Understanding the Digestive Process Carbohydrate Digestion: Begins in the mouth where food is chewed, activating enzymes. The Liver and Gallbladder: Work together to produce and store bile, which is essential for fat digestion. Bile is released into the stomach during digestion. The liver also detoxifies the blood. Stomach’s Role: Acidic environment breaks down food, kills pathogens, and prevents GERD when properly acidified. Small Intestine: Home to the microbiome, crucial for immune health and nutrient absorption. Works with the appendix to repopulate gut flora after illness. Large Intestine: Absorbs water and vitamins, storing waste until elimination. Digestive Concerns? Look to Enzymes …

Nature has a way of providing just what we need, and few herbs exemplify this better than nettles (Urtica dioica). Often dismissed as a pesky weed, nettles are, in fact, one of the most valuable plants in the herbalist’s toolkit. Thriving in the wild landscapes of Alaska, this nutrient-rich herb offers a wealth of medicinal benefits that have been recognized for centuries. Where Do Nettles Grow? Nettles are a hardy, perennial plant that flourishes in nutrient-rich soil, often near rivers, forests, and disturbed areas. In Alaska, they can be found along stream banks, in meadows, and at the edges of …

By Dori Cranmore RN If you’ve ever gotten “stung” by a nettles plant, you’ve no doubt gained quite a respect for the lingering pain and possibly a fear for the plant. Hopefully I can show you the stinging nettle is probably one of the most important herbs available to us and if harvested correctly, you can avoid getting stung. In Alaska we are abundantly blessed with Urtica dioica. There are over 500 species world wide. Spring is the best time to harvest the top 6-8” before they flower (summer solstice in Alaska). Note: ingesting flowered nettles have been known to …