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Summer is iced tea season. Think beyond green and black tea to herbal iced teas for a change of pace with many potential caffeine-free variations. Aside from tasting great, many herbal teas have health benefits. To make herbal iced tea, pour 1 cup nearly-boiling water over 3-4 tablespoons of fresh herb (about 1 tablespoon dried herb) and let steep 10 minutes before pouring over ice to serve. Vary the amount of herb to achieve the desired strength.

Infuse these individually or combine herbs that smell nice together for an interesting flavor. Sweeten to taste with honey, cane juice, agave or your sweetener of choice. A shot of fruit juice lends sweetness and another layer of flavor. Some juice and herb combinations to try include apple with chamomile and orange with lemon balm. (continue reading…)

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Maybe you’re looking through the plant and seed catalogs and you’re intrigued by the medicinal herbs, or maybe you’re looking for natural alternatives to costly over-the-counter medicines. Maybe you’re just tired of paying an awful lot of money for a box of twenty tea bags. Many people these days want to tap into the ancient wisdom of herbalism, but find it overwhelming. There are so many different herbs, it’s hard to know where to start and what to do first.

There are a couple of good ways to test the waters without drowning. First, start simple. Literally. Simpling is the age old procedure of using only one herb at a time. Don’t worry about mixing special tea brews or finding the elixir of life. Pick one herb, such as chamomile, and make a tea out of it. You’d be surprised how new of an experience it is just to purchase a bulk bag of chamomile flowers and brew your own loose tea. Opening the bag and smelling the first puff of scent, feeling the crushed flowers between your fingers, and straining away the spent herb will give you a familiarity with the herb that store-bought tea bags won’t. Teas are a very easy way to experiment with a single herb, and there are many herbs that lend themselves well to this use; oatstraw, nettle, peppermint. Brewing and drinking a tea made from only one herb regularly will give you a chance to see how that herb affects your body. It can be interesting, after you’ve experimented with several teas, to see when your body craves which tea. (continue reading…)

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After a long day, nothing hits the spot quite like a cup of chamomile tea. Many people are familiar with the cheery yellow flowers with their uplifting aroma whether they buy it as good old plain chamomile tea or as a component of blends such as Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime tea. Both German and Roman chamomile provide the same effects. The main difference is which one is more accessible to you, or cheaper to buy.

Chamomile has many uses other than just as a relaxing tea, however, and a long history. It’s been used medicinally as far back as the time of the ancient Egyptians. The Egyptians used it to cure fever, and people in the middle ages used it as an air freshener and a bittering ingredient for beer. There are so many uses for chamomile that it is much more economical to buy the herb in bulk rather than in boxes of individually packaged tea bags. Below are some of the main uses for Chamomile. (continue reading…)

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From Sustainable Table

Despite opposition from scientists, farmers and consumers, the US currently allows dairy cows to be injected with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH), also known as recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST). Developed and manufactured by the Monsanto Corporation, this genetically engineered hormone forces cows to artificially increase milk production by 10 to 15 percent. In August 2008, Monsanto sold their Posilac division to Eli Lilly and Company for $300 million and ‘contigent consideration.’ (Eli Lilly exclusively sold Posilac outside the US for 10 years before the acquisition)(1). Today, controversy still surrounds whether or not rBGH is safe for cows and humans.

What Is rBGH & rBST?

Somatotropin is a naturally-occurring protein hormone produced in the pituitary gland of animals; Bovine Somatotropin (BST or bST) triggers nutrients to increase growth in young cattle and lactation (milk production) in dairy cows. Artificial BST is produced using recombinant DNA technology (biotechnology), and called rBST for short. rBST is commonly known as Bovine Growth Hormone or rBGH (2). When injected into cows, rBGH increases milk production 10-15 percent and in some cases up to 40 percent. Approximately 17% of all cows in the US are given the artificial growth hormone (4). (continue reading…)

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I’ve discovered the mother medicine of nature: Tulsi. The name means “incomparable one,” and it’s known as the Mother Medicine of Nature (thought I made that up, didn’t you?), the Queen of Herbs, as well as Holy Basil.

This fabulous little plant known scientifically as ocimum tenuiflorum is a prime Ayurvedic adaptogen–basically Nature’s chill pill. For those that have Ayurvedic lifestyles, in terms of doshas, Tulsi is mainly kapha soothing. (continue reading…)

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It’s Spring, which for many women is time to think about the dreaded bikini season. Well, Mother Nature knows a thing or two about fixing those vanity pounds. Did you know that some amazing plant-medicines have started sprouting in your backyard? If your lawn is free from chemical pollutants like fertilizers, pet waste, and car exhaust, harvesting these plants can help you get back your bikini body faster.

Red Clover

Drinking a cup of hot tea before meals can help you feel fuller faster, so chose a hot tea that flushes your system too. These flower buds are an amazing liver detoxifier. Keeping your liver functioning properly will help you eliminate fats and fat soluble chemicals that may have accumulated during winter’s dietary indiscretions. To brew this tea, add 1 cup of washed clover buds to 4 cups of quality water. Bring to a boil, then cover and immediately remove from heat. Honey may be added to strained tea. (continue reading…)

©iStockPhoto.com - Floortje

This delicious non-alcoholic Bloody Mary tastes great without the hangover!

Ingredients:
2 medium vine ripened tomatoes
2 large celery stalks
Handful of parsley
½ red pepper
6 to 7 berries (marion berries, strawberries or cherries, preferably)
2 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar
¼ teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon cayenne
Juice of ½ lemon

Chop the celery stalks prior to placing them in a blender, then add the remaining ingredients and a minimum of 1 cup water before blending on high for a minimum of 20 seconds. Add more water if desired.