By Ingrid Petres Our species evolved using scent to help us survive. We recognized what was food through scent. As a flower lures a bee, an animal emits pheromones to lure a mate to propagate our species. These hormonal emissions, the breath of desire, contain all kinds of tiny chemical constituents. They have […]
herbs
German Commission E Monographs and The European Market for Herbal Remedies
by Cheryl Hoard In 1978 the German government established a committee, called Commission E, comprised of physicians, pharmacologists, toxicologists, representatives of the pharmaceutical industry and lay persons. Phytomedicines, simply called herbal remedies, are commonly used and very popular in Germany. The German government saw the need to create a process to affirm […]
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 […]
Do you know what’s in your Shampoo?
by Cheryl Hoard Do you read the labels of your shampoos and soaps? If you do read the ingredient list, do you know what all those chemicals are and what they do for your skin and hair? Did you know that the surfactant, sodium laureth sulfate (SLS), is not actually made from coconut oil […]
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 […]
Aromatic & Herbal Remedies for Animals
by Cheryl Hoard Many alternative health disciplines are successfully used to treat animals, especially our beloved pets. Herbalism and Aromatherapy are utilized safely and effectively for animals as well as humans. Plants have been our medicine since the earliest written record. Herbalism encompasses various and broad uses of plants as healing agents. Aromatherapy is the […]
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 […]
Actions and Energetics of Some Common North American Trees
by Laurel Redmon, M.S., L.Ac. Dipl. Ac.,C.H Trees, Earth’s largest plants, embody the wood element. Humans and trees have co-evolved to a degree that our lives seem unfathomable without their wealth of resources. Symbolically, trees have represented longevity, wisdom, fertility, and a strength that can yield without breaking. These universal themes apply to the elemental […]
The Abuse of Ma Huang (Ephedra sinica)
By Jeffrey S. Hoard I have used Ma Huang (Ephedra sinica) for years. I find it is very effective when used – in conjunction with other herbs and for a specific and very short period of time – for respiratory problems. It saddens me to contemplate that the FDA may now actually be considering […]