Sharing the health benefits of plants 

You may have tried cider but have you tried fire cider?! Fire cider is a spicy, homemade tonic. It uses unpasturized apple cider vinegar to extract minerals and alcaloids from immune-stimulating ingredients. This simple recipe has been made famous by Rosemary Gladstar, a well-known American herbalist, who wanted to show people how easy it was to make medecine in your own kitchen using accessible and affordable ingredients. Let’s take a look at some of those ingredients. Garli

Not so long ago I was asked, rather sarcastically, « So, how does aromatherapy work then? Healing by smell ?! ». In a way, this is a logical conclusion given the name «  aroma therapy ». Indeed, some scents, including Lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia), have been proven to reduce stress levels by stimulating the release of neurotransmitters, such as endorphins, with relaxing and sedative properties [1, 2] . These, in turn, immediately impact physiological functions in the bo

Known as the Misty Isle, the Isle of Skye in the north-west of Scotland experiences a mainly mild, wet climate. Due to westerly winds...

France has a number of well-known aperitif drinks including Pastis, Suze and Lillet. But, did you know that these three drinks are all...

You won’t find them listed on food nutrition labels yet bright red strawberries, deep purple blackberries and dark black olives all contain polyphenols. Polyphenols are a class of compounds found uniquely in plant food. You may have heard of some of them such as flavonoids or resveratrol. Those responsible for the colours red, orange, purple and blue are known as anthocyanins but, in fact, over 8,000 polyphenolic compounds have been identified [1] . Not only are polyphenols r

Walking impacts almost every system of our body. Some of the physical benefits of walking, such as the strengthening of bones and muscles...

A piece of string around your finger, post-its and notifications may all help you remember. Did you know that rosemary has long been associated with memory and could also have a role to play? In the fourth act of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Orphelia refers to rosemary as being for « remembrance ». More recently, scientific studies have proven this plants ability to improve academic performance and even, in some cases, enhance cognitive function in people suffering from Alzheimer’s

Citrus fruits are often associated with vitamin C but they are not the only source of this vital vitamin. Vitamin C, also known as...

Mulled wine and mince pies are firm favourites in my household at Christmas time. Northing beats a warming glass of mulled wine in front...

Following a shock, injury or disease, we are tired, demineralised and our immune system is weakened. Convalescence is a crucial period of...

Common Hawthorn ( Crataegus monogyna) is well known for its fruit, popular in syrups, liqueur, ketchup and jam, but did you know that the...

Falling asleep, staying asleep or returning to sleep if we awake during the night affect most of us occasionally. Personally, I tend to...

It is estimated that there are over 7,500 varieties of apple worldwide. The apple tree ( Malus sp.) is a decidious tree producing fruit...

We may believe that plants rely on us to feed them, but in reality it’s the other way round. Plants are « autotroph » which means that...

What links Loddon Pink, Munstead, Nana Alba, Hidcote and Twickle Purple ? No, they’re not areas on the shipping forecast or horses at the...

Thorns aside, blackberry picking is a fun activity for all ages. As a child growing up in the UK, my nanna (grandmother) would take us...

Imagine, if you will, a well-organised botanical garden on a hillside facing snow-covered mountains and a fjord. You wander through a...

Elverhøy is situated on the summit of Tromsø island in northern Norway. In June this pleasant residential area is home to neatly mown...

An essential element of French stews and soups, the bouquet garni is a tied bundle of herbs used to flavour dishes. One of its advantages...

You are sitting out enjoying the sun when you feel a sharp sting or burning sensation on your skin. Before you know it, there is a small,...