Herbal Medicine Studies

Flowers As Medicine - Are They?
Flowers As Medicine - Are They? As soon as someone comes to my house, visits my IG account, or peruses my website, they know.  I've got a thing for flowers.  Is it because I was born in the month of May? (April showers bring May flowers, you know.) Or is because I've simply figured out that they can promote incredible healing in the mind, body, and soul? When someone gifts you a batch for a special occasion, sends you a bouquet when you're deeply ill, or when you pass by... Read more...
The Great Chaga Phenomenon
  The Great Chaga Phenomenon  Chaga.  Known to be used medicinally since 16th century Russia. Chaga. Formally, Inonotus obliquu. a tree fungus which is pathogenic to its host, in nature. Some classify this fungus as a disease.  Which makes sense, since, when left alone, it eventually kills its host, the tree on which it grows. Called a 'mushroom' by many, it is not completely a mushroom in fact, as it is more woody and contains actual compounds of the tree on which it grows, is commonly seen growing, or 'infecting', birch... Read more...
Marshmallow - An Herbal Medicine?
Marshmallow - An Herbal Medicine? It's truly amazing how so many of our favorite 'treats' today originated as herbal medicinal remedies.  Marshmallows being one of them. When you hear that word you automatically think of a soft, white, puffball of pure sugar, right?  Surprisingly to many, marshmallow is actually a plant. A plant that grows and thrives naturally in marshy areas, hence the name, 'marsh'mallow (scientific name: "Althaea officinalis').  Originally found in Europe and Western Asia It has been used since antiquity to soothe wounds, sore throats, ulcers, aid toothaches and constipation,... Read more...
Milky Oats (Avena sativa) - For Holiday Nerves And More
Milky Oats (Avena sativa) - For Holiday Nerves And More Oats as medicine. Who would have ever thought it?  Oatmeal has been a staple food amongst many for.....many, many, many years.  Put simply. But the unripened seeds of the oat plant, harvested a bit earlier than one might for the harvesting for oats as food, are medicinal.  The milky substance inside the unripened grain comes right out when you squeeze it.  That's the stuff you want.  And during times of high stress - it's holiday time, everyone! - milky oats as a... Read more...
Cacao, Cocoa, Chocolate - Food Or Psychoactive Medicine?
Cacao, Cocoa, Chocolate - Food Or Pyschoactive Medicine? It's the day after Halloween, and the thing on my mind is: cacao, cocoa, and chocolate.  Because what else would be on my mind the day after the biggest candy/junk food/sugar fest of the year? Actually, cacao, cocoa, and chocolate are substances I don't typically keep in my house. No, not even for Halloween. That may seem so cruel to some. Bordering on abuse to others. No chocolate? Not even on Halloween??? No. Not even on Halloween. But that's because I know too much about... Read more...
Alcohol In Our Medicine - Always Good, Or Simply Good For Now?
Alcohol In Our Medicine - Good, Or Simply Good For Now?   As a Clinical Herbalist, this is one of the trickiest, yet most common, topics I have come to study, and question.  Alcohol.  As a medicine?  Used in medicine. To preserve medicine? (Herbs or otherwise) As a medicine enhancer?  Always good for us?  Or simply good enough. For now anyway.  ----------- Is alcohol used in medicine, even 'natural' herbal medicine, actually a secretive long-term destroyer?  Herbalists, philosophers, doctors, medicine men (and women)....they've been using alcohol in the 'treatment' of the body since antiquity.... Read more...
Chelation of Harmful Metals Using Cilantro Extract...Looking More Closely
Chelation of Harmful Metals Using Cilantro Extract...Looking More Closely   In 2022.. USA Today felt the need to address a 'social media claim' that cilantro may help the body reduce certain harmful metals in the body. Referred to as 'chelation'. Chelation : 'A method of removing certain heavy metals from the bloodstream...'.  The writer of the USA Today article starts the article off by stating that they reached out to 80 health experts or scientists to discuss this claim, of which only 4 replied.  Here are two of the responses the writer received and shared in the first few... Read more...
A Flower for the Prostate
A Flower for the Prostate...?   Sounds a little insane.  An herbal flower....for the prostrate?  But.. It seems.... To be true.  The flowers of this special plant...  And perhaps even a bit of its leaves... Might be all you need to help you, or your loved one, with Benign Prostrate Hyperplasia.  BPH.  Don't know what that is? Good! Then you probably don't have it.  Unfortunately, however, it's pretty common today for men in the senior years....  Now, I believe that the prostrate and all organs can actually heal and give you... Read more...
The Humble Dandelion...For Spring Detox?
The Humble Dandelion...For Spring Detox? When most people think of dandelion, they think of every ambitiously green yard in America. They think of their childhood.  They think of the common, everyday, scene in every part of suburbia. And the city. And the country too.  Basically everywhere.  Everywhere we go we find dandelion.  If you speak to a master herbalist they'll be quick to tell you that the plants you see in the ground nearest you are the very plants you need in your life.  And for good reason.  Because dandelions... Read more...
The Oldest Recorded Materia Medica (Medical Handbook)....Do You Want To Know Its Secrets?
The Oldest Recorded Materia Medica (Medical Handbook)....Do You Want to Know Its Secrets?  The Materia Medica.... Physicians of the past, also typically known as professionally trained herbalists of the past, always made and carried their very own. A latin term defined as "substances used in the composition of medical remedies" (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2024) Traditionally, and for most of recorded medical history, a Materia Medica included a thorough description of plant materials, animal materials, and mineral materials, as well as their medicinal properties and uses in provoking the body into some kind of healing reaction. A traditional Materia Medica included monographs... Read more...
Onion As A Medicinal Herb. Have You Tried It?
Onion As A Medicinal Herb. Have You Tried It? Onions.  Scientifically known as: Allium cepa L. (Liliaceae). We've all heard that onions are healthy.  Some of us like them.  Some of us don't.  You can look at the benefits of onions with claims all over the internet for what they do and do and do (there's more 'do's' than 'don't do's' out there).  How many of those claims are actually true?  There's a couple of ways to find out.  1. Research some of the studies. 2. Become your own case study... Read more...
Lessons From History: On Turpentine.
Studies From History: On Turpentine. A medicine of years past.  And an herbal reawakening of years current.  A medicine of Native peoples.  Of ancient Europeans. Pine resin. When treated with heat and water, known as turpentine.  American and European medicinal turpentine sold today traditionally came from the sap of Longleaf pine trees (in the US) and Cluster pine (in Europe). The liquid (also referred to as 'gum') is collected straight from the tree (see documentary below). It's then distilled until clear.  After distillation you have what we call 'pure gum spirits of turpentine'. Turpentine has been used for medicinal purposes... Read more...
What's The ONE Herb You Need In Your Life EVERY Single Day???
What is the ONE herb you NEED in your life EVERY SINGLE DAY???   Are you ready for it?  One simple herb that will change your whole life.  One magic substance you probably haven't heard of yet. One thing every single one of you out there needs to take every. single. day. The answer:  .......... .......... .......... ........... ............. NOTHING.  There is no herb, medicine, natural or not, that every single person on this planet needs in their life every single day.  There is not even a single herb or medicine, or... Read more...