Say hello to spilanthes (Acmella oleracea) , the zappy toothache plant used for oral health and immune support. Even a tiny nibble can make your mouth water! This eccentric little plant is a potent medicine for the mouth and gums, a valuable ally during cold and flu season, and one of the strongest saliva-promoting herbs I know.
Gudrun Feigl founded Mount Pleasant Herbary in the spring of 2009. The Herbary is located in the rolling hills of Wayne County, PA, 20 minutes North of Honesdale in Mount Pleasant Township.
One of the easiest ways to dry herbs on their stems is to hang them in bundles on an indoor clothes-line or string using the rubber band method. If you have a nice dark corner of your house with adequate airflow simply put two nails in the wall and hang a string between them. In the olden days, our ancestors strung their herbs right from the kitchen rafters, and some herbalists still do. I prefer bundling herbs with rubber bands rather than twine, because the plants generally stay in place as they dehydrate.
Medicinal plants have been my primary form of health care for the last 35 years, and I feel privileged to have shared the joy of herbal healing with thousands of students over these decades. And as an aging herbal hippie, I’ve seen some things.
Gaia Devi Stillwagon (she/her) is a clinical herbalist, grower, and founder of Gaia’s Garden Organics, where she creates organic medicinal teas, tinctures, and flower essences on her family-owned garden in Southwest Arkansas.
Healthy holiday eating tips from herbalist Juliet Blankespoor, with simple practices to support digestion, peaceful mealtimes, and a nourishing relationship with food throughout the season.
Many seeds have a built-in sense of timing, a quiet alarm that only sounds once winter has truly passed. This internal clock ensures that a seed doesn’t awaken during an unseasonable warm spell, only to perish when cold returns. Seed stratification (sometimes called cold conditioning) is our way of mimicking that natural pause, helping seeds recognize that it’s safe to begin life.
Opening children up to a world of wonder and magic is as easy as introducing them to the plants. Creating a life among the green world is both empowering and full of depth. Read on to learn about simple ways to connect with plants, herbs that are helpful for children, first aid preparations, and herbal recipes you can make together.
The beauty of Caribbean herbal knowledge is that it lives in the people. The downside to this is that there is not as much scholarly or published work on the matter. Much as with other Indigenous ways of being, it is mainly an oral tradition passed down from generation to generation.
Ever wished your kitchen shelves could double as a healing cabinet? ✨ Your herbal apothecary can begin as simply as a shelf of recycled glass jars, and the intention to care for yourself with the gifts herbal medicine can offer.
