In most parts of Ontario, when we take a walk in the open fields from late June to mid-July, sooner or later we are going to find that the air is filled with a strong sweet aroma. A quick search is likely to turn up some common milkweed plants with their large globular clusters of […]

It is estimated that over 200 million people globally (about 35 million people in North America) suffer from at least one of the many forms of thyroid disease. In fact, thyroid problems are increasing so much in frequency that scientists are calling it an epidemic. The incidence of thyroid illness occurs about seven times more […]

While health authorities and TV ads tout the latest drugs for temporary relief from allergy symptoms, natural remedies provide a safer and more holistic solution. According to a report on CBC, “More than one in six Canadians suffer from hay fever, or seasonal allergic rhinitis. Depending on what a person is allergic to, allergy season […]

(The following is an excerpt from The Boreal Herbal: Wild Food and Medicine Plants of the North; Aroma Borealis Press 2011; adapted for publication in Vitality Magazine) Funnily enough, the word “nettle” made its way into the English language as part of the folk expression, “What the nettle!” probably because that is what you say […]

By now, most of you are aware of the drug epidemic that is causing thousands to die each year as a direct result of prescription opiates that include OxyContin, oxycodone, fentanyl, and others. In my view, a much lesser known but more cruel and unusual punishment is the slow but certain death suffered by chronic […]

(Endorsed by the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition) If you are 65 years old, you have a one in eight chance of suffering from significant cognitive decline. By age 80 the chances are that one in two of you will suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia. Conventional medicine has very little to […]

Humans live in nature and nature in turn provides the vital conditions for our survival.  As a result, we are profoundly influenced by nature’s movements and changes due to our corresponding physiological and pathological responses. For example, as the weather shifts within the four seasons, a person’s pulse conditions (including pulse rate, rhythm, volume, tension, […]

(Originally published in Jan. 2023; Updated in Sept. 2025) Yesterday afternoon I turned on CNN and saw US President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. making a huge announcement. They stood in front of the cameras together and issued a warning to doctors and the public that acetaminophen (aka Tylenol) – when […]

Many individuals find themselves frustrated when discussing the integration of natural medicine into their healthcare with their doctors. This frustration partly arises from the educational focus in Western medical schools which emphasize pharmacological treatments over the use of nutritional supplements and botanical remedies. Consequently, many conventional medical practitioners may not be well-versed in the efficacy […]

(Commentary) I first read about the connection between parasites and cancer in the 1995 book entitled “The Cure for All Cancers” by naturopath Hulda Regehr Clark. Based on my medical knowledge at that time I believed that the title represented an outrageous and fraudulent claim. After all, mainstream medicine dismissed the idea that parasites were […]

(Originally published in 2011; Updated in 2025) Peanut butter sandwiches in lunchboxes and “peanuts and Cracker Jacks” at the ball game are things of the past. Whether you’re avoiding allergenic foods to prevent a fatal allergic reaction, or to alleviate skin rashes, itchy throats or gastrointestinal upset, food allergies have a profound affect on the […]

(Originally published in 2021; Updated in 2025) We have just gone through an unparalleled year of severe stress with the pandemic. Many have lost their jobs or have had threats to their livelihoods as a result of bankruptcies, layoffs, sudden health challenges and various government mandates. The end result of all these stressful situations has […]

The body has a built-in need for activation. The lymph system, for example, bathes every cell, carrying nutrients to the cell and waste products away. Yet the lymph is totally dependent on physical exercise to move. Without adequate movement, the cells are left stewing in their own waste products and starving for nutrients, a situation […]

“Life can be hard sometimes” is a sentiment many people share. It’s only in recent years that this sentiment has been taken seriously and given a form. The awareness of clinical depression is at an all-time high, with clear signs helping professionals diagnose and treat those who can’t muster the energy not just to survive […]

(Originally published in 2018; Updated in 2025) Many people know that vinegar and garlic are good for health. I would like to introduce a very good recipe which combines those two ingredients. It is practical, time-saving, and based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) concepts. It can be used for health maintenance and medicine. The recipe […]

(Originally published in April 2008; Updated in June 2025) My husband and I waved goodbye as we watched our son John (not his real name) board the plane, happily joking with his buddies. The year was 1989. John was 19, and headed for what we expected to be a wonderful youth tour overseas  But after […]