Honey

Every so often my standard morning oatmeal recipe starts to feel boring and bland; I crave something warm and satisfying, but decidedly not made from oats. Enter breakfast quinoa!

“Put on a hat–you’ll catch a cold!” and “Turkey makes you sleepy” are just some of the old wives’ tales you’ve likely heard growing up. Or, perhaps you had a mother or father who was particularly insistent upon herbal remedies like consuming raw garlic for colds and flus. While some old wives’ tales are just that–tales–we’ve gathered the ones that seem to have actual merit and thus a place in your kitchen, too.

Waking up in the morning or winding down from a long day, there is nothing like a good cup of tea. Good quality teas, however, can be expensive and hard to find. What's worse is when you go to reach for a bag, and realize the bag is empty. While most consumers rely on purchasing pre-blended tea bags, you can make your own tea using fresh ingredients already in your kitchen. A little creativity and prep is all it takes to be minutes away from a soothing mug. Here are a few tips to follow when delving into homemade teas.

Chapped, dry lips? I get it. Winter has a knack for drying skin out, especially lips. Lips are ultra sensitive to everything, so it makes sense that they get hit the hardest by cold, dry weather. That said, your lips can still get dry or chapped in the warmer months too! To keep them in the best condition, I recommend making a lip scrub and lip balm for them. Making your own won’t only be rewarding and fun, but cheaper, too. (Not to mention you’ll know what’s in them.)  Most of the things you’ll need to make each one can be bought in any grocery or health food store.

Ginger is the “ultimate medicine” according to Ayurveda. Not only does it warm the body and balance Vata-types, it’s also a healer for your digestion and immune health.

We all hate acne, but thankfully, Mother Nature can help. Here, I've listed five ways to get rid of acne that don't involve chemicals or toxins. Although many people will try to tell you chemical-filled products are best, these often have undesirable side effects. Some side effects include stinging, dryness, itching, peeling, and even an allergic reaction. If you want to avoid these (and other, more dangerous side effects), give the natural remedies listed in this article a shot.

 An elixir may sound like something concocted in a magical realm of some fantasy movie or video game BUT they truly exist and provide healing. Elixirs are actually some of the sweetest medicines provided by Mother Nature and concocted by healers all over the world. These clear, sweet, and aromatic drinks are considered Hydroalcoholic, meaning they contain both water and alcohol.

While others curse its arrival in spring, I applaud it. The spunky little dandelion is a first flower for nectar-hunting honeybees. It pains me to see homeowners yank it from their yards, not only because they are eradicating an important food source for pollinating insects, but because the little plants can offer so much before their fluffy seeds are scattered to the wind!

If you have a love of spicy food, or just food in general, odds are you've encountered indigestion at least once in your life. This can lead to acid reflux or heartburn. The digestion process had become interrupted and stomach acid can creep up into the esophagus. In Ayurveda, this is known as Amalpitta, a condition that occurs when pitta is aggravated. To restore balance, cooling foods that calm the inner fire are in order. These six foods pacify pitta, acting as a natural antacid.

Basil

The agave plant ranges from the southwestern United States down through Central America to the northern regions of South America. It is the same plant that is used to make tequila. For centuries, the native peoples gathered the plants and removed the leaves to extract the sap from the core. They boiled the sap to form a thick nectar. Agave nectar did not find its way into modern America until the 1990’s when the process of hydrolysis could be applied to the agave. This process heats the extracted agave juice in a mass production, making it a viable commercial product.