Like so many herbs and ethnobotanicals, the history of wild lettuce (also known as “opium lettuce”) goes back literally thousands of years. It may have its origins in prehistoric times, but we know that[…]
Author: Philip
The Golden California Poppy For Pain, Nerves And Anxiety
The California poppy is the state flower of California. It is actually found all along the western coast of the United States from Washington State down to Mexico. Also known by its botanical name Eschscholzia[…]
Intro To Kanna: African Ethnobotanical Mood-lifter
Kanna, botanical name Sceletium tortuosum, is an ethnobotanical from Africa that has been used by various tribes in South Africa and the surrounding regions since long before the first colonists and explorers discovered the area.[…]
Drug Abuse Expert, Dr. Jack Henningfield, Warns Against Banning Kratom
The American Kratom Association held their press conference in Atlanta, Georgia earlier today. The event was hosted by Roswell, Georgia native, Dave Herman, the chair of the AKA. In attendance, was Dr. Jack Henningfield[…]
Fo-Ti, the Chinese Rejuvenative and Longevity Herb
Fo-ti, botanical name Polygonum multiflorum, is a well known and popular herb in Traditional Chinese medicine. It’s sourced from the tuberous foliage of Polygonum which grows wild in China, Taiwan and Japan. For centuries it’s[…]
NY Post Spreads Disinformation Regarding Kratom
The New York Post recently published an article regarding kratom that relied heavily on blatant misinformation supplied by the DEA. The article claimed 10 percent of the 23,000 respondents to the call for public comments[…]
Honor Student Faces Felony Charges for Using CBD oil for ADD
Tiffany Young and her family are facing a nightmare right now. Her 15-year-old son (an honor student and Cadet hopeful studying robotics and maritime studies) is facing a felony charge for using non-psychoactive, 50 state[…]
Blue Lotus Wine Infusion Recipe for Beginners
The Egyptian Blue Lotus, Nymphaea caerulea, is an ethnobotanical that has been revered through the centuries and across the continents. From it’s emergence as a hybrid of the white lily to its use by the[…]
History and use of Syrian rue seeds
WHAT IS SYRIAN RUE? Syrian rue (Peganum harmala) Throughout the deserts of the Middle East and up into India, Mongolia and Manchuria, the Syrian Rue grows. Syrian Rue is one of the bitterest of all herbs[…]
A brief intro to plant alkaloids
Secondary Metabolites, Part II: The Alkaloids Last week we talked about plant secondary metabolites and how important they are both to plants (to ensure their own propagation and safety). One of the most important classes[…]
Plant voodoo: A brief intro to the secondary metabolites
Today, in honor of George Romero’s death this week I wanted to tie in zombies and herbalism some way. So in this video we’ll be talking about plant voodoo. Yes, you heard that right, plant[…]
Ginseng: Nature’s Remedy
Ginseng is a slowly-growing rooted plant that was first discovered in the hills of China over 5000 years ago. It is believed that ginseng was first used solely as a food source, however, it was soon[…]
Issue of Kratom Legality in Tennessee Successfully Challenged by Christopher Miller
In a tentative win for kratom legality in Tennessee, Christopher Miller had his case retired by the DA. The story had gained a good bit of publicity after reddit commenters urged users to write in[…]
7 Reasons Why You Should Shift To Natural Foods
Every time you hear the term ‘natural food’, your mind probably starts conjuring up pictures of leafy green vegetables and big, juicy fruits. And why shouldn’t it? As the name itself suggests, such food is[…]
Is Healthy Eating a Dangerous Trend?
In a word, no. But why would anyone even pose such a seemingly ridiculous question? Regardless of the reasoning behind why, the respected UK newspaper The Guardian has published several articles in regards to the[…]
Terrific Turmeric!
Tumeric, a boldly flavored spice known for its yellow color, is one of the earliest recorded plants used for medicine, and it is still being used for health purposes. Around 4,000 years ago[…]
Munching blue lotus at the Adventure Hostel last day in San Diego
Blue Lotus in the San Diego Sun Happy Earth Day week/weekend, Gifts from Earth family & friends! It's April 20th and we're celebrating the Earth Day with a 20% off promo code. Just use the[…]
Dandelion, invasive weed or medicinal wildflower?
Ah, the common dandelion. Scourge of some gardeners and considered a weed by many. By definition, you could certainly argue (if on a technicality only) that dandelion is a weed. To relegate it to the[…]
Gifts from Earth contributors
Shaunna Kay is a writer, photographer, graphic and web designer specializing in fitness, self-optimization and ethnobotanicals and herbalism. Much of her work can be found at The Holistic New & Reviews. Philip
Become a Gifts from Earth contributor!
If you’re interested in writing about ethnobotanicals and earning special discounts all the while then now is the perfect time to join our contributing writer program. Benefits for contributors include a personalized promo code, a[…]