A lot of people take their respiratory health for granted. Sometimes, it’s normal considering that we’re constantly surrounded by car gases, cigarette smoke and other harmful things that can cause our respiratory health to deteriorate with time. Therefore, quitting smoking, staying away from toxic air quality (if possible), and eating and drinking healthily are all […]

This is the time of year that people with maple trees (genus Acer, maple family Aceraceae) are the envy of their neighbors. Maples, especially American and Japanese maples, turn bright red in the fall. But, maples have more to offer than that. If the maples are sugar maples (Acer saccharum), of course you know that […]

Dandelions, Taraxacum officinale (sunflower family, Asteraceae) are perhaps the most widely recognized  U. S. weed. Huge amounts of money and time are spent killing dandelions. No one knows why the scientific name is Taraxacum. In 1600 pharmacists called it Taraxacon, but whether that word is based on the  Arabic words tarachakum “wild cherry,” or tarakhshaqun “wild […]

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 […]

As noted in part 1, we eat only the leaf stems of rhubarb, not leaves, flowers, fruit or roots. Rhubarb leaves are quite poisonous. They contain dangerous concentrations of oxalic acid compounds. In low concentrations, oxalic acid tastes good to people, but the concentration of oxalic acid compounds in rhubarb leaf blades is much higher […]

Various species of rhubarb have been used as medicines. The garden rhubarb we eat is a hybrid of murky origin. Other species are grown as attractive perennials.

What are adaptogens? Adaptogens are herbs that help us adapt to changes and stress caused by physical, biological, emotional, and environmental factors. They can assist in restoring balance within the body and help us defend against both chronic and acute stressors. One of my favorite adaptogens is astragalus. Astragalus (Astragalus Membranaceus) Astragalus is an adaptogenic […]

You probably know that nutrition significantly influences your health and wellbeing. Modern diets and medicine often forget to include the herbs that can be incredibly powerful and help you in many ways. In this article, we selected the top seven plants and their extract that can be magical for your health and wellness. 1. Schisandra Berries […]

It’s a dark night in autumn. Days are becoming shorter and colder. Harvest time is ending, and pantries are being stocked with fruits and nuts for winter. Inside, beside a warm fire, an old uncle tells ghost stories. Firelight gleams on a bowl of red apples, ready for fortune telling and games. Spiced cider flows, […]

Adaptogens are herbs that help us adapt to changes and stress caused by physical, biological, emotional, and environmental factors. They can assist in restoring balance within the body and help us defend against both chronic and acute stressors. Documentation of the use of adaptogenic herbs exists throughout history. Many were used in traditional Chinese medicine […]