Once an official pharmaceutical preperation in America, this Honey of Red Rose (Rosa gallica – Apothecary’s Rose) is good for sore mouths and throats and is delicious and easy to make: Loosely fill a jar with fresh rose petals which have been rinsed and patted dry. Add enough clear honey to cover the petals and [...]
Leia (my youngest little one) has had a bit of sensitive skin since birth, but over this last winter her eczema has flared up something terrible. Of course, the paediatricians all happily recommend cortisone creams and such, but I’ve been looking at a more herbal approach (naturally!). I’ve been bathing her in a mixture of [...]
Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea, E. pallida and E. angustifolia) is a firm favourite as immune builder and is very popular this time of the year when there is someone with a sniffle and a cough around almost every corner. Echinacea, or purple coneflower, can be taken as a herb tea, but it is particularly the tincture [...]
“Give me a fever, and I can cure any illness” – Hippocrates When my four year old daughter had a consistently high fever recently, I did a lot of reading on children’s fevers, and in particular the naturopathic way to manage them. I thought to share some of the basics of what I’ve learnt: What [...]
Tags: catnip, chamomile, children's herbs, elderflower, fever, garlic, ginger, lemon balm, liquorice, naturopathic, peppermint
I love Autumn with its gorgeous colours and milder temperatures, but this change in the seasons also signal the start of the cold and flu season and already there are many kids and parents complaining about runny noses, coughs and splutters and walking around with red rimmed eyes. Because I work with herbs, I’m often [...]
Herbs have been used for centuries to safely assist with pregnancy, delivery, post-partum recouping and even beyond – assisting new mothers through the first years of their newborn’s life. The choice to use herbs during pregnancy is a personal one, but to ensure the best outcome for you and your baby, always seek the advice [...]
I’m often asked which (medicinal) herbs and essential oils a household should not be without and if you have children; my answer is without a question: Lavender Pure Essential Oil and Aloe Vera (Aloe vera syn. Aloe barbadensis) or even our own indigenous Bulbine (Bulbinella frutescens). If you want to expand on this must-have list, [...]
Yesterday I got up with some serious post nasal drip and could already feel the itchy-scratchy starting at the back of my throat. It has been a tough winter for colds and flus, with more of my friends and family members getting infected and staying sick for longer. I have been lucky to not get [...]
