Articles

Foods to Fight Depression

Chocolate cake is a popular home remedy for depression, but it comes with some unwelcome side effects. Sweet treats don't just pack on the pounds; they give us a sugar high that's inevitably followed by a demoralizing crash. Still, there's growing recognition in the medical community that the right food choices can improve your mood.

Though drugs are often considered the first line of treatment for depression, a dietary change might be all you need, says James Gordon, a psychiatrist who advocates non-drug approaches to depression....( Continued )

Skullcap: a Gentle Relaxer

Skullcap is smaller than most mints standing an average of 18 inches tall. It has square stems and opposite lanceolate leaves. The flowers are what help differentiate Skullcap from the other mints. They are small, bright blue and grow from stems off the axils of the upper leaves. The seedpods look like a cap, which is how this herb got its name. They bloom form late spring to midsummer.

Skullcap likes rich moist soil with full sun to partial shade. A pH of neutral to slightly alkaline is preferable. The roots are racemes and will spread to form a colony. Space plants about six inches apart....( Continued )

Motherwort

A short-lived perennial, motherwort grows easily from seed. It is native to Europe and has become naturalized in the US. I have seen this herb growing happily in both the plains and the mountains. In the mint family, motherwort will grow profusely, so plant it cautiously. Motherwort grows two to four feet tall with stout, branching, four sided stems. .( Continued )

Spring Cleaning: Not Just For Your House!

With its long nights and shorter days, winter is a time of reduced activity. We tend to be more sedentary and spend more energy on simple things like tying to stay warm. It makes good sense to the body to sleep a little more, eat a little more and get some rest during the wintertime. Then spring arrives, stirs our blood and bodies, and awakens our dear plant friends! The promise of new potential arrives. There are many ways that we can help our bodies adjust well to the changing of the season. You know, spring-cleaning isn't just for our houses!....( Continued )

Mullein: a Lung Tonic

Mullein is a biennial originally from Europe but naturalized in the United States. The first year it grows a fairly large rosette consisting of large, light green, soft, flannel-like leaves. The second year it grows a long straight stalk that is usually four to six feet tall with small yellow flowers towards its top....( Continued )

Allergies: Nothing to Sneeze At

Are you one of the hundreds of people who dreads that fine spring day when pollen starts to fly? In addition to what you breathe, you may be allergic to what you eat or touch. There are two main types of allergic reactions -- innate and acquired.

Innate allergies consist of substances to which a person is inherently allergic. Some people can't take penicillin, are allergic to bee stings, or do not have the enzymes to digest dairy products. These allergies are part of the body's make up and, although there may be ways to modify an allergic reaction, the allergy generally cannot be eliminated....( Continued )

Echinacea

Echinacea is a perennial herb that grows from one to four feet tall with cone shaped rose or purple colored flowers. Most species are easy to grow by seed or root division. All are drought resistant and need full sun although purpurea can grow in dappled shade. This is a sadly over harvested plant in the wild so it is especially wonderful to grow in one's own yard.....( Continued )

Marshmallow

Marshmallow is a perennial herb is native to Europe. It grows up to four feet tall with soft, velvety, maple-shaped leaves. It usually grows with one to several stalks coming from its base and has flowers along the stem, similar to a hollyhock. The whole plant can be used medicinally. Harvest the leaves in the summer after blooming has occurred. The root is best harvested in the late fall because the mucilage content is higher. It can be used fresh or dried.....( Continued )

The Wisdom of Aging: Treating Menopause Naturally

As we learn more about the risks of hormone replacement therapy, it is an exciting time to explore herbal remedies for menopause. Menopause is not a disease. It is not an illness and does not need, nor have, a cure.  Like puberty, the hormonal changes during menopause are not always necessarily pleasant or easy and can get out of balance. Nevertheless, menopause is a natural phase of a woman's life cycle.....( Continued )

Nature's First Aid Kit

Ah, summertime! A wonderful time to enjoy outdoor activities such as picnics, hiking, barbeques and sports. The perfect season for spending time outdoors, summer also brings more scrapes, bruises, bug bites and injuries. Luckily, it is the season when nature grows its own herbal first aid kit......( Continued )

Getting Ready for the Cold and Flu Season

Although Echinacea and Goldenseal may be the first herbs you think about when catching a cold, there are many herbs that are useful for the different stages of a cold or flu.

General immune strengtheners can be used over fairly long periods of time to strengthen and build the immune system. If you tend to get sick easily or if you are dealing with or recovering from an illness or long term ailment you might consider some immune tonics such as Astragalus, Reishi, Marshmallow, Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng) or Green Defense......( Continued )

The Scoop on Sunscreens: Dr. Hauschka Holistic Sun Care

Every season the sun beckons us outdoors to enjoy its warmth and light. While sunlight is life giving, evidence that sun exposure has negative effects on skin has steadily grown. Once thought to be the natural result of aging, wrinkles and loss of elasticity are now being linked to sun damage. Skin cancer is on the rise and experts believe long term, cumulative sun exposure is a major culprit. Nothing can reverse years of tanning and sunburning, but we can and certainly should protect our skin from further damage......( Continued )