Day 170/365 – On Damiana
6/19/17 Damiana is touted as the classic aphrodisiac herb. But did you know it’s mechanism is mostly attributed to nourishing the nervous system, which in turn can put people ‘in the mood.’ Damiana (Turnera aphrodisiaca/diffusa) Aromatic, spicy herb Nervous system tonic, for stagnant depression Strengthens hormonal and nervous system History of aphrodisiac use – stimulate […]
Day 169/365 – On Lavender
6/18/17 Today I’m focusing on Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). This well-known herb is a popular choice for dish soap, bath soaks, aromatherapy and has many other household and therapeutic uses. Antibacterial, antiviral, antidepressant, carminative, nervine Antispasmodic, soothing to gut – treats dysbiosis, diarrhea, gas, nausea Aids digestion ‘Stagnant depression” – combine with damiana, holy basil, rosemary […]
Day 168/365 – On Lemon Balm
6/17/17 The stress-busting herb of the day is Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis). Here are some highlights: Diaphoretic (makes you sweat) – indicated for sweaty hands and feet – nervous tension Antiviral – HSV (herpes simplex virus) activated when stressed (usually dormant/latent in trigeminal nerve) Calming, cooling, soothing to gut – carminative (doesn’t increase hydrochloric acid […]
Day 167/365 – On Catnip
6/16/17 Today I’m talking about the herb that goes hand-in-hand with chamomile’s uses, but with some contrasting qualities. You may all know catnip (Nepeta cataria) as the herb that drives cats wild. It’s acts as a euphoric or aphrodisiac for acts, while it calms us humans down. Catnip is also nutritionally dense – rich in […]
Day 166/365 – On Chamomile
6/15/17 Today I’m continuing the stress-busting herb brief ‘monographs.’ Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is probably one of the most well-known and used herbs for the purpose of calming down the mind and the gut, and can be found in almost everyone’s pantry around the world. The most commonly used is ‘Roman’ chamomile, whereas the “German chamomile” […]
Day 165/365 – On career day
6/14/17 Today I was asked to talk about my profession at P.S. 38’s career day. I delightfully accepted and informed the guidance counselor that I have not one, but two professions to talk about! I was excited about this event since I found out about it a week ago, and the day finally came. Before […]
Day 164/365 – On Milky oats
6/13/17 Milky oat tops infusion The next herb in the ‘stress-busters’ series is Milky oat tops (Avena sativa). They are called ‘milky’ due to the milky-white liquid comes out of seeds at the time of harvest. The tops and the lower parts, called oatstraw, are used for their supremely nutritive and replenishing qualities. They nourish […]
Day 163/365 – On Holy basil
Holy basil leaves and flowers 6/12/17 Today I’m highlighting the herb known as Holy basil or tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum). Like ashwagandha, it’s a supreme herb part of the ayurvedic compendium, and it’s used as a long-term adaptogen. It’s known as a tonic with an affinity for the brain and nervous system. It increases oxygen intake, […]
Day 162/365 – On Ashwagandha
6/11/17As part of my “Stress busters” class with Carly Wertheim this past week, I’ll do some highlighting of the herbs we discussed in the following posts.Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), also known as winter cherry, is one of the prime adaptogens in Ayurvedic traditional medicine. In Tamil, the name is translated as “horse (ashwa) smell (gandha)” and […]
Day 161/365 – On Farmer’s Markets
6/10/17 I wanted to share an amazing resource for New Yorkers looking to buy goods from local farmers as well as to participate in a growing community. This website provides locations, hours of operation and individual farms represented at farmer’s markets across NYC. It also has links to educational resources, composting sites and hours, and […]