Fennel is a rather pretty plant that tastes like licorice, but is actually in the carrot family. It’s a perennial with yellow flowers and feather-like leaves and is quite pretty when flowering. It’s a sweet seed that is used in countless recipes because of its delicate flavor. But we’re more interested in its healthful uses so […]

Star anise is a spice that grows on evergreen trees common in China and Vietnam. It’s not unknown here in the western world, but neither is it common. It’s very aromatic and tastes like anise (duh! wonder why it’s called “star anise”?) or licorice, which I don’t like but many people do. If you’re one […]

Home remedies sound so … quaint. We picture a colonial mother gathering plants in the early morning to treat an ailing child or a pioneer woman hanging herbs from the rafters of her log cabin. But natural remedies have been the medicines of choice for the human race for tens of thousands of years. It’s […]

There are so many horrid substances in our lives that it would be a full time job just keeping up with them, but Dioxane is really terrible and deserves some notice. Dioxane is “lethal” to smaller mammals so we must seriously question its safety for humans yet it’s been found in such familiar names as Hello Kitty Bubble Bath, Huggies […]

I am about to have cataract surgery, and like I always do, I went out on the Net to read about the experience of others. To my surprise I haven’t really been able to find anything. At least, nothing like what I’m seeking. Oh, sure, there are lots of articles about the structure of the eye […]

It’s not exactly a fun topic, but warts are a reality for a huge percentage of the human population. So, how do you get the damn things? It’s simple: almost all kinds of warts are caused by some strain of human papillomavirus (HPV). The virus is usually transmitted through the direct and repetitive contact with […]

Here I am writing about dog food recipes when I don’t have a dog. I like dogs but I just don’t want to live with them. Instead, I have two rotten-spoiled cats. But my daughter has two dogs and we’ve had several conversations about dog food recently and I did some research into the subject […]

Did you know that you risk cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity when you go to work? No, it’s not the glazed donuts at company meetings, too much coffee, or the microwave snacks in the break room. Nor is it the stale air or the fluorescent lighting. While these may contribute to ill-health, a greater […]

Subway is the latest fast food chain to join Chick-Fil-A, Subway, McDonald’s, Chipotle and Panera in eliminating chicken raised with antibiotics. The only one of these chains that I visit is (occasionally) Chick-Fil-A and they announced their decision in February of 2014. Not only is this a great health and consumer decision, but these giants also […]

Did you know that if you suffer from herpes or cold sores, your best remedy for painful sores may be … honey. Honey? How can such a common and ordinary substance be a powerful remedy for miserable and painful sores? In fact, it can be used to treat acne, wounds, cuts and sores of all […]