“Whereas there has long represented love, friendship, peace and the devotion of the American people to their country…that the flower commonly known as the rose is designated and adopted as the national floral emblem of the United States of America.”  …. the Joint Resolution of the Senate and House of the 99th Congress Acting on […]

The International Herb Association named the genus Origanum “Herb of the Year” in 2005. This put them in very good company. Venus, Greek goddess of love, adored sweet marjoram – an Origanum – and grew it on Mount Olympus, naming it joy (ganos) of the mountains (oros). When I learned this, everything I felt and […]

The miracle of growing plants from tiny seeds is one of the fundamentals of human existence on planet earth. We depend upon plants for our food, oxygen and medicines. Without them we would not be here. And so the amazing phenomenon of seeds sprouting from tiny dormant capsules into small plants and then maturing into […]

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 […]

Based on principles as old as the Sanskrit literature of ancient India, the modern chakra garden provides a healing sanctuary where emotional, mental and physical relief may be contemplated. Chakra is the Sanskrit word for wheel, disc or circle. And like the spokes of a wheel, chakra has generally come to mean the radiation of […]

The arrival of spring always brings the urge to detoxify the body as an annual ritual and fresh start. Many people take it upon themselves to do juice or water fasts to cleanse their systems, with some adding in colonic irrigations or enemas. This does provide some benefit for enhanced liver detoxification and removing winter’s […]

(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 […]

When European settlers came to Canada, out of necessity they often came with very few possessions. They could only bring what was most valuable to them. Once they arrived, most of them had to grow their own food. Knowing that there would be a limited availability of seeds for planting in their new home, they […]

“There is nobody who, having a garden, shouldn’t plant a great number [of black currant bushes] for the needs of their family,” wrote the Abbé P. Bailly de Montaran in 1712. And he added: “Black currant is a fruit that promotes long life in human beings.” One of the most interesting things about herbal medicine […]

(Originally published in 2017; Updated in 2025) Relax and take cheer; Lemon Balm is here. This refreshingly humble member of the Mint family (Melissa officinalis) is often considered to be a weed. Yet it is a surprisingly hip and helpful herb. Aromatherapists use its essential oil to comfort people such as the terminally ill or […]

(Updated April 2025) During the fall and winter months when the days are shorter, we tend to stay indoors and be more sedentary. Our bodies begin to build up layers of insulating fatty tissue to protect us from the cold. When spring arrives, a shift occurs and our natural tendency is to burn off the […]

Ayurveda is a holistic system indigenous to India and practised worldwide. The word Ayurveda is a Sanskrit term meaning "science of life." Ayu means "life" or "daily living", and Veda is "knowing". Ayurveda was first recorded in the Vedas – which are ancient Hindu scriptures. Widely practised in India, this holistic health approach encompasses the […]

Summertime is finally here and hydration is key to enjoying the season with optimum health. On days when it’s hazy, hot, and humid I turn to my favourite cool herbal beverages for refreshment. I hope you'll enjoy these tasty recipes and learn how easy it is to make herbal iced tea preparations.  These are some […]

Most people who use herbs and other natural remedies have certain favourites that they rely on when needed. However, one place often overlooked as a source of healing remedies is the kitchen cupboard. It’s good to know what healing tools we have available to us because we never know when we are going to need […]

Cleansing tonics are an ancient rite of spring that reflects the season’s central theme of self-renewal. By definition, a tonic is an infusion of herbs that invigorates or strengthens the system. Tonics often act as stimulants and alteratives as well. Taken either hot or cold, tonics restore tone, purify the blood, and act as nutritive […]

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. My anticipation begins with the return of red-winged […]