What Are Digestive Bitters?

Hands on stomach in heart shape

Digestive bitters have traditional roots as medicinal remedies prepared from bitter plants. Typically used to treat digestive ailments like gas, bloating, and cramps, digestive bitters help promote general digestive health. In this post we will cover everything you need to know about the natural digestive aid known as bitters including:

Read More

Spignel (Meum athamanticum), a Forgotten Medicinal Plant

Spignel Meum Athamanticum plant

Spignel is an old medicinal plant largely forgotten today. There hardly exists any clear reference to spignal in most herbal books of this century. Despite scant recognition today, the history of spignel root includes active appreciation by ancient physicians.  Records of meum athamanticum include recommendations for treating urinary disorders, stomach complaints, joint complaints, and mild…

Read More

Chickpeas, a healthy nutrient bomb

Benefits of Chickpeas

The many health benefits of chickpeas should come as no surprise. For over 8,000 years chickpeas have appeared in cuisines spanning all cultures.  As a food, chickpeas or chick peas (Cicer arietinum) are ancient,  and they contain lots of proteins, minerals and trace elements. They are rich in B vitamins and fiber, making them a perfect choice…

Read More

The Gut Brain Connection

The Gut Brain Connection

The deep connection between our brains and our guts reflects the concept of interconnectivity. We talk a lot about Hildegard of Bingen’s belief in the interconnectivity of all things in the cosmos.  Her understanding of a micro and macro universe, both simultaneously existing within and around each of us.  The concept of interconnectivity helps resolve our…

Read More

How to make Ginger Tea, but avoid these mistakes

how to make ginger tea avoid these mistakes

When it comes to the question of how to make Ginger Tea, there are a handful of common mistakes that limit the efficacy of this age-old remedy. Few herbal remedies work as well as hot ginger tea for treating symptoms of the common cold. Here’s what to look for to get the very most out…

Read More

Vervain (Verbena): a forgotten medicinal herb 

vervain health benefits

Vervain has a long history as a medicinal herb across many different cultures. We will explore the healing powers of vervain, the many ways you can use vervain as a healing plant, and how to make vervain tea. Read on to learn how this lovely flowering medicinal herb improves health. What is Vervain or Verbena?…

Read More

Health Benefits of Peppermint

benefits peppermint

Peppermint (mentha piperita) is a hybrid of watermint (mentha hirsute) and spearmint (mentha spicata). All three plants are native to Europe and the Middle East. They are, however, widely cultivated throughout the world. They are all part of the mint (lamicaceae) family of plants. The mint family includes numerous flowering varieties that have a long…

Read More

Food as Medicine: Heal with Food

Food as Medicine 1

The principal of food as the foundation of healing is not unique, and the idea of food as medicine is ancient. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, said “let food be thy medicine, and medicine be they food.”

Read More

Healthy Alternative to Coffee

a healthy alternative to coffee

If you’re contemplating a break from caffeine, for health reasons or for a cleanse, there is a healthy alternative to coffee, it is called spelt coffee.

Read More

Hildegard’s Hyssop Leaf

Hyssop Leaf

Hyssop leaf (Hyssopus officinalis) is a lovely, easy-to-grow member of the mint family native to southern Europe and Asia. Summer through fall, the plant blooms clusters of violet-blue flowers that adorn bunches of long stems covered in small green leaves. Blooms can also be pink or white. The hardy plant grows in bushes 12” to…

Read More

Black Radish- not only as a soup for Colds

black radish soup

The black radish is experiencing a comeback not just as a soup for Colds. Hildegard of Bingen wrote in Physica: “The radish is more warm than cold. After being excavated, it should be left under the ground in a humid place for two or three days, so that its green will be tempered, to which…

Read More

Intestinal Health 101

intestinal health

It makes sense that so much of pre-modern medicine was centered on intestinal health and digestion. During Hildegard of Bingen’s time, the notion of humoral medicine prevailed. Hildegard believed imbalance among the four bodily fluids caused illness and disease. Conversely, she thought when the four humors are in balance, health is maintained. Intestinal health was Hildegard’s priority, and…

Read More