Laura's Favorite OTC Remedies for Cold Season

Laura's Favorite OTC Remedies for Cold Season

Let’s face it, in spite of our best efforts we all get sick sometimes. Many of us would prefer a “natural” option to a pharmaceutical one, but the health aisle in the grocery store can be overwhelming. Since the FDA doesn’t regulate herbal medicine, there are a lot of products out there making claims about what they can do. So where you do start? As a trained herbalist, I want to share with you my favorite over-the-counter (OTC) remedies for cold season. Please know that none of these are sponsored, they’re just my personal go-tos

Read More

Sweat into Spring: Spicy Mung Bean Soup Recipe

Sweat into Spring: Spicy Mung Bean Soup Recipe

Many of you know that I am a huge advocate of soups. Cooking food low and slow has a "pre-digestive" effect that eases the stress on your GI tract, allowing maximum absorption of nutrients and smoother elimination. This spicy mung bean bowl of yum is extra special because it takes only about an hour to make. Bonus: the leftovers taste even better than the first bowl.

Read More

Boosting Immunity with Elderberry Syrup

Boosting Immunity with Elderberry Syrup

Elderberry is a wonderful herb to help stabilize the immune system, and can be used to prevent and treat common colds. Elderberries are high in vitamins A and C, and chock-full of an antioxidant called quercitin. They are also anti-inflammatory and, according to herbal theory, possess antiviral properties. Instead of rushing to your favorite health food store to purchase all things elderberry, try this easy recipe from Mountain Rose Herbs to make your own elderberry syrup at home!

Read More

Autumn Energetics: Fall and Your Body

Autumn Energetics: Fall and Your Body

Chinese medical theory is rooted in the cyclical passage of time and its effect on our bodies. As seasons wax and wane, external shifts in the environment pull our innate energy like the moon pulls the tide. Fall in particular marks a stark time of transition in the body: we move from the expansive energy of summer to the contractile energy of winter.

Read More