Natural Winter Remedies: Echinacea

A go-to herb for colds, this plant (Echinacea purpurea and E. angustifolia) may help support your immune system to fight viruses. The root, leaves, and flowers are all medicinal.

How to use: Take 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of tincture (herbal extract) every two hours until symptoms are gone. Echinacea also comes in tea blends.

Natural Mood Boosters-Hawthorn

Though mainly studied as a heart-health herb, hawthorn can help to ease broken hearts, too, along with mild depression and anxiety.

Hawthorn is available in tincture and capsule form, but it also makes a delicious tea. Simmer the berries for 20 minutes; strain and drink.

Natural Mood Boosters-Oat Tops

The milky tops of the oat plant, which contain B vitamins and minerals, can soothe stress and boost moods.

Oat Tops makes a wonderful tea; follow instructions for lemon balm, above. Also works as a mood- and skin-soothing bath; brew a strong tea and add to water.

Natural Mood Boosters-Lemon Balm

This member of the mint family is both calming and uplifting, making it useful for easing day-to-day stress, insomnia, and the winter blues.

Lemon balm is delicious in tea form; pour boiling water over fresh or dried leaves, let steep for 20 minutes. Drink a few cups daily. Or combine lemon balm with oat tops.

Natural Mood Boosters-St. John's Wort

Shown in studies to ease depression, St. John's wort may also be helpful for seasonal affective disorder.

Try St. John's wort in tincture or capsule form; for depression, be sure you're working with a health-care professional. St. John's wort may interact with certain drugs; discuss with your doctor.

Russian Scientists Find Third Generation of Hamsters Sterilized by GM Soy

Hot off the press GMO research study shows alarming birth defects, sterility, and infant deaths in animals fed this food commonly found in human diets. Why has this food been dumped in the EU, yet not in the US?

Closely tied to the production of GM crops is the use of the herbicide Roundup, which contains glyphosate. Monsanto’s Roundup is the most widely used herbicide in the world, and contrary to the popular belief propagated by industry, pesticide use has significantly increased – DOUBLED since 2005 -- rather than decreased with the use of GM crops.