As herbalists, one of the first things we think of when we feel the season shift is that in a matter of weeks, there will be an abundance of herbal medicines to harvest, eat, and preserve. Plants we don’t grow in our gardens can be wildcrafted in surrounding areas and we enjoy what the earth provides. As herbalists, we know the plants intimately, and we deepen our relationship with them each year. Knowing how to use wild plant medicine, and where to find food, also bears a significant commitment to being an herbal steward and to be radical in our approach to preserving the wild plant ..read more

We know there are many herbs that can affect mood. Some, like coffee, are strong energizers. Others, like kava, are powerful relaxers. But there is a whole class of medicinal plants--the aromatic nervines--that act as tonics to the nervous system and spirit, helping to find the place of balance between enlivening inspiration and gentle relaxation. These nervines include lemon balm, linden, lavender, rose, skullcap and more, and the way they work in the body is fascinating: at the tissue level, they both support healthy tone and soothe excess tension. And more generally, their smell and&nb ..read more

We take digestion for granted, but it's not an easy task: we consume a range of foods, at different times, under changing circumstances. Balancing all these variables, our guts distil macronutrients (proteins, fats and carbs) and process micronutrients and phytochemicals. For this feat, we rely on our digestive juices, secreted into the hollow inner spaces of our digestive organs by specialized glands. Digestive juices are complex and can contain digestive enzymes, acids and pH regulators, water, electrolytes, immune-active antibodies, lubricants, protective gels, and a lot more. This content ..read more

When we think about using herbs in our everyday life, there are a few ways that come to mind; fresh harvest from the garden, herbal infusions (tea) and herbal tinctures. While many of you know what a tincture is and use them often, many folks don't, and our goal at Urban Moonshine is to get more people comfortable using plant medicines and to be inclusive in our information; we want you to know what you are using and why! This is also great information to share with friends who are new to using herbal medicine. What are herbal tinctures? Herbal Tinctures, like our digestive bitters, are liqu ..read more

My grandfather (the American one) had many diverse interests, ranging from sports, to finance, and many in between. I fondly recall his passion for history: walking around Kansas City, he'd point out historical markers and talk to me about the Santa Fe Trail, and the lives of pioneers who set out westward to seek their fortune. While I have misgivings about that chapter in US history, I am still grateful for how my grandfather taught me to imagine the footsteps of those who walked a city street or farm field years and years ago. I learned to imagine these historical figures overlaid on today's ..read more

Our digestive systems often need a little extra support. Sometimes it’s an aching belly that signals to us that our digestive systems could use a little help. Sometimes gas, bloating, loose stools or constipation alert us. And sometimes, allergies and hypersensitivities are what tell us that our digestion may be lagging. Many people turn to digestive enzyme supplements to support their digestive function, while others reach for a bottle of bitters. So what is the difference between these two options? Quite a lot, in fact! Digestive enzymes are naturally produced and excreted by our body throug ..read more

Although we witness the seasons changing all around us, it's like our bodies need a little more time to catch up to the slower, inward nature of this season, and we can sometimes find ourselves a bit out of balance. We let go of summers energy and we start spending more time indoors, resting and cooking. It’s the time of year, as herbalists we naturally lean towards earthy roots and mushrooms to ground us and provide sustenance to our immune system for the coming winter months.  Both personally and in my clinical experience as an herbalist, I have seen immune tonics make a huge difference ..read more

  The liver, a three-pound sponge full of blood that is lodged just around the lower right ribs, is our tireless defender. It daily throws itself in front of a barrage of chemistry, coming from inside our bodies, from our food, and from the world around us, and helps to process through it, retaining what we need and breaking down and excreting waste material. Much of this material leaves through the bile, an important route of daily detoxification. If bile secretion backs up, we quickly develop illness: jaundice, that yellow coloring on the eyes and skin, is a visible sign of this i ..read more

Because stress and change will always be a part of human life, the key to not letting it affect our quality of life is through adaptability. One of the single most central attributes to living a good life is to maintain a life of balance. When we don't support ourselves during periods of stress, some of the juiciest and richest aspects of life fizzle out. Our creative and social life suffers, we feel drained energetically and we don't get the deeply nourishing and rejuvenating rest that our bodies need. Slowing down, exercising, time in nature, less screen time, time with loved ones are all es ..read more

When I picture our microbiome, I see great herds like the zebra and wildebeest that populate the savannah: this is what the flora is, really, more than a garden. It's a series of waves of intermingling populations, and instead of the grasses of the savannah, the foundation of their food chain comes from what we eat, along with healthy layer of mucus. In return, just as the herds that travel north to south in a seasonal search for water, the bacteria and fauna fluctuate across our guts and contribute to a healthy ecology all through the GI tract. Just as the plains of the Serengeti would fail w ..read more