Growing tulsi can be a rewarding project for the home herbalist because this adaptogenic herb is easy to grow and yields abundantly. It’s a beautiful plant as part of the landscape, and you’ll also be able to enjoy the incredible fragrance whenever you work in your garden. I’ve grown tulsi for three years now. The…
Welcome to Modern Alchemy Mondays! We will be exploring herbs and herbal preparations in this mainstay weekly feature. Today, I’m going to walk you through one of my favorite summer projects: making a heavenly herbal glycerin (aka glycerite) from albizia flowers. Albizia, or mimosa, flowers are small tufts of pink adorning the Albizia julibrissin trees…
Adaptogens are a group of herbs that support everyday health by assisting our bodies’ response to stress. I’ve written an entire recipe book with easy ways to add adaptogens to your daily wellness routines, but today I want to explore one adaptogen in particular: Albizia julibrissin, also known as mimosa and Persian silk tree. Albizia,…
Do you love sunflower seed butter? I do! This simple and delicious recipe showcases sunflower seed butter with ginkgo, rhodiola, and rosemary for an adaptogenic, herbal boost that’s sure to please finicky and sophisticated palates alike. If you have my book, Adaptogens: 75+ Herbal Recipes and Elixirs, you can also find this recipe on page 101,…
Adaptogens have a reputation as being exotic and difficult to procure, but there are actually several that are simple and rewarding to grow at home. Jiaogulan, tulsi (aka holy basil), and eleuthero are three adaptogens that typically do very well in a home garden. Let’s take a look at what they need! Jiaogulan Gynostemma pentaphyllum…
I really, really believe in the saying “Keep It Simple, Sweetie!” when it comes to health and herbs. There is no reason to struggle with icky tasting extracts or down a handful of pills when it’s quite simple to make something beautiful and delicious that you will actually want to eat or drink- like this…
Did you know there’s an adaptogen you can grow as a houseplant? Adaptogenic herbs are a wonderful group of plants to work with for health, and they can make really nice garden and landscape plants as a bonus. I’ve been experimenting with several in my gardens. Eleuthero and he shou wu are doing very well,…
I am struggling with allergies this year. Really struggling. Last year I dealt with fluid in my ears for a good three months after not having much of a peep from seasonal allergies in several years. That should have been my warning. Stress, inflammation, diet – so much can have an impact on immune balance,…
Today I’m sharing one of my homemade tea blends with you. I sometimes call this my “Holy Wow!” tea blend, because I enjoy punny names and it has tulsi (aka, Holy basil) as one of the main ingredients. It’s also good for a get-up-and-go boost sans the caffeine, hence the “Wow.” Rooibos is the other…
