Tea tree oil is one of the most extensively researched essential oils, and one of the most backed by the findings and conclusions discovered from the studies done on it. It is produced from a shrub like tree by the name of Melaleuca alternifolia, which is found along streams and in swampy areas in its […]
Winter arrived early and disoriented in Minnesota this year, and while the snow has weirdly melted now, cold season is still well on its merry way. It’s like the instant those first few snowflakes touched the ground throats started getting sore, noses got stuffed up, and all of sudden there was a mass shortage of […]
High blood pressure-also known as hypertension or “the silent killer”-affects 1 in 3 adult Americans, or roughly 67 million people, and that number only continues to grow. 90-95% of cases are known as primary hypertension, which is hypertension with no underlying medical cause. The small left-over percentage is caused by conditions such as kidney disease. […]
The “itch-scratch cycle” is about as vicious as they come, and anything that induces it has the full capability to bring almost unbearable discomfort, as those suffering with eczema know well. Eczema is a general term used to describe varying skin conditions that result in inflamed and discolored skin. Typically the skin is red, dry, […]
There’s been a lot of hype about coconut oil lately, and there are so many claims being made that it sounds nothing short of a miracle. Well it’s really not a cure-all, and what works for other people may not work for you, but it still is pretty dandy to have around. With a little […]
If you’ve experienced a urinary tract infection (UTI), well, you understand there’s a reason the acronym rhymes with “cry.” You sit on the toilet darn near blubbering because you can’t pee but you feel like you have to-oh how you feel like you have to! And when/if you do manage to get a little out, […]
It’s never a fun situation when you have a persistent cough. You don’t want to be that person in a quiet room during a lecture that can’t stop breaking the silence with your hacking, or that person at the restaurant that makes people fling themselves over their plates to protect their food while you cough […]
Apthous stomatitis, more commonly known as canker sores, are mysterious mouth ulcers that have plagued most people at some point in their lives. I say “mysterious” because it’s not totally known what causes these pesky painful spots on the inside of the mouth, although biting your cheek/inside of your lip, braces rubbing, stress, genetics, and […]
Ants are critical to the environment in too many ways to count, but they quickly become pests when they invade your home seeking food, shelter, or both. Nobody wants an ant invasion, and often times will reach for intense chemicals to eradicate them as quickly as possible. Pest control is one aspect of daily living […]
If there is one condition that has plagued me every day-or rather, every night-for years on end, it’s sleep. I was prescribed sleeping medication long-term (not a good idea) and suffered greatly for it. If I was having trouble sleeping before, it was now impossible to achieve, unless I took my medication. The truth is, […]
After doing the list on home remedies for acne, we started getting a lot of questions about blackheads in particular. Common and annoying, blackheads occur when your pores become clogged with excess sebum (an oil created by the sebaceous glands that keeps skin supple) and dead skin cells. The difference between a black head and […]
In the Everyday Roots Book I begin the chapter on weight loss by stating that I believe there are only two ways to truly manage weight, through exercising and eating healthy. There simply is no magic shortcut, and while this may seem obvious to some people it is overlooked far, far, too often. Now you’re […]
Detoxing has been popping up left and right these days as people realize what a toxic environment we live in. I discuss “detox” more in depth here, but the gist of it is this: The only thing that can “detoxify” your body, is your body itself. The kidneys, liver, and lungs in particular work to […]
Runny nose, itchy eyes, and the infuriating sensation of not being able to sneeze? Pollen count is on the rise as the weather warms up which means one thing-allergies. When it comes to home remedies for allergies you hear a lot about local raw honey preventing them. It is supposed to work because the gradual […]
I know I’ve been focusing on colds a lot here, but this winter has been horrible-I feel like every other week I am sniffling and coughing. For some reason there have been a number of highly contagious bugs flying around that nobody can seem to avoid. I revisit this topic because winter decided to drag […]
Does the thought of making your own inhaler make nervous? It made me uneasy when I first learned of it during an aromatherapy course, but I quickly learned that these are powerful little tools that pack huge benefits into something no bigger than a tube of lipstick. These are not inhalers that you breathe in […]
I love salt soap. It’s a nice alternative to baking soda when it comes to abrasive cleaners, but still not too harsh. Soap is a unique fat in how well it cleans, with its molecules containing one hydrophilic and one hydrophobic end. This means that one end of the soap molecule loves water, while the […]
I’ve been on depression medication since I was 9 years old, well technically it was prescribed for anxiety in the beginning, but soon I was treated for both. In 3rd grade I was able to say, rather clumsily, “I am taking chill pills because there is an imbalance of serotonin in my brain.” Depression is […]
