Essential oils are potent, chemically complex extracts of herbs, spices, fruits, and other plants. They form the basis of the fragrant science of aromatherapy — the therapeutic application of pure, superior-grade essential oils for physical and psychological well-being. Aromatherapy appeals on many levels, and its … Read More

We’ve become a sun-phobic society. Yet most living things — plants, animals, and people — need at least a little sunshine in order to survive and thrive. Certainly, overexposure to the sun is the single most damaging event for your skin. It’s not just sunburns … Read More

Whether or not you’ve heard the term “forest bathing” before, you’re certainly familiar with the growing body of scientific evidence that getting outside and spending time in nature is good for both body and mind. It’s possible that, if you’re anything like

If you tend to follow healthy lifestyle habits, then you’ve probably at least heard about essential oils. Perhaps you already use them. But do you really know what they are? In a nutshell, essential oils are volatile (meaning they evaporate easily due to their molecular … Read More

Is there special meaning in numbers? There are schools of thought that say so. I’ve been thinking a lot about numbers lately. This year — 2018 — marks Storey’s 35th birthday. What do we have to show for three-and-a-half decades of publishing? For one, we … Read More

It’s four in the morning, and you’re wide awake. Anxiety wraps itself tightly around your chest, and your head is awash in worries. And now you’re also worrying about not getting enough sleep. You count the hours until your alarm will ring, add up the … Read More

There’s a saying among herbalists that the plant you need most will present itself to you when you need it. To be honest, when I first heard this, I was skeptical. Really? Plants just know when I need them and appear out of nowhere? No … Read More

I’ve written before about the potential dangers of essential oils when it comes to pets. Recently a flurry of posts has appeared online about beloved pet cats becoming critically ill when exposed to essential oils through home diffusers. These heartbreaking stories serve … Read More

In Ayurveda, along with sleep and balanced sexuality, food is one of the three sub-pillars (upastambhas) of health — and the most important. Undigested food becomes toxicity in our body, called ama or aam in Sanskrit. Ama is a causative factor in physical and even … Read More

We often forget or don’t know that some stimulating substances like chocolate and coffee, which are ubiquitous in our lives today, were used sparingly in the cultures from which they came. Cacao was incredibly sacred to the Maya and Aztec people, so much so that … Read More