Tag: health
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Poppy: The Elixir of Life is Poison
How the flower of death factored into the Eleusinian mysteries and the Persephone myth. Scientific Name: Poppy Somniferum (Sleep-bringing swell) Opium/Bread-seed poppy In all the steamy drama, romance, and speculation that comes from re-tellings of the myth of Persephone and Hades, people often hide and ignore key elements of the story in favor of sweeter…
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Mimosa Pudica: It’s the Shy Ones You Should Look Out For
Deep in the forests of Madagascar, there lives a legendary tree called the “tepe.” Perhaps you’ve heard of it before. With a thick textured trunk and leaves of an agave plant, it has voracious tendrils sprouting and thrashing from the crown like a nest of angry vipers. If you draw too close to the intoxicating…
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Lobelia: America’s sweetheart is a clever witch
Spring is here, and it’s time to plant one of my favorite plants of the season. The lobelia. Specifically, Lobelia erinus. This fast-growing ground plant not only fills the shelves of the local nurseries at the beginning of the season, but it also spills over the edges of pots and borders in and outside the residents and…
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Mint: Dr. Frankenstein’s monster smells of love and shaving cream
Menthe (mint), from the family Lamiaeacea (jaws) Mint is a lovely, versatile garden plant that has rooted itself deeply into gardens worldwide— a distinct, vibrant personality setting it apart from its neighbors both subjectively and physically (being an isolated plant in garden beds). Its personality is so distinct that ancient Greeks had personified it in…
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Gotu Kola: Path to the Fountain of Youth
Gotu kola is a Southeast Asian waterside weed embellished by its supernatural ability to heal most bodily wounds— from skin conditions to blood circulation to mental health— which makes it an extremely coveted plant by herbalists and scientists worldwide. Best of all, it’s almost effortless to grow. The provisions for and from this plant make…