Category: Health & Wellness

A friend of mine keeps a small index card taped inside her kitchen cupboard. It lists six things, and she ticks them off with a pencil each evening. Nothing on it is fancy: water, a walk, a proper lunch, ten minutes of quiet, a message to someone she cares about, and lights out by eleven. […]

Last winter, a neighbor of mine told me she had finally “fixed” her health, and when I asked how, she laughed. She had not joined a gym or bought a single supplement. She went to bed at the same time each night, kept a water bottle at her desk, and walked to the shop instead […]

Ask anyone who has stuck with a healthy lifestyle for years, and they rarely describe a dramatic transformation. They describe a boring rhythm. They sleep at roughly the same time, they cook most of their meals, they walk a lot, and they have a few ways to unwind that do not involve a screen. That […]

A few years ago I tried to overhaul my health in one weekend. I bought a juicer, signed up for an early gym class, and threw out half my kitchen. By Wednesday I was tired, hungry, and back to old habits. What finally worked was much smaller: one glass of water before coffee, a short […]

Many people ask, “How soon can I exercise after eating?” Some think they must wait a long time. Some start right after eating. It is important to wait for the right time. Waiting helps your tummy feel good. It stops cramps and bloating. It also gives your body time to get energy from food. When […]

The perennial tree Elder, officially known as Sambucus nigra and named sambucus by the people of ancient Rome, produces small, tight clusters of deep purple-black berries. It is most notable for the layered feathery clusters of tiny white-gold flowers. In past times, elderberries and flowers were widely known for being a cure-all. It has been documented to cure up […]

Although it is part of the onion family, garlic, or Allium sativum, has its distinct personality in aroma, flavor, and healing capabilities, such as lowering cholesterol and high blood pressure, which makes it an essential herb to keep on hand. Growing in grass-like clumps, garlic produces small green-white or rose-white bulbs underground. Inside these large […]

Mint or Mentha spp. is a very invasive type of herb as it spreads very quickly above ground and below. This is usually forgiven because of its usefulness and aromatic properties. Sufferers of indigestion or heartburn, ulcers, headaches, and especially migraine headaches welcome this pushy little herb as an addition to the garden or an indoor […]

Before we begin a discussion about the benefits of acupuncture, let’s talk about the origins of acupuncture. It was first used in China over 2000 years ago, and is one of the oldest medical procedures in the world. It is a family of procedures that stimulates the anatomy of the body and helps to balance the […]

Widely acclaimed since ancient times for its weight loss and anti-aging effects, along with many additional medical and cosmetic capabilities, fennel is a tall perennial native to the Mediterranean. Tall, standing with lacy or almosfeathery-looking leaves and small yellow flowers, fennel or Foeniculum vulgare, is an unusually attractive herb. Its sharp anise or licorice-like flavor has […]