Articles by Michael Vertolli, CH
The Best Herbs & Vitamins
A major health concern that has come to the forefront in the last decade is the evolution of new varieties of viruses. It is believed that some of these viruses could potentially contribute to epidemics that would be life-threatening to some... Read more »
Red Clover
Late spring is an amazing time of year. Here in Ontario, June tends to be our greenest month, when the fields and forests have a lushness that almost resembles that of a tropical climate. Spring is also the time of year when I get a new group of... Read more »
Herbs for Cold and Flu
One of the great things about living in Ontario is the opportunity to experience the yearly cycle of the seasons. With winter on its way, I’m looking forward to sitting in the woods after the first snow fall and enjoying the incredible silence... Read more »
SPRING DETOX
I predict that the major challenge of the 21st century is not going to be the economy or terrorism. Rather, it will become increasingly apparent that our greatest challenge will be how eight billion or more people can live on this planet without... Read more »
UTERINE FIBROIDS
In the increasingly toxic and stressful world of the 21st century, the occurance of many chronic health conditions continues to rise. The negative elements of our modern lifestyle and environment can impact our body in many important ways.
Of... Read more »
HAWTHORN: HERBAL ALLY FOR THE HEART
In a temperate climate, summer is traditionally a time when we spend more time outdoors and are more active. For many people, it’s also a season when they try to initiate some kind of exercise program. A good exercise program is an essential... Read more »
ANGELICA
Anyone who likes to spend time in nature comes to appreciate the amazing diversity of life on this planet. Although every living thing has its own unique beauty and purpose, sometimes we come across something that really jumps out at us and demands... Read more »
HERBS FOR IMMUNITY
In the last couple of years there has been increasing concern about the potential for epidemics of new infectious diseases. Looking back on the last year of SARS, West Nile Virus and mad cow disease, we can see that the danger is real. Due to the... Read more »
CLEAVERS
March is an important time of transition in Ontario. Winter is finally beginning to wind down and spring is just around the corner. Most of us have long forgotten that it was quite warm until just before Christmas. Winter seems like it has been... Read more »
HELP FOR THE THYROID
Many of our body functions are controlled by hormones. These are one of several classes of substances that allow the different parts of our body to communicate with each other. Most hormones are produced by endocrine glands which release hormones... Read more »
COMFREY
When European settlers came to Canada, out of necessity they often carried few possessions. So they could only bring what was most dear to them. Once they arrived, most of them had to become farmers, if they weren’t already. Knowing that there... Read more »
MARVELLOUS MILKWEED
When we take a walk in the open fields in July in most parts of Ontario, sooner or later we are going to find that the air is filled with a strong sweet aroma that is quite amazing, although it can be overpowering at times. A quick search is... Read more »
Coltsfoot - Friendly Neighbourhood Herb
It’s late March and I’m in front of my computer working on an early draft of this article. Periodically my eyes get tired of staring at the screen and I look out the window to give them a rest. Outside, winter is starting to retreat. March has... Read more »
The Role of Herbs in Treating Cancer
Of all of the afflictions that plague humankind, there is none that is associated with greater fear than cancer. No matter how strong-willed or optimistic we are, there is always a part of us that interprets the diagnosis of cancer as a death... Read more »
Goldenseal
As an herbalist, I am painfully aware of how important it is that the herbs I use and recommend are harvested and grown in an ecologically sound manner, both to ensure that they are available for future generations and out of respect for the... Read more »
ABCs of Immunity
One of the more interesting developments of the early 21st century is that our health care system claims to have embraced preventive medicine. Apparently, if we want to stay healthy all we have to do is quit smoking, lose weight, wash our hands a... Read more »
Cholesterol Cure
During the recent election campaign the various party proposals on health care clearly indicated that none of the parties have the remotest idea how to save and improve the delivery of health care in Canada. Whether it be to hire more doctors,... Read more »
Thyroid Therapy
Stress is something that we have learned to accept in modern Western society. It has become a way of life. For example, the technologies that are supposed to make our lives easier are actually accelerating our stress load. It began with answering... Read more »
English Thyme
I have often written about how some of the most incredible healing herbs grow right under our feet. Knowledge of these herbs is sometimes lost or forgotten because the popularity of herbs in our consumerist society is largely market-driven. There... Read more »
Healthy Weight Loss
I am often asked what I believe to be the most important recommendations for achieving, maintaining and optimizing our overall level of health and well-being. Although this is a very complex question and any answer will inevitably be a gross... Read more »
Sun Savvy
Summer is a great time of year. Days are long, everything is growing and changing at an incredible rate, and the sun is shining. This is when we spend a lot more time out in the fresh air and sunshine.
In Europe back in the Middle Ages, fresh... Read more »
Herbs for the Mind
September is a great time of year. Summer is winding down and fall is around the corner. The worst of the midsummer heat, humidity and smog has passed, as have most of the biting insects. It's a great time of year for a long hike in the woods or... Read more »
Echinacea Revisited
October is a month when I spend as much time as I can roaming through the wild spaces. It's the last opportunity that I have to see most of my plant and animal friends before their long winter sleep. From late October through November, after the... Read more »
Anti-Inflammatory Herbs, Nutrients, & Lifestyle Changes
Governments and proponents of mainstream medicine never seem to tire of telling us every couple of years how (thanks to them) the average lifespan of Canadians is continuing to increase. Apparently, the odds are that those of us alive today will... Read more »
Prescription for a Healthy Liver
March is a time of transition. The days are getting longer and winter is gradually giving way to spring. The spring equinox, which this year in our time zone occurs on March 20 at 7:08 pm (the calendars say March 21 because the equinox is at... Read more »
Heavenly Horsetail
I enjoy every season, but as a student of nature and a herbalist I have to admit I love spring the most – observing the gradual return of birds that flew south for the winter, and watching all of my plant friends awaken from their winter slumber... Read more »
Summer First Aid
Now that the warm weather is here most of us will be spending more time outdoors, playing, working or just hanging around. All of this outdoor activity is not without its perils. Cuts and scrapes, bites and stings, bruises and strains, sunburn;... Read more »
Red Raspberry
June is an amazing month in Ontario. It tends to be the time of year when everything is incredibly lush and at its greenest. Life radiates intensely, no matter where we look. As an herbalist, this is when harvesting herbs goes into high gear. The... Read more »
Back to School Immune Boosting for Kids
Now that the summer holidays are over, many parents are concerned about colds, flu and various other “germs” that their children will be exposed to during the school year.
Sitting in a classroom all day with a bunch of other kids provides plenty... Read more »
HERB FEATURE: Spotlight on Yellow Dock
Now that the fall colours have passed their peak and most of the leaves have fallen, things are going to look a little barren until everything starts growing again in April. This is a time of rest for the plant people. But it is not yet a time of... Read more »
Heal Your Thyroid Naturally
Canadians, like members of most Western societies, are living longer and there are those who would like us to believe that this is largely the result of the many medical advances that have taken place in last century. Although there is probably... Read more »
Adaptogen Herbs
Living in Ontario, by the time March comes around it can sometimes seem like winter is never going to end. I love winter and have to admit that I actually feel a bit sad when the last of the snow is melting. I couldn’t imagine living somewhere... Read more »
Hawthorn Herb Feature
Now that spring is in full swing, I am blown away by the incredible diversity of plant life that grows all around us. I remember when I was a child wandering around in the fields and woods, it seemed as if I was surrounded by a sea of green.... Read more »
Staghorn Sumac
One of the great things about summer is the incredible bounty of wild foods that are available. By far the most popular are the wild fruits because they are easy to recognize and taste great. In the northern temperate regions, most indigenous... Read more »
Lemon Balm
September is a time of transition. In the natural world, it is the transition from summer to fall. The days are getting shorter and the sun is lower in the sky. Although the last days of summer can sometimes produce some pretty hot weather, in... Read more »
Spotlight on Shepherd’s Purse
Now that spring is here, I find it exhilarating to go for a walk each day and see all of my plant friends popping out of the ground or opening their leaves. Things happen so fast at this time of year that, if we don’t get out for a day or two, we... Read more »
Herbal Essentials for Outdoor Living
Now that the warm weather is here most of us will be spending more time outdoors, playing, working or just hanging around. All of this outdoor activity is not without its perils. Cuts and scrapes, bites and stings, bruises and strains, sunburn;... Read more »
Natural Protection from H1N1
There has been a lot of hype in recent years about the potential for a global viral pandemic. SARS, avian flu and West Nile virus are examples from the recent past that could have had far worse consequences than what actually occurred. Now it’s... Read more »
Herbal Allies for Spring Liver Cleansing
One of the most important factors that contribute to the many health problems which we suffer from is toxicity. Our body produces its own toxins in the form of metabolic waste products. Our long term survival has required the evolution of... Read more »
