flu

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.

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.

Superfood 101: Pomelo!

Pomelo is a member of the family Rutaceae, also known as the Rue family of the genus Citrus L., commonly called citrus P, that contains sixteen species. The fruit is also known as Chinese grapefruit, shaddock, pumelo, pommelo, and pompelmous. It is native to the southeastern regions of Asia and Malaysia and grows wild on the river banks in Fiji and Friendly Islands.

Essential Oil Essentials: Seasonal Scents For Your Home

Here are some great oils and a few ideas for blends to get into the seasonal mode and lighten up the dark days. Essential oils are fun and useful to use any time of the year, but especially to spice life up in these (for some of us) colder and darker months.

5 Winter Juices For Better Immunity

Winter juices aren’t necessarily much different from spring, summer, or even fall juices. But the vegetables and fruits you add to them can make them better geared for winter, even if you’re juicing oranges and drinking them with ice.