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.
Clean Mineral Sunscreen Brands + Homemade Zinc Sun Balm Recipe
FDA trials show chemical UV filters absorb into your bloodstream, and only zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are recognized as safe. Here are the cleanest mineral sunscreen brands worth buying, and the non-nano zinc sun balm I make at home instead.
Is Sunscreen Giving You Skin Cancer? What a 470,000-Person Study 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.
Start Here
Reader Favorites
Not sure where to begin? These in-depth guides are the most-read pages on the site.
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.