Almond – Pocket Herbal
Prunus dulcis – Rosaceae Family Massage therapists revere almond oil as the queen of oils. This oil is easily absorbed into the skin which allows the therapist’s to glide over troubled muscles without leaving a greasy residue. This regal yet inexpensive emollient softens skin with use which makes it the best choice for dry or […]
Myrrh – Pocket Herbal
Commiphora mukul/molmol – Burseraceae family During the California gold rush of the 1850’s, myrrh was more valuable by weight than gold. As San Francisco was being built, quality dental treatment was scarce. An infected tooth could prove excruciatingly fatal overnight. As one miner wrote, “No place can hardly be worse for a sick man than […]
Licorice – Pocket Herbal
Glycyrrhiza glabra – Leguminoseae Family True licorice is an uncommon treat. It is rare to find licorice candy that is still flavored with licorice root. Most manufacturers use anise or artificial flavorings instead. For Alexander the Great however, there was no substitute for simply chewing on a piece of dried licorice root. The Egyptians taught […]
Flax – Pocket Herbal
Linum usitatissimum – Linaceae family Flax is the grandmother of human civilization. Primitive foragers gathered its seed for food. Early Mesopotamians pressed the seed and fed the high protein remains of the seed mash to fatten their cattle. Ancient Egyptians wove its soft, flexible stalks into linen. As flax spread, clever fingers learned to disentangle […]
Horsetail – Pocket Herbal
Equisetum arvense – Equisetaceae family To call Horsetail a dinosaur plant is not entirely accurate. The horsetail family emerged from boggy, primordial swamps over a hundred million years before dinosaurs walked the Earth. At the time, giant dragonflies with 2 foot wingspan rested in horsetail forests grown over 300 feet tall. Today, herbalists still find […]
Kitchen Herbs That Soothe Your Stomach
Nutmeg was once coveted for its digestive prowess. Ladies and gentlemen alike grated a dusting of nutmeg on their morning cereal, afternoon puddings, evening soups, and even feast foods such as roasts and rich desserts. Why? Because Nutmeg goes a long way toward helping your stomach and intestinal tract process whatever foods you’ve eaten no […]
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 […]
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 Your Feet Warm with Cayenne Powder
Cayenne was rumored to have been used in ancient times as an effective foot warmer. Back in 1987, the San Diego Chargers gave it a try when they faced the Denver Broncos on their home turf; it was mid-December in what to the Chargers must have felt like a very frigid Mile High Stadium. Whether […]
Spice up Your Chili
Cayenne is just one of the many chili peppers herbalists love for their fiery hot medicine. One secret we’ve been keeping is that cayenne, as well as a few other chilies, intensify their fire in the freezer. If you plan to make chili for the freezer as an easy, quick dinner on one of those […]
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 […]
Turning Weeds into Salad Greens
If you are gardener, you are used to pulling weeds. With the right might mind set, it can be a meditative process. With the right knowledge, it can be a treasure hunt. Many of those pesky weeds are tasty additions to your salad bowl. The trick is to be sure you identify the plant you […]