Scarlet Elf Cup (Sarcoscypha Austriaca) – How to Identify and Use This Edible Mushroom

In this video you can learn how to identify and use the Scarlet Elf Cup (Sarcoscypha Austriaca) – an edible and tasty mushroom. As its name suggests, the Scarlet Elf Cup is a cup shaped fungus which features this rich, red, or scarlet color. The exterior is pale and dull, but the interior is bright … Continue reading “Scarlet Elf Cup (Sarcoscypha Austriaca) – How to Identify and Use This Edible Mushroom”

Shikimic Acid and Other Health Benefits of Pine Needle Tea

I have a bunch of pine trees growing all around me. Most of them, the ones growing within the woods, are too tall and their crowns are at least a dozen meters off the ground. But the ones growing on the fringes of the forest have their crowns within easy reach and I regularly visit … Continue reading “Shikimic Acid and Other Health Benefits of Pine Needle Tea”

Lungwort (Pulmonaria sp.) – Early Season Healing Plant with Medicinal Properties

Lungwort (Pulmonaria sp.) is a healing plant with medicinal properties. It’s one of the first plants of the season to grow, and flowers while it’s still cold outside. As the Latin name of the species – Pulmonaria – suggests, the plant’s medicinal properties are particularly known to benefit the upper respiratory tract. It’s traditionally used … Continue reading “Lungwort (Pulmonaria sp.) – Early Season Healing Plant with Medicinal Properties”

How to Identify Red-Belted Polypore (Fomitopsis Pinicola) – Shelf Fungus with Medicinal Properties

Fomitopsis Pinicola, otherwise known as the Red Belted Polypore, is a basiaiomycete fungus of the Fomitopsidaceae family. While its botanical (Latin) name refers to the conifers on which it predominantly grows, its vernacular name returns to the characteristic red band lining the outer edge of the upper side of the mushroom. Red Belted Polypore Identification … Continue reading “How to Identify Red-Belted Polypore (Fomitopsis Pinicola) – Shelf Fungus with Medicinal Properties”

Alder Tree (Alnus sp.) – How to Identify and Know Difference from Hazel

The Alder (Alnus species) is a genus of a tree, or a shrub, belonging to the Birch family (Betulaceae). There are a few dozen species of the Alder growing around the world. Here in Central Europe, three species occur natively: Green Alder (Alnus Alnobetula), Grey Alder (Alnus Incana) and Black Alder (Alnus Glutinosa). The Black … Continue reading “Alder Tree (Alnus sp.) – How to Identify and Know Difference from Hazel”

Birding and Ornitherapy – How to Improve Health Watching Wild Birds

In two of my previous videos I hinted to the fact that birdwatching, or birding as it’s sometimes referred to, has scientifically proven health benefits. Those were the videos about feeding fat balls to the tits and sparrows in winter, and the compilation of the woodpeckers chiseling on trees. In this video I take a … Continue reading “Birding and Ornitherapy – How to Improve Health Watching Wild Birds”

Science Proven Health Benefits of Cordyceps, Reishi and Ginger + How I Make Them Into Tea

In this video I demonstrate how I make a tea from Cordyceps, Reishi and Ginger. Below is the transcript of the text on the science backed health benefits of each – Cordyceps, Reishi as well as Ginger. Links to the cited studies will be at the end of the post: Cordiceps Cordyceps is actually a … Continue reading “Science Proven Health Benefits of Cordyceps, Reishi and Ginger + How I Make Them Into Tea”