Drying herbs for later use is an age old practice. At the most basic all you have to do is gather the plants and hang them up somewhere to dry. Perhaps you’ve seen pictures of old apothecaries or museums where they show plants hanging in bunches from the ceiling. Perhaps you’ve dried some plants yourself. […]
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This popular herb can be a little confusing. It has several common names, such as Milk Thistle, Marian Thistle and St Mary’s Thistle; and it also has more than one scientific name, for example, Carduus marianum and Silybum marianum. To make matters worse sometimes supplements are labeled as Silymarin, which can either be a whole […]
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This is where you want to provide moisture and protection to your skin after drawing stuff out of it. Be sure to apply it gently. You’ve given yourself an all natural facial so please make sure your moisturizer is also without toxins. Some people like to use oils such as coconut, jojoba, and others. For […]
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This is where we sooth the skin and encourage the pores to start closing. Cold water can do the trick, but I prefer to use hydrosols for this process. They have much to offer the skin and most of them smell wonderful. Hydrosols are also known as herbal distillates, floral waters, herbal waters, hydrosols, and […]
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This is where the cosmetic clays are really useful! Most people, in my experience, are used to using these clays for “drawing out toxins”, and indeed they do have a drawing action. However, they are also rich in minerals that can be a benefit to the skin. My favourite clays are French Green Clay and […]
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Steaming is done to open the pores so toxins can come out and nutrients can go in. Probably the easiest way to do this step is to steam the way some of us were taught to do for a common cold. Get a large bowl, some hot water, and a towel. Put your face over […]
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In the News In a recent article published on Medscape talking about herbal use during pregnancy, it said, among other things, that Italian women who regularly used almond oil on their skin for at least three months of her pregnancy were prone to have preterm births. The study was what’s called “a multicenter retrospective cohort […]
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Recently, in my own herbwalking journey, I decided to try henna for hair, and learned that there’s more to learn than what they put in the little packages of henna at the health food store! What did I learn? 1. The hair salon stylists didn’t tell the truth. Big shock right? They said that henna […]
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People often ask me what herbal (also known as phytotherapy) books I recommend that have a scientific backing to them. Well this is definitely one of them. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy by Simon Mills and Kerry Bone. While it doesn’t cover an exhaustive list of western medicinal plants, it does cover 44 of some […]
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