Kratom, Mitragyna speciosa, is a tropical evergreen from the same family as coffee. It has been used as a harm reduction tool to wean people from opioid drugs and mitigate symptoms of withdrawal. Explore the energetics of this plant and a polybotanical recipe for headache.

Cannabis has long been used as a tool for expanding consciousness. How does cannabis cause (and not cause) a high? Does its ability to enhance visual, auditory, and sensational experience warrant a definition of it as a “psychedelic”?

Sage is far more than a spice and something to burn. Explore the vast landscape of the therapeutics benefits of sage species: their healing attributes, psychoactive properties, active compounds, and the need for sustainability and cultural awareness.

They’ve been revered, stigmatized, used as food and medicine, and taken us to greater depths of consciousness. Having coevolved along with us, mushrooms can improve health both inside the body and outside in the natural environment. Yet connecting with the planet and harvesting the bounty of its gifts doesn’t come without its share of struggle. Explore how the history of anti-foraging sentiment began and what we can do to combat it and reap the benefits of the All-Mighty Fungi.

Is there a synergy when pairing yoga and cannabis together? These modalities have individually demonstrated anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, anti-anxiety, and other parallel properties. With the booming interest in cannabis-infused yoga, what does the science say? Trace the history, debate, and current potential of these two sacred practices.

The burning of various plant resins, leaves, and roots for their scent have prevailed across the world. However, certain botanicals have laid fame within ancient texts and their influence has lasted until the present day. Frankincense has been revered throughout history as a resin, oil, and perfume. The plant also has properties that are similar to cannabis which aren't commonly discussed. How are frankincense and cannabis alike? Let us count the ways!

Autoimmune conditions are an area of medicine that remain largely misunderstood. Cannabis therapy and dietary changes seem to be safer, cheaper, and possibly more effective for combating autoimmune conditions than pharmaceutical medications. Based on current research, cannabis therapies may provide benefits for autoimmune disease in three basic ways: modulation of the immune system, decreasing general inflammation, and helping to assist the digestive system.

Not only do wildfires affect the environment and people’s homes and livelihood, they also create a challenge for public health. Explore six herb and mushroom remedies to support the lungs and protect the body from smoke exposure and related issues.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) is an essential botanical to have in your herbal toolkit. Melissa can act as a beneficial companion plant due to its ability to repel unfavorable bugs and encourage beneficial pollinators. Here’s a glimpse at a few of the ways the plant has demonstrated significant healing potential.

Mescaline is the psychoactive active component of San Pedro, but the cactus also contains other active compounds that may contribute to its therapeutic properties.Explore the potential applications for San Pedro and mental health and weigh first-hand knowledge and scientific discovery.

Hops (Humulus lupulus) is most well known as a key ingredient in beer, whose antimicrobial properties were used to preserve the brew and prevent bacterial growth. However, long before its use in beverages, it was part of the botanical repertoire of North American indigenous groups and in Arab, Chinese, and Ayurvedic Medicine. The bold reputation of hops cannot omit the fascinating evolution between it and its closest botanical relative, cannabis.

A powerful medicine that also encourages the mutual benefit of other botanicals? That’s just part of the gifts that Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) has to offer. Yarrow has watched the ebb and flow of human evolution for a very long time. Worn as a sacred amulet for protection since ancient times, Yarrow is endowed with a wide spectrum of medicinal attributes.

Hailed since the days of old, this member of the mint family holds significant healing wisdom. Hyssop is a botanical garden ally, and a valuable source of pollen that attracts many bees. It may be increasingly helpful in areas with fire season due to its lung soothing properties.

Rose appeared 35 million years ago, and has evolved with us and become iconic in cultures across the globe. Beyond a beautiful aroma and appearance, rose is a treasure trove of healing potential. The plant has been investigated for its anti-tumor properties as well as its gut protective attributes.

Often revered for its beauty, Calendula officinalis (Marigold), is a useful ally to have in your herbal toolkit. The plant has the potential to fight antibiotic-resistant infections, regulate the immune system, and more.

Tap into the wisdom of an herb with a 6,000-year track record as a healing remedy, culinary spice, and dye. Touted as the “Holy Powder of India”, Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a staple in Ayurvedic practice, which uses the plant for common colds, indigestion, metabolic dysfunction, and many other ailments. There have been over 12,000 peer-reviewed studies on curcumin and turmeric, documenting numerous medicinal benefits.

Revered by many groups of people throughout history, Passionflower’s cross-continent adventures have brought healing in the areas affected by colonization and beyond. Spanish missionaries invaded the new world and learned of the plant from the Aztecs, who used it for insomnia and nervousness. It has lulled many folks into tranquility since.

Our current agricultural system is not based on sustainable means of cultivation and, unfortunately, this also applies to much of cannabis farming today. Some cannabis cultivators have adopted sustainable, alternative practices. Companion planting is a method of cultivation where various plants are grown together in ways that promote a dynamic, flourishing ecosystem.

The prickly Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) is well known among herbalists as a liver tonic and a promoter of kidney and gall bladder health. What do Cannabis and Milk Thistle have in common? Both of these versatile “weeds” have a rich history of medicinal use going back thousands of years. And both convey significant therapeutic benefits that are mediated by the endocannabinoid system.

When a dog or a cat gets sick and conventional options don’t work, people seek alternatives. In the realm of natural healing, cannabis for animals seems like a logical botanical pathway to explore. To help pet-owners become better informed about the use of cannabis for their four-legged companions, Sarah Russo spoke with Gary Richter, DVM, an integrative medicine veterinarian.