herbs

If you are craving a nutrient-rich energy kick in your diet, try this Ayurvedic recipe for Ojas Balls. This superfood provides a delicious and power-packed snack to increase immunity and vitality. According to Ayurveda, “Ojas” is our most refined by-product of digestion. It is the force that supports immunity and promotes longevity. It serves as the container of strength in times of change and transformation. It makes us resilient in the face of physical and emotional stress. Ojas is the nectar that keeps us healthy and happy.

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.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs available right in your yard? If you embrace edible landscaping, you can enjoy this experience practically year-round and save money to boot. Veteran Edible Farmer Rosalind Creasy shares that while these types of gardens do require an initial investment of time and money, they offer significant savings on produce costs—for example, in 2008, the value of the vegetables she grew in a 100-square-foot garden totaled more than $675.

A soothing cup of lemon balm tea at the end of a long day can be a lovely respite. Many commercial herb teas have instructions to steep for something like 3-6 minutes.  This is fine for a simple “beverage” tea, but is inadequate for a truly medicinal brew. By medicinal I mean strong enough to have a desired effect on mind, body and/or emotions beyond simply enjoying a good cup of tea.

In 2015, we stuffed kale into everything. The year after kale we obsessed over pomegranates. In 2014, avocados were king.

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).

Nutmeg is native to Indonesia on the Spice Islands and grows on an evergreen tree known as Myristica fragrans. Its name is derived from the Latin word “mix,” meaning nut, and “muscat,” meaning musky. Nutmeg was exploited by a few traders who knew where the archipelago was located and they monopolized the market.

A cordial is a health-promoting, good tasting herbal drink that contains alcohol both as a preservative and solvent for extracting herb and spices. Cordials are generally taken in doses ranging from around 1/2 teaspoon to an ounce. The term derives from the Latin cor, meaning heart.  Cordials are said to have originated during the Renaissance, but I would guess that their origins are actually older, given that distillation is an ancient process.

Looking to add a little excitement to your glass of water? Many of the products used for flavoring your water are unnatural and often contain chemicals you wouldn’t want to put in your body. If you are interested in finding alternatives, check out these 10 neat ways to naturally flavor your water.

Rosemary and Watermelon

Knowing that there are kid-friendly herbs that you can give your little ones in a time of need can be incredibly comforting. Too many over-the-counter medications have negative side effects and fillers that are difficult to pronounce. Mother Earth’s medicine is the first medicine there ever was and in my opinion, the best medicine available.