Steven Horne's Newsletter Articles

August 19, 2025

Mariposa Lilies

One of my favorite spring flowers is the sego lily, the official state flower of Utah. Sego lily, Calochortus nuttallii, is a member of the Calochortus genus in the lily family, which are collectively known as mariposa lilies. When the early Mormon pioneers were struggling to find food, local Native Americans taught them to harvest the bulbs of sego lily which helped save them from starvation.I’ve only eaten the bulbs once. It was on our annual Boy Scout camping trip to Stansbury Island, an…

August 12, 2025

The Noble Bay Leaf

Commonly used as a seasoning, bay leaf can ease lung congestion, aid with digestion, help reduce inflammation. And as an emotional remedy it may help boost self-confidence and courage.

August 4, 2025

Epimedium: Horny Goat Weed

Epimedium is a genus of plants in the barberry family mostly native to Asia. The primary species used in Western herbal medicine is Epimedium grandiflorum, but a number of other species, such as E. sagittatum and E. pubescens, are also used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).Various species of epimedium have been used as an aphrodisiac for both men and women for over 2,000 years. The legend is that its effects were discovered by a Chinese goat farmer, who noted how it made the goats more frisky,…

July 28, 2025

The Medicinal and Nutritional Benefits of Apricots

Besides being a nutritious fruit, apricots are also a source of medicine. Apricot seeds are used in TCM for problems in the lung and large intestine meridians. They also contain amygdalin, which has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating properties.

July 15, 2025

Dogwoods

The dogwoods belong to the Cornus genus, which contains about 30-60 species of deciduous trees or shrubs. I had intended to write primarily about the Asian dogwood used in TCM, but found so much interesting information on the medicinal uses of dogwoods that I decided to discuss several other species, including the Pacific dogwood, which I’ve used as a flower essence. Asian Dogwood (Cornus officinalis)The fruits of Asian dogwood (Shan Zhu Yu) enter the liver and kidney meridians and have a tonifying…

June 16, 2025

Neem: The Village Pharmacy

A popular Ayurvedic remedy for dental and immune health and a great natural pesticide, neem has been called nature’s pharmacy, the village drugstore, and "the curer of all ailments” in India.

June 3, 2025

Spilanthes: The Toothache Plant

A traditional remedy for teeth and gums, as well as fungal and bacterial infections, spilanthes is applied topically to help with toothache and more.

June 2, 2025

Forsythia

A springtime flowering shrub, forsythia is an anti-inflammatory, fever-reducing, and infection fighting herb. The bitter fruits are used in Chinese medicine and the flowers are edible as well.

Mariposa Lilies

The Noble Bay Leaf

Epimedium: Horny Goat Weed

The Medicinal and Nutritional Benefits of Apricots

Dogwoods

Neem: The Village Pharmacy

Spilanthes: The Toothache Plant

Forsythia

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