Many popular New Year’s resolutions involve being healthier, and lots of people kick this off by doing a whole body cleanse. Because we live in such a toxic world, I want to encourage these efforts by writing a series of blogs this month about detoxification support. This week I am starting with the basics: dietaryContinue reading “Detoxification Support Part 1: Dietary guide to aid detox”
Tag Archives: inflammation
Enhance Digestion and Absorption with Black Pepper
This ubiquitous spice on nearly every table in America is for more than just flavoring. Black pepper actually increases your ability to absorb nutrient. Black pepper stimulates the activity of the digestive tract by increasing the production of digestive enzymes and supporting normal gut motility. Black pepper also is a circulatory stimulant so it increasesContinue reading “Enhance Digestion and Absorption with Black Pepper”
Vitamin C: Powerful Protector
For colds, most people reach for vitamin C to help them get back on their feet sooner. They might chose it because they can tell it helps them feel better, or they might have heard about one of the numerous studies supporting its use. Most studies show that vitamin C reduces the severity of coldContinue reading “Vitamin C: Powerful Protector”
Essential Oils for Cold and Flu Season
It is that time of year again. The cool weather is hitting us and I have been seeing more people with colds and other contagious illnesses. One of my strategies to stay well when interacting with sick patients is to use antimicrobial essential oils like peppermint and eucalyptus. While many essential oils have antimicrobial benefits,Continue reading “Essential Oils for Cold and Flu Season”
Refresh and Fight Stress with Holy Basil Tea
People sometimes ask me if I could grow only one medicinal herb what would it be. My answer is Holy Basil, because it has so many useful medicinal actions and it is very easy to grow. Holy Basil is one of the many herbs that help us cope with stress, but it is easier toContinue reading “Refresh and Fight Stress with Holy Basil Tea”
Rainbow of Antioxidants
I often come up with the ideas for my blogs while working in my garden. This one started with a very simple thought: I love purple. I was admiring the purple cayenne we are growing this year. They have that lovely deep purple like eggplant. We are growing several other purple varieties in our gardenContinue reading “Rainbow of Antioxidants”
Wristful Thinking: Natural care for aches and sprains
Those of you who regularly read my blog might have noticed that I didn’t have one last week. That is because I sprained my wrist last Wednesday and it was still too painful and inflamed last week to type. I seem to be recovering quite well and wanted to share with you some of thingsContinue reading “Wristful Thinking: Natural care for aches and sprains”
Basic Herbal First Aid
During the summer, we tend to be more active, but as my legs can attest, we are also more prone to injuries like burns, cuts, bites, and poison ivy. So, here are some of the natural first aid remedies that I always keep around my house. Arnica montana, both oral and topical, is the firstContinue reading “Basic Herbal First Aid”
Cooking Like a Farm Wife
Recently my husband asked me why I hadn’t made a certain dish in a while. My answer was that I was trying to cook like a farm wife by focusing on the ingredients from our farm, whereas the dish he wanted featured spinach, which I don’t have great luck growing. My husband and I runContinue reading “Cooking Like a Farm Wife”
The Power of Green Tea
As well as being a wonderfully tasty beverage, green tea contains fantastic compounds that can help prevent many common health conditions. Green tea comes from the same plant as black tea, Camellia sinensis. The difference, however, is that green tea is blanched before drying, while black tea is allowed to oxidize, effectively converting many ofContinue reading “The Power of Green Tea”
Dr. Laurell Matthews, ND 