Herbs & Supplements

Herbs & Supplements

Kali's Tongue and the Shoeflower: The Strange Folklore of Hibiscus

A warning before we start. This post contains no blood pressure data. While I was researching last week's piece on hibiscus tea and the brain I kept tripping over something else entirely: the stories. Goddesses, emperors, public shamings and an awful lot of polished shoes. So this one

Herbs & Supplements

Hibiscus: Can the World's Prettiest Tea Sharpen Your Brain?

Last month I read a claim that stopped me mid-scroll. A few cups of hibiscus tea a day, it said, can lower your blood pressure about as well as a starter dose of prescription medication. My inner scientist made the noise it always makes. Prove it. So I did

Herbs & Supplements

Serotonin Syndrome — What Every Supplement User Needs to Know

Okay, I’m going to be honest. I used to think things from plants or from health food stores were a lot different than proper medicines. I believed they were milder, safer, and wouldn’t give you the serious difficulties you’d find described in medical publications. But I'

Herbs & Supplements

Two Plants That May Help Your ADHD Brain Work Better Under Stress

I've been thinking a lot lately about the relationship between stress and ADHD. Specifically about something I hadn't quite joined up until recently. Most of us with ADHD know that the part of the brain that handles focus, planning and impulse control, the prefrontal cortex, isn&