Spring allergies: a personal case history
I thought you might enjoy a spring allergy story–mine. Herbs came to the rescue, though I had to try a few to get full relief. These may or may not work for you; everyone’s case is different and ought to be assessed. A few weeks ago, my throat started to feel sore, and I felt […]
Herbs influence our emotions
When analyzing pharmaceutical medications, we generally discuss their therapeutic actions, chemical properties, and possible side effects. Many people approach medicinal herbs in the same manner. I think this is shortsighted, however, because plants interact with and nourish us on many levels–nutritional, medicinal, cultural, emotional, and psycho-spiritual. I recently discovered a charming 20-year-old book called Herbal […]
An ounce of prevention
It’s that time of year, when everyone is worried about catching a cold or flu, or, as we say in Chinese medicine, being attacked by wind. There are many things you can do to boost your immune system and keep yourself and your family healthy. First and foremost, it is important to eat a clean […]
Tools for combatting headaches
Headaches come in many forms, all of them distressing. I commonly see people in the clinic who suffer from tension headaches, sinus headaches, cervicogenic (stemming from the neck) headaches, migraines, or various combinations of these. Fortunately, there are a number of methods to combat headaches. Acupuncture, herbal therapy, and bodywork (particularly trigger point therapy and […]
Wildcrafter’s corner: learn about our herbs
Burdock Seen as a weed by most farmers, the burdock root, also known as gobo, is a treasured, healthy food in Japan. It is also one of the most-used herbs in my pharmacy to treat many conditions, including asthma, allergies, acne, eczema, and headaches. Yellow Dock This plant produces a beautiful, juicy, yellow root that […]
Wildcrafter’s croner: Mid-summer herbs
Yarrow Yarrow is one of my favorite plants, because of its strong herbaceous smell. I also find it to be miraculous in that it stops bleeding caused by wayward kitchen knives. St. Johnʼs Wort St. Johnʼs Wort is a powerful soother of sharp, shooting nerve pain and pain associated with sores, boils and burns. The […]
Summertime, and the living is…sneezy
Along with sun, warmth, and relaxation, summer for many means hay fever. Not only does hay fever have annoying symptoms–sinus congestion and pain, sneezing, itching eyes and nose, runny eyes and nose–but it can also turn into a sinus infection and cause headaches. Allergic reactions are caused by the immune system responding inappropriately. Over-the-counter allergy […]
