Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/37509
live in good health (Herbal) Your When Kathleen Wildwood— herbal expert, instructor and founder of Wildwood Institute— wants to feel her best, she looks beyond the medicine aisle and tackles health problems with these natural remedies By Sammy Luterbach Medicine Cabinet St. John’s Wort Benefits: Say so long to sunburn with this great herb! Not only is it a natural form of sunblock, it has been known to heal sunburn overnight— along with wounds and bruises. How to use it: Buy this herb in oil form and apply topically on your skin. » Yarrow Benefits: Wildwood calls this her miracle herb— relying on it to help with digestion, colds, fever, body aches, urinary tract infections, and wounds, cuts and bleeding. How to use it: Yarrow can be made into a tea, but Wildwood finds it’s most effective to use yarrow- infused oil, either internally by drinking the recom- mended amount (check instructions on the pack- age) with water, or externally on healing wounds. Violet Benefits: This vitamin C-packed herb can help lung-related problems and illnesses such as coughing and bronchitis, as well as tonsillitis, sinus infections and even restlessness and anxiety. How to use it: Grab some violet from your garden and simply throw the flowers and leaves into a salad or any other meal you’re craving. You can also drink it like tea by adding one teaspoon of the dried herb into boiling water. Lemon Balm Benefits: If your mind is running a million miles a minute, help calm it down with a little lemon balm. Surprisingly, the opposite can be true as well; if you are feeling slow and tired and need a pick-me-up, lemon balm is a great go-to herb. How to use it: Make it into tea! Take one or two fresh sprigs of the herb (it’s easy to grow in your garden) and pour into boiling water. Steep for five minutes and drink up. Raw Ginger Benefits: For many, acid reflux and indigestion disappear with a bite of raw ginger. This anti- inflammatory can also help with pain, cramping and cold and flu symptoms. How to use it: Available in most grocery stores, ginger can be steeped into a tea—or boiled, sau- téed or pickled and thrown into many dishes, from soups to stir-fries. But use sparingly! One or two bites is all you need for it to work its magic. *Use any medication or herbs at your own risk. Before embarking on any new medical or herbal regimen, consult a professional. 12 BRAVA Magazine July 2011 » »