Wellness Blog

Plant Profile: Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) From Herbalist Erin Smith Thistles get a bad rap. They are often looked at as the peskiest of weeds for their persistence and thorny nature that makes them difficult to remove by hand. But as is often the case with our...

Plant Profile: Violet from Herbalist Erin Smith It is hard to not smile in the presence of violet. The beautiful and delicate flowers are a favorite early spring treat and begin to pop up in March.  Long associated with Aphrodite, they are a symbol of love and...

Medicine in Your Spice Cabinet from Herbalist Erin Smith You don’t have to go foraging or even to your local apothecary to start enjoying the health benefits of plant medicines.  Your spice cabinet is also your medicine cabinet. Spices, and our desire for their varied...

Plant Profile: Ho Shu Wu (Polygonum multiflorum) from Herbalist Erin Smith Ho-Shou-Wu is one of my favorite herbs. It is wonderfully grounding and calming and I find that one of its best adaptogenic effects is to allow you to remain clear and calm during times of...

Plant Profile: Wood Betony (Stachys officinalis) from Herbalist Erin Smith Wood Betony (also known as Hedge Nettle) was long revered throughout ancient Europe for its healing and magical properties.  Thought of as a powerful panacea, it was the most prized medicinal...

Mallow: The Wild Green Everyone Should Be Eating from Herbalist Erin Smith I’m a huge proponent of the “eat your weeds” revolution and one of the first “weedy” plants to arrive in spring is mallow (Malva neglecta and other species).  There are more than 30 species of...

Plant Profile: Cinnamon (Cinnamomum) from Herbalist Erin Smith This time of year cinnamon is everywhere. The good news is it has wonderful health benefits – so no guilt about this holiday ingredient! Cinnamon is the inner bark of small evergreen trees native to...