When I began learning about herbs years ago before I became a naturopathic doctor, mullein was one of the first herbs I made into a medicinal tea. Since I was plagued by frequent coughs at the time, I had decided to try mullein for its well-touted lung benefits. Mullein was a very useful starter herbContinue reading “Gentle Mullein for Soothing Coughs”
Author Archives: drlaurell
Dandelion: Don’t overlook this friend in your yard
Fall is the time to start harvesting roots. Just like we will soon be digging our sweet potatoes out of the ground, it is also time to harvest the medicinal roots. As plants go dormant for the year, they store nutrients in their roots, making medicinal roots more potent in the fall. As far asContinue reading “Dandelion: Don’t overlook this friend in your yard”
Black Walnut: Powerful Herbal Warrior
On our farm on the western edge of the Ozarks, we have several magnificent black walnut trees. This is one of the native Arkansas plants I missed when in lived in Washington State. I came home to visit one fall around this time and actually carried a few of the freshly fallen nuts home withContinue reading “Black Walnut: Powerful Herbal Warrior”
Amazing American Ginseng
September is the beginning of American ginseng season here in Arkansas, or as the old-timers call it ‘sang. We are lucky to have such an amazingly beneficial plant growing nearby, but we need to make sure that we protect it. If you are lucky enough to know a ‘sang hunter or are one yourself, makeContinue reading “Amazing American Ginseng”
Food Sensitivities and Gut Healing
Food reactions come in different forms and depending on the type of reaction, can contribute to other health issues. Everyone knows about food allergies such as the well-publicized reactions some people have to peanuts. These reactions are similar to seasonal allergies but can be more extreme. There are also food intolerances where the person lacksContinue reading “Food Sensitivities and Gut Healing”
Schizandra: Meet this amazing brain boosting antioxidant herb
Schizandra has long been known as an antioxidant, a bioactive compound that helps protect our cells against damaging molecules such as free radicals and reactive oxygen species. A recent study analyzing 70 herbs for their antioxidant potential showed schizandra to be one of the strongest antioxidant. Traditionally, schizandra has been used to protect the liverContinue reading “Schizandra: Meet this amazing brain boosting antioxidant herb”
The Power of Probiotics
We have billions of microorganisms living in our guts and the balance of species of these organisms has a powerful effect on our overall health. Imbalances in gut flora are common due to antibiotics, disease, stress, or diets high in meat and saturated fats. The wrong population of bacteria in our guts can contribute toContinue reading “The Power of Probiotics”
Resveratrol: What is good for the gut is good for the heart
Many of you will have heard about the concept known as the French paradox, specifically how the French consume more fat than Americans but have lower cholesterol levels. While I don’t think there is a simple answer to this paradox, it is widely agreed that a major factor is the consumption of red wine. RedContinue reading “Resveratrol: What is good for the gut is good for the heart”
Chocolate for Heart Health
Since high blood pressure is such a significant and pervasive health issue in this country, I pay attention to the new research on it. I always stick with the basics of a healthy diet, such as one high in veggies and fruits. Many people with high blood pressure need the minerals like potassium that canContinue reading “Chocolate for Heart Health”
Food for Mood
An increasing number of studies are showing how our food choices correlate with our mood. They show that it is important to look at our overall pattern of choices as well as a few particular foods. One recent study showed that people who ate a healthy diet were up to 30% less likely to developContinue reading “Food for Mood”
Dr. Laurell Matthews, ND 