It's the middle of July which means we are in the height of lavender season and lavender just happens to be one of my most favorite plants of all time; that smell, that color, that taste!
Medicinally, lavender can be used both internally as a tea or applied externally to the skin as an essential oil.
The essential oil has even been called “a first-aid kit in a bottle” because of its range of uses from healing wounds, decreasing pain, and working as an antiseptic.
When infused in water and drank as a tea lavender can…
Relax the nervous system
Ease digestion
Relieve stress
Mild antidepressant effects
When used in aroma therapy it can…
Relieve headaches
Promote sleep and a restful state
Ease exhaustion
When used topically on the skin it can…
Ease aches and pains
Bug repellent (tried this while in deep in the Belize jungle)
Antifungal
Antibacterial
But wait… we haven’t even talked about the culinary and beautifying ways lavender can help!
Lavender can be used to add taste and fragrance to pretty much anything from ice cream, cupcakes, salad, salad dressing, honey, and lavender lemonade on a summer’s day.
Lavender can also be used in beauty products to help fight acne, prevent infections, tone the skin, added to lotion, worn as a perfume, or added to the bath.
The mint family is one of the most useful medicinal and culinary herb families because of it's great taste and healing properties…
It's the most ancient form of healing documented… We are coming back full circle, understanding that by isolating a single chemical within a plant destroys the inherent intelligence of the whole to work in brilliant complexity.
Chamomile certainly isn't just your grandmother's evening tea anymore! This sweet smelling tea has a long history that goes way back to ancient..
These yellow and black buzzers have a huge job to do in our eco system and they certainly don’t get the appreciation they deserve…
Horsetail contains high amounts of silica (along with many other goodies) which has been shown to help strengthen weak brittle nails and create a shiny mane when applied topically…
Osha root (Ligusticum porteri) has been used in Native American medicine and Traditional Chinese medicine for decades for both its spiritual properties…
Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) dare to grow anywhere whether it's in the middle of the city or out in the country, they're very hardy and perhaps that is why they offer us so many health benefits…
Magnolia bark (Magnolia officialis) has been shown to lower cortisol, the stress hormone. Increased cortisol occurs from chronic stress and is also associated with weight gain…
No, I'm not referring to hallucinogenic mushrooms! I'm talking about the endless benefits of medicinal mushrooms used for healing and optimal living…
Gymnema sylvestre aka "the sugar destroyer" is a powerful herb that reduces the perception of sweetness inside the mouth and seems to increase the perception of bitterness by neural inhibition…
Gemmotherapy is pretty amazing! It's technically a form of botanical medicine but it uses only the buds and young shoots of trees (also the rootlets, bark, catkins, seeds, and sap…
I love integrating flower essences into daily life... they are so gentle yet powerful at the same time. Read more about some of the flowers and their unique profiles…
Ginger has been on the top of my mind this weekend because I'm planning to go on a road trip…
Adding spices to your meals doesn't only give it a delicious flavor but it is also medicine…
Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug in developed countries and there is always a new state pushing to have it legalized. So why is there so much hype?...
It's the middle of July which means we are in the height of lavender season and lavender just happens to be one of my most favorite plants of all time…
Echinacea is one of the most well-known plants for fighting colds because it is effective for both viruses and bacteria all while stimulating the immune system…
Prickly pear is a cactus that is both a food and a medicine and also touted as a "superfood' by many doctors…
This is my favorite plant of all time! You might recognize this plant by the other name Siberian Ginseng…
Aloe Vera is a very versatile plant since its different parts are able to treat many aliments of the body both internally and externally…
Kava kava is fairly new to the Western world but it has been used in Polynesia, Micronesia, and Hawaii as a recreational drink for hundreds of years. This wonderful beverage has awesome calming effects on the mind and body, some even compare it to Valium but it doesn't impair your judgement or inhibit clarity! Drinking kava kava can help with:
Mugwort, aka Artemisia vulgaris, an amazing women's herb used to tonify the reproductive system…