Dr. David Orman

Lovage is a classic European medicinal herb valued for its deep support of digestion and fluid balance. Traditionally used as both food and medicine, its aromatic leaves and roots gently stimulate digestive secretions, helping the body break down heavy meals and relieve bloating. This makes lovage especially useful when digestion feels sluggish or weighed down.…

Q: What natural substances or practices actually increase tissue regeneration speed, not just reduce pain or inflammation? A: Most natural medicine approaches stop at reducing pain and inflammation. While that can make life more tolerable, it does not answer the deeper question of how to make tissue heal faster and more completely. True regeneration is…

Spilanthes, often referred to as the toothache plant, is a remarkable medicinal herb known for its immediate and unmistakable sensory effect. When tasted, it produces a gentle tingling and numbing sensation that reflects its powerful action on the nervous and immune systems. Traditionally used in herbal medicine across South America, Africa, and Asia, Spilanthes has…

The Village Idiot has always been misunderstood. Laughed at. Dismissed. Quietly pitied. Yet he may be the most underappreciated person on the planet. Why? Because he does not know what cannot be done. He has no formal agreement with fear. No internal contract that says “stay small.” Be reasonable. Know your place. While others calculate…

Fleece Flower Root, known traditionally as He Shou Wu, has held a revered place in Chinese herbal medicine for centuries as a premier longevity tonic. Its reputation centers on nourishing the Liver and Kidneys, the two organ systems most closely associated with aging, vitality, and deep constitutional strength in traditional medicine. When these systems are…

Zedoary, known botanically as Curcuma zedoaria, is an ancient medicinal root that once held a respected place in traditional herbal systems across Asia. Often overshadowed today by its famous cousin turmeric, zedoary has its own distinct personality and therapeutic focus. Where turmeric is broadly anti inflammatory, zedoary is more targeted, moving stagnation, clearing obstruction, and…

Joint pain is often treated as something to fight or silence, yet the body responds better to cooperation than force. Stiffness and aching joints are frequently signals of reduced circulation, dehydration, and protective tension rather than irreversible damage. When joints are deprived of gentle movement, synovial fluid thickens, tissues dry out, and inflammation lingers. The…

Scutellaria Root, known in Chinese medicine as Huang Qin, is one of the great cooling and clarifying herbs of the classical tradition. For centuries it has been used when the body and mind are overheated by stress, inflammation, or internal imbalance. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is said to clear heat and dry dampness, especially…