Herbal Wisdom
Hawthorn: Myth, Magic & Medicine for your Heart
Register for The Alchemy of Herbal Medicine – Online HERE. Botanical Name: Crataegus spp. Common Names: hawthorn, quickthorn, thornapple, May-tree, whitethorn, or hawberry. Crataegus is a genus of several hundred species of shrubs and trees in the botanical family Rosaceae. The species often found where I live in southwestern Canada are C. monogyna, C. laevigata. The rosaceae family…
Read MoreFire Cider: An Easy-to-make homemade respiratory tonic
Decades ago, renowned herbalist Rosemary Gladstar gave the name Fire Cider to a spicy, delicious respiratory tonic made from simple kitchen ingredients. The basic ingredients are pungent herbs like onions and garlic, steeped in apple cider vinegar which has its own health benefits too. When I was in herbal school in the late 1990’s, I…
Read MoreA flower for first aid, swollen glands, yeast infections and more
This is the time of year where I’m reaping the benefits of my harvest. Not to say harvest season is over – in a lot of ways it’s just begun! But I harvest most of my flowers between April (when dandelion begins) through July, when the sun is the strongest. Right now, I’m focused on…
Read MoreAn Antiviral Herb that Uplifts the Spirits
July is a busy month of harvesting fresh plants, both wild and cultivated. One of my favourite herbs of the season is St. John’s Wort, the latin name Hypericum perforatum. This bright little yellow flower is named after St. John the Baptist, a holiday celebrated in June, which is typically the week Hypericum begins to bloom. I’ve…
Read More