Hawthorne (Crataegus spp.) hasn’t been the subject of modern studies to the extent that one might expect, but the more it is the more it reveals that the traditional reasons for using it are spot on. Traditionally it (esp. C. oxycanthoides) has been used for congestive heart failure, to promote healthy blood vessels, hypertension, palpitations, […]
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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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Also known as Purple Cone Flower, Echinacea is a tall perennial plant from the daisy (compositae/asteraceae) family. It grows up to a height of about one meter and is a native to the western prairies of North America.There are three types that are typically used for medicinal purposes Echinacea purpurea, E. angustifolia, and E. pallida. […]
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Also known as St Hildegard, and Sibyl of the Rhine. Hildegard was born Sept 16, 1098. She was what is known as a Polymath, a person whose expertise includes a significant number of different subject areas. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Galileo are other examples of polymaths. Among her many interests and accomplishments were: writer, […]
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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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One of the books… well actually two of the books… that I love to go through is A Modern Herbal by Mrs. M. Grieve. This two book series covers a LOT of herbs. While I wouldn’t rely on it exclusively as a resource for doing herbal medicine with your family, it is a wonderful pair […]
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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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H3N2v Influenza Virus is said to have first come on the scene in July of 2012 This is another flu that comes from pigs. Signs and symptoms • Similar to seasonal influenza • Fever • Cough • Sore throat • Congestion • Muscle pain • Headache • Vomiting and diarrhea have been reported in some […]
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