Herbs
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Was checking the garden today and noticed that I had quite a few elderberries ripe. The berries are not ripe until they are fully black or dark purple. Unripe berries will make your stomach very unhappy. There are two parts of elder that we use as herbalists: The berries and the flowers. The leaves and Read more
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Everyone has a pint jar of cinnamon, right? I mean, I’m not weird or anything…. well, moving on… Many herbs and spices that we use in everyday cooking have medicinal uses as well. Supposedly, many were used to cover the smell or taste of foods that had gone ‘off’ in the days before refrigeration. Maybe Read more
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There are many medicinal ‘herbs’ that are traditionally thought of a ‘food’. Who says they can’t be both? One of my favorites, turmeric, is considered a spice and even a food in Indian cooking. I don’t know that I could live without it, but that’s another post. The photo above is from a few years Read more
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The word I think of when I think of yarrow is stop. It can be ‘stop’ or ‘STOP!!’ Yarrow is known as a warrior herb. If you think about the name, it makes sense: Achillea for Achilles (Greek legend that was unstoppable, except for his heel) and millefolium (thousand leaves). Yarrow is a member of Read more
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When I refer to an herb, I try to always add the Latin binomial (genus and species) in parentheses behind the name. Why is this important, other than it makes me feel a bit like Harry Potter? Several reasons. The major one is that it helps to identify the plant I’m talking about. This is Read more
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One of the certificates I have is for Flower Essence Therapy. So what is it? FE is a vibrational therapeutic – like homeopathy, sound bowls, or music. They are created from spring water that particular flowers have been infused in, then preserved with brandy. The essence (full strength is called the mother) is further diluted Read more
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Because this came up at my house this week, I thought – why not blog about it? The man of the house had to have minor (it’s only minor if it’s not you, by the way) surgery. While we got great pre-op teaching, not everyone does, so here goes: If you are having surgery, things Read more
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In my corner of the world, Flu A is running rampant. Following close behind are COVID, strep, pertussis (whooping cough), and RSV. It’s that time of year. This little blog ‘o mine is NOT a substitute for medical care. If you have an illness that’s not resolving, please see your doctor. Pertussis and strep are Read more
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Isn’t she lovely? Chamomile I think, does not get the respect she deserves. Most people see ‘chamomile’ and think ‘sleepytime tea’. And while that is true (most of the time), it pigeonholes this lovely herb. Chamomile is so much more. Matricaria recutita has a picture that goes with her of the type of people that Read more
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Meet my friend yellow dock (Rumex crispus). They decided a great place to grow would be my front flower bed, and I let them stay. Unfortunately, they invited a TON of relatives to move in, and now they (like my friend Motherwort) are trying to take over my front yard. The brown bits at the Read more