cold

Holistic Ways To Heal Dry Hands

It's no secret that winter dries out the skin. That's because skin is your first line of defense from the elements, so it takes a lot of damage. Unfortunately, our hands are usually the ones that take the most damage, so they often become dry and cracked. In some cases, they can even bleed, or worsen into eczema.

5 Tips To Stay Active In Winter

Staying fit in the winter can be a challenge. Morning frost and frigid temperatures make lounging inside tempting. The urge to gorge on food while watching movie marathons sets in.

Don't let the cold weather have your health hibernating for winter. Get up. Get moving. And follow these tips for how to keep active during winter.

 

The Botanical Dog: Cold & Flu Support For Your 4-Legged Friend

Dogs can actually catch your cold or flu. Who knew??  Like us, they can come down with a whole slew of respiratory bugs: cold viruses, flu viruses, bacterial respiratory infections such as kennel cough (Bordatella). Dogs even have a doggie-specific flu virus, “canine influenza virus” and the symptoms are similar to our own annual people version of the flu…achiness, fatigue, fever, runny nose, wet cough.

3 Soups For A Super Immune System

I love eating soup, but did you know certain soups can boost immunity? Whenever you're starting to feel sick or under the weather, I really recommend eating some soup. But not just any soup: These three immune boosting soups will help you get back on your feet in no time. Whipping up these soups will not only taste good, but also help you stay healthy.

3 Herbs To Keep Your Hands & Feet Warm In Winter: Cinnamon, Prickly Ash & Ginger

For those of us with cold winters, cold fingers and toes are often a problem when we’re outside playing or working.  For lots of us, this can be downright painful, aside from the fact that our hands don’t seem to want to work properly when cold.

It doesn’t even have to be winter to notice poor circulation to the extremities. Some folks seem to always have cold hands and feet.  I’ve even had elderly clients whose frigid feet kept them up at night.

Honeysuckle: The Easy-To-Grow Sweet Medicine

How many of you as a child used to drink the tiny drops of nectar from honeysuckle flowers?  How many still do? [Raises hand…]

 

Pumpkin Spice, Good For More Than Lattes: Great Medicinal Uses

It's that time of year. That’s right, I’m talking about the avalanche of everything pumpkin spice.  Lattes, baked goods, protein shakes, hand soaps, room sprays and, yup, even toilet paper. Love it or hate it, pumpkin spice is here for the next couple months. 

Essential Oil Essentials: Let’s Learn About Litsea (May Chang)!

Litsea is a bit off the beaten path for some folks. Those familiar with Traditional Chinese Medicine, however, will know that Litsea (or May Chang) has been used medicinally for thousands of years. Native to Southeast Asia, Litsea has been used for everything from asthma to digestive issues.

3 Hearty & Grounding Mushroom Recipes For Fall

As the cool weather is setting in for some of us, now’s the time for some hearty and grounding recipes.

5 Must-Grow Mints For Your Garden (& Medicine Cabinet)

Mints are easy-to-grow perennials that are a beautiful and (usually) lovely-smelling addition to your garden—even if your garden is limited to a balcony, like mine is.  They do well at sea level. They do well at mountainous elevations. They can hack cool, damp summers or hot, intense summers. They are fine being buried in snow and will be there waiting for you in the spring.   While mints generally prefer rich and well-drained soil, I’ve grown them in heavy clay soils.