Herbal Wisdom

The Purslane is Popping! 🌱
The Purslane is Popping! 🌱
The purslane is popping! Purslane is everywhere right now … a succulent that grows low on the ground in sunny spots. It thrives in a lot of environments; so I’m... Read more...
Can't Open that Jar?
Can't Open that Jar?
Can't open that jar? Here's a quick fix for stubborn lids: Simply invert your jar into hot water. Water from a tea kettle works great! Let it sit for 30... Read more...
Rosehip Vitamin C Refresher!
Rosehip Vitamin C Refresher!
Rosehip Vitamin C Refresher! Now’s the perfect time to harvest rosehips...wait as long as possible to pick them so they’re sweet and packed with flavor. Right around Halloween is usually... Read more...
Petrichor Carries the Unmistakable Smell of Kitkitdizze
Petrichor Carries the Unmistakable Smell of Kitkitdizze
The rains are here in the Sierras. Each drop releases a symphony of scent known as petrichor, the magical fragrance that rises from the earth when rain kisses dry ground... Read more...
The Delicate Scents of Plumeria, Rose, and Jasmine
The Delicate Scents of Plumeria, Rose, and Jasmine
Ever wonder how the delicate scents of flowers like plumeria, rose, and jasmine make it into perfumes and natural products? Unlike herbs that can be steam distilled into essential oil,... Read more...
Moringa Pesto
Moringa Pesto
Have you tried moringa pesto? I’m a big fan of these vibrant little leaves. The flavor is slightly peppery, super fresh, and they’re loaded with nutrients: tons of vitamins, minerals,... Read more...
🌙💤 Sweet Dreams Tincture 💤 🌙
🌙💤 Sweet Dreams Tincture 💤 🌙
Sweet Dreams Tincture Tinctures are an easy way to enjoy herbal benefits. Make them a 'simple' with just one herb in alcohol, or try a formula by mixing several herbs... Read more...
Heads-up for Makers and Brands … a Cautionary Tale from my Lab:
Heads-up for Makers and Brands … a Cautionary Tale from my Lab:
I was formulating a tincture for a client and I always recommend full lab testing (heavy metals, microbes, solvents, etc.) on finished products. Most batches pass. This one did not.... Read more...
Madrone Berries
Madrone Berries
Madrone berries make beautiful, natural beads for jewelry and decor. These berries are fairly dry right off the tree and can be easily strung with a needle and thread; no... Read more...
An Ode to Hemp! 🌿 (And a Hemp Milk Recipe at the End)
An Ode to Hemp! 🌿 (And a Hemp Milk Recipe at the End)
What do you all think about the new CBD legislation that just passed in the US? Regardless of where you stand on legal marijuana, I think it’s important to talk... Read more...
Should You Use 80 Proof or 190 Proof for your Tinctures?
Should You Use 80 Proof or 190 Proof for your Tinctures?
Should you use 80 proof or 190 proof for your tinctures? I see this asked a lot so I wanted to make a post. What exactly is “proof”? The idea... Read more...
Through the Looking Glass Series- An Ode to Ginger (Part 1)
Through the Looking Glass Series- An Ode to Ginger (Part 1)
Ginger is one of my absolute favorite kitchen staples; from its spicy and sweet flavor, to its warming properties (I tend to run cold). Let’s take a deeper look at... Read more...
Through the Looking Glass Series- An Ode to Ginger (Part 2)
Through the Looking Glass Series- An Ode to Ginger (Part 2)
Here’s Part 2 of the “Ode to Ginger” series: my go‑to “Kick a Germ Tea” - simple, spicy, sweet; my family's go-to if we feel anything trying to move in.... Read more...
Lemon Glycerite!
Lemon Glycerite!
Lemon Glycerite! If you make the “Kick a Germ Tea” from yesterday’s post; save those lemon peels. Let’s use those peels and make a lemon glycerite! Chop them up and... Read more...
"An Ode to Ginger” Part 3
"An Ode to Ginger” Part 3
For Part 3 of “An Ode to Ginger,” let’s look at the properties and actions of plants and play with contrast of something simple: ginger tea vs mint tea. Mint... Read more...
Happy Winter Solstice and Halcyon Days!
Happy Winter Solstice and Halcyon Days!
On these long winter nights, we enter what the ancients called the Halcyon days…the seven days before and seven days after Winter Solstice when the winds are said to calm... Read more...
Fresh vs. Dried Tinctures??
Fresh vs. Dried Tinctures??
Let's look at a few fun ways to analyze tinctures. For this batch, I made two lemon balm tinctures in vodka: one with fresh blended herb, one with dried. Blending... Read more...
Fresh vs. Dried Lemon Balm Experiment Part 2
Fresh vs. Dried Lemon Balm Experiment Part 2
Here’s part two of the fresh vs. dried lemon balm experiment. Both tinctures started with the same 80‑proof vodka (40% alcohol). After tincturing the lemon balm, I used a hydrometer... Read more...
Alcohol is One of the Main Workhorses in Herbalism
Alcohol is One of the Main Workhorses in Herbalism
Alcohol is one of the main workhorses in herbalism, so I want to give it its own little spotlight. Ethanol is a simple molecule: two carbons, six hydrogens, and one... Read more...
190 Proof vs 200 Proof
190 Proof vs 200 Proof
I keep getting ads geared towards herbalists for 200‑proof alcohol for tinctures. Let’s talk about why that’s not only unnecessary, but not even how ethanol actually behaves. When you distill... Read more...
A Kiss Under the Mistletoe???
A Kiss Under the Mistletoe???
Mistletoe is everywhere in Christmas imagery. When trees lose their leaves you can spot mistletoe easily. In Northern California we have American Mistletoe prolific in our oaks. The evergreen nature... Read more...