Herbal medicine is found around the world and is still used by many societies as a primary form of healthcare. Both Western Herbal Medicine and Chinese Medicine (CM) utilize herbs to maintain vitality, but their philosophies and classifications differ significantly. In Western herbal medicine, tonics are herbs used to tone and strengthen the body. In CM, however, tonic, or more accurately, "supplementing” herbs serve a broader function, working to balance the body's vital energies, including qi, blood, yin, and yang. This article will clarify the distinctions between Western tonics and CM supplementing herbs, providing a deeper understanding of their unique roles. It will also explore five key Chinese supplementing herbs. 

I’m not going to lie, my excitement anytime I encounter a slushy or blended beverage on a menu is almost childlike. I suppose I could try to play it cool (no pun intended), but hey, it’s the little things, right? Here at Mountain Rose Herbs, we are always brainstorming ways to incorporate herbs into beloved recipes and with more people looking to reduce or replace alcohol, I decided to make a slushy mocktail! I got to thinking about which herbal flavor profiles would lend themselves best in a delicious frozen bevvy. It didn’t take long before I landed on our orange cream rooibos tea blend. Using this blog for homemade creamsicles as inspiration, I set out to craft an herbal orange cream mocktail slushy.

I’ve always been curious about dish soap bars. As a person who tries to reduce single-use plastics in my home, dish soap was one of the areas that needed some work. In full transparency, I had the same doubts I had when I made my homemade liquid laundry soap with soap nuts. Luckily in both cases, I was wrong and can once and for all ditch another source of plastic in my home!

Many years ago perched on a damp wooded hillside while mushroom foraging, I was struck with a simple yet profound lesson: Nature’s diversity is its might. Quietly kneeling on a soft bright green moss to closely observe the tiny fruiting body of a local fungi species, I felt hope.

As the new year approaches, many of us begin to think more about our health and goals. An increasingly popular practice is starting the year with "Dry January," meaning that alcohol is not used for the month of January. Fortunately, if you find yourself wanting to enjoy tasty beverages, you can still experience the social and stress-supporting aspects of drinking with herbal mocktails.

There's a special kind of comfort that comes from a steaming bowl of soup, especially when it's crafted with ingredients designed to support your immune system. Soup can be much more than just a cozy meal; it can be a nourishing elixir packed with essential nutrients. By incorporating herbs and fresh produce, you can create a flavorful dish that not only warms you up but also fortifies your body's defenses. Let's delve into the art of making an immune-supporting soup, blending taste and wellness into one delightful pot. 

It’s that time of the year when I take to my crafting studio and come up with my annual lip balm creation. This time around, I pulled some inspiration from our new seasonal release tea, Mint Patty, and decided to craft a “Mint Chocolate Chip” blend for gift-giving. After all, I have never once gone wrong when combining chocolate and mint!

Some of my fondest memories are centered around shared meals. My fiancé and I host dinners at our home quite frequently, and we find that it’s the little extra efforts we put in that make people feel special and pampered during their visits. One fun thing I started to include on the table are colorful finishing salts. I love to bring the powers and vibrancy of herbs to the dinner table. Not only do finishing salts add fun flavors, but they are also a good conversation piece. Their uncommon beauty piques curiosity and allows me to share my love of herbs when my guests ask, “What’s in the shakers?”

Each holiday season, I create new recipes to give as homemade gifts. My goal is to come up with crafts that are scalable, promote self-care and wellness, and are unique and useful. This year, I decided to create a bath bomb set themed after two of my favorite forces in the sky; the moon and sun. These recipes call upon the calming and reflective aspects of the moon and the uplifting and energy-giving qualities of the sun. Both recipes are created with skin-loving herbs and essential oils to help one settle into a restful slumber or bring more life and energy to the body.  

Each year, when I make my holiday gift list, I aim to meet a set of criteria. Offerings that are thoughtful, personal, and useful are amongst the most important to me. I have generally found that homemade gifts are more appreciated than things I can find in mass quantities at any big box store. Small-batch DIY gifts also allow customization, making them personalized for your beloved recipient. It can also help to keep waste out of landfills.

The connection between the moon's phases and the menstrual cycle is rooted in various cultures across history. This connection is grounded in the observation of natural rhythms and cycles, which were often personified and mythologized to explain and connect human experience with the divine and natural world. The word menstruation derives from the Latin and Greek word for moon, mene.