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Wild Herb and Foraging Identification is Easy with an App!
If you’d like to learn more about the wild plants growing in your neck of the woods and you don’t want to carry a pocket guide with you, well, you guessed it: there’s an app for that! Here we present just a few options for apps that can help you become a better forager. When…
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The Morel: Nature’s Mystery Mushroom
With its thick, somewhat crooked stem and a cone-shaped top that resembles the crinkled nooks of a walnut shell, a morel mushroom is an unusual find in the woods. It is also a highly sought after delicacy among even those who would not consider themselves connoisseurs of mushrooms. They have a robust nutty, almost smoky…
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Wilderness Therapy: An Effective Option for Teens and Young Adults in Crisis
With greater attention on mental health and emotional wellbeing in recent years, more people are seeking therapy or counseling to deal with life’s ups and downs. In some situations, traditional approaches may not be enough to help a person find their way out of a dark time. The remarkable effects of wilderness therapy programs have…
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Sage: Clarity for Body and Mind
Sage (Salvia officinalis) is a fascinating botanical remedy that has been used by ancient and modern cultures around the globe for a variety of health concerns. From loosening congestion to facilitating relaxation, sage is a versatile herbal remedy to include in your personal apothecary. Sage is recognized by its grayish leaves and purplish-blue flowers, which…
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The 20/20/20 Rule for Protecting Eye Health
The eyes are “the window” through which we experience the world: taking in information, and assimilating it by way of brain activity. By design, the eyes have exceptional endurance but they still need sufficient rest periods, especially from digital input. The 20/20/20 Rule, recommended by optometrists, is a way to give our eyes the necessary…
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Spicy Vegan Cashew Lettuce Wraps Recipe
Things really heat up in August and this easy vegan recipe will be the spice of your end-of-summer/back-to-school gathering. Deliciously nutritious, these lettuce wraps bring together three plant-based proteins: brown rice, spiced tofu, and cashews. The brown rice and cashew add a sweet contrast to the spiced tofu. Though optional, having a tableside bowl of…
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Bilberries: Herbal Remedy Rich in Antioxidants
The “wild cousin” of blueberry, sweet and tangy bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) have been used as a botanical medicine since the early Middle Ages. Tea brewed from bilberry leaves was used to treat imbalances in blood sugar. European herbalists used bilberry as a remedy for bladder infections as well as for stomach and gastrointestinal complaints. In modern herbal…
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Cashews Many Health Benefits
Cashews, although considered a tree nut, are technically a dry fruit with one seed that becomes hard at maturity. Sweet and soft compared to most other nut varieties, a serving of cashews (about 18 whole nuts) is a great source of fiber, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and vitamins C and B. They are low in saturated…
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Kids & Their Devices: Healthier Ways to Manage Screen Time
Adults and kids alike are spending as much as 50 percent more time using digital devices than they did two years ago. In our pandemic-altered digital reality, kids and teens have been most affected by the lure of the screen spending several hours a day using devices for school, socializing, and gaming. While it is…
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Traditional Herbal Remedy: Jamaica Dogwood
Jamaica dogwood (Piscidia erythrina or Piscidia piscipula) has been in use as a medicinal herb since at least the early 1800s. It has been used as a traditional remedy for treating nerve pain, migraines, insomnia, anxiety, and muscle spasms due to nervous tension. More recently, animal studies have shown that bark extracts of Jamaica dogwood have various…
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