Calendula officinalis — The Pot Marigold Calendula officinalis, commonly known as the pot marigold, is one of the most versatile and historically celebrated plants in the world. With its vivid orange and yellow blooms, it has served humanity for centuries as a medicine, a dye, a culinary ingredient, and a garden staple. Few plants can […]
Few plants carry as much history, cultural weight, and scientific intrigue as Glycyrrhiza glabra — the plant the world knows simply as licorice. From the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs to modern-day supplement shelves, this unassuming root has endured for millennia as one of humanity’s most beloved and studied herbal remedies. What Is Glycyrrhiza? Glycyrrhiza glabra […]
Morning Glory: A Flower With a Past From Aztec ceremony to Victorian garden walls — the surprisingly rich history of a humble bloom If you’ve ever watched a morning glory unfurl its trumpet-shaped blooms at dawn only to close them by afternoon, you’ve witnessed one of nature’s tidiest little dramas. But this garden-fence staple has […]
Hibiscus helped save our puppy We found a pedigree Golden retriever for sale for $50 in the local paper. At the time, they were selling for $500. Bringing Tyler home, we were surprised at how mellow he was. Turned out he had distemper, a viral disease causing high temperatures and nerve derangement that are an […]
Hawthorn Berry Hawthorn is known as the heart herb for its many benefits as a heart tonic. The berry has been a key part of traditional Chinese medicine since at least 659 A.D. Hawthorn, scientifically referred to as Crataegus species, comes from a thorny shrub that belongs to the rose family. From Old English haga (“hedge”) The […]
Can you take herbal supplements to arm your immune system? You probably know that zinc, vitamin D and vitamin C are gotta-have-its. How about herbal supplements such as echinacea, believed to boost the immune system and reduce symptoms of infections and other illnesses, including the common cold. Echinacea (eh·kuh·nay·shuh) is a genus of herbaceous flowering […]
While attending San Diego State College in the early seventies, my work-study job was in the vivarium, a room for keeping and raising animals for observation and research. We called it the animal room. I fed them and cleaned their enclosures daily, getting to know some of them intimately. One behavior I learned from the […]
Although I had been vaccinated, I recently tested positive for Covid. One of the herbal remedies I took was an amazing desert evergreen shrub, chaparral herb, Larrea tridentata which I ground up and put in 00 capsules and took internally till I was well, a few days later. I have been employing this herb for […]
🌱Herbal Allies for the Holly Daze🌱 Starting with Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis Lemon Balm is my first favorite herb that everyone should have on hand for the Holidays. Sweet Melissa has a lovely delicate lemony taste and is good for everyone from babies to Great Grandmas and is a definite calming mood uplifting gift […]
