Fishing…with Zombies
Episode VIII Living on a survival diet doesn’t have to be all freeze dried blandness. In fact, the horror of virus Z has an up side, believe it or not. Beyond just burning and burying all those infected corpses, you can use ’em as fish bait. Paul discovered just how attractive zombie flesh is to […]
Tea Makes Visualizing Improved Performance Easy
One of my daily rituals is to drink tea. Tea brewed from the camellia sinesis plant, better known as green, black, oolong, white or puerh teas, is filled with antioxidants and other important nutrients. Studies have shown that tea taken regularly can reduce your risk of heart disease and some cancers. The antioxidants help reduce […]
The Weed Calendar – The Shoestring Herbalist
It’s planting weather here in the Pacific Northwest. The soil temperature is rising. The sun struggles with rain clouds for dominance of the sky. While some people invest in expensive soil thermometers, the Shoestring Herbalist watches the weeds as a planting chart. One indicator of garden preparedness is the arrival of chickweed. Chickweed likes soil […]
Spring Cleaning for the Zombie Survivalist
Episode VII We stick mainly to the deer trails as we travel between camps. It’s safer than the roads. Zombies tend to collect where humans once felt safe. The best route to our spring camp, though, includes a piece of road maybe five miles long, part of which crosses a river. The bridge is one […]
Spring Cleaning for Athletes means Root Beer
Just about the time spring rolls around, I often notice my performance beginning to lag. Winter’s a tough season on the body. Between the flu and cold season challenging our immune systems and the relative lack of fresh vegetables as well as fresh, warm air, it’s no wonder so many of us feel sluggish and […]
Root Beer Syrup Recipe
In days gone by, people made root beers as food and medicine. This recipe is designed to take advantage of the more tonic effects a good root beer can offer, such as cleansing for the circulatory, digestive, and respiratory systems, clearing the skin, reducing weight and cholesterol, and a mild energy-boost from support for the […]
The Goldfish Gardener – Shoestring Herbalist
My goldfish are gardeners. They live in a 55 gallon drum that was cut in half and filled with hose water. It has a few overturned pots at the bottom of the barrel to give them somewhere to hide from raccoons at night. It has gravel at the base to provide a nice place to […]
Herbal Aphrodisiacs, Seriously?
The term aphrodisiac is tossed around a great during the loving month of February. Valentine’s Day is the real culprit here. For some herbalists, the month of hearts and flowers means fiddling around with plant chemistry. We at the Practical Herbalist were curious. Can herbs really alter human libido? Most herbs sold as aphrodisiacs fall […]
Stay Healthy During Competition Season
Competition brings with it a host of challenges, not the least of which is staying healthy. For my family, the days leading up to a tournament are rarely relaxed and coupled with good nights of sleep, which taxes our immune systems. At the tournament, we give it our all, further exhausting our bodies, and we’re […]
Immune-Boost Supplement Blend with Echinacea
This simple echinacea supplement blend offers a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals to support your body as echinacea propels your system into self-defense mode. This blend makes a great addition to smoothies, yogurt, or even a cup of soup. You could also use it to fill capsules to keep in your purse, locker, workout […]
Immune-Boost Tea Blend with Echinacea
This simple echinacea tea blend offers a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals to support your body as echinacea propels your system into self-defense mode. I prefer elderberry’s flavor personally, so they’re always my choice, but rosehips or hibiscus are a good substitute if you like the more tart, floral flavor they provide. Be sure […]
Elder Kills the Zombie Virus in Some
Episode VI Like I imagine many of you, I thought, assumed even, the scientists who’d accidentally created Virus Z would somehow figure out how to cure it. Two years after the first breakout, I heard a rumor that the military had developed a new strategy, a camouflage of sorts, to help combat the virus. It was […]