Body Systems

Stress and its effect on the nervous system was the topic of the day in a recent herb class. One of the areas we focused on was the hidden sources of stress in our daily lives; stressful experiences that have been normalized in our modern routine. Included below are some notes from the class. Sources of Stress Time Our view of time as a culture is one of the primary sources of stress. Cultures that are not tied to a clock or daily calendar are much more relaxed. Clock and calendar time are human inventions and not always helpful. Organic […] See More

During the colder, darker months of the year, we spend more time indoors. This increased indoor time is also when the airborne viruses of colds and flu are most active. One of my favorite health promoting activities during this time of year is to use an ultrasonic diffuser with essential oils. I find this approach effective because the diffused oils are spread throughout a room in the same way as the airborne virus. We can catch a cold or the flu by being in an enclosed space where people are coughing and sneezing. The particles of aromatic oils diffused throughout […] See More

Herbs work in very different ways than modern pharmaceutical drugs. This difference is rarely well explained in books and is the source of much confusion for folks who are new to using herbal medicine. This article comes from my desire to explain and provide some clarity in this area. These Herbal Actions & Categories are explained and applied in depth during our longer herb programs, especially the Foundations of Herbal Medicine. A general outline is provided here. Many of the herbs listed were chosen because they are locally available in the SW. There are many other plants from other parts […] See More