individuals who have […]
Mushroom Folklore: Fairy Rings
Before microscopes, test tubes, and organized scientific study, humans all over the world told myths, tales, and legends that explained what mushrooms are, how they came to be, and what they might indicate. Although the modern understanding of fungi and mushrooms is founded on biology, ecology, and chemistry, many people still find insight and inspiration […]
Dandelion Greens: 3 Simple Recipes for Spring
As temperatures warm, snow melts, and blossoms emerge, spring cleaning seems to be on everyone’s mind. While some opt for a haircut or a closet purge during this transitional time of year, others may feel compelled to lighten up on more than one level. One way is with these 3 dandelion greens recipes. According to […]
