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
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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
Fall, Letting Go, and Parting with my Apothecary Business
Fall is on the horizon. This is always a good time to tease out what we need and what we don’t need to move forward in life. In the past, at this time of year, I have left a job that was not fulfilling anymore…left a relationship that no amount of watering could revive…left a … Continue reading
White Clover Pudding: A Recipe for Comfort & Healing
***Such a sweet lil’ recipe from Gather, that I wanted to share here on my blog. I like that it is a restored pioneer recipe using powdered gelatin, a very nourishing food (think joint repair and health as well as gut repair).*** Little did I know when I first came across an old pioneer recipe … Continue reading
Eggstatically Alioli
My recent addition to the kitchen is Spanish alioli (what the French call aïoli and what we may want to call garlic mayonnaise in English). Ah. But don’t call it garlic mayonnaise. I got the stinkiest of stink eyes from my Spanish friend when I did that. I must say. Where has this condiment been … Continue reading
Lindsay Kolasa 