October 16, 2020
Maria Noel Groves
Making and sipping a cup of tea is one of the easiest and most enjoyable self-care rituals. Studies show that simply holding a warm cup (regardless of its contents) makes people friendlier and perceive the world in a better light. Add to that cup some relaxing and restorative teas, and the effects become even more…
October 13, 2020
Maria Noel Groves
Tis the season for zippy fire cider! Spicy, warm, pungent, immune-supportive, cardio-tonic. It’s medicine, it’s food. Here are the basics! Fire Cider Make a large batch of this each fall and use it throughout the year in food or solo. Pungent & delicious! Feel free to skip or adjust ingredients as desired. Rosemary Gladstar’s original…
September 22, 2020
Student Author
This Materia Medica Assignment was written by Alicia Rainville for the Beyond the Home Herbalist Series Mullein Leaf Latin Name: Verbascum thapsus (2) Part(s) Used: aerial – leaf, flower (2) Key Actions: cough suppressant (1,2,3,4), expectorant (1,2,4), demulcent (3), mucilaginous (1,2), wound healer (2), antitussive (1,2,4) Medicinal Uses: Mullein is valuable in cases of coughing…
September 14, 2020
Student Author
This Materia Medica assignment was written by Ali Bateman for the Home Herbalist Series. Chamomile, German chamomile Latin Name: Matricaria chamomilla (2) Plant Family: Asteraceae (1,4) Part(s) Used: flowers primarily (1,4), less commonly leaves (1), stems (1) Key Actions: nervine (4), digestive aid (1,3), anti-anxiety (2,3,4), anti-inflammatory (2,3,4), anti-hyperglycemic (2), antigenotoxic (2), anticancer (2), pain-relieving (3,4),…
September 2, 2020
Maria Noel Groves
Going “under the knife” can be anxiety-provoking and life-disrupting for anyone, especially those of us who rely primarily on natural medicine. How that hospitals are catching up on their pandemic backlog of surgeries, I’ve had several requests from friends, clients, and student for tips on what herbs they can and can’t take and how to…
September 1, 2020
Student Author
This Materia Medica assignment was written by Meagan Rousseau for the Home Herbalist Series. Peppermint Latin Name: Mentha x piperita (1) Part(s) Used: leaves (1) crude as well as in a concentrated, potent essential oil (1) Key Actions: antispasmodic (1), antimicrobial (2), analgesic (2), carminative (2), aromatic (4), stimulating nervine (4), nootropic (1), stimulating diaphoretic (4),…
August 13, 2020
Maria Noel Groves
Peach season has officially arrived in New Hampshire! I’m thrilled that our little peach tree has finally producing a nice basket full to enjoy, and we’ll be sure to hit the farm stands when that runs out. (Shannon is particularly fond of juicy Elwood Orchards peaches, which we can fortunately usually get at our local…
August 4, 2020
Maria Noel Groves
A few weeks after I graduated from college, I stuffed a backpack to the brim and headed across Europe. I’d just begun to delve into herbal medicine, and one of my traveling companions had a new degree as an athletic trainer. We both squeezed first aid kits in our packs with remedies for similar purposes,…
July 22, 2020
Maria Noel Groves
Now that the growing season has kicked into full gear, take advantage of one of the easiest and most delicious ways to incorporate fresh herbs into your daily routine: infused water. You might be thinking, “You mean, herbal tea?” But, this isn’t quite the same thing. It’s glorious, refreshing, delicious, and stunning. I sip infused…
June 22, 2020
Maria Noel Groves
Storing Herbs & Remedies Most remedies will keep best in a cool, dark, dry spot in a tightly sealed container (such as mason jars with the metal lids, dark glass bottles with caps). For most things, a cool dark dry cabinet or pantry works well. These are the enemy of all herbal products: heat, light,…