mood

The lively acidic and fermented beverage that we’ve come to know and love as kombucha has become popularized in the U.S.

When I’m sad and at a loss for what to do, I’ll often head to the high country outside of Durango, Colorado. If my energy is too low to wander in the woods, I may simply park in a pull-off to sit and “check in” with Twilight Peak or Engineer Mountain.  Nothing like a giant rock that’s been there for tens of millions of years for a bit of perspective and support.

I’ll start by stating the obvious.  When struggling with panic attacks, the approach necessarily has to be a broad one encompassing a whole network of support:  A good therapist is helpful, nutrient-dense foods, mindfulness practice, physical activity, reaching out to loved ones and such.  Speaking from experience. Anxiety has been a life-long companion of sorts, but full-on panic attacks didn’t start until my early 30s. This was pre-herbalism for me so I went through a whole slew of “azepams,” each losing effect after a few weeks.

If the changing seasons have you wondering what to eat, try this sesame milk smoothie with orange essential oil. For those of us who eat seasonally, September and October are transitional months. Depending on where we are in the northern hemisphere, the heat could still be holding on, or there might be a noticeable crispness in the air. Straddling seasons can leave us a little stumped in terms of what to eat.

When I started herb school, one of the teachers mentioned having a meltdown the day after eating a pint of ice cream.  She knew it would happen, from experience, but really wanted the ice cream. I remember thinking “Really?  Distraught on the bathroom floor just from eating ice cream?”  Then the class did an elimination-provocation diet, and wow!

Many of us regard depression as an inner darkness that can throw us into the depths of debilitating emotional and mental pain, making it impossible for us to function in this world for weeks or months even. Life feels pointless, the world appears hopeless, and all we can feel is numbness.

Bitters hold their history in old European herbal medicinal traditions and used to serve the same purposes that tinctures do today. Tinctures are herbal extractions made by steeping dried or fresh herbs in a highly pure form of alcohol. Any part of the plant can be used to make tinctures, although some parts may render different effects than others. Commercial processes use ethyl alcohol, but for home crafted tinctures, 100 proof vodka is the best choice.

I recently wrote on citrus essential oils, my favorite oils for scent. Now, we’ll move on to conifer essential oils, another group I love. These are uplifting and motivating, and they blend beautifully with citrus oils for both scent and energetics.

July 7 is World Chocolate Day—so here’s how you can incorporate this delicious and decadent treat for better health, happiness, and beauty…

Most people don’t start taking supplements until after
they’ve been diagnosed with a deficiency, but there’s reason
to be proactive with your supplementation, too—especially as
you age. Cardiovascular disease remains the number one killer in
the United States and includes everything from coronary artery
disease, to high blood pressure, to congenital heart diseases and
arrhythmia. Most patients are prescribed pharmaceuticals and,
depending on your health, these can be absolutely vital. I am not