Herbalism Articles: Traditional Medicine Through a Modern Lens
Welcome to the Ivy Herbal article library. I'm Ivy Ham, a certified clinical herbalist, and every article here blends traditional wisdom from Western herbalism, Ayurveda, and Traditional Chinese Medicine with primary research you can check for yourself. Whether you are researching herbal remedies for a specific concern, learning to spot hidden toxins in your food, water, and home, or looking for clean, whole-food recipes, there is something here for you.
New to herbal medicine? Start with my Become an Herbalist guide or browse the free resources library.
Food Folate vs Folic Acid: The MTHFR Angle
Folate and folic acid are not the same thing. Here is a food-first look at vitamin B9 from liver, greens, and legumes, the MTHFR conversation, and what the research actually shows.
New York's Potassium Bromate Ban: What It Means for Your Bread
New York has moved to ban potassium bromate, a synthetic dough conditioner that much of the world abandoned decades ago. Here is what the additive is, how it is made, why it raises health concerns, and what the new ban means for shoppers and bakers.
Cleanest Sunscreen Brands + My SPF 50 Sunscreen Recipe
Chemical sunscreen brands have come under fire recently because of the inclusion of toxic chemicals that soak into your skin and are linked to an increased risk of cancers. Learn the top sunscreen brands I recommend that are cleaner, and how to make your own super clean sunscreen at home using my recipe!
Is Sunscreen Actually Giving You Skin Cancer? What a 470,000-Person Study Really Shows
A viral headline claims sunscreen "causes" skin cancer. Here's what the 470,000-person study actually found, what it can't tell us yet, and the sun-exposure research that rarely makes the news.
Vitamin K, Calcium, and High Blood Pressure: A Food-First Look
Blood pressure is about far more than salt. This food-first guide explores how vitamin K2, calcium, and magnesium help keep arteries flexible, why the kind of salt you use matters, and how to be sure a high reading is even accurate before acting on it.
Nickel Allergy: Links to Eczema, Gut, Thyroid, Hormones, and Hidden Sources
Nickel allergy is the most common contact allergy, and for sensitized people it can reach far beyond the skin into the gut, the microbiome, and possibly the thyroid. This guide covers the links to eczema, IBS and IBD, inflammation, hormones, and cancer, where nickel hides from cheap jewelry and 18/10 cookware to braces and high-nickel foods, what Ray Peat taught about nickel and pans, and practical ways to lower your exposure.
5-MeO-DMT and Postpartum Depression: A Closer Look at the "100% Remission" Study
A new trial reported that all ten women with postpartum depression reached remission in a single day on inhaled 5-MeO-DMT. Here is what the study showed, where its design falls short, why the current SSRI standard leaves so much to be desired, and why this research direction is worth watching.
Are New Construction Homes a Mold Risk? What to Know Before You Buy
Newer homes grow mold more easily than old ones, and the reason is hiding in the walls. Here is which building materials feed mold, which resist it, and how to protect your family and pets.
Best Water Filters for Fluoride, Aluminum & PFAS (2026 Guide)
Most pitcher filters don't touch fluoride, aluminum, or PFAS. Here's an honest 2026 comparison of the top reverse osmosis and gravity filters from a clinical herbalist who has used them — including my personal APEC setup, why remineralization matters, and where Berkey actually makes sense.
Natural Tick Repellent for Humans: What Actually Works (And Why Permethrin and DEET Aren't It)
A clinical herbalist's research-backed guide to plant-based tick repellents, why DEET and permethrin have concerns worth knowing, a DIY recipe, and honest caveats about essential oil safety.
What an Arkansas Chemical Spill Reveals About Aluminum in Your Tap Water
A May 2nd chemical spill in Fort Smith dumped roughly 80,000 gallons of acidified aluminum sulfate into a creek. The story under the story is where else this chemical quietly shows up: your tap water, factory chicken operations, and firefighting foams. Here is what the research says, and which herbs actually help reduce body burden.
5 Ray Peat Inspired Dinner Ideas for a Pro-Metabolic Diet
These five Ray Peat inspired dinners are built around pro-metabolic principles, with balanced protein, easy-to-digest carbs, quality saturated fats, and gentle fiber in every meal.
The Clean Coffee Buying Guide 2026: Third-Party Tested, Mold-Free, and Toxin-Free Brands
Not all coffee is created equal. This guide breaks down why mold, heavy metals, and pesticides in coffee matter for your health, and profiles every brand that meets our strict criteria: third-party lab testing, certified organic, free of mycotoxins and contaminants, and a chemical-free Swiss Water Process decaf option.
Ray Peat Diet Approved Foods List: The Complete Guide to Bioenergetic Eating
A complete, organized list of foods approved on the Ray Peat diet, including fruits, dairy, proteins, fats, and functional foods, plus grey area foods and a detailed FAQ.
Instant Pot Rotisserie Chicken Recipe
Store-bought rotisserie chickens are loaded with processed sodium, carrageenan, natural flavors, and other additives you probably don't want in your food. Here's how to make a cleaner version at home with your Instant Pot using just a few simple, whole ingredients.
My Thoughts on Elective Inductions & C-Section Births
Inductions and C-sections have become routine in the US, but are parents getting the full picture? Here's what the research actually says about the risks, the hormonal blueprint of natural birth, and the midwifery model of care.
Silfab Solar Chemical Spill Forces Elementary School Closure in York County, SC
A solar panel manufacturing plant in York County, SC — just yards from Flint Hill Elementary — spilled 1,530 gallons of potassium hydroxide and leaked hydrofluoric acid for weeks, forcing a two-day school closure and a state-ordered shutdown. Here's what happened and what chemicals are involved.
Tamarind May Help Your Body Flush Out Fluoride (Study Shows 37% Increase)
A randomized clinical study found that daily tamarind consumption increased fluoride excretion through urine by 37%. Here is what the research says and why it matters for your health.
GLP-1 and Research Peptides Informed Consent + Herbal Remedies to Support Weight Loss
Learn what your doctor may not be telling you about GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, including clinical trial limitations, class action lawsuits, and serious side effects. Plus, explore herbal alternatives like berberine, gurmar, cinnamon, and guarana that support healthy weight management naturally.
Where to Buy mRNA Vaccine-Free Beef | Regenerative Grass-Fed Sources
Looking for clean beef from farms that refuse mRNA vaccines? This guide covers the best regenerative, grass-fed and finished beef suppliers in the U.S., plus why pasture-raised beef is nutritionally superior, better for the environment and more humane than conventional feedlot meat.
Start Here: Reader Favorites
Not sure where to begin? These in-depth guides are the most-read articles on the site.
Adaptogenic Herbs for Stress
Only seven botanicals truly meet the scientific criteria for adaptogens. Monographs on all seven, drawing on Ayurveda, TCM, and Western herbalism.
Ray Peat Approved Foods List
The complete guide to bioenergetic eating: fruits, dairy, proteins, fats, grey area foods, and a detailed FAQ.
Best Water Filters for Fluoride, Aluminum & PFAS
An honest 2026 comparison of reverse osmosis and gravity filters from someone who has actually used them.
Cleanest Sunscreen Brands + DIY SPF 50 Recipe
The cleanest mineral sunscreens on the market, plus a homemade SPF 50 recipe you can make yourself.
Natural Tick Repellent That Actually Works
Research-backed plant-based repellents, a DIY recipe, and the honest case against DEET and permethrin.
The Clean Coffee Buying Guide
Every brand that passes strict criteria: third-party tested, organic, mold-free, with a Swiss Water decaf option.