Explorations In The World Of Natural Health
Friends of mine who live near the Sacramento Valley often forage for yerba santa. The plant is surprisingly easy to find. Despite its abundance and a very long history of medicinal use, few people know about the benefits and many uses of yerba santa. Read more
Horsetail is one of my favorite supplements. As one of the world’s best sources of silica, it makes my hair and skin look great. Because it builds collagen, horsetail supplements can help prevent wrinkles and signs of aging. And, even though I can’t see this benefit, horsetail also helps my bones get stronger and reduces the likelihood that I’ll get osteoporosis later in life. Read more
Nature gives us health supplements from a lot of different sources, like plants, fungi and even bacteria. But one of the most interesting supplements – shilajit — doesn’t come from any of these sources. Shilajit is only found on high mountaintops where it is gathered off of rocks. Read more
Looking for the best shilajit supplements? Here is what you need to know about how shilajit supplements are made, shilajit types, Himalayan vs. Russian shilajit, and the best brands of real shilajit for your money. Read more
A few years back, I got sick while traveling in Croatia. My host’s grandma immediately made me a spicy-tasting tea from the root of elecampane to help with my coughing. The elecampane, along with mullein leaf, seemed to do the trick. Even though elecampane has long been studied for its medicinal benefits, the pandemic has caused it to become highly in-demand and a staple product to keep in your first aid kit.
It’s springtime and that means cleavers herb (aka goose grass) is growing all over near my home. Not only is cleavers herb easy to forage, it is also has many health benefits and uses. Here’s what you need to know about cleavers herb to make the most of it. Read more
While living in Peru, I badly sprained my ankle while hiking in the jungle. A local friend gave me mucura – also known as guinea hen weed or anamu – to help with the inflammation and pain. While I can’t say with 100% certainty that the plant helped with the pain and swelling, the science backs it up. Read more
By far one of the coolest looking seeds, sacha inchi is getting a lot of attention as a superfood for weight loss, skin, hair, heart health and numerous other benefits. Here’s what you need to know about the superfood seed and which health benefits are really backed by evidence. Read more
You’ve heard of the Peruvian superfoods camu camu, maca, sacha inchi, and kiwicha. But, with its impressive biodiversity that includes the tall Andres Mountains and Amazon rainforest, Peru has numerous other superfoods – including these which you may have never heard of. Read more
A common weed, mullein has been used for centuries as a natural remedy. Today, mullein is one of the most well-researched medicinal plants with proven health benefits. It contains numerous saponins, flavonoids, glycosides and other compounds. These compounds are what make mullein so powerful in treating earaches, coughs, ulcers, and inflammatory conditions. Read more