Edible Flowers, Medicinal Flowers: Home Remedies from the Garden
A surprising number of the flowers you’ll find in your local garden center or nursery began their journey with us, humans, as partners in medicine. Some of them made it into our gardens for their medicinal roots or leaves, with their flowers being a pretty bonus that eventually became their ticket to stay. Others offered […]
Peony Herbal Properties and Uses
Peony, known as bai shao or chi shao in TCM, is among the more common and famous of Chinese herbs, especially for women in their child-bearing years. Paeonia lactiflora is the one you’ll commonly find in gardens and nurseries. Paeonia officialis or P. Corallina are …
Menopause Blues: Natural Remedies for Perimenopausal Depression
While we’ve been studying the links between depression and fertility in women and depression throughout men’s lives, we haven’t gathered nearly as much information on how or why perimenopause and menopausal change trigger depression in a larger proportion of women or who might be more vulnerable to the bigger forms of depression, like Clinical Depression […]
Aster Herbal Properties and Uses: Garden Respiratory Remedy
Aster’s place in the herbal garden has been a practical and joyful one, even though most of us have long ago forgotten that Aster carries an important medicine into our midst. This peppy, bright little flower is one of the garden’s best-kept secrets, …
Ease Stress Magically with Lavender
When I’ve been absorbed in marketing, it seems there’s an endless number of posts and products, events and meetings to manage. I’m thrilled by the interest and positive responses I’ve gotten. But, I’ve noticed I’ll start awaken every morning feeling kinda gray and tired. I don’t sleep as well as I could. Most of the […]
Growing Camellia sinensis: Tea for Home Gardeners and Herbalists
Many gardeners who live in climates with long, warm, humid summers and cold winters choose to plant C. sinensis in pots. Camellia sinensis can be quite content living in a pot, so long as its neither too large nor too small and you keep the soil well-watered and well-drained. You can have a mini-tea plantation on your back patio…
Myth and Magic of Tea: Camellia sinensis History, Folklore, Magic
Our relationship reaches back long before we humans began writing. Tea has touched the shores of every continent in the world, and managed to stir-up trouble on more than a couple of them. We could spend gallons of ink and not cover Tea’s whole story. Instead, we’ll cover Tea History briefly and dive into the Magic of Tea.
Tea Camellia sinensis Energetics, Properties, Uses
In China, Tea made from Camellia sinensis is called Cha, and it’s both a medicine and a daily pleasure for most. Cha, no matter which type you take, is considered a generally cool or cold medicine with a generally bitter taste. This, however, is altered by how the leaf is processed.
Nettle Magic for Selfcare and Nurturing the Body
Many of us, especially those who do a lot of care giving, forget to take care of ourselves. It somehow seems easier to give to others and let others take from us than it does to give to ourselves. I decided to work a little Nettle Magic. For the last few seasons, I’ve been feeling […]
Tea Health Benefits: Camellia sinensis is Easy Daily Healthcare
While research has focused primarily on Green Tea, more recent studies are beginning to corroborate what ancient Chinese Herbalists have known for years. Teas of all types share many if not all the same health benefits.
Camellia sinensis: Tea in Many Colors
Tea spread across the world long ago in part because it’s delicious and in part because it’s got a whole lot of healthful properties. Herbalists in the past decade or so have quoted many studies done on Green Tea, linking this particular tea with anti-inflammatory properties. All varieties of Tea have antioxidant properties, each varying in chemical structure and offering differing potential benefits.
Adaptogen Resources: Home Remedies for Stress Relief
Adaptogens are a class of herbs that help us adapt to stress. Not all Herbalists agree on what makes an adaptogen. Some of us consider herbs that help any system of the body establish and maintain balance to be adaptogen in nature.