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Materia Medica

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Poppy

POPPY VS. CALIFORNIA POPPY The poppy that most people think of are the large red poppies made iconic by the film The Wizard of Oz; it’s Latin name somnifera comes from the Latin somnus, “sleep”, and ferre, “bring” in reference to the plants ability to bring sleep. These are also the poppies that we get seeds from for bagels, hamentaschen, as well […]

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Rosemary

ROSEMARY HAS LONG BEEN CONSIDERED A SYMBOL OF FRIENDSHIP, LOYALTY, AND REMEMBRANCE. Ancient Greek scholars would wear laurels of rosemary on their heads to help them stay sharp and to keep their memories clear when taking exams. Rosemary was also burned in study rooms to help purify the air and keep the senses sharp. Rosemary stimulates […]

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Oregon Grape Root

GOLDENSEAL IS WELL KNOWN FOR IT’S ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND IMMUNE BOOSTING PROPERTIES; HOWEVER, IT’S ON THE ENDANGERED PLANT LIST AND IT’S TIME WE STARTED USING ALTERNATIVES, LIKE THIS AMAZING PLANT. Oregon grape is an evergreen herb native to western North America, from British Columbia to northern California. It is a low growing shrub with yellow flowers, purple […]

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Passionflower Materia Medica

A Vine for Rest, Reverie, and Nervous System Resilience In the winding tendrils of the Passionflower vine, nature has etched a remedy for restlessness, a balm for the weary soul, and a gentle invitation to surrender. Despite its name, Passionflower’s legacy is not rooted in romance, but rather in spiritual reverence. Its name refers to […]

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Maca

THIS TASTY ROOT HAS LONG BEEN USED BY ITS TRADITIONAL PEOPLE’S AS A SUPERFOOD, AND ITS POPULARITY IS GAINING IN THE US. Maca is a vegetable that has been cultivated as a root crop for at least 2,000 years, originally by the Inca.  Incan warriors supposedly consumed maca before battle as a strengthening tonic.  Maca […]

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Astragalus Materia Medica

Astragalus is one of the most treasured herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), revered not for targeting any single illness, but for the way it nourishes, balances, and strengthens the whole of the body. Known as Huang Qi (“Yellow Leader”), astragalus has long been seen as a leader among tonic herbs, a plant ally that […]

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Saw Palmetto

THIS WELL KNOWN “MEN’S HERB” IS AN EXCELLENT NUTRITIVE TONIC FOR FERTILITY, AND NOT JUST FOR MEN… Saw Palmetto is most popular for its use for symptoms of enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hypertrophy – BPH).  It is even commonly recommended as an alternative treatment by the U.S. FDA for this condition (BPH). Its ethnobotanical uses […]

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Lemon Balm Materia Medica

The Bright-Hearted Herb of Calm and Clarity “Lemon Balm causeth the mind and the heart to be merry,” wrote the great Arabic physician Avicenna, and for those who’ve sipped its sun-warmed leaves in tea or brushed past it in a garden, this truth is deeply felt. Bright, lemony, and ever-giving, Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) has […]

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Catnip Materia Medica

THIS PLANT MAY SEND CAT’S INTO A FRENZY, BUT IT’S CALMING FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS ALIKE Catnip, a perennial herb belonging to the mint family, grows wild as a weed in every U.S. state except Florida and Hawaii. This weed, loved by the household cat for its stimulating effects, actually is traditionally believed to […]

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Shepherd’s Purse

Shepherd’s purse if one of the most common and widely spread flowering plants in the world. Shepherd’s purse gets its unique name from the shape of the seed pod that resembles the silhouette of the purse shepherds used to carry. Shepherd’s purse is a folk remedy for treating diarrhea, bleeding, and to stimulate uterine contractions. […]

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