Hedera helix, or common ivy, is a familiar ornamental plant in modern households and gardens. It’s herbal history, on the other hand, has been all but forgotten! Let’s take a peek at some historical references and see what they have to say about the herbal uses for ivy! (A version of this article originally appeared…
This year, I grew Spilanthes acmella (aka Acmella oleoracea) for the first time. That was the easy part. The tricky part was figuring out the best time to harvest Spilanthes! The flowers are the best part of Spilanthes to harvest if you’re interested in making your own teas and extracts. They seem to be more…
Throughout history, dried herbs have been used to make incense, smudges, and herbal smoking blends. After all, there’s something fascinating about the alchemy of herbs and smoke. Part of it is visual. We can see the plants undergo a violent physical change to become smoke and ash. This transformation isn’t just visual. It has an…
It’s almost cold and flu season, and that means it’s a great time of year to discuss herbs for lung health! There are actually quite a few categories we could look at in this case. For today’s post, let’s examine some herbs that have a traditional record of use for acute illness that affects the…
Spilanthes acmella is an intriguing garden herb with unusual common names like buzz buttons, eyeball plant, and electric daisy. This herb is also known as Acmella oleoracea. It’s actually very easy to grow Spilanthes and impress your friends and neighbors, and it’s a useful addition to the home apothecary. Besides having an intriguing appearance and…
Have you heard of AromaCulture magazine? I am so impressed by this publication! It’s a great resource for the client-focused side of botanical wellness. I wrote an article about TCM and cardiovascular health for this month’s issue. One of the most interesting things to me about this subject is that it really expands the number…
The Modern Herbal Dispensatory by Thomas Easley and Steven Horne is a valuable addition to any herbal home library. It’s especially useful for home herbalists interested in taking their DIY home apothecary skills to the next level. What’s Inside The Modern Herbal Dispensatory Did you enjoy A Modern Medicine Maker’s Handbook by James Green? Then…
Are you curious about the herbal uses of self heal? There are quite a few! Self-heal has a long tradition of use in many cultures. With names like Self Heal and All Heal, you know there’s a long tradition of folkloric use with this herb. Modern herbalists also love this little plant. Some of the…
Did you know I used to work in health food stores? It’s true! I managed a Peachtree Natural Foods store many years ago, and I’ve also worked for Mother Nature’s Eden in Tucker, GA. I thought it would be fun to talk about some of my favorite “big” herbal companies from my health food store…
How many herbs to choose for an herbal formula is a common question for home herbalists. Read on for some things to consider as you create your next herbal blend. Probably the biggest problem with creating herbal formulations is the temptation to use too many unrelated herbs. As we will see below, it’s not always…
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