The Ayurvedic science of Ritucharya (seasonal behavior) deals with how to conduct your life during the changing weather patterns of the seasons. The stresses of seasonal changes can bring about health challenges, but may be prevented by adopting seasonal regimens, prescribed by Ayurveda. 

Most of us love the summer, the beach, and…the sun. What we don’t like is sunburn. Not only is it painful, but sunburn causes serious long-term tissue damage. Enter Saint John’s Wort. You’ve heard of this peppy yellow flower for depression, but did you know it has potent burn healing properties? Long before this remedy became the natural medicine de jour for mood, Europeans were grabbing it as their main go-to for burns, including sunburn. Take my advice, and don’t get burned in the first place, but if you do, use a high quality St. John’s Wort  oil. Pharmacological research supports the topical preparations for the treatment of minor wounds and burns, sunburns, abrasions, bruises, contusions, ulcers and muscle pain. 

Who doesn’t have bad digestion these days? Water cooler talk will reveal that all your coworkers have funky guts. From heartburn and ulcer to constipation and gas, it seems like everyone’s ornery digestive tract is making an appearance. 

Inflammation is a local response to cellular damage that includes, in large part, capillary dilatation, penetration by white blood cells, redness, heat, pain, swelling, and stiffness. But, what causes it? And what can be done to treat it?

We live in a chaotic and stimulating world. The pace of life perpetually accelerates, and our whole civilization becomes more and more frantic. We are a nation of insomniacs, unable to shut off our mental chatter. And for those in chronic pain, the situation is only worse. The pain makes sleeping yet more difficult, sleep deprivation emboldens the pain and the cycle continues. Officially, insomnia is, “difficulties initiating and/or maintaining sleep, or non-restorative sleep, associated with impairments of daytime functioning or marked distress for more than 1 month.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that in excess of one-quarter of us report occasional sleep problems, while nearly 10% suffer from chronic insomnia. If we look just at adults, though, the numbers look more dramatic. The National Sleep Foundation sys that 58% of American adults experience symptoms of insomnia a few nights a week or more.

These days, most of us might feel like we’re about to burst something, but, for one-third of American adults, that possibility’s all too real. Those unlucky souls are living with a ticking time bomb. 

As our population ages, losing one's mental faculties can take first place on the list of concerns. Alzheimer's disease and other forms of senile dementia affect some 25 percent of all people over 80. Research, though, is revealing natural approaches in treating and preventing mental decline. Not only aging grabs our attention. Many of us deal with mood disorders, including depression and anxiety.

Herbalism, also known as botanical medicine, is a healing system based on the use of plants that are eaten or applied to the skin. Over all of ancient history, herbal medicine has been used worldwide by many diverse cultures to treat illness and to assist bodily functions. Herbal remedies in the form of teas, extracts, tinctures, capsules and tablets may be recommended by healthcare practitioners of many different disciplines as a practical way to address a wide variety of health conditions. 

When planning a trip, airfare and accommodations take center stage, but ensuring a seamless, worry-free vacation involves more than booking. If you aspire to an illness-free adventure (and who doesn't?), packing your essential herbal travel emergency kit is as crucial as your tickets and reservations. Don't embark on your journey without it

A smooth stomach is a travel pleasure, but things often don’t go your way. All that flying and driving can lead to a pretty snarly tummy. If you get queasy all too easy, think ginger. Ayurveda calls ginger the "universal medicine", and for good reason—it's a medicine cabinet in a jar. Ginger has long been recommended as a remedy for many conditions, but no condition has been studied more in connection with ginger than nausea.

Do you ever find yourself in the kitchen without knowing why you came in there? No, not you. Whatever it was, it must have been important, for here you are. Maybe if you go back out into the living room, you’ll magically remember why you traipsed to the kitchen. Or, just maybe, some herbal medicine can jog that aging memory.