The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Podcast 146: Herbs Help Us Feel Our Way Through Difficult Times
It has been a rough few… weeks? Years? Well, a while, anyway! In the last month more than ever, people…
Read MorePodcast 145: An Herbalist’s Guide to Successful Self-Experimentation
In this episode we explore the skills and disciplines necessary to conduct a successful self-experiment. Self-experimentation in this context might…
Read MorePodcast 144: COVID Revisited
This week we take another look at COVID-19 and its long-term effects. First, we check in on what have been…
Read MorePodcast 143: A Case Study: Herbs and Nightmares
Dreaming matters: it’s a critical part of our identity-building and experience-processing work, and vital to our ability to regulate our…
Read MorePodcast 142: 4 Medicinal Mushrooms: Shiitake, Maitake, Reishi, Lion’s Mane
Yes, they are herbs too! Medicinal mushrooms are an important part of our herbal practice, but it looks like we…
Read MorePodcast 141: Herbs and Grief, at the Death of the Year
Samhain, Halloween, the death of the year – this is a good time to talk about grieving, and about how…
Read MorePodcast 140: Herbs As Mantra – Mental Reset & Redirection
This week we listened to a talk by a Buddhist teacher about mantra chanting practices, and one particular facet of…
Read MorePodcast 139: Six Herbs for Cognitive Decline Prevention
Maintaining a sharp & healthy mind has always been one of the things people ask us about most often. Whether…
Read MorePodcast 138: Accessible Herbalism for Respiratory Ailments
When thinking about how to start working with herbalism for respiratory ailments, you might get really focused on WHICH ailment…
Read MorePodcast 137: Accessible Herbalism for Emotional Health Support
Our emotions part of our health just as much as our physical organs & system. When we have difficulties like…
Read MorePodcast 136: Accessible Herbalism for Digestive Discomforts
Digestive issues are extremely common, and are one of the leading causes of missed work and reduced quality of life.…
Read MorePodcast 135: Accessible Herbalism for Wound Care
Everyone gets hurt sometimes. Knowing how to take care of injuries at home is an excellent skill to have. You…
Read MorePodcast 134: Accessible Herbalism for Sleep
We work with herbs for sleep improvement purposes very frequently, because sleep is so critical to good health. During sleep,…
Read MorePodcast 133: Accessible Herbalism for Pain Management
“Pain is a signal to change your behavior.” This motto comes from our friend the herbalist Tammi Sweet, and perfectly…
Read MorePodcast 132: Accessible Herbalism for Weight Management
The holistic approach to herbalism for weight management doesn’t start with a search for “fat-burning herbs”. Instead, we focus on…
Read MorePodcast 131: Accessible Herbalism for Edema
Edema is stuck fluid: stagnant blood and lymph that isn’t flowing the way it should be. Puffy ankles and swollen…
Read MorePodcast 130: Accessible Herbalism for Diabetes
Diabetes is very common and can lead to a number of serious health issues. Holistic methods can improve diabetes by…
Read MorePodcast 129: Accessible Herbalism for High Blood Pressure & High Cholesterol
High blood pressure and high cholesterol are two very common cardiovascular issues that you can safely improve with herbs. You…
Read MorePodcast 128: Herbalism & Mutual Aid
What do we want to build in place of the unjust systems we are living in? Everyone plays a role…
Read MorePodcast 127: Herbs for Trauma Recovery & Resistance
America is blanketed in righteous protests against police brutality and impunity. This is necessary. In the course of this work…
Read MorePodcast 126: The Fifth Pillar Is Community
Our model of the primary determinants of health is the Four Pillars: food, sleep, stress, and movement. These things are…
Read MorePodcast 125: This Is Not The Practice Of Medicine
The pharmaceutical model is the dominant paradigm for medicine in our culture. For those of us who grew up in…
Read MorePodcast 124: A Holistic Herbal Tick Bite Protocol
Finding a tick embedded in your skin is distressing, even without the spectre of Lyme disease and other tick-borne pathogens.…
Read MorePodcast 123: Four Herbs for Moms
Happy mother’s day, 2020! The truth is, any herb could be an herb for moms, because not all moms are…
Read MorePodcast 122: Where Do We Go From Here, Corona?
The battle’s done, and we kind-of won… Well, actually, the battle’s not entirely done either. But things are certainly shifting…
Read MorePodcast 121: Six Herbs for COVID Anxiety
The pandemic has got all of us in a heightened state of alert. The news changes fast, stories come and…
Read MorePodcast 120: How To Practice Herbalism Every Day
Last week we urged you to look at learning herbalism like learning a language or instrument – something that requires…
Read MorePodcast 119: Learn Herbalism Like an Instrument or Language
Herbalism is experiential: you have to DO it to KNOW it. It’s like learning to play a musical instrument –…
Read MorePodcast 118: Herbal Home Nursing Basics
It’s not just coronavirus, there’s a lot going on right now! Between the usual circulating strains of flu, some spring…
Read MorePodcast 117: A Week In The Life Of Two Herbalists
Whew! There’s a lot going on right now. Between coronavirus, the election cycle, and the approach of spring, we’ve been…
Read MorePodcast 116: Herbs for Coronavirus Preparedness
The new pandemic coronavirus, COVID-19, is on everyone’s minds lately. As herbalists, we’ve been asked a lot about our thoughts…
Read MorePodcast 115: Rebecca Altman & The Wonder Sessions
Join us for a discussion with our friend Rebecca Altman about the importance of self-awareness in the practice of herbalism…
Read MorePodcast 114: Formulating Cocktail Bitters for Flavor & Action
This week we took a trip to New York City, because we were invited to teach a workshop on formulating…
Read MorePodcast 113: Grow Your Own Herbs
It might seem difficult to grow your own herbs, but like so many things in herbalism, it’s all about being…
Read MorePodcast 112: Working With Herbs For Chronic Pain
Pain is complex. Many factors can contribute to pain, or worsen it, including the food we eat, the sleep we…
Read MorePodcast 111: Handmade Herbal Aphrodisiacs for Valentine’s Day Delight
There are a lot of myths about herbal aphrodisiacs – they don’t make you into an irresistible sex monster, let’s…
Read MorePodcast 110: New Moon Down Time
It’s really hard to really take a break these days – with smartphones and connected devices everywhere, the pressure to…
Read MorePodcast 109: Sustainability for Herbalists
There are many facets to sustainability for herbalists to consider, from maintaining your personal energy reserves to establishing sustainable working…
Read MorePodcast 108: Herbs to Supercharge Bone Broth
It’s 2020, we don’t need to convince you that bone broth is good for you! But in case you’ve been…
Read MorePodcast 107: Herbs for Whole30: Help Reduce Cravings, Improve Digestion, & Boost Nutrition
The Whole30 is one of our favorite diet plans – or, as we prefer to call them, food experiments! It’s…
Read MorePodcast 106: Real Life Resolutions
What do you want to bring into the new year with you? Our first piece of advice is to be…
Read MorePodcast 105: Holistic Herbalism for Anxiety
Anxiety is a feeling of exposure, a feeling that one is without protection. The much-maligned ‘safe space’ is in fact…
Read MorePodcast 104: Hawthorn
The hawthorns are some of our most generous and protective herbs. Hathorn offers abundant berries, rich with heart-supporting medicine –…
Read MorePodcast 103: Maybe You Don’t Have To
It’s easy to get caught up in your to-do list and everything you “have to” do. Sometimes, it’s ok to…
Read MorePodcast 102: How To Learn A New Herb
As a brand new student of herbalism, you might think there are a lot of herbs to learn. As an…
Read MorePodcast 101: How Herbs Are Different From Drugs
Herbs differ from pharmaceuticals in important ways. Understanding how they’re different helps us make better choices about what to take,…
Read MorePodcast 100: The Definitive Guide to Herbalism
Wouldn’t it be nice if there were one book you could read, one teacher you could study with, one website…
Read MorePodcast 099: Don’t Let The Perfect Be The Enemy Of The Good
Our ideas about health are often context-dependent, and clinging too tightly to rules about what is “good” and “bad” can…
Read MorePodcast 098: Holistic Strategies & Herbs for Joint Pain
Yes, there are herbs for joint pain, and they really work! But when we’re working with this problem, we like…
Read MorePodcast 097: Everything Will Be Fine: A Simple Herbal Stress Remedy
Everyone gets stressed out sometimes. So if you’re among “everyone”, you might like this herbal stress remedy formula! It’s one…
Read MorePodcast 096: Small Healthy Changes Help You Make Big Ones
Change is hard. It’s hard for everyone, not just you! Acknowledging this is important, whether you’re trying to make a…
Read MorePodcast 095: Herbs For Physical Challenges (What Ryn Took To MovNat Level 3)
Earlier this month, Ryn attended a Level 3 certification event for MovNat – a 4-day course/test/immersion in natural movement. It…
Read MorePodcast 094: Creating A Culture of Support
Good health takes effort. It doesn’t just happen, and our cultural norms definitely don’t make it easy. You have to…
Read MorePodcast 093: Herbs for Athlete’s Foot
The itchy, inflamed, sensitive presentation of a fungal skin infection is something no one wants. These kinds of infections can…
Read MorePodcast 092: How We Make Our Winter Elixir
This winter elixir is our #1 cold & flu remedy! We make a big batch every year around this time,…
Read MorePodcast 091: Nicole Rose & The Prisoner’s Herbal
Creating this community garden, and teaching families in your area how to grow food and look out for each other…
Read MorePodcast 090: 3 Medicinal Invasive Plants
Where does loosestrife belong? Is barberry a badberry? And what’s with all the knotweed everywhere?! Most folks will tell you…
Read MorePodcast 089: Herbs for Healthy Skin Care
Your skin is your largest organ, and it’s your presentation to the world – so it’s important to take care…
Read MorePodcast 088: Sweet Herbs & Their Medicines
Sweet herbs aren’t only flavoring agents – there’s real medicine in there. When an herb has a sweet flavor, that…
Read MorePodcast 087: Herbal Awareness Rituals for Everyone
This week we’re talking about something a bit different for us. If you’re a regular listener, you know we’re very…
Read MorePodcast 086: notCoffee – Katja’s Decaf Herbal Coffee Replacement
Coffee is surely America’s favorite herb. So many people rely on it as part of their morning ritual, and it’s…
Read MorePodcast 085: Lymphatic Herbs
The lymphatic system is criminally underestimated! It’s intimately tied to the function of your circulatory system, your digestive function, your…
Read MorePodcast 084: Herbal Smoking Blends & Herbs To Quit Smoking
An herbal smoking blend may not sound like your cup of tea – and it isn’t! – but it’s still…
Read MorePodcast 083: Our Wedding Herbs
If you’re an herbalist and you marry an herbalist, well, you’re going to need some special wedding herbs! We sure…
Read MorePodcast 082: Common Herbs and Cancer
Cancer is not as rare as we once thought. Recent research has discovered that even healthy cells can contain potentially…
Read MorePodcast 081: Friends of Nettle (Herbal Formulas in Pairs)
Boston’s homegrown local herb conference, Herbstalk, is next weekend, and the plant of the year is stinging nettle! In honor…
Read MorePodcast 080: The Role of Herbs In Heroic Medical Interventions
When we talk about “heroic” medical interventions, we mean the high-potency, high-risk (and potentially high-reward) tools that define conventional medicine.…
Read MorePodcast 079: Motherwort for Mother’s Day!
Mother’s day can mean different things for different people, but whatever your situation is, Motherwort can be a supportive friend.…
Read MorePodcast 078: DIY Herbal Spring Cleaning Products
When it comes to chemical-free cleaning, there’s a lot of good stuff out there – but it can get pricey.…
Read MorePodcast 077: Urban Wildcrafting Ethics & Guidelines
It’s springtime! The plants are popping up everywhere in their colorful displays. This time of year, we always start to…
Read MorePodcast 076: Herbs to Control Sugar Cravings
Is Easter really the best time to give up sugar? Well, given that there’s always another holiday around the corner,…
Read MorePodcast 075: Foundational Health Strategies & Evolution’s Expected Inputs
Everyone is different, and healthcare should be individualized for each person – especially when it comes to herbalism! But, on…
Read MorePodcast 074: Herbal Energetics: Tissue States
When choosing herbs for a health issue, herbalists like us use a system of organization called energetics. In this week’s…
Read MorePodcast 073: Herbs for Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune inflammatory skin problem. Problems like this are complex, because they don’t hinge on a single…
Read MorePodcast 072: Rooted & Ready Alterative/Adaptogen Herbal Formula for Endurance, Resilience, & Detox
This is one of our favorite herbal formulas for endurance situations, whether that’s physical, mental, emotional, or all three. These…
Read MorePodcast 071: Herbs for Seasonal Allergies
It’s just about time for seasonal allergy … um, season … to begin here in Boston! Sniffy noses and red…
Read MorePodcast 070: Health Is Your Right … And Your Responsibility
This is what we say at the beginning of every episode: We are not doctors. We are herbalists and holistic…
Read MorePodcast 069: How To Choose The Right Herbs For Sleep
Just going to the internet and searching for “herbs for sleep” isn’t very effective – how do you know the…
Read MorePodcast 068: Herbs for Stress-Induced Heartburn in Teens
I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but it’s stressful to be a teen! Sometimes, that stress shows up…
Read MorePodcast 067: Two Herbalists Get The Flu
Yes, it’s true: even herbalists get the flu. Two in one house sometimes, even! Each of us gets it a…
Read MorePodcast 066: Herbs for Psychological First Aid
It may not have occurred to you that “psychological first aid” is even a thing, let alone that there might…
Read MorePodcast 065: How To Not Be A Guru
Things are complex, and there are many factors. But guru syndrome is bad for the teacher and for the student,…
Read MorePodcast 064: Herbs for First Aid & Disaster Response
There are so many fantastic herbs for first aid purposes, it’s hard to name them all! But if we focus…
Read MorePodcast 063: Top 7 Herbs for Nutritionists and Dietitians
If you’re a practitioner of food-as-medicine and are interested in integrating herbs into your work – or just a health-seeker…
Read MorePodcast 062: Herbal Hygge
Hoo-ga? Hue-guh? However you pronounce it, hygge is big right now! And it makes sense: this time of year, we…
Read MorePodcast 061: Holistic Herbalism for Chronic Headaches & Migraines
This week Ryn & Katja share some thoughts on how to address chronic headaches – not just “getting rid of…
Read MorePodcast 060: Herbal Resolutions
New Year’s Eve is right around the corner, and we, like many folks, are ready with our list of resolutions.…
Read MorePodcast 059: Herbs & the Holidays: Solstice
Solstice is the quiet time, a moment of pause between the dying of the old and the rebirth of the…
Read MorePodcast 058: Herbs & the Holidays: Handling Food Allergies & Sensitivities
Holiday foods are delightful & delicious, but what if you’re allergic to some of the ingredients? Never fear! In this…
Read MorePodcast 057: Herbs & the Holidays: Herbal Gift Ideas
Handmade herbal remedies and self-care items are a great solution to the conundrum of gift-giving. In this episode we’ll share…
Read MorePodcast 056: Herbs & the Holidays: Medicinal Virtues of Culinary Herbs
This week we continue our exploration of herbal holiday traditions with a quick chat about some of the ways herbs…
Read MorePodcast 055: Herbs & the Holidays: Emotional Support
Today we’re kicking off a series of podcasts on herbs and the holidays! We begin with emotional support, because no…
Read MorePodcast 054: Cold & Flu Herbs (Beyond Elderberry Syrup & Thyme Steam)
Every time we talk about cold & flu herbs, we seem to start out with elderberry syrup and a good…
Read MorePodcast 053: The Apothekers
This week our episode is an interview with Shari & Russ Apotheker of Apotheker’s Kitchen, makers of fine honey-sweetened confections…
Read MorePodcast 052: Intentional Inconvenience, Rhodiola Rhapsody, Stimulants for Midwives, & “Poisonous Mints”
This is our one-year anniversary episode! This week we cover a lot of ground. Katja talks about ways adding a…
Read MorePodcast 051: Exam Time!
Every year, our Advanced Studies Program ends with a weekend-long exam. There’s a written portion with short answers, essays, and…
Read MorePodcast 050: West Virginia Herbal Medics
This week we’re out in Coal River Valley, West Virginia, helping out at a free herbal clinic for folks in…
Read MorePodcast 049: A Few Herbs On Our Shelf
This week we do a lightning round of “minigraphs” on some of our favorite herbs. We started by taking a…
Read MorePodcast 048: Pumpkin Spice – That’s Herbalism Too!
It’s not just for lattes anymore: the ubiquitous pumpkin spice blend is in fact an herbal formula! The standard pumpkin…
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