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Materia Medica

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Palmarosa Essential Oil

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 […]

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Turkey Tail Mushrooms

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 […]

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He Shou Wu

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 […]

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Damiana Materia Medica

Damiana was beloved by the Aztecs and Mayans, used to treat impotency, increase sexual drive in both men and women, and stimulate the nervous system while promoting relaxation. Traditionally the fragrant leaves were brewed as a tea and sweetened with sugar or honey to stimulate lovemaking and is featured in Central American mystical folklore for […]

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Dong Quai Materia Medica

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 […]

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Black Cohosh Materia Medica

MATERIA MEDICA: BLACK COHOSH This well-known herb goes above and beyond it’s commonly understood uses, from women’s issues, to depression, to muscle aches, it’s versatility makes it shine. Latin Name: Actaea racemosa (formerly Cimicifuga racemosa) Plant Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family) Parts Used: rhizome, root Description & Growing Black cohosh is a perennial that can reach 8 feet in […]

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Borage Materia Medica

The name of this plant is thought to derive from the Celtic borrach or “courage.”  The flowers have long been used to bolster courage.  In medieval times the flowers were embroidered on the mantles of knights and jousters to bring them courage.  Borage leaves, flowers, and seed oil moisten yin, clear heat, and reduce inflammation. […]

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Nettle Materia Medica

Named after the stinging hairs that cover the stem and underside of the leaves, this herb is known for having a myriad of uses. A favorite of western herbalists, particularly those from the Wise Woman Tradition, nettles are highly nutrient rich, particularly in Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium. They are quite tasty when cooked or made into a […]

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Frankincense/Boswellia

USED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS AS AN INCENSE IN SACRED CEREMONIES, THIS AMAZING PLANT’S RESIN CAN BE USED FOR MANY DIFFERENT MEDICINAL PURPOSES AS WELL; FROM SKIN HEALING AND WRINKLE PREVENTION, TO INFLAMMATION AND TISSUE REPAIR, THIS MAY BE WHY IT WAS CONSIDERED SACRED. Frankincense, along with gold and myrrh, is one of the gifts […]

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California Poppy Materia Medica

Unlike the large red or white Poppy, California poppies are the smaller golden poppies commonly grown as ornamental plants. They too have some of the same effects as their stronger cousins, but because they do not contain any opiates, they are considered to be the safer and less-controversial of the two plants to use. These poppies […]

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