Old Fashioned Medicinal Lavender

His Aunt Jobiska made him drink Lavender water tinged with pink For she said, 'The world in general knows There's nothing so good for Pobble's toes!' Edward Lear, 'The Pobble Who Has No Toes' The old herbals constantly sang the praises of lavender for medicinal purposes. John Gerard wrote in his Herball {1597}: The distilled water … Continue reading Old Fashioned Medicinal Lavender

Holiday Egg Dyeing with Herbs – Traditional Medicinals

As herbalists, we are naturally intrigued by all plants – for their historical use as traditional medicine, but also for art and creativity. We mark the passage of time with the growing and blooming of the plants we love, and with spring in our midst, we feel the natural urge to be more creative and … Continue reading Holiday Egg Dyeing with Herbs – Traditional Medicinals

Aromatic Herb for March; Spring Herb: Cicely {Myrrhis odorata}

Also, Known As: Anise Fern British Myrrh Cicely Cow Chervil Garden Myrrh Shepherd's Needle Smooth Cicely Sweet Bracken Sweet Chervil Sweet Cicely Sweet Myrrh The plant called the sweet cicely is a hardy and robust herb. The cicely is an aromatic perennial herb indigenous to the mountainous areas of Europe and Asian Russia - growing … Continue reading Aromatic Herb for March; Spring Herb: Cicely {Myrrhis odorata}

The Red and the White of Clover

Red Clover {Trifolium pratense} Family: Fabaceae This all-around wellness herb and blood purifier is a key ingredient in herbal blends popularized during the early 1900s and used in cancer treatment, including Essiac, Dr. Christopher's Red Clover Combination, and the Hoxsey formula. Red clover has been an Old World symbol for luck and abundance since ancient … Continue reading The Red and the White of Clover

Aromatic Herb for February; Tansy

Tansy {Tanacetum vulgare} Tansy is an upright herb with a crown of bright yellow clustering flowers. It is a member of the Asteraceae family and is also known as common tansy, bitter buttons, cow bitter, mugwort, and golden buttons. It grows to a height of three feet and produces pinnate, lance-shaped leaves that are uniformly … Continue reading Aromatic Herb for February; Tansy

Five Flavors Herbal Cough Syrup Recipe – LearningHerbs

This herbal cough syrup recipe was inspired by formulating with the TASTE of herbs. I wanted to create an effective syrup that encompassed all five of the tastes in Traditional Chinese Medicine (pungent, salty, sour, bitter, and sweet). It’s commonly believed that a meal isn’t complete unless it has all the flavors, so I thought … Continue reading Five Flavors Herbal Cough Syrup Recipe – LearningHerbs

BE A HERBALIST THIS FALL

Autumn is the time to ground down and return to our inward selves. After the ethereal light and abundant days of summer, we start to prepare for the darker days ahead. It’s the best time of year to set intentions, get quiet, create and manifest dreams, and to re-commit to healthy habits--the simple things that … Continue reading BE A HERBALIST THIS FALL

Herbal Medicine; Homegrown

Although many homesteaders embrace herbal medicine, not everyone realizes how well these traditional medicines work, or that you can grow them on your own land. One obstacle is that many people still equate herbal medicine with superstition, thinking it’s all folklore, of no proven value. But if that were true, it would be a surprise … Continue reading Herbal Medicine; Homegrown

Beloved Elder – Ally for Healing from the Flu and Much More

My first plant ally was the elder tree or, as I like to call her, my beloved elder. It was one month before I formally became a herbal-medicine apprentice, so this was before I knew that a plant ally is a plant or tree that you choose (and are chosen by) for a lifelong relationship. As your … Continue reading Beloved Elder – Ally for Healing from the Flu and Much More

The Medicinal Properties and Health Benefits of Violets.

Violets have been known throughout history as a healing herb. An example that was proven by research was that Viola odorata contains phenolic glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, mucilage, and tannins among other things. These compounds work in several ways to cure ailments. Violets have been known throughout history as a healing herb. Hippocrates, in the … Continue reading The Medicinal Properties and Health Benefits of Violets.