A pantry full of herbal vinegar is always a delight, especially ones infused with medicinal herbs which provide nourishment as well as flavor. When I discovered that I could easily make this herbal vinegar at home, I began learning how to use them in soups, marinades, tonics, and even for cleaning my house. Their piquant...
Blog
Energizing Orange Carrot Juice
Today I was doing tons of blog maintenance; editing photos, updating links, answering comments, working on posts. It felt like hours when really it wasn't even noon yet. How did I get so tired? I felt drained and ready to go back to sleep…NOT good! So I thought to myself, what's an easy way to...
All Natural Flea Free Dog Shampoo
We're not out of the woods yet when it comes to fleas and Southern California Weather. While the rest of the country is buried deep in snow, we here in Los Angeles are still having 80 degree days in the "dead of winter". While this is quite pleasant in many ways, there is one major...
The 7 Top Uses of Witch Hazel
I discovered the many magical properties and uses of witch hazel during university. I didn't have a lot of money and I needed something for my acneic skin during those stressful busy times in my life. Witch hazel isn't just for blemishes and oily skin, it's also good for a number of other things you...
Astragalus Chai Tea Panna Cotta
There are few desserts in my book more comforting than panna cotta. It's smooth, creamy, and downright decadent. It's also very simple to make unlike its creamy cousin crème brulee. No blowtorch needed. For this dessert I decided to add some herbal immune enhancing elements to make this dish give colds and flus a run...
Is Vitamin D Deficiency Causing Your Acne?
The link between Vitamin D deficiency and acne is staggering, yet many people are unaware of this fact. Those who have spent the summer soaking up the sun's rays will attest to an improvement in their acne and their overall health. This is not only because of the effects of sunlight on your skin, but...
Super Easy DIY Deep Moisturizing Treatment
Today I want to share with you guys a really awesome and super simple deep moisturizing treatment recipe that is packed with moisturizing goodness, and who doesn't need that this time of year? If your skin feels dry, tight, flaky, looks dull, or just needs some smoothing out, this is the perfect mask for you!...
Is The Caveman Regimen The Crazy Regimen?
Acne. There are a million ways to treat it, heal it, and prevent it. You can do this by changing the way you eat, by using face masks, scrubs, spot treatments, lowering stress, or even by balancing your hormones. I've tried just about everything including many a DIY recipe here and there, but I have...
Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding
One of my favorite breakfast foods has been chia seed pudding. It's fast, simple, and super customizable, not to mention really healthy. Chia seeds have the interesting ability to gel up when mixed with liquid and become almost tapioca-like in texture, it's really quite good actually! If you haven't discovered the wonders of chia seeds,...
The Top 6 Nontoxic Cleansers Every Home Should Have
I love being creative when it comes to making my own products, but did you know that just 6 nontoxic cleansers can clean your whole house? Yep! SIX ingredients. Now, let me tell you why that's amazing for a second. One. Have you looked at the labels of some of your cleaning supplies lately? Can you...
How to Make Ruby Juice
One of my favorite things to do is play around with juice recipes (I've come up with 101 of them already!) during my free time. It's fun, healthy, and keeps me feeling creative even on my most trying days because I can just throw together something yummy, sit back, and drink my fresh juice with...
Chicken and Nettle Soup
Stinging nettle is one of the first plants I learned to identify when I began my studies as an herbalist. It was so exciting coming across it in the canyon near my house and was really the first time I ever realized just how close by real food can be in nature. I was amazed,...
7 Tips for Winter Resistant Skin
Winter is in full swing, even in southern California. While it's not nearly as frigid as other parts of the country, our winters are chilly and dry….bone dry. So how do we keep our skin from feeling itchy, red, cracked, and irritated? Oh, we have a few tricks up our sleeve! 7 Tips for Winter...
Quick and Easy Lotion Bar Recipe
Feeling crispy this winter? I certainly do! I can't tell you how many times I've zapped someone walking by, zapped myself when switching the light, or zapped my dog when giving him a pat much to his surprise. This winter has been really dry and I'm feeling a little chapped around the edges so it's...
What I've Been Up To and a Health Update
Hi everyone! This post is about my resolutions for the coming year. The theme I've chosen for 2014 is "Get Healthy!" So here's what I have lined up. Health Check-Ups! I've been really bad about getting my annual checkups...like... it's been YEARS since I've been to the dentist. What can I say? Those places make me...
The Easiest Ginger Tea Recipe
I've been on a ginger tea kick lately. I've literally been drinking it multiple times everyday for the past week. I have to be honest though, sometimes I just don't feel like peeling and chopping ginger. It's tedious and I just want my yummy tea! Is there an easier, more convenient way to make warming,...
12 Habits Every Wellness Warrior Needs to Know
Are You a Wellness Warrior? So you've begun your journey to vibrant health by eating more fruits and vegetables, getting more sleep, and exercising more, but what comes next? These 12 tips every wellness warrior strives for should be next on your list! 1. Dry Brushing Feeling sluggish, groggy, and unmotivated to get moving? Your...
The Best Ginger Tea I Ever Did Make
It's finally chilly here in Los Angeles! And can you believe that water…WATER….actually fell from the sky the other night?? We have been in a terrible drought and I have to say, I was wondering if winter was going to show up at all. Maybe it will. I hope so. Aside from really loving the...
Exfoliating Make-Up Remover
I've been playing around with makeup recently and since this is sort of a new thing I've been doing lately (I sort of stopped wearing makeup for a few years), I find myself needing a way to get it off my face. It's kind of a problem for me because I hate store bought makeup...
Are Food Sensitivities Giving You Acne?
One of the most annoying, utterly maddening facets of studying nutrition is when you learn about food sensitivities and how they can affect the body. I hate them. With a passion I cannot explain. What's worse is the more you delve into them, the more complex they get. But you know what? Food sensitivities are...
Banana and Oatmeal Oven Cakes
I'm not sure where I got the idea for this simple breakfast, but I'm happy I came up with something a little different to look forward too when going to sleep the night before. I don't know about you, but I have this thing where I can't wait to eat breakfast again the next morning....
Cinnamon Coconut Custard Cake
This coconut custard cake is serious. Like coconut lover's serious. It's soft, decadent, and juuuuust sweet enough to satisfy your sweet tooth. Oh, and it's simple to make. Like seriously easy. Seriously. Sure, you can make it the old fashioned way with your trusty whisk or maybe even a stand mixer. Me? I throw everything...
Delicious Stuffed Cabbage Leaves
I think anyone of ancient European or Middle Eastern descent has an old family recipe for stuffed cabbage leaves. It's a dish that's simple, satisfying, and doesn't cost too much to make…you see, it's peasant food, and I have to say, they sure knew what they were about! Amazing flavors from simple ingredients. Stuffed cabbage...
Chicken Cacciatore Stew
There are many different variations when it comes to this traditional Italian dish. Some braise the chicken before smothering it with a thick tomato sauce, some bread the chicken and then bake it, some use white wine, and some use red. The one thing that they do have in common is they all have similar...
How to Make My Grandmother's Porcupine Meatballs
Imagine my delight when I came across this crinkled note deep in my recipe box. The memory of fragrant tomato sauce simmering on the stove, the buttery mashed potatoes, the huge meatballs spiked with rice, the smile that split my face as a child when I laughed about how they really looked like little porcupines....
Clay and Honey Face Wash for Sensitive Skin
For those of us with sensitive acne-prone skin, it can be a challenge finding a gentle face wash that doesn't irritate or over dry our skin. As you probably already know, most commercial cleansers contain a slurry of emulsifiers and sulfates that strip the skin's natural oils and destroy its natural protective barrier. To put...
How to Make Your Own Herbal Deodorant
This is one of my favorite DIY deodorants that boasts a lovely citrusy-woodsy-green aroma that fights odor-causing bacteria, tones and tightens the sweat glands, and leaves you feeling fresh and clean. Keep it in a small spritzer bottle for quick, easy application when you feel like freshening up! This recipe is so versatile and so...
How to Make Slippery Elm Lozenges
Homemade Slippery Elm Lozenges For Cough and Sore Throat. Slippery elm lozenges are really simple to make, easy for children to help with, and are extremely effective. They can be made with just 3 ingredients; typically slippery elm powder, strong tea, and raw honey, though you can certainly add a multitude of other ingredients to...
Turkish Köfte Soup Recipe
Why is it I tend to crave soup when it's 100 degrees outside? It must be the same reason I crave ice cream when it's freezing...I just can't help it, and I'm sure you'll feel the same once you have tried this soup. Turkish Köfte Soup is a delicious staple enjoyed and beloved in Turkey....
How to Make Preserved Lemons
Preserved lemons are a glorious treat! Their mellow yet sophisticated flavor enhances fish and roast chicken dishes, as well as cut the richness of heavy winter soups and stews. They can brighten all manner of salads, spice up your dips, and even make the most simple pasta dish shine. They're truly a must have in...
How to Make an Herbal Hydrosol
How to Make an Herbal Hydrosol for Beautiful Skin. There is an amazing cohesion that takes place between volatile oil and water when making an herbal hydrosol. It reminds me a lot of the forbidden romance of Romeo and Juliet in the sense that they are forbidden to be together. However for hydrosols, that oil...
Winter Preparations - Fire Cider
The winter months are creeping closer as our last days of summer approach. Our gardens are bursting with the abundance of fresh herbs and vegetables, and in the back of our minds, the thoughts of colder weather make us aware of needed preparations. The summer is the perfect time of year to make your medicinal...
Is That Oil Good to Use for Acne?
Comedogenic or Non-Comedogenic? Is That Oil Good to Use for Acne? There are many oils to choose from when it comes to getting clear skin but it is very important to know which ones are best. Choosing these oils carefully really matters especially if you suffer from comedonal acne, a form of acne caused by...
The Benefits and Properties of Lavender
Lavender has been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians for purification, protection against disease, and for its aromatic qualities. In fact, lavender essential oil is the most used essential oil in the world, and for good reason. Lavender is an unassuming yet powerful herb that helps fight anxiety, insomnia, depression, and the effects...
How to Make an Herbal Decoction
Learning how to make an herbal decoction is a useful skill when dealing with tough roots, herbs that don't contain volatile oils or herbs that need a bit more coaxing to release their medicinal components. They make handy preparations when children or animals need herbal remedies since it's difficult for them to sit still or...
How to Make an Herbal Infusion
Since the beginnings of herbal medicine, cultures around the world have favored tisanes and decoctions as their predominant form of medicinal extraction. It has been only recently (the past 100 or so years) that herbal medicine, in the hopes up keeping up with Western pharmacology, began emphasizing the formulation and use of alcohol and glycerin...
Homemade Skin Brightening Mask
Summer brings tans. Summer also brings hyperpigmentation. Although some people are more prone to getting skin discolorations from frequent sun exposure than others, it's still good to have a trick or two up one's sleeve to fix it when it happens. That's where a good vitamin C mask comes in handy. Brighter Skin with Vitamin...
The Best Tea for Restful Sleep
The summer heat has rolled in and for me, that means less restful sleep! Nothing short of running the air at night brings much relief (although I do have a fan that works really well), but that can be quite expensive even after just a few days. The summer also seems to be a time...
2 Ingredient at Home Microdermabrasion
If you've ever gone to get microdermabrasion done, then you know it costs an arm and a leg and maybe even your first born child to get great results. This stuff's not cheap by any means, but boy is it worth it! When I discovered microdermabrasion about 6 years ago, I was in rapture! My...
The Benefits and Properties of Echinacea
Echinacea has been one of my favorite herbs for supporting the immune system during cold and flu season. Its ability to stimulate the white blood cells in order to fight off infection and viruses is second to none, making it one of my must-have herbs to have on hand in my herbal medicine cabinet. I...
How to Make a Cooling Peppermint Hydrosol
Peppermint is one of my favorite herbs. It's fragrant, delicious, offers great soothing topical and internal medicine, and makes a wonderful cooling hydrosol that's perfect for the summer heat. The Perfect Floral Water for Summer - Cooling Peppermint Hydrosol Making hydrosols is pretty easy granted you have a few simple kitchen tools: • A large...
It's Getting Hot! Citrus Herbal Lemon Water Recipe
Since the Summer Solstice, it's been getting rather toasty here in LA. The chilly June Gloomy mornings are beginning to get dry and hot and I've begun my twice a day watering routine for my little garden. Everything green is getting thirsty which reminds me that I am too! What better way to survive the...