Herbalism Articles: Traditional Practice, Primary Research
I'm Ivy Ham, a certified clinical herbalist. Every article in this library combines traditional practice from Western herbalism, Ayurveda, and Traditional Chinese Medicine with primary research you can check for yourself.
Pick a topic below to get started.
Oxtail Soup Recipe (Slow Cooker or Instant Pot)
Grass-fed oxtail, potatoes and carrots cooked in the Instant Pot for 4 hours or in a slow cooker for 8. Includes an ingredient-by-ingredient check against what Ray Peat said about oxtail, starch, mushrooms, fish sauce and cook time.
Natural Remedies for Insomnia, Part 1: What to Check Before You Reach for Herbs
Part one of a two-part guide. Before reaching for a sleep herb, check light, movement, stimulants, medications, thyroid, and food. Plus tart cherry juice and two gentle teas.
Glycine for Sleep, Blood Sugar and Collagen: What the Trials Found
Glycine is the amino acid that makes up a third of collagen and gelatin. Here is what the human trials measured for sleep, blood sugar and glutathione, which foods contain the most, the doses researchers used, and what the safety literature records.
Foods High in Collagen: Gelatin, Bone Broth, and What the Trials Found
The foods highest in collagen are the parts most people throw away: skin, tendons, cartilage, bone, and the gelatin that cooks out of them. Here is which foods carry the most, how bone broth stacks up against powders, what Ray Peat argued about balancing muscle meat with gelatin, and what the skin, tendon, and muscle trials measured.
Osso Bucco Recipe
Osso Bucco is one of my favorite cuts of beef, and is rich in amino acids needed for skin, bone and joint health. I present the recipe I use to make this delicious hearty dish with modifications to make it in an Instant Pot, dutch oven or slow cooker. Enjoy!
Homemade Marshmallows with Beef Gelatin, No Corn Syrup
A homemade marshmallow recipe with no corn syrup, built on grass-fed beef gelatin and cane sugar or maple syrup. Includes the full method, a rose petal variation, storage tips, and a rose herbal monograph.
Ray Peat Inspired Savory Beef and Gelatin Broth Bowl
Discover how gelatin, praised by Dr. Ray Peat for its stress-busting and anti-aging benefits, can transform your health with this simple broth recipe. Packed with glycine and easy to make, it’s a tasty way to support wellness inspired by Peat’s groundbreaking insights.
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Is Apeel Discontinued? 2026 Store List
Which U.S. grocery chains have said no to Apeel-coated produce, which have not, and how to shop around it. Updated September 2026.
The Ray Peat Diet Guide
Every food he mentioned in a searchable database of 150, his hormone framework in order, recipes, and links to his first-hand sources.
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.
Best Water Filters for Fluoride, Aluminum & PFAS
A 2026 comparison of reverse osmosis and gravity filters from someone who has used them all firsthand.
Natural Tick Repellent That Works
Plant-based repellents that hold up in studies, a DIY recipe, and the 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.