American Botanical Council and Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs Warns Consumers about High Toxicity of Oleander

Herbal science group emphasizes that consumers should NOT attempt to produce oleander-based home-remedies or self-medicate with the dangerous poisonous plant.

AUSTIN, Texas (August 18, 2020) — The nonprofit American Botanical Council (ABC) today warned the public about the substantial toxicity associated with all parts of the oleander (Nerium oleander) plant. ABC warns consumers not to ingest any parts of the plant, or capsules, tablets, teas, or extract preparations made from leaves or other parts of the oleander plant because it contains chemicals that can cause serious effects to the human heart, including death.

The ABC warning came as a result of recent media reports that President Trump may be considering asking (or may have asked) the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve the drug product called oleandrin as a potential treatment for COVID-19. Oleandrin, as a purified pharmaceutical investigative drug product, has been researched for its potential…

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Entering the Harvest Moon Cycle with a New Moon in Leo | Moonthly Lunar Report

Happy new moon in Leo! The days are getting shorter and the nights are slowly becoming longer as we head into the last months of summer.

We are entering the Harvest Moon cycle. Summer is slowly coming to and end, and many of us are feeling change stirring in our bones. This new moon holds a lot of solar energy. Even though it will be a dark new moon, it will still cause much to “light up” or be revealed within ourselves and our personal lives.

This new moon can cause some bursts of energy to take place. Right now, Mars is square Saturn and Pluto, and trine the sun and the moon. This can cause some sensitivity to peak. Some might be feeling very energetic and motivated while others might feel impatient or quick to anger. Remember to check in with yourself and your emotions often so as to not act too rash right now.

As this month progresses, the Harvest Moon cycle offers you many ways to embrace your goals and reap the bounties of your hard work.

Each new moon, using our Spirit de la Lune Decks and Tune to the Moon Planners we put together a Moonthly Lunar Report to help us navigate the cycle ahead.

Read original article at: Spirit de la Lune ~ Entering the Harvest Moon Cycle with a New Moon in Leo

HSA Webinar: A Recipe for Success

The Herb Society of America Blog

By Bevin Cohen

I’ve long been amazed by the generous bounty offered to us by Mother Nature. Even as a young boy picking wintergreen berries in the woods, I just couldn’t believe that these tasty treats were available for me to enjoy, in quantities greater than I could ever consume, and the only cost was an afternoon in the shady forest, harvesting the luscious fruits as I listened to the melodious whistling of the birds and the occasional scurried sounds of a startled chipmunk or squirrel.

As an adult, my appreciation for Nature’s endless gifts has only deepened, and I find myself preaching her message of abundance to anyone willing to listen. Through my work as an author, herbalist, and educator, I’ve been placed in a unique position to share my knowledge, experiences, and passion with audiences the world over, and the core of my message has always remained the…

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Free Online Event Plant Medicine for Modern Epidemics Summit August 24-28, 2020

Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

Never has it been more important and urgent to regenerate your body and build robust immunity than now, in the midst of our global health crisis.

Acquiring the right knowledge about plant allies, and how to source and prepare them, can be life-changing for you and your family.

Some of the plants and fungi of our immediate natural environment offer remarkable healing power. Plants contain a myriad of compounds that can nourish, balance, and support immune function, thereby increasing your body’s built-in resistance to disease.

Join Plant Medicine for Modern Epidemics Summit, where you’ll discover how plants can purify, protect, and support us — as they sharpen our minds, extend our lives, and deepen our connection with this blessed planet.

Free Online Event
Plant Medicine for Modern Epidemics Summit
August 24-28, 2020

The summit includes presentations by more than two dozen leading natural medicine experts, health practitioners, and inspiring…

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The Tree That’s Only Slightly Out Of Place

Greetings,

In the fields of biology and ecology, a specific word is used to describe a living organism that no longer inhabits a particular area: extirpated.

An extirpated tree, for instance, grows in other regions of the world, but it no longer exists in a particular place that it formerly occupied.

An appropriate example is the Atlantic White-Cedar tree. This coniferous tree formerly inhabited the state of Pennsylvania, though by the early 19th century all wild populations had been logged. Atlantic White-Cedar is not extinct, however, because its range currently spans the Atlantic coastline. Instead, this tree is considered to be extirpated from Pennsylvania because wild populations no longer grow here.

This past weekend, I encountered something fascinating: a healthy population of Atlantic White-Cedar in Pennsylvania. This population was located within a beautiful bog containing typical bog specialists including cranberry, huckleberry, pitcher plant, sundew, and dozens of other plants.

Interestingly, ecologists and botanists are well aware of these Pennsylvanian Atlantic White-Cedar trees, and even though this population of Atlantic White-Cedar seems to be thriving, the tree is still considered to be extirpated from the state.

But why?

In this brand new video, I discuss the topic and address a few pertinent questions. If you are unfamiliar with the beautiful and majestic Atlantic White-Cedar tree, check out the video!

July through September is mating season for timber rattlesnakes in Pennsylvania, and in this recent Instagram post, I describe a very recent and close encounter with one of these beautiful creatures.

Click to view post

Thanks for reading and watching, and thanks for your continued support!

-Adam Haritan

Nose-Twisting Nasturtiums

The Herb Society of America Blog

By Susan Belsinger

Plant Profile
Family: Tropaeolaceae
Scientific name: Tropaeolum majus
Common names: nasturtium, Indian cress, trophy cress, trophywort
Native Habitat: Peru, parts of South America
Plant Type: Annual
Growth Habit: Dwarf bushy cultivars grow from 8 to 18 inches in height, while the climbers can easily reach 6 to 10 feet, or more.
Hardiness: Hardy in frost-free locations
Light: Best in full sun; can tolerate a few hours of shade, which produces more leaves with fewer flowers
Water: Moist but not wet; will tolerate some drought
Soil: Friable and porous garden loam, well-drained soil; does well in containers
Propagation

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Makrut Lime – Herb of the Month

The Herb Society of America Blog

By Maryann Readal

thai lime fruit The Herb Society of America’s Herb of the Month for August is the makrut lime, Citrus hystrix, a member of the Rutaceae family. This lime is also known as kaffir lime or Thai lime, and also wild lime. You may have spotted it in a produce market or Asian supermarket and wondered what makes it different from an ordinary lime. It certainly looks different, in that it has a gnarly, bumpy skin. The very aromatic leaves are different, too, because they look as though they are two leaves attached to each other. The juice is sour and bitter, and so is not usually used in cooking because it can overwhelm other flavors.

This lime has been widely grown in Asia for so long that it has become naturalized in many countries. Therefore, no one is certain of its origin. It is a staple ingredient in Thai…

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Welcoming Abundance for the Full Corn Moon | Prosperity Jar Spell

Happy Full Corn Moon!

Full Corn Moon Prosperity Candle Spell | Spirit de la Lune

August 3rd marks the Full Corn Moon, a time representing the first harvest, and welcoming in the abundance in your life. We also just celebrated Lughnasadh on the 1st of August. Lughnasadh is the sabbat or holiday that marks the first of the harvest season.

Summer is almost over and all the hard work that has been put in towards the beginning of the year is now about to pay off as we reap the rewards of our efforts.

We are also in the beginning of the Lions Gate Portal. The portal happens every August 8th when the Sun, Sirius and Earth align. Sirius is the 2nd brightest star and is also known as our “Spiritual Sun.”

During the portal there is an increase in feminine and intuitive energy. Many report feeling extra sensitive to energies, or extra aware of synchronicities or spiritual downloads.

The Lions Gate Portal is an important time for you to access your heart chakra and make sure you are in alignment with your path.

During this full moon you might feel especially tuned in and aware of the spiritual downloads that might be happening right now. After several intense full moons, eclipses and retrogrades, this full moon will feel like a breath of fresh air!

The Corn Moon wants us to slow down and enjoy the fruits of our labors. The period of abundance and harvest doesn’t last forever, so it’s important to stop and enjoy it!

Read original article at: Spirit de la Lune ~ Welcoming Abundance for the Full Corn Moon|Prosperity Jar Spell

A Walk Through a Sacred Garden

The Druid's Garden

View of some of our gardens at Lughnasadh! Here you can see our main garden (on the left, annuals) and the meditation garden (on the right; smaller perennials). We also have other perennial patches we are cultivating on other parts of the property. And of course, our wonderful greenhouse in the center! Behind the greenhouse is a compost tumbler. In front of the greenhouse, you can see our duck enclosure (more about that later). Towards the back in the center, you can see our guinea/chicken enclosure and goose enclosure. The compost area is off to the back left.

Today, we are taking a walk through the sacred gardens at the Druid’s Garden Homestead. There are so many lessons to learn with a simple walk in a beautiful garden. Today’s Lughnasadh garden walk reminds us of the power of nature to heal wounds, strengthen our spirits, and help us through challenging…

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