Cattails (Typha latifolia) are one of the most versatile plants on Earth. It is called the “Supermarket of the Swamp” for good reason since it can be used throughout all four seasons. They even inspired the Boy Scouts’ motto: “You…
When I was a child, I didn’t stay indoors much. I used to play with other kids in my neighborhood all day long. Of course, this meant injuries were an almost daily occurrence. But I didn’t care. I was just…
You don’t have to leave the city to get started foraging. Life finds a way, even through sidewalk cracks and abandoned lots. Once you learn to identify basic urban food plants, street trees that you’ve walked by hundreds of times…
When your access to medical services is limited--whether because of a temporary natural disaster or a more permanent grid-down situation—relying on tried-and-true ancient methods of healing could save your own, or a loved one’s, life. Thousands of years ago, an…
Many of us were brought up to eat eggs reasonably carefully, making sure that we didn’t accidentally eat a piece of shell. In fact, as long as it’s small enough to go down safely, it probably would do more good…
Often my grandmother’s remedies worked faster and more effectively than conventional treatments. These lost remedies can treat and improve a variety of conditions. Whether you have a headache, stomachache, or sore throat, you can quickly find something around the house…
You already know that some weeds are edible. However, if you don't know to tell the difference between the edible ones and those that are unpleasant - or even harmful - to eat, you've probably avoided any experiments with weed…
I recently suffered debilitating headaches and brain fog to the effect that I was unable to work. Trips to the doctor yielded no results. Neither I, nor the doctor suspected diabetes because a few months prior I had normal blood…
A tincture is a great way to extract the powerful medicine locked away in plants and preserve it for later use. While teas will spoil within a few days, tinctures will keep at room temperature for months if not years…
Herbal medicine hasn’t changed at all. The same plants provide the same medicinal benefits as before, even though most people are unaware of them and leery of their veracity. In a post-disaster world, herbal medicine may be the only option…