Articles

Herbal Garden and Lesson Planning for the Year Part 2

Last week I talked about starting to plan your herb garden and lessons for the year. I shared how to decide which plants to decide to grow and options for how to grow them. And how to start gathering resources for both your garden and lesson plans. This week I’m going...

Planning Your Herbal Year in the Home Classroom

February finds me wistfully longing to plunge my hands into the soil and starting my garden for the year. It's also a time when kids are bored and tired of being cooped indoors. Harness this energy and plan out what you'll grow and learn about this year! I find it...

Marvelous Milk Thistle’s Many Medicinal Uses

Native to the Mediterranean, Milk Thistle is a popular herb in the herbal world but can be an invasive nightmare for farmers, especially in the southern part of the United States where Milk Thistle grows uninhibited if left unchecked. Milk Thistle has naturalized in...

In Praise of Plantain

Native Americans referred to Plantain as Englishman’s Foot or White man’s Foot because of how he sprouted up everywhere that white man appeared on the land. This was because the seeds were in their boots (from walking through it in Europe) and would scatter wherever...

4 Medicinal Plants You Can Grow From The Grocery Store

March is a month of in between which can make it really hard to keep focused on herbal studies in your house. Right now is a time of planning, and possibly even sowing seeds, but nothing is really growing. Often there is still snow on the ground or it’s just too cold...

Teaching Your Kids Herbalism on a Budget

With August already here, many homeschooling parents are in the deep throws of planning the school year ahead. I have been there! Picking and choosing which curriculums to go with. Deciding what topics to cover. Pouring through online resources to decide which to...

Do you suffer from “failure” because of perfectionism?

I’ve seen those picture perfect social media accounts. You know them, the ones that make you feel like a failure as a parent! The ones that make you feel like you shouldn’t even bother trying because you’ll never be even close to giving your kids that kind of learning...

Black Walnut Herbal Crafts Ideas for Kids

Last year I wrote about the medicinal side of Black Walnut. This majestic tree is one of my favorite plants to work with for his versatility. Not only does he have superb medicinal uses but he also offers a variety of craft uses as well. This is a huge plus in my...

Rosemary Helps You Remember

When most people think of  Rosemary, they think of cooking. The fact is, many ‘kitchen herbs’ have medicinal value as well! Exploring kitchen herbs is a simple way to get to know medicinal herbs. It’s easy to find them at your local nursery to start a garden. Although...

Delicious Stuffed Daylily Flowers

Have you ever eaten a daylily flower? These beautiful flowers come in a rainbow of colors and I have several in my yard ranging from a deep orangy red to a solid orange to a buttery yellow. These beautiful summery flowers not only brighten the landscape but they are...

Why You Should Give Nettles a Try!

Nettles are so well known, that they need no description; they may be found by feeling, in the darkest night. -Nicholas Culpeper Cursed for his nasty sting, Stinging Nettles, also referred to as Nettles, may take some getting used to but knowing how to harvest and...

Get Ready for Roses!

I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows Quite overcanopied with luscious woodbine, With sweet musk-Roses and with eglantine. William Shakespeare Much poetry and literature has been written around the deceptively beautiful...

Did you know Black Walnut has this many uses?

WalnutGreen hullsHealing, purging, dyeingFew know of thisMedicine You’ve probably sampled Walnuts in salads or cookies. The nut meat is prized for eating and is also pressed to create Walnut butter, which is similar to peanut butter, or Walnut oil, which can be used...

Yes, you can use Poke as a medicinal herb!

Poke root harvest can be hard to doThose roots grow big - almost as big as you.How to dig it? Can it really be done?Your best bet is to wait for a rain, not earth baked in the sunLet that ground get soggy then start to dig it outDig and dig around it, then tug and...

Taking Stock of Burdock

rootslong, thicknourishing, toning, cleansingslow, steady, takes time.tonic Burdock is quite useful. His roots, also known as Gobo, are used as a vegetable. Is it any wonder since he contains Calcium, chromium, cobalt, inulin, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus,...

A Favorite Summertime Flower – Echinacea!

The renowned EchinaceaWhen taken right awayStimulates immunityKeeps a cold at bayThis purple daisy flowerHas roots infused with graceSuch antiseptic powerIt’s coming in first place!Native to North AmericaThe Indians used this herbFor snake bites and rabid dogIts...

The History of Marshmallow

Marshmallow, MarshmallowLots of roots, useful rootsSoothes the inflammation,Since the ancient EgyptiansExpectorant, demulcent,Heals wounds, diuretic When you hear “marshmallow” you might possibly be envisioning that white fluffy treat that is often melted over a...

Mrs. Rabbit Knew Her Herbs (an ode to Chamomile)

vibrant   nodding heads   calming  sedating  soothing   happy relieved peaceful relaxed   chamomile   I’m sure you’ve heard of Chamomile! Peter Rabbit’s mom gave it to him after he got into Mr. McGregor’s garden, ate too much, and came home...

Do you grow Yarrow?

The Native Americans rate Yarrow as one of their most important herbs and with good reason, Yarrow has many uses, as you’ll soon discover! Yarrow is related to Asters such as Echinacea, Dandelion, and Chicory, to name a few. Yarrow’s botanical name is Achillea...

Sunny Calendula

Herbs of sunshine warm and brightHerb of skin care, healer’s delightSuch healing power received from you One of Calendula’s common names is pot marigold. There is another plant known as marigold too, which has a genus name of Tagetes. Though they are not related, they...

All Things Elderberry

Elderberry is so very, extra-ordinary that she must be (surely) part Fairy! Lore abounds for this elegant bush! Folklore around the world connects Elder with protection from evil spirits and bad luck, as well as many nature spirits such as dryads and fairies.  The...

Summer is the perfect time for Peppermint!

Peppermint is good for what ails In the tummies of girls and males If something’s feeling funny Infuse and add honey I promise it never fails! What would summer be without a little Peppermint? Minted ice tea is a popular refreshing drink that many enjoy.  Peppermint...

Loving Lemon Balm

Lifting,Eraser of tension,Mood enhancing herbObliteratesNervousness and  Banishes colds, flus andAnxiety whileLeaving one feelingMellow Lemon Balm is a well loved plant that is grown in gardens around the world. This plant’s sweet, lemony scent and taste are delicious...

Herbal Flower Tea Party

The weather has been just lovely! For most, school’s out for the summer and it’s time to celebrate! So, why not throw a herbal flower tea party to welcome in the summer festivities? It’s fun and easy to create a flower tea party environment! All you need are a lot of...

Caught up in Cleavers

Cleavers growing in the yard,Tangled, sprawling all aroundOh, those itchy, scratchy stemsMake them easy to be found. Cleavers will often find you before you find it! That’s because it has fine hooked hairs that grab onto anything that moves by it, including the fur of...

Chickweed, Starweed, Flower Star

Chickweed, Chickweed, flower starSuch a great healer you are!Harvest in the winter lightHeal our cuts and dry skin quiteChickweed, Chickweed, flower starSuch a great healer you are Chickweed is lush and abundant right now! Do you know about this wonderful herb? It’s a...

3 Ideas to Teach Your Kids About the Herbs of Spring

Spring has sprung, the grass is greenThe Violets bloom, the birds all singDandelions, Chickweed, and Cleavers growWhile peepers peep and rain starts to flowWinter’s done, on the way outFor Spring is here without a doubt. Spring is here! In just a few short weeks,...

Peeling Back the Layers of Onion’s Uses

Onion soothes my chestWhen my lungs are aching fromSpasmodic coughing Are you on Instagram? On Monday, I posted a quick video on some fun ideas to explore the mighty kitchen onion with your kids! Botany lessons and art lessons, all wrapped up in one!  You can check it...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 129 – Lots of Lemon Love

Luscious Lemons,Yellow and round,Ripened by sun,They fall to the ground.From fruits juicy and sour,Medicine is made,When life gives you Lemons,Make lemonade! I just adore anything Lemon, how about you?  In the winter, a cup of hot lemonade is soothing and warming, and...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 128 – 5 Days of Pine

Evergreen refers to plants which retain their leaves year round as opposed to shedding them in the fall and donning new ones in the spring. There are many different kinds of plants that fall into this category and can be trees or shrubs. Most species of the conifers...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 127 – 5 Days of Ginger

Spicy and warming, Ginger is often associated with the holidays: Gingerbread houses and people and Ginger snaps are all part of traditional customs. This warming herb is a carminative, anti-nausea, circulatory stimulant, diaphoretic, rubefacient, antispasmodic,...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 126 – 5 Days of Peppermint

Cool and refreshing, peppermint is a great summertime herb to have around, as it is a natural refrigerant. However, Peppermint is often found hanging around the winter holidays! The coolness is a great representation of wintertime! Peppermint is full of vitamins A and...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 113 – Making Herbal Sodas with Kids

Whew! It’s getting hot out there. Summer is definitely HERE! That means it’s time for some refreshing drinks.  And if your kids are like mine, they like SODA! Great news – you can make a healthier version of soda using herbal syrups and seltzer water! It’s really that...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 109 – Candied Mint Leaves

Got mint?! Besides harvesting and drying them for tea, chopping and adding them to salads, and freezing them in ice cubes, candied mint leaves are a great way to use them up! This is a delightful treat to make with your abundance of mint leaves! You can use any kind...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 107 – The Uses of Yarrow

Do you have Yarrow growing in your garden and you’re curious about its medicinal properties? Read on to learn all about this lovely perennial herb. The Basics of Yarrow Yarrow’s botanical name is Achillea millefolium. She is a member of the Asteraceae family, the...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 106 – Making A Hydrosol With Kids

Hydrosols are a fun activity that you can make with kids. It’s easy and creates a versatile product that can be used in a variety of ways while capturing the essence of the plant. What are Hydrosols? Hydrosols are a product of steaming plant material with water and...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 105 – Determining Shelf Life

I get a lot of questions asking about the shelf life of dried herbs and herbal preparations so I thought I’d take time to answer these questions in this week’s newsletter. If you’ve studied herbs for any length of time, you’ve probably be given numbers for determining...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 104 – Dandelion Drop Biscuits

This is a happy little accident that I created when making Dandelion Fritters – I had too much flour to liquid ratio (because I am bad at following recipes) and ended up with a firmer than usual batter. It’s very versatile and you can add Nettles, Violet flowers and...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 101 – Empowering Your Children

It’s time for some sobering, inspiring talk. My children are fearful. They are 13 and 15. This year, they went to public school for the first time after a lifetime of homeschooling. Living in Illinois, it was required that our schools close for the next several weeks...

[Herbal Rootlets]: 99 – Building A Strong Immune System

This time of the year is especially challenging to stay healthy – after a long winter, the lack of daily fresh air and sunshine providing vitamin D tends to find our immune systems weakened. This is the time of year we often see influenza on the rise. This season,...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 98 – How to Store Your Herbs

If you’re new to herbalism, chances are you have a lot of questions. I completely understand, I still have lots of questions and I’ve been doing this for many years! One of the biggest questions I get about herbs is what is the best way to store herbs? Is one way...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 97 – Fire Cider is Free!

For the past 5+ years, a battle has been happening. An unscrupulous company decided that they wanted to claim the term “Fire Cider” as their own, taking it away from fire cider makers around the world (who had been doing so for many years, even before the owners of...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 95: Throw Your Own Herb Day Party

Saturday, May 4 is Herb Day, a day that is celebrated all around the world. Falling on the first Saturday of May every year, this is a great day to celebrate your love of herbs with friends and family. So why not throw a Herb Day Party? Make some herbal decorated...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 91 – Pass the Cranberry Sauce!

When you think “Cranberry sauce” what comes to mind? Do you envision a gelatinous loaf, globbed out of a can and sliced onto a dainty glass serving tray? Cranberry sauce, for me, has always been up there with fruitcake – something that was served at family holiday...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 89 – Learning About Gravel Root

Commonly called Joe Pye Weed due to a native medicine man who used this plant for typhoid fever and Queen of the Meadow due to this plant’s stunning blooms in mid to late summer, Gravel Root is a plant that is related to Boneset, and previously shared the same genus,...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 88 – Learning About Elecampane

Elecampane is often called Elfwort or Elfdock due to his association with  elves throughout history. Another common name is Scabwort as he was used to heal scabs on sheep. Generally the root is used in herbal medicine although some herbalists experiment with the...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 87 – Learning About Calamus

“Nature is just enough; but men and women must comprehend and accept her suggestions.” – Antoinette Brown Blackwell Known by many common names including Sweet Flag and Bitterroot, Calamus is a plant that has long been revered by Europeans, Asians and Native Americans...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 86 – Let’s Learn About Sassafras

“As a child, one has that magical capacity to move among the many eras of the earth; to see the land as an animal does; to experience the sky from the perspective of a flower or a bee; to feel the earth quiver and breathe beneath us; to know a hundred different smells...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 79 – Choose Your Own Herbal Mascot

“Many young people find botany a dull study. So it is, as taught from the text-books in the schools; but study it yourself in the fields and woods, and you will find it a source of perennial delight.” – John Burroughs The peepers started their call late this afternoon...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 78 – Of Light and Love

  Winter gives me silent hope:Touch the terminal buds on branches.Clear the snow and find green moss below.Watch the sunlight fade, then linger longer.Stand with the strength of evergreen trees.Listen to birds cheeping at the feeder. -Joyce Ruff, The Circle of...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 76 – Learning About Ginkgo

“Time in nature is not leisure time; it’s an essential investment in our children’s health (and also, by the way, in our own).” ― Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder Ginkgo trees are one of the ancients, having been...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 75 – Learning About Gumweed

A huge thank you to Angela Willard for all the great photos of Gumweed! “To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves.” – Mohandas K. Gandhi Gumweed is also known as Gumplant and Resinweed, Rosinweed, Tarweed, Stickyheads and Curlytop Gum...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 73 – Learning About Mugwort

Once I spoke the language of the flowers,once I understood each word the caterpillar said,once I smiled in secret at the gossip of the starlings,and shared a conversation with the house fly in my bed. Once I heard and answered all the questions of the crickets,and...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 72 – Using Your Herbal Vinegars

“There is no one way to become a healer: no particular age and no special way for medicine spirits to come. When the time is right, they come.” -Evelyn Wolfson, From the Earth to Beyond the Sky: Native American Medicine In last week’s newsletter, I mentioned dandelion...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 69 – Trees of Spring

The spring came suddenly, bursting upon the world as a child bursts into a room, with a laugh and a shout and hands full of flowers. – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow I just love this time of year! (I can’t say it enough). The peepers are peeping, the grass is greening and...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 68 – The Meanings Behind the Names

Officinale….officinalis….vulgaris….purpurea….canadensis….nigra….have you ever wondered about the meanings behind the botanical names? Often a mix of Latin, Greek and other languages, what is the purpose of such strange names? Botanical Naming History Botanical names,...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 67 – Learning About Forsythia

“Can we teach children to look at a flower and see all the things it represents: beauty, the health of an ecosystem, and the potential for healing?” -Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder History, Energetics and...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 65 – Calling on Cumin

“It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know of wonder and humility.” – Rachel Carson A popular spice in a variety of cuisines, Cumin has a long standing use in Ayurvedic medicine as well....

[Herbal Rootlets] No. 64 – Making Herbal Salves with Kids

“Children are born with a sense of wonder and an affinity for Nature.  Properly cultivated, these values can mature into ecological literacy, and eventually into sustainable patterns of living.” – Zenobia Barlow, “Confluence of Streams” Kids love to make herbal...

[Herbal Rootlets] No. 63 – Making Herbal Oils

“Once upon a time, children would have learned about the many uses of plants—as food, as decoration, and most importantly, as medicine—from their elders. A wise woman or man who had learned the ways of the plants would have guided children as they discovered the...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 62 – The Benefits of Black Pepper

“Foolish things:A blacksmith who never touches horses, a musician with only music paper, a physician who sees no patients, a theoretical ballet dancer, a pharmacist reduced to counting pills, an herbalist who gathers no plants.” ― Michael Moore, Southwest School of...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 58 – Learning About Motherwort

“If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, then let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it. Perhaps this is what Thoreau had in mind when he said, “the more slowly trees grow at first, the sounder they are at the core, and I...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 56 – The Herbs of Summer

“If getting our kids out into nature is a search for perfection, or is one more chore, then the belief in perfection and the chore defeats the joy. It’s a good thing to learn more about nature in order to share this knowledge with children; it’s even better if the...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 55 – Learning About Feverfew

“There is no one way to become a healer: no particular age and no special way for medicine spirits to come. When the time is right, they come.” -Evelyn Wolfson, From the Earth to Beyond the Sky: Native American Medicine With a name like Feverfew, it might be assumed...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 54 – Learning Plant Families

“Nature’s economy shall be the base for our own, for it is immutable, but ours is secondary. An economist without knowledge of nature is therefore like a physicist without knowledge of mathematics.” — Carolus Linnaeus Chicorium intybus (Chicory), a member of the...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 49 – Of Mulberries and Silkworms

Mulberries have been dubbed a ‘superfruit’ in recent years but herbalists around the world have known of Mulberry’s healing properties long before he was made popular. While the new rage is focused on the berry, the leaves, root bark and twigs all have great medicinal...

[Herbal Rootlets] No. 48 – Garden Tools for Kids

“One of the most important resources that a garden makes available for use, is the gardener’s own body. A garden gives the body the dignity of working in its own support. It is a way of rejoining the human race.” -Wendell Berry The sky is sunny, temperatures have...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 44 – Herbs for Spring

In those vernal seasons of the year, when the air is calm and pleasant, it were an injury and sullenness against Nature not to go out and see her riches, and partake in her rejoicing with heaven and earth.   – John Milton Friday, March 20 is the first day of spring...

[Herbal Rootslets]: No. 39 – Herbal Treats for the Heart

“We are made for loving. If we don’t love, we will be like plants without water.” ― Desmond Tutu This week is all about love and the heart in celebration of Valentine’s day! It’s the perfect time to introduce heart herbs to your kids by making some herbal treats that...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 34 – Herbal Resolutions for 2015

Your deepest roots are in nature.  No matter who you are, where you live, or what kind of life you lead, you remain irrevocably linked with the rest of creation.  – Charles Cook It’s the last day of 2014 and time for reflection on the past year as well as insight for...

[Herbal Rootlets] No. 32 – Fun Herbal Games for Kids

“The physical exercise and emotional stretching that children enjoy in unorganized play is more varied and less time-bound than is found in organized sports. Playtime—especially unstructured, imaginative, exploratory play—is increasingly recognized as an essential...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 29 – 3 Herbs of Thanksgiving

We return thanks to our mother, the earth,which sustains us.We return thanks to the rivers and streams,which supply us with water.We return thanks to all herbs,which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases.We return thanks to the moon and stars,which have given...

Spice Up Your Life (and Cocoa)

Winter brings colder weather which can chill you to the bone. Warming herbs are a great way to beat the chill, keep your internal fire burning and your immune system healthy and fully functioning. Traditional chai recipes are full of warming herbs and spices: black...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 22 – Autumn Herbal Activities

As I write this, there is a chill in the air and the leaves are falling from the trees. As the season starts to wind down, it can start to get harder to get kids outside and exploring herbs. Though most plants are dying back for the winter, there is plenty to do!...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 21 – Learning to Identify Plants

I’d like to welcome all the new subscribers in the past few weeks and to those who were able to take a moment and respond to my questions, I’d like to say thank you! I know your time is valuable and I appreciated every response I get. I am sorry I have not been able...

[Herbal Rootlets]: No. 18 – Herbal fun during the summer

It’s August now and summer is starting to wind down. But, there’s still plenty of time to have some herbal fun! Are the kids bored? Do you find that they are now spending more time playing video games than enjoying the beautiful outdoors? Try out a few of these ideas...

When Life Gives You Violets, Make Jelly!

This time of year, the ground is bursting with Violets. Our Violet yard is brilliant, a sea of purple with a scattering of yellow from the Dandelions. My oldest daughter’s favorite jelly is Violet jelly, so much so that she will spend the hour or two required to crawl...

Wondrous Witch Hazel

Herbalist Susun Weed tells a wonderful story about the creation of Witch Hazel which describes how Witch Hazel blooms in the middle of winter. When all other plants are slumbering, Witch Hazel shows off her beauty with frilly yellow flowers, reminiscent of fireworks,...

Take a Deep Breath, Ahhh! Eucalyptus

Many people associate Eucalyptus with the taste of the commercial Halls Menthol-lyptus cough drops. If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that Eucalyptus can be very opening to the sinuses! However, we don’t need a cough drop full of questionable ingredients to get...

Kids Can Make Fire Cider Too!

  In support of Fire Cider Awareness Week, we here at Herbal Roots zine have decided to share just how easy it is to make fire cider. In fact, it’s so easy that even a kid can make it! But first, a bit of background on fire cider.  The Past, Present and Future of...

Ode to the Oak

The mighty oak! So much lore has been based on this magnificent tree, which can grow to be hundreds of years old, growing slowly and steadfastly. This wonderful tree offers food, shelter, medicine and so much more for both man and the creatures who live in the woods....

Breathing Easy Much Faster With New England Aster

Often referred to as It-Brings-the-Fall by Native Americans, New England Aster has mostly disappeared from use by herbalists of this century though she is now making a comeback. Herbalists such as jim mcdonald, Sean Donahue, Kiva Rose, Lisa Rose and myself have used...

Carefree California Poppy

The state flower of California, this jubilant splash of color across the countryside is more than just a pretty little flower; her medicine has been used for centuries. A member of the Papaveraceae family, California Poppy does not have the habit forming narcotic...

Teach Your Kids to Use Herbs: Part II

“I have a vision on the earth made green again through the efforts of children. I can see children of all nations planting trees and holding hands around the globe in celebration on the Earth as their home and all children, all people as their family.”  – Richard St....

How to Teach Kids to Use Herbs: Part I

“We must take our children into the wild, introduce them to the plants, and teach them of their connection to the earth. In instilling in our children a respect for plant medicine, we not only care for their tender bodies but help pass along the seeds of a tradition...

Slip Sliding Away with Slippery Elm

This month it’s time for a little tree magic! Elm is in the Ulmaceae family. Slippery Elm’s botanical name is Ulmus rubra. He is also known as Ulmus fulva. Other species of Elm such as Siberian Elm (U. pumila) and American Elm (U. americana) are also medicinal and can...

Onion As Medicine?!

Wintertime can be a hard time to learn about herbs up in the Northern Hemisphere. Most plants are still sleeping and will be for a few more months, while we are still eager to learn all about the medicinal side of them. We still try to get outside every day and see...

That’s using your Nog(gin)

This month’s herb is all about Nutmeg and what better way to celebrate Nutmeg than with Eggnog! Nutmeg is often used in sweet, spicy dishes such as custards, pies, cookies and other treats as well as some savory dishes. We traditionally use Nutmeg this time of year...

Not Your Usual Cranberry Sauce

What would Thanksgiving be without the Cranberry sauce? This is one native North American plant the settlers were grateful for. Early settlers learned from the Native Americans to use the berry for treating many problems including scurvy, digestive problems, loss of...

An Apple (Elixir) A Day

Spring has arrived early in our part of the country and with it brought early blossoms of sweet smelling Apple. When people think of the healing side of Apple, they automatically think of the fruit or perhaps Apple cider vinegar. Did you know that this tree member of...

What Heals All and Makes a Great Dye Too?

Ahhhh, Prunella! It’s hard to say that name without accenting it as it’s such a melodical name. So lovely in fact that I prefer to call her by this name instead of the common names of Heal All, All Heal or Self Heal. Prunella vulgaris is her full botanical name;...

Glossary of Terms and Actions

Abortifacient – An herb that can cause a miscarriage and should be avoided in pregnancy. Examples include Wild Ginger Achene – A small dry indehiscent (closed) one-seeded fruit. Examples include Calendula, Dandelion, Sunflower Acidic – Having a pH less than 7. Acrid –...

Just A Spoonful Of Basil Helps The Coughing Go Down

What would summer be without some pesto? Basil is well known for being pared with pasta and Italian dishes but let’s not stop there with his uses! Medicinally, Basil is antibacterial, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, antispasmodic,...

Do You Have Enough Thyme?

Do we EVER have enough time/Thyme? That delicious little culinary herb is such a great herb to always have on hand. Read on to find out why… Thyme is very high in Chromium, iron, silicon and contains lots of calcium, cobalt, magnesium, manganese, riboflavin, selenium,...

Curiosity Crazed the Cat, Rolling in Catnip Calmed Him Stat

Herbs are often pegged for one use. When most people think of St. John’s wort, they think of an herb to treat depression. Echinacea is known as the immune booster. And when people think of Catnip, they picture a cat happily rolling around on the ground, rubbing in a...

An Apple (Elixir) A Day

Spring has arrived early in our part of the country and with it brought early blossoms of sweet smelling Apple. When people think of the healing side of Apple, they automatically think of the fruit or perhaps Apple cider vinegar. Did you know that this tree member of...

Clingy Cleavers Cleanses! (say that 5 times fast!)

Spring has sprung and it is traditionally time for cleansing the body of a winter full of heavy foods. Traditionally, herbs such as Dandelion, Burdock, Chickweed, Violet, Nettle and of course Cleavers were eaten often to help cleanse the liver from a wintertime of no...

Bengay?! No Way, Use Birch!

I’d like to go by climbing a birch tree, and climb black branches up a snow-white trunk. Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more, but dipped its top and set me down again. That would be good both going and coming back. One could do worse than be a swinger of...

Slathered in Seaweed

Kelp and other types of seaweed have long been used medicinally and therapeutically for a whole body healing experience. Kelp is high in Iodine, Vitamin K, Riboflavin, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium and Manganese, as well as a good source of Vitamin A,...

Crafty Clove

Ready to make some fun holiday gifts? Clove necklaces are creative, easy to make and unique. Clove necklaces impart a delightful smell when worn! There are many ways to string them up on a necklace and they will last for years if you treat them well. Over time the...

I Just Dyed!

We have a lot of fun dying silks using herbs. Some of our  favorites are Poke berries and Black Walnuts. It takes about 2 weeks total to do. All sorts of herbs can be used. I’ve used Dandelion blossoms to make a pale yellow, Goldenrod for a deeper...

Practical Primrose

Hear the name Evening Primrose and what do you think of? Evening Primrose oil? Helpful for inducing labor? High in GLA’s? Anything else? There seems to be a lot of silence in the room! Well, this month, I hope we can give you some more ideas on the many wonders of...

Cool as a Cucumber?

This month at Herbal Roots zine we’re all about Bergamot, using it in our teas, in our salads and drying plenty for wintertime use. Bergamot oils, vinegars and honeys line our counters ready to be used as needed for treating sunburns, sore throats, coughs and more....

Just Relax!

Pool parties… Barbeques… Park Outings… Sleepovers… Vacations… Camps… Family Get-togethers… Amusement Parks… Swimming Lessons… Summer can be a bit overwhelming! When it’s time to unwind and relax, have you ever felt so worked up you just can’t? Well, Lavender is the...

Red Rover, Red Rover, Send Clover Right Over!

Peanuts, Carob, Red Clover… …Alfalfa, Astragalus, Kudzu, Licorice, Soybean and Chickpea… What do these plants all have in common? They are all edible. They are all medicinal. And believe it or not, they all are from the same plant family, Fabaceae. Also known as the...

That Stings! The Joys of Nettles

Mmmmm, Nettles! One of my all time favorite spring plants, I love to walk out to a patch, pruners and basket in hand, ready to prune off the vibrant green tops and munch on a few leaves raw. Raw?! Yep! They are delicious raw and once you know the trick, they are...

What’s So Balmy about February?

Winter seems so long and Spring so far away. Wouldn’t it be nice to have some balminess in your life right about now? Cottonwood, commonly referred to as Balm of Gilead, is dropping his resinous buds right now! These heavenly smelling buds and twigs can make all sorts...

Got Cold Feet?!

Has the wintertime chill creeped into your hands and feet, rendering them cold and achy? Cinnamon may be just the herb to get your circulation flowing into your outer extremities and help them to warm back up! Cinnamon is the perfect herb to have on hand for the...

Sage Advice

Sage is great for cooking with but did you know it’s great for medicinal use as well? Sore throats, brighter teeth, healthier gums, enhanced memory, these are just a few of Sage’s many purposes in medicine! He is also great for those who perspire excessively. Here is...

Elderberry vs. Pokeberry

Want to learn more about Elderberry? Buy the Elderberry issue here. Want to learn more about Poke? Buy the Poke issue here. An elderberry bush…this is about 10-12 feet tall.   Notice the giant clusters of tiny berries as opposed to small long clusters of large...

Rosie Tea Party

One of our favorite activities in our house is having a tea party. I can’t think of a better herb to have a tea party with than rose! This herb is so versatile, your entire tea party could be served up with roses, including the fresh flowers to decorate your table!...

Dyeing with St. John’s Wort

I am so excited about how fun and easy it is to dye using St. John’s wort tincture that I wanted to share it with my Herbal Roots zine newsletter subscribers! This is one of the crafts in the St. John's Wort ebook of Herbal Roots zine. Wanna know how to turn this: ...

Make a Herbarium

This is a great project for keeping track of the herbs you learn. It’s easy to carry around and won’t take up much space in your backpack or pocket. It’s great to take along on hikes to identify and collect new herbs too! What you will need: 1 sheet of cardstock or...