Swimmer’s Ear, also known as Otitis externa, is pretty common during the summer months simply because more people are in and around water. Swimmer’s ear is actually an infection that occurs in the outer ear canal running from your eardrum to the outside of your head. The infection is typically brought on when water enters the ear and becomes trapped inside of the ear canal.
Sandalwood refers to wood from trees in the genus Santalum. Sandalwood trees grow in India, Asia, and places like Hawaii. There are many types of wood that have desirable fragrances such as cedar and cherry trees but the scent of those trees fades pretty quickly compared to the sandalwood. The sweet, warm, woody, and soft scent of sandalwood stays strong for decades. Sandalwood’s sweet aroma has been around and highly valued for many centuries.
Ahhh...strawberry rhubarb pie season. Or, have you ever tried a rhubarb apple pie? Perhaps you’ve seen delightfully dainty rhubarb tarts and pastries in the local café? Some towns around the U.S. love rhubarb so much that they host a rhubarb festival celebrating the unique late spring-early summer crop.
What do you think of when you hear the words “Fourth of July”? Most people think of fireworks, picnics, family, and, of course, food. Dishes like potato and pasta salads, burgers and hotdogs, fried chicken and corn-on-the-cob, and even strawberry shortcake can be a fun way to celebrate a once-a-year occasion, but most traditional dishes are full of processed grains, high in sugar, and saturated with dangerous hydrogenated oils and trans fats.
The artichoke has origins in the Mediterranean basin. It is a member of the thistle family and evolved from the cardoon plant. It is the bud part of the plant before it flowers, which is edible. It is composed of triangular scales around the central choke known as the heart and only the lower half or fleshy part of each scale can be eaten, but the heart is the most delectable part of the artichoke. The immature bud can be eaten in its entirety.
I first discovered purslane while pulling weeds from my garden. The plant was succulent-like, with thick padded leaves, brightly colored red stems, and tiny yellow flowers. I inspected it closer. It looked like a vegetable I had seen sold at the farmer’s market and so, with a few stems in hand, I went to my computer to investigate.
Athlete’s Foot can be very uncomfortable, embarrassing, and sometimes painful. Today’s walk through Mother Earth’s Medicine Cabinet will lead you down a section of all-natural antifungal and antibacterial healers.
Athlete’s Foot (Tinea Pedis)
Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection located on the skin and underneath the toenails of the feet. In some rare cases, athlete’s foot (so-called due to its prevalence in athletes) can actually spread to the hands. Tinea pedis is fairly contagious and spreads easily to the next victim.
Honey is a wholesome, sticky, syrup that is naturally created by bees. It is a popular commodity, often overly-processed, packaged, and sold commercially in almost every grocery store. Many people buy processed honey, but is the pasteurized stuff really all that great? Read on to find out why you should try to avoid purchasing processed honey.
Reason 1: Processed honey often contains added ingredients.
For centuries, the people of Mexico have used the flat leaves (or pads) of the prickly pear cactus as a food staple. The pads, called nopales, come from the family of cactus known as Opuntia ficus-indica and are an economically important source of income throughout Mexico.
The temperatures are on the rise, flowers are in bloom and farmer’s markets are stocked full of this season’s finest. If you look, you will find asparagus most dominantly known in its green variety, but also available in white and purple, stocked on the shelves. This nutrient dense vegetable is only available in the produce aisle of your local supermarket from February to June, with its peak harvest in April, when the price for these gems may come down a bit.
Why all the hype about asparagus?