Now that school’s back in, ‘tis the season when colds & flu start to make the rounds! Protect yourself and your family this fall and winter with powerful essential oils such as Oregano Oil, an excellent all-purpose antimicrobial and immunosupportive. Ravintsara is possibly the best antiviral essential oil for colds and flu. To help disinfect the air in your home and bedroom, make a blend of the following oils and put a few drops in some water in a diffuser… Continue reading →

One of the most gorgeous of flowers to behold, Passionflower provides powerful support for anxiety: initial trials using Passionflower have shown that it performs as well as the drug Oxazepam for generalized anxiety disorder, and without the side effects. Passionflower is also excellent for insomnia related to stress, including menopause. It can help to reduce the amount of time it takes to fall asleep, as well as help you stay asleep so that you get a deeper, more refreshing rest.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a wonderful herb that has been used as both food and medicine for thousands of years. The root contains a compound that is 50x sweeter than sugar, making it very useful for ‘masking’ other not-so-favorable flavors! (Note: most licorice “candy” isn’t actually licorice – it is often a mix of flour and sugar and anise oil, for flavor – tasty, but not the real deal!) Licorice is highly valued for its soothing action upon mucous membranes… Continue reading →

To counter the harmful effects of free radicals, those unstable molecules created when we are exposed to pollution, cigarette smoke, stress and other toxins and that contribute to chronic inflammation and premature aging, Nature provides us an abundance of protective antioxidants. Some of the most powerful of these are found in Green tea. Popular in Japan and China for thousands of years, Green tea is rich in a group of plant compounds called polyphenols. The most active of these in… Continue reading →

Magnesium is the 4th most abundant mineral in the body, yet deficiency of this vital mineral is all too common. This is primarily due to commercial farming practices, which deplete the soil of vital nutrients. Crops can only take up minerals that are available in the soil they’re grown in – so if that soil is depleted, then the crops growing in them will be, too. A deficiency of magnesium can contribute to muscle tension, spasms, foot and leg cramps,… Continue reading →

Some interesting tidbits in today’s Science Daily on natural therapies that lower blood pressure, as discussed by a leading cardiologist. You might be surprised to learn what the “shining star” was! According to cardiologists Drs. John Bisognano and Kevin Woolf, the “shining star” among supplements is… coenzyme Q10: “Patients with hypertension tend to have lower levels of the enzyme, and a meta-analysis — an overarching analysis of past studies — found that treatment with coenzyme Q10 supplements significantly reduced blood… Continue reading →

This ubiquitous little herb has got to be one of Nature’s best-kept secrets – it’s time we gave this unduly relegated “weed” some long overdue recognition! Dandelion derives its name from the shape of its leaves, which resemble the teeth of a lion (“dent de lion”; French for lion’s tooth). They are one of the most tasty greens available, and certainly one of the most nutritious. Try them lightly steamed or sauteed (newer leaves are most tender). Dandelion leaf is… Continue reading →

If you’re suffering from pain and inflammation due to osteoarthritis or muscle injury, natural botanical relief is available. Safer than over-the-counter NSAIDs or prescription COX-2 inhibitors, many herbs possess anti-inflammatory compounds that can significantly reduce swelling and the resulting pain of muscle injury or arthritis. One such herb is Devil’s Claw, a plant native to Africa. It draws its name from the hooks that cover its fruit (see photo), and which aid in its dispersal by attaching onto passing animals… Continue reading →

Common signs and symptoms of premature aging: • Reduced skin elasticity • Gray hair; thinning hair and hair loss • Frequent illness • Pain and inflammation • Joint instability Nowadays, many of us seem to be aging faster than we ought to, with elusive promises of a “more youthful appearance” as near as that ($250) jar of face cream (or syringe!). Sigh.

Beginning in her mid-30s to early-40s, a woman’s ovaries naturally start to decline in their production of estrogen and progesterone. This stage is known as ‘perimenopause’ and can last for several years. Menopause is officially considered to have begun when 12 full months have lapsed since the last menstrual period. During the perimenopausal time, many of our female hormones are ‘working overtime,’ trying to signal our decreasingly responsive ovaries to increase their production of estrogen and progesterone. The result of… Continue reading →