Merry Lycett Harrison, an Herbalist’s Blog

The Conference on “Natural Supplements, An Evidence Based Update” was fascinating. It was sponsored by the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine and though most presentations were done by M.D.s and Ph.D.s about vitamins, minerals, amino acids, etc. There was mention of some herbs. Doctors will not rely on patients’ reports as evidence because they want to see proven efficacy in clinical trials before they will recommend herbs. There are not very many such trials. Chocolate, coffe, tea, herbs as antiinflammatories and herbs that may help manage blood sugar were mentioned. That is a little promising. Go to www.millcreekherbs.com to read more about the conference and useful herbs for healthcare.

Since eating a salad does not sound that appealing when it is 17 degrees outside, I have brewed up a nourishing tea of dandelion leaf, oat straw and nettle to insure I get the goodness of greens even in winter. It tastes like a hay smells, but I experience a boost in energy every time I drink it.

As much as I enjoy them, I am ready to move on from the holidays to perusing gardening catalogues and yearning for fragrances of rosemary and the smell of green plants. I know it is too early to even hope for it ,but today the temperature is above freezing, snow is melting and the icicles have fallen off the gutters. The sun is trying to shine through the clouds and the wind is up. All indicators that a snowstorm will be here very soon. I’ll get the hot chocolate ready!