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Too Many Herbs or Supplements? Vitamin Toxicity Can Be Dangerous!

Vitamin toxicity is a dangerous disorder which can interfere with important bodily functions. Excessive vitamin and supplement intake can cause serious health problems, including neurological symptoms, endocrine syndromes, and more. Many health conscious people take herbal supplements and extra vitamins – if you are one of them, beware! Here are three reasons it happened to me, and five tips to prevent it from happening to you.

American Wintergreen – Gaultheria Procumbens

American Wintergreen, or Gaultheria procumbens, is a perennial, evergreen shrub native to North America from Alabama to Manitoba. It is also known as teaberry, boxberry, mountain tea, and wintergreen. It is used both in an essential oil and tea form, made from fresh leaves. American Wintergreen contains high quantities of methyl salicylate, a naturally occurring chemical similar to aspirin. Oil of Wintergreen, or wintergreen essential oil, contains up to 98% methyl salicylate. Learn more about Wintergreen oil and tea!

July 2021 Moon Phases & Astronomy

July 2021 is busy! The first full month of summer is jam packed with three meteor showers, five moon phases, a double lunar conjunction, and more! From July 27th to July 30th three meteor showers will take place. Pluto will reach Opposition and be viewable with a telescope. Check out the full calendar at the bottom of the post, so you don’t miss anything!

Moon Phases & More for June 2021

Are you ready for the start of Summer? First, the far northern portions of the United States will be treated with a Annular Solar Eclipse. Then, Summer Solstice brings in warm weather to the northern hemisphere on June 20th. The month finishes out strong with the Bootes Meteor Shower, also visible from the northern hemisphere. In between there are plenty of opportunities for backyard astronomy. Click here to learn more!

May 2021 Moon Phases & Astronomy

May 2021 is jam packed with astronomical events. On May 26th, the full Supermoon is occulted by the Earth’s shadow to create a Blood Moon – a phenomena known as a Total Lunar Eclipse. Before this, May shows us two meteor showers, followed by 6 lunar conjunctions the rest of the month. May 2021 signifies the beginning of the Eclipse season, so watch for a Solar Eclipse during the next New Moon! Click here for Lunar Eclipse viewing tips and more!

April 2021 Astronomy and Moon Phases

April 2021 brings us showers, a bit of snow, and quite an astronomical show! First, the full moon of April will be a Supermoon. This means that the Full Moon Phase and the Perigee occur very close together or on the same date – making the moon look huge! Later, the Moon will occult (completely hide) the planet Mars this month, followed by two meteor showers. Learn more about these events here!