The Holistic Herbalism Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Two Herbalists Get The Flu Feb 18, 2019

Show notes

Yes, it's true: even herbalists get the flu. Two in one house sometimes, even! Each of us gets it a little bit differently, as our constitutions are balanced differently. But at least we can take care of each other.
Listen in and learn all our tricks for getting through Actual Flu with a little more ease and comfort, the surprising role of marshmallow, and why a bath might be the most important thing you do all week!
Herbs discussed include ginger, calendula, self-heal, heather, elderberry, purple loosestrife, goldenrod, sumac, ground ivy, mullein, catnip, nettle, blue vervain, thyme, garlic, elecampane, angelica, osha, codonopsis, pleurisy root, marshmallow, Irish moss, monarda, tulsi, rose, & orange.
How many of those herbs are you familiar with? Well, almost every one has a detailed profile in our Holistic Herbalism Materia Medica course. Get to know the herbs on their own terms, as complex and unique as they are: what their qualities and actions are, how to make them into effective remedies, everything you need to know to work with them safely and effectively. This course has 89 herbs so far, and when you buy it, you get lifetime access. When we add more herbal content in the future, it's automatically added to your course, forever. You can try it out for 14 days, with our zero-risk return policy!

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You can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

Herbs for Psychological First Aid Feb 08, 2019

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It may not have occurred to you that “psychological first aid” is even a thing, let alone that there might be herbs for psychological first aid! But let us assure you, it is very real and very important, and herbs can play a leading role.

When working as a street medic or first responder, you’ll soon find that at least as many of the issues people need help with are mental/emotional as are physical. Bleeding wounds & broken bones get all the attention, but panic attacks, trauma-triggers, and uprushing grief, fear, or anger all require attention too. Herbs can help!

In this podcast, Katja shares her favorite herbs for psychological first aid, along with some helpful strategies for framing traumatic situations and helping people define and direct their own stories about the experience. Listen in and learn a few allies who might help you – or help you help others – when some psych first aid is needed!

The Emergent Responder Program is a deep dive into these concepts at the intersection of personal preparedness and community disaster response. It gives you the skills and confidence to function calmly and efficiently in an ongoing or post-disaster scenario, providing effective support for your loved ones and community – no matter what the situation is. And just like all of our programs, you get our 14-day, no-questions-asked, zero-risk return policy! So, what are you waiting for? Get started today!

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You can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

How To Not Be A Guru Feb 01, 2019

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Things are complex, and there are many factors. But guru syndrome is bad for the teacher and for the student, both. And believe it or not, active measures are required if you want to know how to not be a guru. Because humans have these tendencies: as students, to seek a guru; as teachers, to seek that status.

When the student believes their teacher is a guru, it may be comforting, but it’s also disempowering. It makes the student feel & believe that they have to depend on the teacher. But it’s important for students to make their own experiments, and express their own experiences!

When the teacher comes to believe they’re a guru, they start to think everything they’re doing must be right, down to finer and finer detail. But it’s important to question yourself first of all, otherwise you stop learning – and to step back and see the big picture, on the regular.

So here are some ways we’ve come up with when working out how to not be a guru in our own work, that we do our best to live up to.

As teachers – and as students, because we’re that, too – this is something we think about a lot. We know a lot of teachers and students who feel the same way! We hope that this discussion spurs some spark of recognition, as we’ve been gratefully sparked by plenty of others before.

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You can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

Herbs for First Aid & Disaster Response Jan 25, 2019

Show notes

There are so many fantastic herbs for first aid purposes, it’s hard to name them all! But if we focus our thoughts specifically on a post-disaster situation, this helps us narrow it down. Even better, think about the most likely emergency situations that might arise where you live, and you can keep your kit nice and targeted, your go-bag fully stocked. In this episode, Katja & Ryn share their must-have herbs for first aid both in the context of self-care and personal preparedness, but also in that of a large-scale emergency.

Prepping isn’t just for preppers! Getting familiar with first aid herbs and how to prepare them effectively, bundle them neatly, and work with them quickly under pressure is a skill that could save lives. Start planning today!

Our listener question this week: Are there any guidelines for knowing when an herb might have a drug interaction? (Listen in for the answer!)

Herbs discussed include pine, blackberry, yellow dock, goldenseal, Oregon grape, barberry, goldthread, rose, witch hazel, calendula, ginger, chamomile, betony, skullcap, passionflower.

Mentioned in this podcast:

First Aid Kits For Everyone! – including our “tiny carry”, every day carry, & street kit breakdowns.
Pine Resin Salve – video with step-by-step instructions.
Go-To Joint Liniment
The Holistic Herbalism Podcast, episode 036: First Aid for Burns & Sprains

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You can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

Top 7 Herbs for Nutritionists and Dietitians Jan 18, 2019

Show notes

If you’re a practitioner of food-as-medicine and are interested in integrating herbs into your work – or just a health-seeker wondering if herbs can support dietary interventions – this is the episode for you! We present what we think are the seven best herbs for dietitians and nutritionists to learn about and to integrate into their practice.

These are plants that either provide direct nutrient content themselves, improve the ability to digest and absorb nutrients from the food you eat, or help shift mental and emotional patterns of relationship to food – each is equally important when it comes to improving one’s diet!

Our listener question this week: Why would you advise against working with meadowsweet for the pain of stomach cramps – isn’t it a “painkilling herb”? (Listen in for the answer!)

Herbs discussed include meadowsweet, tulsi, schisandra, chamomile, Irish moss, shiitake & maitake, nettle, rose, & calamus.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Gut-Heal Tea
Organic India Tulsi Tea
The Holistic Herbalism Podcast, episode 23: Schisandra & Peppermint
Urban Moonshine Calm Tummy Digestive Bitters – with chamomile & ginger
The Metabolic Plant Feedback Hypothesis, Jurg Gertsch
Chlorophyll and Chlorophyllin, Linus Pauling Institute
Nettle & Friends – our other most important formula!
Herbal Medicine for Beginners, our book!
The Holistic Herbalism Podcast, episode 30: Tulsi & Formulating Absent Friends

Herbalism 101: Learn Your Herbs & Make Your Medicines – if you’re not sure where to start in learning herbalism, look no further! Get familiar with more than 85 herbs and learn how to make them into simple – but powerful – home remedies. Start today and take advantage of our 14-day, no-questions-asked, zero-risk return policy!

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You can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

Herbal Hygge! Jan 14, 2019

Show notes

Hoo-ga? Hue-guh? However you pronounce it, hygge is big right now! And it makes sense: this time of year, we could all use a bit more comfort, coziness, and cuddly contentment as we contemplate the context of our current collective consciousness! . . . Or, uh, just have a nice way to find some warmth in the wintertime. But, how to make your hygge herbal? Listen & learn!

Herbs discussed include solomon’s seal, ginger, meadowsweet, self-heal, licorice, kelp, chamomile, elderflower, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom; and our wedding tea: tulsi, betony, rose, violet, & spearmint.

Mentioned in this podcast:

12 Minute Yoga In Bed to Unwind – need some gentle movement? Start here!
Herbal Medicine for Beginners, our book!
The Holistic Herbalism Podcast, episode 59: Solstice
Southern Folk Medicine, by Phyllis Light
Phytochemistry and Pharmacy for Practitioners of Botanical Medicine, by Eric Yarnell
Behave: The Biology Of Humans At Our Best And Worst, by Robert Sapolsky
Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness, by Peter Godfrey-Smith
The Holistic Herbalism Podcast, episode 48: Pumpkin Spice

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You can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

Holistic Herbalism for Chronic Headaches & Migraines Jan 04, 2019

Show notes

This week Ryn & Katja share some thoughts on how to address chronic headaches – not just “getting rid of it” in the acute moment, but reducing the frequency & severity of your headaches across the board. This will require some changes to your habits around food, sleep, movement, and stress – but herbs are there to help you every step of the way. Listen in to learn more!

Our weekly listener question this time is about blood-thinning herbs: how much is too much?

Herbs discussed include willow, meadowsweet, Jamaican dogwood, feverfew, ginger, chamomile, wild lettuce, ashwagandha, ground ivy, ghost pipe, betony, black cohosh, calamus, linden.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Looking to learn herbalism in the new year? Herbalism 101 is our beginners’ program in practical herbalism: detailed profiles of 87+ medicinal plants, along with up-close instructions for making your own herbal remedies. Try it for 14 days with our zero-risk return policy! Learn your herbs & make your medicines with this in-depth set of herb profiles & medicine-making instructions.

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You can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

Herbal Resolutions Dec 28, 2018

Show notes

New Year’s Eve is right around the corner, and we, like many folks, are ready with our list of resolutions. Let’s all make them more about self-care and becoming who we want to be in the world, and less about guilt & shame! In this podcast we’ll give you some tips how to do that, along with our own holistic & herbal resolutions for 2019. There are plenty of ways for herbs to help you stick to your resolutions – listen in to learn how!

Our weekly listener question this time is about what to do when herbs are out-of-stock & how to go about making elegant substitutions.

Herbs discussed include violet, betony, kava, pedicularis, green tea, calamus, pine, elecampane, sage, tulsi, goldenrod, ginseng.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Stephany Hoffelt, “How I Make Tinctures” – great post with some thoughts on different methods. Find the Excel sheet and PDF downloads at the end, great details there!
AromaCulture – an aromatherapy & herbalism magazine. We were on Episode 22 of their podcast back in May, about our book!
The Holistic Herbalism Podcast, episode 30: Tulsi & Formulating Absent Friends
#bloominginboston – Ryn made a ton of posts with this tag in 2017 and plans to bring it back in 2019, along with some friends – #treesofboston & #weedsofboston. Follow @commonwealthherbs on Instagram so you don’t miss it!

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You can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

Herbs & the Holidays: Solstice Dec 21, 2018

Show notes

Solstice is the quiet time, a moment of pause between the dying of the old and the rebirth of the new year. This week we share some meditations, stories, and traditions that shape the way we think about this time of year and its effects on our habits & our health. Listen in with a mug of your favorite sunny tea, and some nice warm blankets!

PLUS: Listen in to get a coupon code for 25% off ANY of our online courses, good until MIDNIGHT TONIGHT!

Herbalism 101 is our entry-level program in practical herbalism: detailed profiles of 87+ medicinal plants, along with up-close instructions for making your own herbal remedies. Try it for 14 days with our zero-risk return policy! Learn your herbs & make your medicines with this in-depth set of herb profiles & medicine-making instructions.

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Support the show

You can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

Herbs & the Holidays: Handling Food Allergies & Sensitivities Dec 14, 2018

Show notes

Holiday foods are delightful & delicious, but what if you’re allergic to some of the ingredients? Never fear! In this episode we’ll share some of our best tips & tricks for when gluten, dairy, or other allergens are a no-no. Whether making a simple substitution, or trying out something entirely new, we’ve got you covered. We even have some strategies for if you accidentally get exposed – or even if it was accidentally-on-purpose!

PLUS: Listen in to get a coupon code for 25% off ANY of our online courses, good from now until December 21st!

Herbs discussed include calamus, ginger, chamomile, yellow dock, & blackberry.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Our Recipes – Here you’ll find Katja’s taste-tested recipes for everything from ginger-chamomile cookies to paleo pumpkin muffins to herb-powered cranberry sauce (it's in the Hawthorn post).
Gut-Heal Tea
Enzymedica Digest Spectrum – These are the enzyme capsules Ryn has found helpful when indulging in his allergens (just every once in a while).
What To Do When You’ve Been Glutened

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Support the show

You can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!