Latin Name: Taraxacum officinale Family: Asteraceae Energetics: Cooling, bitter tonic Taste: Bitter, sweet, minerally In the early days of spring, Dandelions draw the eye with their tufts of golden petals perched on a single, hollow stem. Prolific is their nature. To one it is either a bane to behold, undermining all previous attempts at lawn…
Mustard Plaster: A Folk Remedy for the Respiratory and Structural System
When you think about mustard, topical application to hot dogs may come to mind, less so to your own body. But if you look back in time 100 years applying mustard to one’s chest was a common folk remedy, listed in medicinal dispensatories and regularly prescribed by physicians. Touted to clear chest congestion and lessen…
Elderberry Syrup, and How to Make It!
Elderberries are beginning to ripen and that means for us wildcrafters and medicine makers, it is elderberry syrup season. Elderberry syrup is a popular remedy for the cold and flu season. While in today’s world it is readily available in most drug or even grocery stores, you can make it at home for a fraction…
Aromatic Steams in Viral Times
The regularly scheduled cold and flu season is here. While we have been living through a worldwide pandemic, for what seems like an eternity, the year’s typical bugs aren’t likely to let us off the hook. And COVID-19 sure isn’t either. The stakes are higher this year. Masking up, taking standard safety precautions, and limiting…
Cannabis: Plant, Industry, and Ideology
Cannabis, from the latin Cannabis sativa L., is a member of the Cannabaceae, a small family of flowering plants containing hemp, hops, and hackberries. Cannabis means “cane-like,” while the genus name sativa refers to that which is “planted or sown,” meaning that the plant is propagated from seed as opposed to perennial roots. The…
CBD Oil: The Skinny According to Science
At this current juncture scientific knowledge of ECS signalling has far outstripped the development of ESC-based therapies. The eloquent Dr. Ethan Russo remarks: Despite its seeming ubiquity, and obvious importance as a homeostatic regulator of human physiology, the ECS topic receives short shrift in contemporary medical education, if mentioned at all. This educational deficit, born…
