When I first started taking herb classes in the mid-1980’s, herbs like lady’s slipper, osha, and goldenseal were being widely taught about and consumed. As herbalism gained in popularity, these precious herbs were sought after, beyond what could be sustainably harvested. Many of them also became very expensive, and were being wild harvested as a way of making money without regard for the long-term impact of over-harvesting.

You don’t have to stretch your imagination far to understand Black herbalism. You’ve likely already lived it. A kitchen with worn counters. A pot that gets used more than anything else in the house. Roots drying on a windowsill. Someone older than you telling you, “Drink this. You’ll be alright.” 

At a Lammas harvest celebration one summer evening, I gazed up at a towering vitex beside a weathered chestnut-board barn. Violet flower spikes were alive with bees. I rubbed a few of the delicate palmate leaves between my fingers and breathed in the earthy scent.

A few weeks back, I wound up catching a “bug” that really took me out. While I’m usually pretty prepared for most things that may come up in my household, I didn’t have what I needed when I needed it. I was in no condition to be making medicine or trying to source it. With a high fever and intense fatigue, it was hard to even think straight, let alone try to guide someone else to find what I needed or make me something.

“Seeing that certain medicines are discovered,”

wrote Paracelsus, physician-alchemist of plants,

“which preserve the human body and its power to recover

from sundry ailments, and which perchance

When we think of bitters, most of us think of taking an extract before eating to get our digestive juices flowing and prepare our bodies to process a meal. While this is most certainly a core part of working with bitters, there is more that can be considered.

This polished mocktail-worthy punch is a twist on the old-fashioned tangy switchel, but with classy balsamic vinegar, hawthorn berries, apples, and sweet and savory molasses layered in for a refreshing yet grounded, nutritive beverage. A switchel, also known as “Haymaker’s Punch” is a drink crafted with vinegar, ginger, and usually molasses and is used as a refreshing drink that also helps with electrolyte balance.

I know that for many folks a drop in temperature marks the start of pumpkin spice season, but for me it signals the beginning of soup season! Although if I am truly honest, it is always soup season in my heart (and in my kitchen). I can enjoy a steamy bowl of ramen, rich French onion soup, or spicy New Mexican green chile stew even in the height of summer. There is just something deeply satisfying to me about a meal that magically transmutes disparate ingredients into one delicious note—and in one pot no less (fewer dishes for the win!).

Imagine you are having a dream where you are soaring through the sky, swimming alongside ancient sea creatures, or revisiting distant memories all while actively participating and shifting the experience within the dream world. This experience is called lucid dreaming! Not only is it an exhilarating experience, but it can also foster creativity, provide emotional release, and help with problem-solving.

As a former football mom, doula, and military wife, I've had my fair share of experiences with the importance of staying hydrated. Whether on the field or in the delivery room, I've witnessed firsthand how dehydration can lead to serious situations. We've all had those days of overdoing the 'fun in the sun', or even just forgetting to drink during a hectic day. It's a mistake anyone can make. Understanding vital hydration helps you enjoy your adventures safely and healthily!

Vitalism has long been at the heart of natural healing traditions. It is rooted in the notion that there is a vital force which animates all Life. “Vital” means ‘essential’, in other words, life and healing can’t happen without it. Key essentials to life are diet, rest, movement, environmental conditions, and the pursuit of one's own unique calling in life.