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

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

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

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...

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,...

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

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...