Michele Collins, RH (AHG), MPH When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other. ~Chinese Proverb This is one of my favorite quotes because it emphasizes how important it is to feed the soul, as well as the body. I would make one minor adjustment and change the flower from lily to peony (the flower pictured above), my favorite flower. I became an herbalist because I have always been inspired by plants. And as they inspire me, the Continue Reading
An Ode to Weeds: A Profile of Three Powerful Plants
Michele Collins, RH (AHG), MPH Everywhere I look around me, it seems, nature is vividly, casually displaying her rich abundance of wares. What strikes me most is that the plants growing in such abundance are what most people think of as "weeds." Plants that many people try to banish from their grassy yards, usually with chemicals. What fascinates me most are the plants that sprout up through cracks in the sidewalk or in uninhabited spaces or on the side of the road, without rich soil to sink Continue Reading
Making Pesto with Purple Dead Nettle
Michele Collins, RH (AHG), MPH Nature is so extraordinarily abundant, and Spring is one of the best times of year to revel (yes, revel!) in that. I am very grateful that my lawn has not seen pesticides or chemicals definitely by me and my husband and most wonderfully not by the previous owner. Right now, the front yard is a glorious sea of purple, thanks to the wild violets. Witness the majesty below: Another plant that grows in profusion in my yard is one called purple dead Continue Reading
Tonic Herbs for Radiant Health
Andres Vergara, M.Ac., L.Ac. and Michele Collins, RH (AHG), MPH In Chinese medicine and Taoist traditions, there is a rich and nuanced understanding of how herbs can be used to prevent disease and promote radiant health, in much the same way we might use vitamins in the west. These herbs are referred to as tonic herbs or adaptogens because they can be taken regularly and consistently, as a result, often used as super foods. These herbs promote health and longevity and help the Continue Reading
Herbs for Emotional and Spiritual Health
Andres Vergara, L.Ac., M.Ac. and Michele Collins, RH (AHG), MPH Herbs can work on many levels in the body, one of which is the physical. However what many people may not be aware of is that you can use herbs to support your emotional health, your mental health, and your spiritual health. In several previous posts, Michele has written about the multiple-level healing properties of plants such as peony (Paeonia lactiflora), mimosa (albizia julibrissin durazz), and poke root (phytolacca Continue Reading
Treating Cold, Asthma, and Allergies with Herbs and Chinese Medicine
by Andres Vergara, L.Ac. and Michele Collins, RH (AHG), MPH On the January 29, 2013’s edition of Holistic Healing with Herbs and Chinese Medicine, we discuss the common cold, asthma, and allergies. We presented the causes of these conditions from a Chinese medical perspective, as well as how they can be treated and prevented with food and herbs. We are summarizing that information here. Common Cold What is a cold? In Chinese medicine the explanation of why someone Continue Reading
Herbs and Foods to Support Metabolism and Quell Sugar Cravings
by Michele Collins, RH (AHG), MPH and Andres Vergara, L.Ac., M.Ac. On January 22nd's internet radio show, Combining Science and Chinese Medicine for Sustainable Weight Loss, we (Andres and Michele) talked about the role the spleen and kidneys play in metabolism in Chinese medicine. Keep in mind, though, that we are not referring to the literal and anatomical kidneys and spleens alone. Yes those organs themselves are included, but they are actually the gross manifestations, two of 5 of the Continue Reading
Celosia – Coxcomb – Yi Guan Hua Herb
This is such an interesting and unusual flower. It's thick velvety fanlike petals look out of place when you see it in a garden, as if it's thick velvet exterior should be upholstering a chair in your living instead. This one is growing in the side garden between me and my neighbor's house, sprinkling the area with it;s luscious richness. I love that she is not simply a pretty face, beautifying a garden space, but that she is a strong medicinal herb in her own right as well. In Chinese she is Continue Reading
Poke Root – Phytolacca Americana
Poke root and I have been well acquainted with each other for almost my entire life. We met quite unexpectedly for the first time when I was 2 years old. I was playing outside with my older sister and a couple of family friends who were slightly older than my sister (all older than me). For fun (theirs not mine) they fed me poke berries (widely considered to be poisonous). My mom and parent’s friends rushed me to the emergency room where the doctor had to decide whether or not to Continue Reading
Learning about the Healing Properties of Individual Plants
In this blog, I have been writing about individual herbs and the ways they help the physical, the emotional, and the spiritual body heal. There are several different ways that I learn about individual plants and their healing properties. One of the first things I do is I read all I can find from as many different sources and as many different perspectives so I can learn more about how a western herbalist, Chinese herbalist, homeopath, a practitioner of flower essences uses it and Continue Reading