By Kathy Abascal Adaptogens are remarkable plants. They increase our ability to handle stress, both physical (such as an illness or injury) and mental (such as a difficult job or financial issues), and most of us would benefit greatly by taking them regularly. I was taught that adaptogens will not solve our problems, but instead…
By Kathy Abascal As we move through summer, fleas multiply, and many pets end up with hot spots. Hot spots are skin infections caused by an imbalance of bacteria. As the dog licks an itchy flea bite, the pH of the saliva disrupts the normal skin flora, creating an environment that suits the “wrong” microbes…
By Kathy Abascal Do your ankles sometimes swell? Do you have varicose veins or hemorrhoids? Personal questions, but important ones. Because, if you do, you could end up with chronic venous insufficiency, or CVI. I am sure you know that the heart pumps blood out to the hands and feet. But have you ever wondered…
By Kathy Abascal Blueberry plants are nothing short of amazing. They produce luscious berries that most of us love to eat and are rich in a type of omega 3 fat that we do not get enough of. In addition, blueberry leaves and berries have useful medicinal properties. They grow well in the Northwest, and…
By Kathy Absascal The elders have just started blooming on the Island. Each spring, I am a bit surprised by how many elders grow here, as they only become noticeable when their flowers appear. In the Northwest, we mostly have red-berried elders (Sambucus racemosa). The red berries are not toxic in small amounts, but are…
The nettles are up! All over the island, young nettles a few leaves high are there for the taking. Very soon, they will be tall and gnarly. So, if you live on or near land that has not been cleared and manicured to death, you should go gather nettles soon. Nettles and man have evolved…
By Kathy Abascal The holidays are definitely over, and most of us are now working on trying to recover from our excesses. These excesses usually involve too much sugar, too much of the wrong fats, too much alcohol, and too many late-night meals. The ultimate effects of these excesses vary, but all involve an overwhelmed…
By Kathy Abascal As winter weather settles in, more and more people are complaining of being tired and having sore throats. This could be COVID, of course, but in many cases, it is simply the start of a winter cold. Many respiratory infections begin with symptoms of fatigue and a slight scratchy dryness in the…
By Kathy Abascal I often mention the Eclectic physicians in my articles because of their deep knowledge about medicinal plants. The Eclectics were licensed medical doctors who primarily used herbs and natural principles of healing to treat their patients. They were a strong force in American medicine from the 1830s to the early 1900s, but…
By Kathy Abascal Lobelia is a lovely plant with a gorgeous flower. There are many lobelia species, ranging from the blue L. sylphatica, to the widely used, white-flowered L. inflata, to my favorite L. cardinalis with its dark red flowers. All lobelias (except nursery hybrids) are medicinal. Although it took me quite some time to get over my fear of using…