Tools for Natural Living

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has become an epidemic over the last three decades. Although symptoms may be challenging for both parent and child, the overuse of psychotropic drugs raises questions about standard pediatric health care protocols in this country as well how we approach learning in our schools. If there’s a child in your life who is struggling with these issues, you might want to discuss adding or beginning botanical therapies with one or more h

Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis), also known as Chinese magnolia, is a woody wine indigenous to China and Russia. In traditional Chinese medicine, the fruit of the plant is known as Wu Wei Zi, or five-flavored berry, a reference to the fact that it tastes sweet, sour, salty, biter and pungent all at once. Russia has conducted numerous clinical studies on the pharmacological effects of Schisandra since the 1960s. In addition to recognition as an adaptogen, Schisandra also dem

Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea), also known as golden root, king’s crown and artic rose, is a perennial succulent naturally distributed throughout the mountainous regions of Asia and Europe, as well as some parts of eastern North America. First cultivated and traded in the Caucasus Mountains, rhodiola eventually became known as a restorative medicinal to the ancient Greeks. In fact, the physician Dioscorides penned one of the earliest accounts of the virtues of rhodiola root in 77

Ah...it's chili season! Although most people are familiar with this saucy, spicy, stew-like dish by that name, it was originally known as chili con carne ("carne" meaning "meat" in Spanish). In addition, long before the dish became popular football fare and the pride of Tex-Mex restaurants scattered throughout the U.S., chili was a take-along-the-trail survival food made from dried ingredients that could be rehydrated in a pot of boiling water. Today, there are many variatio