Holistic Health Articles
Herbal First Aid – bites, stings, and poison oak, oh my!
Dealing with common summer bummers. Use these tips to begin building your home herbal first aid kit Bites and Stings Whether it is a tick, chigger, spider or horsefly bite, or a bee, wasp or mosquito sting, your body will benefit by applying a thin paste of bentonite...
TEDx Mendocino: Occupy Your Body
TEDx Mendocino: Occupy Your Body Transcript of Talk: Feb 4, 2012 I don’t know about you but there is so much going on “out there” so much exciting, new information, like . . . TED talks! and all the amazing online creativity, books, art and music. We are now more than...
Allergy Releaf
Amidst the blossom and bounce of spring, you may find yourself dragging about with symptoms of allergies, strange skin reactions and moments of exhaustion. There is plenty of pollen flying round and April showers have brought more flowers, along with grasses and...
Self-Protection in Smokey Times
Wildfires have become more than a seasonal event here on the West Coast. Many people have been exposed to unhealthy air and continue to be exposed for prolonged periods. Over-exposure to smoke causes symptoms such as: watery or dry/red eyes, fatigue, persistent cough,...
Covid Care Part 2
Covid Care Part 2 You have been hearing lots about limiting your exposure to Covid 19, but what about treatment if you do get symptoms? Maybe you are experiencing cough, chills, fever, fatigue, diarrhea, tightening/pain in the chest or discolored toes and you suspect...
Covid Care Part 1
Covid Care Part 1 A common symptom of virus Covid 19 is to cause the body to form copious amounts of mucus that hardens and obstructs airways. The same mechanism that does this may also effect blood vessel walls that can lead to heart attack, stroke and kidney damage...
Beyond-the-Basics Pandemic Preparation
By now most of us are repeatedly washing hands, disinfecting surfaces and practicing social distancing, but there is a lot more we can do to protect ourselves from respiratory viruses. Covid 19 Virus is a reminder of how connected humans are with all living things and...
Rooting into Winter
This time of year, many favorite herbs have disappeared from view and are hiding underground. A few of us have disappeared too, if only to enjoy a little ‘down time’ as the cool, dark, rainy weather beckons us inward. Shifting our activity levels with the change of...
Gently We January
January is a month that embodies the true starkness of winter on the coast. While it may be sunny, much native foliage, has tucked its juiciness under the soil. This natural inclination towards vegetative slumber when the sun draws a low arc across the sky is a sign...
Tis the Season
The damp coastal weather invites an incredible variety of fungal flowers (otherwise known as mushrooms) to pop up everywhere. Though mushrooms grow in soil and were originally believed to be an offshoot of the plant kingdom, recent studies have shown that most fungi...
Fukushima FALLout
Fukushima FALLout . . . The unimpeded outflow of radioactive material from 5 nuclear power plants has not abated, so if you have stopped thinking about it – it’s time to think again as contaminated debris and marine life is pervading the Pacific west coast. Step-up...
July means . . .it’s summer!
July means . . .it’s summer!. . . in the northern hemisphere where long days of sun bring us some of our hottest temperatures. If you live where it’s sweltering, you may also be living where air-conditioning is the primary way to stay cool. In the interest of...
Theta Healing
Tap into the power of theta brain waves to facilitate spontaneous healing. If you are familiar with lingering in those precious moments between waking and sleeping – that is the theta brain state. Our brain produces electrical frequencies, which change according to...
Summer Skin
Our days of longest light – what a delight! Summertime is a time of celebration and a time to feel the sun and fresh air on our skin. Our largest organ synthesizes vitamin D1, is a barrier to pathogens and can release as much acidic waste as one kidney! It is also...
Chronic Poison Oak?
The Short Answer . . . .from Karin I get re-occurring poison oak ever since I had a bad case of it – it may be systemic, how do I keep it from spreading? Whether it is poison oak or ivy, the oils hunker down into the pores of skin and are easily spread by...
Post Pneumonia Care
It seems as if the moment the weather gets cool and damp, people are more susceptible to lung conditions such as bronchitis and pneumonia or flu that turns into pneumonia. Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma, fungi or exposure to particulate...
Favorite Anti-microbial Herbs
One of my all-time favorite anti-microbial herb is the common thyme (Thymus vulgaris). Thyme and thyme again this small, low-growing herb (of which there are many varieties) has shown to pack a powerful punch in dissuading or eliminating viruses and obstinate...
Flourishing Through Fallout:
How to Boost Your Immune System during Radioactive Times The Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan was never certified to withstand a quake greater than 7.9 and was opened in 1970, barely 50 years after the 8.3 Kanto quake. At a magnitude 8.9, the first earthquake of...
Summer Herbs for Kids
It's the growing season for herbs and kids! So whether you have garden beds or potted plants on your front stoop, these herbs are easy to grow. Fresh herbs make good glycerate tinctures that are perfect medicine for children. Include your children in the process and...
Seasonal Support for your Respiratory System
In winter and the quality of our indoor airspace and amount of fresh-air activity breaks we take, greatly affect our overall respiratory health and our susceptibility to illness. Do you inhabit work, school and home environments that are heated, closed to outside air...
Cool Things About Your Kidneys!
Did you know your kidneys are only 5 ounces each, but filter an amazing 47 gallons of blood each day? Kidneys are a water-run waste removal system, so the water you drink is necessary to help them flush waste material out. Urine is 95% water to 5% dissolved substances...
Take a Breath
Spring is here! What could be better than birdsong, longer daylight hours and fresh air to lift our spirits? If you've felt cooped up all winter, the urge to be outside and inhaling the spring air might be stronger than your list of "to-dos". If so, follow your...
Relief for Your Respiratory System
Winter brings us longer nights and shorter days. More time to rest and more time spend indoors as the weather becomes cold and wet. The spaces we inhabit at work, school or home are often closed to proper ventilation, yet filled with the vestiges of whatever...
The Yoga Of Gardening
I have temporarily stopped teaching my vinyassa-style yoga classes for the summer, and in answer to my student's questions "but what do we do?" I have written this article on a form of outdoor yoga that also serves as 'practice'. Summer brings for many of us, longer...
Getting to the Root of Things
This time of year in the western hemisphere, most of our favorite herbs have all but disappeared from view and are hiding out underground. A few of us have disappeared too, even if just socially, enjoying a little 'down time' as the cool, dark, rainy weather has us...
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