Ravenswood Natural Health

04/02/2026

Bug season is here- and we can help you fight them off! Ravenswood is open until 5.00 on Thursdays. :-) Sara

03/28/2026

03/27/2026

Behold! The mighty Purple Octopus & Sidekick Turtle! Having been separated from the original order, they surprised a midwest grocery store with their unexpected presence, then came to CT. At last. 😆
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Meantime, Ravenswood is open until 5.00 today. Drop by to say hi to this traveling pair, pick up some sneeze-onal supports, or whatever you need!
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TGIF! Sara

03/26/2026

To the person calling about Sunfiber, Yes! It is back in stock!

03/24/2026

Kratom is illegal in CT starting 03/25/2026. Here is my take on the plant:
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Kratom (Mitragyna spp.)
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Worldwide, different cultures rely on plants to help adapt to the climate/environment, for religious/spiritual purposes, healing, and pleasure. Within each culture, plants are profoundly understood by the practitioners (healers, shamans, druids, pejuta winyan) within the structure of that culture. They are used with care and precision; the results are framed by and understood through that culture’s lens. Some plants are widely dispersed; others are specific to one region. As humans interacted (through trade, warfare, marriage), some plants spread further. No single place can claim a sole origin for some plants. Widely scattered cultures have used certain plants to bless/purify their sacred spaces – the same genus, just a different species.
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Kratom was originally used to increase stamina, help adapt to a harsh climate (high humidity/temperatures) & treat various health conditions. Not hybridized, concentrated, etc.
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Kratom does have certain medical effects. It binds with opioid receptors. Some research outside the USA is looking into antidepressant and anxiolytic effects. However- and this is huge – there is no current, peer reviewed published research showing the safety and efficacy.
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Individuals report using kratom to treat anxiety, insomnia, pain, and opioid withdrawal. Many people use it in a multi-drug cocktail for pleasure. One major problem with kratom is that it can have very different effects on different people. Age, gender, weight, comorbidities, other drug uses are some but not all factors involved.
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Serious issues
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Kratom can be just as addictive as opioids.
Respiratory depression (reduced breathing)
Cardiac – both speeding up & slowing down
Failure to thrive & withdrawal issues in infants whose mothers used kratom during pregnancy & breast feeding.

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When taken for pleasure, many people combine kratom with cannabis, alcohol, opioids, etc. These mixtures can and do cause respiratory and cardiac issues. Sometimes, overdose and death.
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If a person has anxiety, depression, stress, as an herbalist, I can suggest safer, legal options to help. Ravenswood will never sell kratom.

03/22/2026

Good morning! Ravenswood is open until 3.00 on Sundays. Come by and see how lovely forsythia is on this grey grim day. :-) Sara

03/19/2026

Sometimes a kidney or bladder infection will sneak up on you. Most of the time, it's caused by e. coli overgrowth. Before you hit the antibiotics, why not try a cup of cold-brewed uva ursi tea? The main glucoside in it helps reduce the bacterial population, while the tannins also help clean things up. 10-12oz. cup of cool water, teabag or ball of uva ursi, & let set 1-2 hours. Drink a couple of cups for about a week.
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Botanical names: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi How It Works The glycoside arbutin is the main active constituent in uva ursi and comprises up to 10% of the plant by weight. Hydroquinone derived from arbutin and methyl arbutin is a powerful anti-bacterial agent and is thought to be responsible for uva ursi...

03/18/2026

Have you seen our newest goodies? Wellness patches to a fantastic deal on CoQ10 from Natural Factors. ANd magnesium! Creams, sprays, & bath soaks. Unscented, icy-hot, MSM-boosted, or essential oil infused. All fantastic products from quality companies!

03/18/2026

Good morning! Ravenswood is open until 5.00 on Wednesdays.
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For a breath of Spring- try forcing forsythia! Clip some budding stems (your own plants, or ask for permission from your neighbors) & set them in water. These are just about as early as I can get flowers from. Usually, I like to wait maybe a week longer, but this is ok. You get some very pretty branches, and in a couple of weeks, bright yellow flowers and green leaves.

03/17/2026

Good morning! Ravenswood is open until 5.30 on Tuesdays. Drop by for seasonal supports, tasty teas, or what helps you through the day.

03/13/2026

"You don't have x? Why??? It's available online..."
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Today's real-life example & warning: Hylands used to make a homeopathic remedy for poison ivy. They discontinued it - no longer make it, no leftover stock, not selling it anywhere. This is straight from the manufacturer TODAY.
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Someone is selling a fake version online, but the price is ridiculous, like $80 for what should be maybe $25 max. It looks legit (except for that price) but isn't. Who knows whats really in it?
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A similar problem with Terry Naturally products. Pirates are making really good fakes and selling them for about 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of the real supplements. Terry Naturally is getting calls & complaints about adverse incidents. People demanding a refund for product that aren't theirs. They are working to get the fakes off the market but they pop right back up.
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Both of these are exactly why you are better off buying local. I buy straight from the manufacturer or straight from known & reputable distributors who have close partnerships with the manufacturers. I can tell you who made a product & where. Also- Most online sellers have warehouses that aren't temperature-controlled, which does no good for most supplements.
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Quality assured- buy local!

03/13/2026

Welcome back to winter, at least for a few more weeks. Meantime, Ravenswood is open & stocked with all sorts of supports for the changing seasons. 9.30-5.00 Friday, 10.00-5.00 Saturday, & 10.00-3.00 on Sunday.