Tea Tree Oil: World Famous Antiseptic
Melaleuca alternifolia a.k.a.: Tea Tree, Ti Tree, Narrow-leafed Paperbark Tea Tree is a gift from Australia. It grows as a small, humble looking tree with distinctly fragrant leaves, but its use as an essential oil has caught the world’s attention. Tea Tree essential oil is a powerful antiseptic that knocks out even the most resilient […]
Coffee : Slow Roasted Medicine
A warm cup of Joe in the morning is not usually sipped with herbal medicine in mind, but no one will tell you it doesn’t have an effect on the body. Coffee is full of stimulants that, when properly placed, provide a remedy for common health problems.
Reduce Bedwetting Naturally
Bedwetting is one of those frustrating problems that add stress to life. Most often, your kids will outgrow bedwetting eventually, but until that day herbs can help you ease the symptoms naturally. Horsetail‘s bland taste makes it a perfect addition to a bedtime tea for children. It is easy to add a bit of dried […]
Almond: A Gentle, Natural Facial Scrub
Gentle exfoliation is one key to a smooth, youthful complexion. Try adding a little ground Almond to your favorite liquid facial soap to make an all natural facial scrub. Almond‘s nutrition and ability to soak into the skin and rejuvenate make it a terrific follow-up to that Almond Facial Scrub. If you want to add […]
Prevent Allergies Naturally with Nettle
One of the best all-natural remedies for allergies is Stinging Nettle. Nettle helps your immune system back down from a full-blown allergy attack. The abundance of vitamins and nutrients in Nettle help your whole system feel supported and healthy, which allows your immune system to relax further. Nettle is a diuretic and will flush out […]
Keep Cats away from Your Plants
Herbs can be your guard to keep cats away from your garden beds or houseplants. The list below contains herbs to throw fresh orange peels onto the soil. Some herbs are best used as the scent of the herb’s essential oils is strong and unpleasant to most of our feline friends. Some of these plants […]
Deep Cuts and Wounds: Herbal First Aid
Deep cuts and wounds are dangerous and frightening. The first order of business is always to staunch the bleeding and prevent shock. The first hour after the injury occurred is the most critical period in which to activate the body’s natural healing energies. Until you can get to the emergency room, herbs offer essential first […]
Apple: Nature’s Bandage
Malus domestica/sylvestrus a.k.a.: Fruit of the Gods, Fruit of the Underworld, The Silver Bough Although apple is familiar as food in our kitchens, an herbalist has to return to the old almanacs for reminders of its medicinal properties. It’s surprising that these simple and reliable remedies have fallen out of use since apple is so […]
Yarrow: The Wound Healer
Achillea millefolium Yarrow is nature’s bandage. Since yarrow grows in every vacant lot, abandoned field and rocky wayside, it’s clear Nature must think herbalists need a lot of bandages. This scruffy little herb contains its own antiseptic and a soft calming scent that helps soothe gravity’s sniffling victims. Medicinal Properties of Yarrow Yarrow has a […]
Hawthorn: The Heart Healer
Crataegus species, a.k.a. Mayhaw and Thornapple. Hawthorn loves the heart. It lowers high blood pressure and raises low blood pressure. Hawthorn, like other tonics, focuses on stabilizing the existing system to achieve a healthy balance. Happily, this tree grows all over Eurasia and the Americas and has hundreds of species adapted to their native climate. This […]
Chickweed: Skin Rejuvenator
Stellaria media, a. k. a. Starwort or Common Chickweed I am always delighted to see chickweed emerging from a layer of winter mulch in my garden. This delicate plant specializes in pH balanced soils, which means the little chickweed patches are signals the heavy composting I have done all year has truly paid off. Weeding […]
Lemon Balm: Herb of Good Cheer
Melissa Officinalis, a. k. a. Sweet Melissa, Balm Like most other members of the Mint Family, lemon balm is durable. Come spring in the Willamette Valley, it greets the neighborhood in every available corner. Lemon balm grows happily in my drought garden, along the driveway, under the tire swing and between my vegetable beds. The […]