(Originally published in 2016; Updated in 2025) Now that the warm weather is here, we 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. You name it, it’s bound to happen at […]

(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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Now that the summer holidays are over, many parents are concerned about colds, influenza, 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 of opportunity to pick up a nasty infection and bring it back […]

One of the great things about living in Ontario is the opportunity to experience the yearly cycle of the seasons. Although every season has its own special beauty and important lessons to teach us, many people dread the coming of winter. Some fear the cold, even though Canadian winters really aren’t that severe. Cold is […]

(Updated April 1st, 2021) Now that spring is here, it's great to be able to finally peel off all those layers and get out there to feel the sun and wind on our skin. People in our society tend to spend a lot of time sheltered from Nature in artificial environments. Nevertheless, we can't escape […]

(Updated January 20, 2021) One of the unfortunate realities of life in the 21st century is the increase in occurrence of chronic diseases. The increasing levels of stress associated with our modern lifestyle and environmental toxicity can impact our lives in many significant ways. Of particular concern is the influence of these factors on the […]

The former Covid-19 pandemic created a lot of fear and was taken seriously. Yet potential pandemics have always been a reality of life. We've been living in a bubble for the last century thinking that we have everything under control. Yet neither living in denial or living in fear is useful. Fear not only reduces […]

When clients ask me what they can do to avoid respiratory infections during the winter months, they are often surprised that the first thing I recommend is a good probiotic supplement. Probiotics have been an integral part of my protocol for treatment of respiratory infections for three decades. The use of probiotics has long been […]

The berry season starts with wild strawberries in mid-June and ends with blackberries in late August. When I’m out wandering around in the woods and fields, I’m always grateful when I come across a good crop of berries and can enjoy a handful or two and then carry on, leaving most of them for the […]

(Originally published in 2019; Updated in 2025) Chronic degenerative diseases are increasing at an alarming rate. They are also affecting Canadians at earlier ages than was typical in the past. Of particular concern is the number of people suffering from various conditions characterized by chronic inflammation and pain. Among these, by far the most common […]

June is one of my favourite months. In our part of the world, it is the month when everything is the most green and lush. This is when our temperate woodlands resemble the lushness of a tropical rainforest. Spending time in nature is important throughout the year. Almost every aspect of our culture and lifestyle […]

Valuable Herb is a Threatened Species in the Wild Goldenseal is a plant that was once very common in the deciduous woodlands of eastern North America. It is a Carolinian species that primarily grows south of the Great Lakes, but it was once common in the forests of Southern Ontario. It is primarily the rhizomes of […]

Herbs, Vitamins, Probiotics, and Lifestyle Strategies The spread of the Zika virus, which is capturing headlines around the world, has reignited fear of a potential viral pandemic. Zika is a mosquito-borne virus. One reason for concern is that several related species of mosquitoes which carry this virus are widely established throughout the tropical and subtropical […]

It’s been a long cold winter in this part of the world – apparently the coldest on record for many parts of Ontario and Quebec! As much as I love all of our seasons, winter included, it’s great that things have finally warmed up to seasonal temperatures since mid-April. The lengthening of the days and […]