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 […]

(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 […]

Whew, the summer heat is on and nobody feels it more than a menopausal woman. Trust me on that. When beads of sweat start to trickle down your neck, and that warm glow becomes a raging fire, you want nothing more than to tear off your clothes and jump in the lake (which would be […]

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 […]

Feeling lethargic lately? Tired when you get up and exhausted by the time you get home at night? Or are you just plain low on energy? People used to call this spring fever, and there was a simple cure for it: a spring tonic. In Europe, at one time it was the custom for every […]

When I was a kid my favorite cookies were grandma's homemade gingersnaps which grandpa and I couldn't resist dunking in our afternoon tea. Other than the delightfully crisp cookies ,or an occasional batch of non-alcoholic homemade ginger beer and a cup of curative brew, the world of ginger – to me – was a small […]

In the cold winter months there is a great way to access fresh, organic greens grown right in your own kitchen – sprouts! To get you started we bring you an excerpt from Steve Meyerowitz's book, Sprouts: The Miracle Food Growing a garden right in your kitchen can bring you highly nutritious greens all year […]

Sores and skin rashes of all types cause us considerable discomfort, but none as much as those that affect the mouth and lips. These sores impact our intimacy, our ability to enjoy food, and our self esteem, and are so uniquely and exasperatingly ‘in your face’! The most common oral sores and rashes are cold […]

Soon after I moved to British Columbia, Canada, I went for a leisurely drive to a town about an hour away, down a winding, scenic lakeside road with stunning vineyards scattered across the countryside. As I neared the end of the road, the intensely fragrant scent of lavender filled my senses, long before I could […]