Finger limes are a member of the family Rutaceae, commonly known as the Rue family of the genus Microcitrus Swingle or microcitrus P and contains two species Australian finger limes and Australian round limes.
Cypress essential oil is distilled mainly from the leaves and twigs of Cupressus sempervirens, the cypress tree. If you’ve seen the pointy evergreen trees in Van Gogh paintings, then you know what cypress looks like. The scent is warm, woody, green, and balsamic with some spiciness and sharpness. The leaves themselves have a wide variety of traditional medicinal uses, from the respiratory tract to the reproductive system.
Want to avoid catching a cold or a flu?
The common misperception about fevers is that something is wrong. This couldn’t be further from the truth, for when the body decides to up the temperature it is not without good reason. Our bodies are absolutely genius when it comes to moving back towards balance and sometimes we need to kill some germs along the way—which only happens with an increase in temperature.
Mallows are great plant allies for our health. You may be familiar with marshmallow root, but did you know that the flowers and leaves are also good medicine? And that other mallows are equally useful? These include Hollyhock (Alcea rosea), that beautiful and easy-to-grow ornamental plant; Globe Mallow (Sphaeralcea species), a denizen of more desert-type areas; and Wild or Common Mallow (Malva neglecta & M.
Chronic stuffy sinuses may be due to allergies, diet, infection, or structural issues in the airways. More than one of these may be at play for some folks. When the mucus is clear, the issue may be related to allergies, diet, or chronic low-level infection. Acute infections are most often viral, which means that antibiotics won’t work.
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is on my mind today after wildcrafting the root and leaf on a chilly, rainy morning this week. Despite the mud, wet days are great for root digging; it’s easier to unearth them. And, as mullein is considered a noxious weed in many places, no one will likely protest should you dig it up! Though disrespected as a lowly weed, mullein is a beautiful and immensely useful plant.
Cold season is upon us, so what better time to get your immune system up and running with a nutrient-dense green smoothie!
I’ve been really into the greens lately and every time I incorporate more dark leafy greens into my routine, I end up feeling 100 times better. It really is true what they say about greens being the most important part of a healthy diet, especially when they’re raw.
It’s that time of year. The children in my jiu jitsu class have been showing up with runny noses for the past week or so. They range from ages 4 to 6, and it’s common for their fingers to be in said runny noses. As careful as I am, this is a full contact sport and the day after class, my throat often starts to itch, a little cough starts, or I get the chills (or all of the above).
Wildflowers are at their peak during mid-to-late summer in the northern United States and throughout Canada, but they’re more than just pretty. The bright purple of coneflowers and the blue of chicory are delicious for the eyes, but even better for the body.