Stocking Your Herbal Apothecary

For the majority of our history, we’ve relied on the inherent wisdom of plants for both medicine and nourishment. Even as modern pharmaceuticals become widespread, nature continues to provide a plethora of safe, effective remedies to those who know where to look.

Fermented Foods Rock (& Why You Should be Making Your Own)

By now, most of us have at least a general understanding that maintaining healthy gut bacteria is pretty darn important to our overall health. But what exactly does that mean?

Water Kefir SOS: Troubleshooting Your Brew

Making your own probiotic-rich water kefir can be a rewarding and cost-effective hobby, but as a living culture, it can sometimes throw you a curveball. Room temperature, water quality and inadequate nutrition are just a few factors that can influence the health of your kefir grains and the quality of your water kefir.

More Than Just a Pretty Face: Tincturing with Self-heal

Prunella vulgaris, commonly known as self-heal, is charming little purple flower that never fails to make me smile. But it’s so much more than just a pretty face. Self-heal possesses potent medicinal qualities, offering both topical and internal benefits, from wound healing to immune support.

A Look at Herb-Infused Honeys

When it comes to crafting herbal preparations, the choice of a suitable menstruum — aka a solvent used to extract the therapeutic properties of herbs — is of utmost importance. Honey can be considered a moderate-to-strong menstruum, unique in its ability to extract water-soluble constituents as well as small amounts of oil-soluble compounds.

Anatomy of Fire Cider

Are you ready to spice up your wellness routine? Created in the early 80s by herbalist Rosemary Gladstar, fire cider is a traditional herbal tonic that combines a base of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar and local honey infused with a variety of stimulating herbs and spices. The fiery concoction is designed to boost digestion, improve circulation and support overall immune function. Over the years, fire cider has taken on a life of its own, gaining popularity among herbalists and natural health enthusiasts alike. It’s one herbal preparation I try to always keep on hand!

Topo Chico Inspired Mineral Water for Home Carbonators

There are plenty of other mineral waters out there, but for my money, there are none quite like Topo Chico. For those of us living outside of their distribution area, (or those of you who just love a good DIY project) you can mix your own Topo Chico-inspired mineral blend that will make hundreds of bottles… for about $25 in ingredients.

Scent-sational Science: Using Aromatherapy for Better Sleep

Judging by the ever-increasing size of the sleep aid section at the grocery store, getting enough sleep is a challenge for many of us. Adequate, quality sleep is crucial to our physical, mental and emotional well-being and our overall health.

Fortunately, there are many non-pharmaceutical things we can do to help our minds and bodies wind down and prepare for sleep, such as avoiding artificial light and stimulating activities before bed and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule.

Another thing to consider trying is aromatherapy.

Do You Practice Good Sleep Hygiene?

Cultivating practices that prioritize and promote quality sleep are essential for optimal health and well-being. What does good sleep hygiene look like?

Tips & Tricks for Doing GAPS with Kids

My family decided to embark on a healthier eating journey starting January 1. We committed to healthy homemade dinners every single night, no fast food at all and very minimal eating out. The style of eating we decided on is called the GAPS diet, a gut healing nutritional protocol designed by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. Keep reading for some tips and tricks that helped us get the most out of our GAPS diet experience.