Inulin from Dandelion – How it Works
Inulin is a starchy, soluble dietary fiber found in many fruits and vegetables. It is a chain of carbohydrates (called an oligosaccharide) made by over 36,000 plants in order to store complex sugar and help them deal with adverse weather conditions. In times of drought or cold, these plants can tap into their reserves from […]
Hepatitis Bowed to Dandelion: A Clinical Memoir
Note: The Clinic Memoirs are based on real experiences from Occupy Medical clinic, a free, integrated health clinic that serves patients primarily, but not exclusively, in Lane County, Oregon since 2011. The names of the patients and a few personal details are changed to protect patient identity. A woman arrived at our clinic distraught and […]
Geranial from Lemon Balm – How it Works
Geranial is one of the primary chemical components of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis). It is one of the many volatile oils that give lemon balm its delightful scent. Geranial has a smell that reminds the herbalist of lemongrass. Geranial is one of the citral molecules that is credited as having a spasmolytic effect. Spasmolytic herbs […]
91.Herb Lab – Growing Herbs in Small Spaces
We recap gardening in small spaces with a focus on herbs and specialty vegetables inspired by Bonnie Rose Weaver and Mari Amend, author and editor of Deeply Rooted, herbal gardening in the urban jungle.
90.Growing Herbs in Small Spaces with Bonnie Rose Weaver and Mari Amend
City Herbalists often have to make do with tiny places – a balcony, shady backyards the size of a postage stamp or busy boulevards. With a bit of ingenuity and planning, urbanites can grow an amazing array of herbs and medicinal plants even in small spaces.
Lemon Balm – Defense Against Herpes
I introduced myself and sat down to hear Gloria’s story. The advantage of being an older woman is that young people see you as a trusted, matronly figure and share the emotional history that they do not share with younger herbalists. As Gloria spoke, it was clear that the stress of her life was wearing a hole in her.
89.Herb Lab with Oxymels Inspired by Rosalee De La Foret
Today, we talked about a selection of Oxymels we made using Rosalee’s recipe for Thyme Oxymel from Alchemy of Herbs.
88.Alchemy of Herbs with Rosalee De La Foret
The Path into Herbalism can be a gentle one but often it begins with a dramatic initiation or a calling so intense, it cannot be ignored. Herbalists emerging from such a crucible carry with them a particularly magical way of combining herbs and healing.
Nettle – The Sum of Its Parts
Nettle is commonly harvested for its leaves in the spring but advanced herbalists know it as a harvestable herb well into autumn. Nettle has medicinal value in the seeds and in the roots. Their use is not often mentioned in most herb books but reasearchers are picking up where Western herbalists have left off. Leaf […]
Herbal Garden and Wildcrafting Year
The herbalist garden lives year round. Those of us living in the Willamette Valley are spoiled by a temperate zone with short, mild winters matched with equally short summers. We have a immense biodiversity for wildcrafting but the vegetable garden can be risk. To avoid the “Green Tomato Summers”, the gardener has to be smart. […]
Hawthorn Syrup Recipe
Most hawthorn syrup recipes require fresh hawthorn berries but those are only available seasonally and quality syrup should not be stored for more than a few months. One way to keep fresh haws at your fingertips year round is to freeze them after harvest in 1/2 cup containers.Most hawthorn syrup recipes require fresh hawthorn berries but those are only available seasonally and quality syrup should not be stored for more than a few months.
How to Make an Oxymel
I like to add a little extra zing to my oxymels. I put in aromatic barks or roots or resinous plant parts that are tricky to extract in vinegar at the end of the oxymel process.