Herbal Allies for Cold & Flu Season

  Is it a cold or flu? similar in their manifestation and are both respiratory viruses colds tend to last a shorter amount of time & express mildly with runny nose, sore throat, a wet cough flus tend to last longer & have more severe symptoms (fever, sudden symptoms, body aches, chills) one can also … Continue reading →

Dandelion: The Teeth of the Lion

My article on dandelion just ran in the local MS magazine, Catfish Alley, and I wanted to share it here with you… — There is no spring-time herb (well, almost year-round in Mississippi) that is better to talk about than dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). A member of the aster family, one of the largest botanical families … Continue reading →

Three Medicinal Mushrooms

As the days begin to get shorter and the temperature begins to drop, our blood thickens and moves inward like the sap in trees to nourish and warm our vital organs. And, with any extreme change in the environment around us, the cold weather will certainly challenge our immune system. Due to the cold weather, … Continue reading →

Herbs for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Mothers

Over the years, I have been asked *many* questions by pregnant and breastfeeding mothers about what herbs to take and what herbs to steer clear of during these phases of womanhood.  There are already plenty of exhaustive lists of herbs *not* to take.  So, I thought I’d compile a list of some of my favorite … Continue reading →

Basics of Western Herbal Medicine

This is a handout that I like to give my students at workshops and courses.  I hope that this information helps you navigate the plant world safely! “Plants are the placenta of animal life… Every carbon atom in our bodies has at one time passed through the chloroplast membrane of a plant.” ~ Dale Pentall, … Continue reading →

Southern Prickly Ash

Southern Prickly Ash or Hercules’ Club (Zanthoxylum clava-herculis) Over the years, I have learned to use the inner bark of the young branches of this fascinating tree to make medicine. The challenge with Prickly Ash is that this lovely herbal ally’s young branches have *thorns* (hence the name) and that makes it a little hard … Continue reading →

Pine Pollen Power

Every year, in late spring, people tend to grumble about pine and its ubiquitous pollen here in Southern Appalachia and the Deep South. There’s the usual allergies and then there’s the golden-yellow coating that was on every-single-thing outside. This golden dust is actually a medicine and a food. Donna Caire, a friend, naturalist, and Mayan … Continue reading →

Dosages for Children and Youth

As an herbalist, I am often asked questions about dosages for children when it comes to tinctures.  Because of this, I created this blog post to send to people when they ask. I have pulled this handy chart from Rosemary Gladstar’s book, Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health, for your convenience. The charts and suggestions below … Continue reading →

Ramie & My Nettle Sweater

As an herbalist, the plant world constantly intrigues me.  Beyond medicine-making, plants continue to lure me into plant-dye experiments, cord-making, and other curiosities.  Naturally, fibers and textiles are of interest and I’m always intrigued by traditional techniques and the revivification of lost ways… And so, today’s topic is the natural fiber, ramie. Ramie or China … Continue reading →