Just a glance at the lavender-hued petals and deep crimson center of Echinacea flowers can brighten a gloomy day. That’s probably why this wildflower is a staple in many gardens. Plus, with many medicinal uses, echinacea is a wonderful addition to your home apothecary, especially during cold and flu season. TRADITIONAL USES…
DIY Recipe for Garlic Oxymel
At the first sign of a cold or flu, reach for Garlic Oxymel, an age-old immunity boosting remedy. Oxymel means “acid and honey” and is indicative of its two main ingredients (honey and apple cider vinegar). Traditionally used to help make certain herbs, such as garlic or onion, more palatable, drinking just…
Elderberry: Medicinal Elixir for the Whole Family
For millennia, physicians, and herbalists have found medicinal uses for all parts of the elder tree, including its wood, leaves, flowers and berries. Leaves were used in ointments to heal skin. The flowers and berries were made into infusions as a common treatment for colds and rheumatic conditions. Today, herbalists and holistic…
Fight Cough and Cold With Osha Root Extract
Few herbs go by as many names as Osha Root (Ligusticum porteri). This traditional Native American medicinal plant is also known as Bear Root, Chuchupate, Indian Parsley, Wild Celery Root, and Colorado Cough Root. HEAL WITH OSHA ROOT A member of the parsley family, it has been used to treat respiratory and digestive conditions…
How to Make Your Own Cough Drops With Coconut Oil, Plus 2 More DIY Cold Remedies
Spring has finally sprung, but we’re not out of the woods yet—cold and flu season is still in effect, as you might have noticed from those thundering coughs and pitiful sniffles still echoing throughout the office. Want to find some quick relief with all-natural ingredients? Easy. Try these three DIY remedies next time you…
Nature’s Sweet Herb: Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum)
Naturally sweet cinnamon revives our senses with its wonderful aroma and can enhance health with its medicinal properties. HISTORY OF NATURE’S SWEET HERB Cinnamon was first used in China (2700 B.C.) to treat fever, digestive, and menstrual problems. Indian healers used cinnamon to treat gastrointestinal complaints, as well as sore throat and cough. …
Homeopathy: Finding the Cure in the Cause
Like cures like. That’s the concept behind homeopathy, a centuries-old system that stimulates the body’s innate healing ability. In 1796, Samuel Hahnemann, M.D. observed that Cinchona Bark, a medicinal plant used by native people in South America to treat malaria, could also cause the symptoms of malaria in healthy people. After testing the theory on…
Detox 101: How To Boost Your Natural Defenses
Detoxification is a natural healing process that incorporates resting, cleansing, and nourishing the body from the inside out. By eliminating toxins, then fueling your body with healthy nutrients, a planned period of detox can strengthen your body’s natural “Detox Team” and help maintain optimum health. Holistic physicians and proponents of detoxing suggest following a detox…
Eating Well for Super Immunity
A healthy immune system is vital for helping your body deal with infections caused by viruses, bacteria, fungus, and environmental toxins. As the winter months approach, it becomes even more important to support your immune system by consistently eating a balanced diet, exercising, and making healthy lifestyle choices. But the real fuel for a strong…
Alleviate Congestion with Magic Socks
You’d probably never guess that a pair of wet socks could pull congestion from your head and stimulate your immune system. Sounds like hocus-pocus promoted by a traveling charlatan, right? Historically, this hydrotherapy was called “Wet Sock Therapy.” At some point, a marketing savvy naturopath explained to young patients that the overnight drying of the…
