In December, the days grow short and dark before they begin to grow longer and brighter. This is a month where the gardener knows not to expect much plant growth. If anything, the gardener will add mulch (a restorative layer of organic material) and compost (more nutrients) to the garden beds and let them rest [...]
Autumn is a season marked by transformation and change. As we transition out of summer into shorter days the transformation can be felt in the crisp and cooling air and seen in the changing color of the leaves. The autumn season correlates to the Lung organ system in Chinese medicine. Our lungs are certainly affected [...]
Bitter herbs and foods were a regular part of our ancestors diets. One of my favorite herbalists, Jim Mcdonald refers to our cultures avoidance of bitter tastes as “bitter deficiency”. This flavor could be looked at as an essential part of the diet, rather than “medicine”. When incorporated into a regular diet, bitters offer the [...]
Bitters to Stimulate the Liver and Gallbladder: Whether it’s because you ate duck confit last night, or you want to optimizeyour liver health, bitter herbs are incredibly useful to kick your liver into action. My favorites are dandelion root and Oregon grape root, which both can help fat and protein absorption by stimulating secretions [...]
The Holidays are over, but winter is still here. The cold is going around again, and many will find that seasonal depression strikes again. I’d like to share some of my favorite herbal remedies for this time of year. Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus, huang qi) If you get sick often, and find yourself feeling run down, [...]
Ginseng is the big herb on the block these days, with crazy claims being made left and right. Who and what is it really good for? Ginseng is considered a tonic herb, and is incredibly popular all over Asia. A tonic herb is one that “Tonifies the Qi,” which put simply means that it boosts [...]
This time of year finds many of us wide awake at three in the morning wrapped in our buzzing minds. Herbal medicine can be incredibly helpful to nudge us into sleep, and much more gentle than pharmaceuticals. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis): Valerian is the most classic sleep herb out there. It’s a straightforward sedative. In my [...]
As we enter into the heart of winter, now is a good time to really prepare for the cold. Warming circulatory tonics can be a great way to increase circulation, internal warmth, and increase resistance to colds and flus. Circulatory tonics can be especially helpful for folks whose hands and feet are often cold. [...]
What: dry surface brushing of the skin, enough pressure to make your skin slightly pink, but not enough to cause pain or discomfort. Always brush toward the heart and lymphatic drainage sites. Used historically in India, China, Japan, ancient Greece, and by Native Americans. Why: Dry brushing removes dead skin cells, reduces celulite, improves circulation, muscle tone, and oil [...]
Hawthorn is an excellent cardio-tonic helping both physical and emotional ailments of the heart. Hawthorn nourishes the heart by strengthening the pericardial muscle, improves circulation and blood flow, helps normalize blood pressure, strengthens and heals blood vessels and arteries, improves the contractions of the heart, regulates the heartbeat, and overall helps the heart access more [...]