The Root That Calms the Storm There are some herbs that hold a subtle magic—the kind that draws you in, not with bright blossoms or pleasant perfume, but with a quiet, earthy strength. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is one of those plants. With its tall stems crowned in soft white to pale pink blossoms, valerian might […]
Stay Grounded (and Soothed) That heady, floral scent drifting along sidewalks and driveways? Linden trees—making urban walking a sensory delight—are indeed planted on purpose. Legend holds that the graceful Tilia was once the nymph Philyra, transformed by the gods to escape sorrow. Today, these fragrant guardians stand as living symbols of solace and transformation. In […]
EVER WONDERED WHAT SARSAPARILLA IS? DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT KINDS? Indian Sarsaparilla is an herb of many faces. Often called “False Sarsaparilla” for its frequent confusion with the American variety. It is a plant that packs as much punch as it has names. Known originally to the ancient healing […]
MATERIA MEDICA: SWEET MARJORAM ESSENTIAL OIL Latin Name: Origanum majorana Sweet Marjoram is one of our favorite essential oils. Its aroma is warm, spicy, and very earthy. It is usually pale yellow or pale amber in color. It is native to the Mediterranean region; France, Morocco, Italy, Poland, and Germany are some of the countries […]
This bright yellow flower native to the alpine climate of the Rocky Mountains is a perfect symbol of warmer weather on its way. Also known as leopard’s bane and mountain tobacco, arinca is in the same family as the sunflower and has been used since the 1500’s for its healing roots and medicinal flowers. The […]
Palmarosa is not a particularly well known oil, but we sure do love it; it’s great to use in skin care and can be found in several of our favorite skin care products, most notably our Rocky Mountain Recovery Serum which is an anti-aging facial moisturizing serum full of essential fatty acids, anti-oxidants, and active botanicals. It […]
One of the major ingredients in the Immune Chai is a delightfully colorful mushroom wild-crafted this past summer from the Wisconsin woods known as “Turkey Tail.” It is affectionately named that based on its uncanny resemblance to a turkey tail, with blue, orange, and white mycelium plumes. Many people may have heard of the amazing […]
This week’s herb has a long history of use in Chinese medicine, and for good reason. Supposedly it returned an old man’s hair from grey to black and allowed him to father multiple children well past his prime…known as He Shou Wu. This beautiful, dark brown root is famous for its herbal power to enhance […]
A NOTE ON HERBS RECOMENDED BY DR. OZ First off, we want to start this article by saying we applaud Dr. Oz’s championing of natural health alternatives, his focus on healthy eating and exercise, and his over-all philosophy of empowering people to take their health into their own hands. But we want to point […]
Dong quai is one of the most frequently used herbs in Asia with its use dating back to the Han Dynasty (A.D. 25-220). It has been a medicinal herb for thousands of years in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean medicines. Dong quai has been called the “female ginseng” because of its usefulness for numerous health conditions […]