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?

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. 

Airfare, hotel accommodations, and rental cars are probably the main things on your mind when you prepare for a trip, but nailing down the nitty-gritty of your vacation is only the beginning of the trip-planning process. If you look forward to a smooth, stress-free trip (and who doesn't?), planning to stay healthy is just as important. Don't leave home without your herbal travel emergency kit!

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. 

Headache. Nonstop sneezing. Stuffy nose. Fatigue. If you're an airborne allergy sufferer, these symptoms are your constant companions for several months every year.  For those with year-round allergies, each day brings a cycle of misery, often broken only temporarily by powerful drugs—antihistamines and decongestants—often with side effects more uncomfortable than the original symptoms. Airborne allergies usually affect the respiratory system. Some airborne allergies, like the one we call hay fever, are seasonal.

When you hear the word "herbalism," you may have a vague notion of what it means. But, when a friend or family member discusses how herbal treatments have helped them, you might be ready to explore more. Read on to see why practicing herbalism has become popular and what it can do to help the body and mind.