Joanne Bauman

Tulsi, also known as Holy basil or Tulasi (Ocimum tenuiflorum, Ocimum sanctum),  grows abundantly in temperate regions of India through the Southeast Asian tropics.   Tulsi is India’s most sacred and powerful plant both medicinally and spiritually. Its species name, “sanctum”, refers to this sacredness. In Sanskrit, tulsi means “beyond compare.”  Indeed, the leaves smell and […]

My lavender is blooming, so it’s a perfect time for herbal syrup making! I snip my fresh lavender when in full bloom, dry from dew, and before fragrance fades. I like to add the lavender syrup to cocktails, kefir soda, kombucha, tea, blueberry-lavender scones or other bakery items etc.. Making syrup is such a simple […]

Cleavers (galium aparine).  The name (Galium) is derived from gala which is Greek for ‘milk’ (cleavers was used to curdle milk for cheese) and the species name ‘aparine‘ comes from the Greek word apara meaning ‘to seize’.   Also known as Bedstraw because it was used to stuff mattresses. Cleavers is a persistent, sticky plant that […]

Cold/flu season is upon us and having your sore throat lozenges ready is a great idea.  At The Mother Earth News Fair in Topeka last month, I had the pleasure of sharing practical “hands-on” throat lozenge making with a number of participants.  Join in making your own herbal throat pastilles/lozenges, which are tasty, simple to […]

What to Donate: Aid Herbal Medics and Herbalists Assisting With Natural Disasters Many of you right now would like to know how to support the herbal medic teams and herbal people on the ground providing care for those devastated by recent natural disasters. As Herbalists Without Borders (HWB) Community Apothecary Project Coordinator and Kansas Chapter […]

Elder (Sambucus canadensis, s.nigra), known as the “people’s medicine chest”, is one of my favorite allies.  In my backyard “elder forest” they grow as something between a bush and small trees at a height of 10-13 feet.  In June, I use elderflowers in delicious edible and medicinal preparations, but leave plenty of flower umbrels to […]

Sweet spicy Monarda (Monarda fistulosa and sp.)  also known as Bee Balm, Sweet Leaf, Red Oswego (red monarda didyma) blooms late June through August, depending upon where you live. In my state, Kansas, early July is the perfect time of year for monarda to be in bloom, because I think the tubular flower appearance resembles […]

Apothecary museums  featuring herbal remedies, such as the Stabler-Leadbeater in Alexandria,VA ,  are near and dear to my herbal heart. I hope you enjoy their apothecary video tour and find it as fascinating as I do. My father was a pharmacist of 50 years (from 1930’s to 1970’s). Before the advent of over-the-counter commercial products, […]

Image of Black cohosh flowering.  https://www.unitedplantsavers.org/species-at-risk For the benefit of the plant communities, wild animals, harvesters, farmers, consumers, manufacturers, retailers and practitioners, we offer this list of wild medicinal plants which we feel are currently most sensitive to the impact of human activities. Our intent is to assure the increasing abundance of the medicinal plants […]

With my abundance of elder in flower in June, I always devote some harvest for this delicious summer drink. Like lemonade, fizzy, with elderflower taste obviously. Once friends taste it, they want gallons the next year. Pick your elderflowers at peak when they bloom out and smell so fragrant. Remember not to cut all the […]