The area of Aromatherapy is concerned with the (human) inhalation and bodily application of essential oils. The tools of aromatherapy are essential oils and hydrosols, which are hopefully used to achieve the potential goals of good physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health and balance. Essential oils are obtained by a process called distillation, whereby selected […]
flu
Strategies for Supporting the Immune System
by Ingrid Petres We encounter harmful germs and bacteria on a daily basis. It’s important, as the cold and flu season is upon us, to understand how we can boost our immune systems in order to prevent becoming sick. General lifestyle changes to help maintain a healthy immune system: Wash your hands frequently Buy a […]
Strategies for Respiratory Health During Cold and Flu Season
by Laurel Redmon, M.S., L.Ac. Dipl. Ac.,C.H Flu shots may afford many a sense of security this time of year. Those with a mind toward holistic and preventive health, however, can easily see that many more genuine and effective measures can be taken to protect ourselves, families and loved ones. Frankly, herbal remedies […]
Echinacea called ineffective…
by Jeffrey S. Hoard Yesterday I saw the headline, “Popular herbal cold remedy fails to relieve symptoms, study finds” in my morning St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The herb in question turned out to be Echinacea. Knowing empirically that Echinacea does indeed do what we think it does when it is prepared and used properly, I was […]
Catnip as Mosquito Repellent
by Jeffrey S. Hoard Herbal folklore has long included the use of aromatic herbs and oils as insect repellents. Most of us are familiar with the use of citronella oil (Cymbopogon nardus) in candles and in products designed to be used on the skin. Other aromatic herbs used for centuries for their insect repellent […]
Herbs & Essential Oils for SARS
By Cheryl Hoard As one physician put it in a recent national television interview about Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), now is the time to “live well”. This doctor describes living well as eating wholesome foods, exercise and stop smoking. A few weeks before this TV interview, another MD voiced the opinion that addition to […]
Alternatives To Hormone Replacement Therapy
by Cheryl Hoard I am frequently asked questions about alternatives to Hormone Replacement Therapy. The use of herbs, essential oils and hydrosols gives more options to adapt to changes during menopause. Herbalism is most effective when used in a holistic approach, which is integration of the body, mind and spirit. Changes during menopause happen not […]
Herbal Information Sheet: Yarrow
YARROW (Achillea millifolium) Excerpted from: The Earthwise Herbal, A Complete Guide to New World Medicinal Plants By Matthew Wood “Yarrow is one of the primal remedies of the Western herbal tradition. It can be called the ‘master of the blood.’ Through numerous devices – clotting, unclotting, neurovascular control, flavonoids, etc. – it regulates the […]
Herbal Information Sheet: Nettle, Leaf, Root, & Seed
NETTLE LEAF, ROOT, AND SEED (Urtica dioica) Excerpted from: Healing Wise By Susun Weed NETTLE LEAF “Nettle leaves are gentle enough for an everyday nourishing brew and powerful enough to heal damaged tissue. Kidneys, lungs, intestines, and arteries are tonified, strengthened, and gradually altered toward optimum functioning with consistent use of Nettle, freshly cooked […]
Herbal Information Sheet: Licorice Root
LICORICE ROOT (Glycyrrhiza glabra) 11/2/14 CHERYL’S HERBS OFFERS: Licorice Root cut Licorice Root powder Licorice Root liquid extract Licorice Root glycerin extract Excerpted from: Herbal Tonic Therapies By Daniel B. Mowrey “To the Chinese, there is no other herb that acts on such a grand scale except, perhaps, Ginseng. But the Chinese include Licorice […]