In pursuit of wellness…
Hello again! I know I've been away from the blog for a while, but rest assured that I have been keeping busy - learning, doing, and spending quality time in nature! It's such a wonderful time of year, and I am like a kid in a candy store, stopping for every plant, wanting to see... Continue Reading →
I finally started sowing my seeds! So many seeds, so little space! I ordered the Lifeline Medicinal Herb Garden through Mountain Rose Herbs and didn't realize until it arrived that I might've gone a little overboard. There are 18 different kinds of seeds in the kit, plus all of the other things we already planned... Continue Reading →
It was only a matter of time before I came across medicinal mushrooms and fungi on my herbal journey. I've always loved eating mushrooms and learning to forage for them has been on my bucket list for some time, but I've never really studied their medicinal uses. Of course, as I learn more, I... Continue Reading →
One of the best things about learning herbalism is experimenting with various recipes and ingredients. I'm always blending, brewing, or infusing something, and it's fun being the mad scientist. Of course, not every experiment turns out as planned, but I seem to have a decent success rate. There isn't really any other way to develop... Continue Reading →
It's almost like I've been living under a rock or something, as I've only recently discovered the “golden” craze. For the uninitiated like myself, it is a beverage made using a base of fresh or dried turmeric. The practice originated in India and the traditional preparation calls for turmeric to be combined with water and... Continue Reading →
Just yesterday, I made my first ever batch of a traditional remedy known as Fire Cider. Fire Cider is raw apple cider vinegar infused with garlic, ginger, horseradish, onion, and cayenne peppers over several weeks. You can also add almost any other herbs to the mixture, to tailor it to your own needs and preferences. ... Continue Reading →
For thousands of years, humans have utilized nature's resources for the treatment of a variety of ailments. As we progressed in scientific thought and knowledge, we began to focus primarily on treatment of disease, rather than prevention of disease or maintaining wellness. Modern medicine was born. The medical and pharmaceutical industries are what we tend... Continue Reading →
For the last post in this series, I'm focusing on three herbs commonly used for their calming effects on the mind and body. Passionflower, Skullcap, and Lemon balm have all been used as natural remedies for stress, anxiety, and insomnia for centuries and have similar effects, with a few notable strengths and differences. They can... Continue Reading →
Kava kava, or just "kava," is one of the first herbs I've ever tried for medicinal use. A friend recommended it for stress and insomnia, so I bought a bottle of extract from a local health food store. It worked, but I used it sparingly because it was expensive. When it was gone (as was... Continue Reading →
I love ginger. It's one of my all-time favorite ingredients. Especially the fresh root, although dried ginger will do. The spicy, sweet rhizome lends flavor and zing to almost any dish, and it is highly versatile in the kitchen. I often add it to smoothies or herbal tea blends, and find it to be uplifting... Continue Reading →
Pathways and Potions 