Alternative Therapies
Chocolate – more than Candy
Published March 12th, 2017
by Tammera J. Karr, PhD
Millions of people worldwide love chocolate in all its many forms. This food of the “gods” comes from the cacao trees. The most common variety of cocoa comes from the Forastero making up 90% of the world crop. The rarest variety Criollo is sought after by artisan chocolate makers.
The [...]
Eat Your Nuts
Published December 31st, 2016
by Tammera J. Karr, PhD
One of my favorite nuts is pecans for baking and cooking. They are softer and do not cause canker sores in the mouth like walnuts can. The buttery rich flavor of pecans makes them one of the most popular nuts native to American. They are rich in nutrients, minerals, and [...]
When Stress Comes a Knocking
Published December 22nd, 2016
by Tammera J. Karr, PhD
Well, the holiday season is here, and yes, I say Holiday because there are over 29 holidays between now and the first week of January depending on if you are Jewish, Christian or anyone else. As many of you read this, the hustle and bustle of preparing for Thanksgiving will [...]
Fermenting Adventures in an RV
Published October 7th, 2016
by Tammera J. Karr, PhD
Recently my husband and I decided late summer was a good time to learn how to ferment drinks and vegetables. A little background: Naturally fermented beverage products called Kombucha, Ginger Beer, and water Kefir are all the rage. Even general purpose markets are now carrying some form of fermented drink. [...]
Stepping Into The Hornets Nest – Elder Care part 4
Published July 17th, 2016
By Tammera J Karr, Ph.D., FAAIM, BCIH, BCHN ©2016
Many of you may have childhood stories like my husband and father of baldfaced hornet encounters. When these stories are being told, there is always someone who steps in the nest first who walked away relatively unscathed, while others are repeatedly stung and attacked.
Dealing [...]
Rhubarb, oh so mouth watering
Published June 25th, 2015
by Tammera J. Karr, PhD
This last week I picked up my first CSA (community supported agriculture) box from Big Lick Farms – regular at the Roseburg and area farmers markets. I filled my cooler with heads of lettuce, radishes the size of golf balls, snap peas, chard, bok choy, sweet strawberries and rhubarb.
This [...]
Plantain Weed for Health
Published June 8th, 2015
by Tammera J. Karr, PhD
Plantain is a persistent weed in gardens, on lawns and even in driveway cracks in the Pacific Northwest. But plantain is one of the most medicinally powerful “nuisance” plants in gardens and yards not being taking advantage of for health, perhaps to our detriment. The green leaves and small, stalk-like [...]
Essential Oil Use on the Rise
Published May 19th, 2015
by Tammera J. Karr, PhD
Over the last year more and more clients are asking me about essential oil use for the prevention of super bugs and illnesses. The use of essential oils for health dates back to beyond the ancient Egyptians. Herbal medicine has been used for more than burial and religious rites, it [...]
Hawthorn: an Herb Worthy of Consideration
Published April 28th, 2015
by Tammera J. Karr, PhD
Ms. T, a lady who works in my office swears by hawthorn for anything to do with your heart and circulation. As with many things this inspired me to look into the history and use of hawthorn berry – was it a herb worth adding to my arsenal, and what [...]
The Flu and Prevention
Published April 14th, 2015
by Tammera J. Karr, PhD
This year, that flu “vaccine will only reduce your risk of ending up in the doctor’s office with the flu by about 23 percent. The vaccine was developed nearly a year ago in February, 2014, and it’s not an ideal match for H3N2, the strain of the virus prevalent this [...]