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...

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...

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

What do you put on your skin? The skin, the biggest organ in the human body, provides a defence barrier to protect internal organs and also plays an essential role in maintaining homeostasis [1] . Homeostasis is the interior state of balance allowing the body to function correctly. Natural and environmental factors change the structure of the skin from both the inside and outside on a daily basis. Here are three common flowers which assist in repairing damaged skin. To extrac

The ubiquitous dandelion is often considered a weed yet has an extraordinary number of uses. The latin name for the common dandelion is...

Regardless of the season, each walk is an opportunity to discover plants at various stages in their life cycles. On this drizzly Sunday...

Today, I'm sharing a recipe for your skin. Macerated Carrot ( Daucus carota) oil can be easily prepared at home. It has potent...

Roots are necessary to anchor the plant to the soil. They are essential to the survival of the plant as they absorb and store the...

Winter is an invitation to observe the finer details of the natural world. In temperate regions the vibrant colours of the spring, summer...

Common thyme, Thymus vulgaris, is an aromatic, perennial herb. Perennial simply means that it continues to grow for more than two years....