It’s that time of year. The holidays are over, the decorations packed away for another year, presents unwrapped and half of them returned. The party laughter has faded, the credit card bills are coming in and the world outside is gray and cold. So January makes you feel a little blue as the long winter … Read more
Feeling like your life is one big drag? Are the vagaries of everyday life gotten you down? No. This isn’t an article about depression. It’s about something else that might be dragging you down: Adrenal fatigue can be dragging you down. You might not even know it, but here’s a hint: Relentless stress can put … Read more
Jan. 1, 2026 Dear Old Friends, I have reach what I can only call an existential crisis in the long natural health journey I have shared with some of you for more than 25 years. I am, and I hope I always have been, a staunch advocate of integrative medicine. “Integrative” does not mean “alternative.” … Read more
Note from Kathleen: This piece has become an annual favorite. Please seek help if you feel like your depression is out of control. The new National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number is 988. I love you all! Once upon a time when I was working for a newspaper, my editor had a brilliant idea: I … Read more
Stress messes with your brain all the time. Science confirms that: 75% of all visits to primary physicians are for complaints that have stress as an underlying cause. Emotional stress, when unrelieved, raises levels of the stress hormone cortisol and adrenaline, elevates hormones and brain chemicals throughout your body and becomes physical as well as … Read more
The holidays are here and it seems they are inevitably accompanied by packing on a few pounds. This doesn’t have to be the case if you follow a few very simple rules. Food should be pleasurable, but for many of us, the “stop” mechanism is broken. What’s wrong with a little cream puff or Swedish … Read more
Are the holidays already getting you down? Are shopping, holiday events and obligations literally giving you a headache? Here are some headache remedies from my book, Food Is Medicine: 101 Prescriptions from the Garden These will get you back on track and in the holiday spirit. MIGRAINE HEADACHE Your Garden RX: garlic, spinach, sunflower seeds, … Read more
This is an excerpt from Kathleen Barnes’ book, Our Toxic World: A Survivor’s Guide What is it about the early parts of the year when I want to clean out clutter, sweep away old papers and cobwebs and get the house good and clean? Whatever it is, any time is a great time to have … Read more
Most of us think of sage as a savory addition to the kitchen spice rack. But now researchers say this herb’s silvery little leaf can help you stay healthy throughout your life by sharpening your memory, preventing heart disease and strengthening your immune system. Sage has been used for centuries to treat everything from snake bites … Read more
Here in the mountains of Western North Carolina, autumn has arrived. There’s a blush of gold across the mountainsides and the reds of the maples flare along the ridge lines. Fall always means apple time with a visit to the sweetly scented farm store and a bite into the freshest, crispest tangy Gala apple, juice … Read more