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 […]

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 our attention. Sometimes a plant or animal stands out for some other […]

 For Blood Vessels, Arteries, Joints and a Whole Lot More During the summer of 1984, some friends and I were invited to the cottage of a friend in Muskoka. While there I took advantage of the opportunity to identify plants that were in flower on the property. Two of the plants happened to be herbs […]

There are many chronic health issues that can result from our tendency to overindulge – whether in too much of the same thing or in things that just aren’t good for us. It doesn’t help that our economic system is all about figuring out innovative ways to encourage and exploit this human tendency in order […]

In these modern times, a number of diseases seem to be on the increase, and many of the infectious diseases which we had considered to be more or less wiped out are starting to come back again. These include bubonic plague, pneumonic plague, anthrax, tuberculosis, and others. A number of them are demonstrating resistance to […]

To Bolster Your Defences 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 individuals. The media has been full of stories about the […]

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 students attending my field workshops. Most people […]

Burdock root has many important medicinal uses. First and foremost, it is an excellent depurative or detoxifying herb. As a result it benefits any chronic inflammatory disease of the skin, muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints. These include acne, eczema, psoriasis, gout and rheumatoid arthritis. Burdock also reduces congestion of the liver and gallbladder, improves digestion […]

This has been quite an unusual spring so far. It has been much sunnier and warmer than is typical for this time of year, as were February and March. In fact, this past winter was the warmest and driest on record for Ontario. On the positive side, it’s been great for outdoor activities. On the […]

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 physiological mechanisms that enable us to remove those waste products from our bodies before […]

Probably the most common men’s health issue that I’m asked about in my practice is inflammation or enlargement of the prostate. Sadly, these and other kinds of reproductive conditions are on the increase with each successive generation, affecting men at an earlier age. The good news is that most prostate problems can be prevented, and […]

Prepare Yourself for the Coming Plagues – Without the Use of Drugs 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 […]

Excellent Spring Tonic for Circulation 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 […]

It always shocks me how many people hate winter. As a Canadian, to hate winter is to condemn ourselves to feeling miserable a good portion of the time for four to five months of the year. Personally, I love all of the seasons. Every season has its beauty and its lessons to teach us. I […]

Ease Your Way into Autumn with this Soothing Herbal Medicine 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 […]

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. Except for the occasional wildflower, everything […]