Tag: Herbal Medicine

Spring Foraging in the Pacific Northwest – Vancouver Island Wild Foods

May 18, 2020

When I first started foraging, one of the biggest challenges for me was finding geographically relevant information. Though countless foraging and wild food identification books exist, I could find very little information on when certain foods were in season in my area, and where to find certain types of terrain locally. I hope by sharing … More Spring Foraging in the Pacific Northwest – Vancouver Island Wild Foods

Blood Sugar Management Using Food as Medicine

March 30, 2020

From a nutritional perspective, managing blood glucose levels is one of the key factors to promoting optimal health. Though often only considered a concern for diabetics, having irregular blood sugar levels can lead to development of what medical researchers often refer to as the “four killers” – the leading causes of death by chronic disease … More Blood Sugar Management Using Food as Medicine

Sleep and Stress Management for Optimal Energy

February 3, 2020

Stress impacts every living organism on our planet, and humans are certainly no exception. There are different types of stress, including physiological (think: getting chased by a lion) and psychological (think: losing a loved one), but the impact on the body on a biochemical level is the same. Unfortunately, we live in a busy society … More Sleep and Stress Management for Optimal Energy

image full of pink rose petals

Transformation Through Menopause

February 3, 2020

Despite commonly being viewed as a stage of bothersome symptoms and general inconvenience, menopause is a natural biological transition in every woman’s life that brings transformation, both physically and emotionally. Our reductionist conventional medical system often depicts menopause as something to be treated, offering patches and pills of synthetic hormone replacement therapy, mood stabilizing drugs … More Transformation Through Menopause

Modern Technology & Eye Health: Blue Light and Beyond

February 3, 2020

In our modern society in North America, we are fortunate to have access to a variety of technology. Much of our modern technology enriches our lives with ease of communication, reduction in physical work load, and entertainment. Unfortunately, not all devices come without risks, particularly those with LED displays such as televisions, cell phones, tablets … More Modern Technology & Eye Health: Blue Light and Beyond

Lion’s Mane Mushroom for Brain Health and Longevity

September 4, 2019

As humans, our brains are one of our biggest assets. Their size and complexity enables the depth of intelligence and emotion that sets us apart from other animals. For this reason, it is vital that we support and protect this organ to optimize its performance and help protect it from the host of potential conditions … More Lion’s Mane Mushroom for Brain Health and Longevity

Managing Metabolic Syndrome

May 14, 2019

Metabolic syndrome is defined as being diagnosed with three of more of the following five biomarkers, including increased waist circumference/fat accumulation around the midsection; elevated triglyceride levels; reduced high density lipoprotein (HDL)/“good” cholesterol; elevated blood pressure; and elevated fasting blood glucose. When combined, these biomarkers indicate the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, and can increase an … More Managing Metabolic Syndrome

Optimizing Supplement Absorption

January 3, 2019

Shopping for supplements can be a bit of a daunting task. Natural health products can be expensive, and with advertising and fancy marketing terms coined by big-label supplement companies, it’s hard to differentiate which products truly are worth the investment. Although there are an overwhelming thousands of different products from hundreds of different brands on … More Optimizing Supplement Absorption

Natural Hair Repair: Deep Conditioning & Protein Treatments

December 11, 2018

If you’ve recently started your natural hair care journey, it’s probable that you’ve got some hair damage. Whether that be build up and moisture loss from conventional hair products, or damage from heat styling and chemical dyes, deep conditioning treatments can provide some benefit when selecting the right ingredients for your hair. Even if you’re … More Natural Hair Repair: Deep Conditioning & Protein Treatments

Medicinal Mushrooms – Wild Winter Adaptogens

December 11, 2018

I spend many of my days off in the wet autumn months bushwhacking through damp, old growth forests foraging for mushrooms. Although I find more culinary mushrooms such as chanterelles, lobsters and cauliflower mushrooms, I do also come across the odd species of medicinal fungi, such as turkey tail, artist conk, or lion’s mane (which, … More Medicinal Mushrooms – Wild Winter Adaptogens