Rosemary is most popularly known as a tasty culinary herb. Indeed, rosemary’s aromatic leaves have a special place in many beloved dishes — adding a distinct, pungent taste. Herbalists know, though, that rosemary’s beneficial properties extend far beyond its flavor: this fragrant herb boasts many healing gifts.

Want to learn more about the many gifts of rosemary? Let's dive into three key health benefits of rosemary…

Follow along with herbalist Tara Ruth to learn about 3 benefits of rosemary.

And after learning these 3 benefits of rosemary, you might be wondering how you can learn more about other common herbs.

Here’s the easy way to learn more about our favorite common herbs: download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes. You’ll learn all about popular herbs like rosemary, catnip, aloe, elderberry, and more.

Get your FREE Herb Notes printable flashcards here: https://herbnotes.cards/.

Have you ever had one of those moments in life when suddenly everything change? There's a before this moment and an after this moment — and nothing will ever be the same. That's how Tara and I felt after meeting Asia Suler.

Asia Suler is an herbalist and earth intuitive. She began her journey after began her journey after early years of chronic pain and illness. The experience— which pushed her into a deep search for healing, both within and without— led her to the altar of the green world. Chatting with Asia on HerbMentor Radio was deeply moving and opened our hearts to the power sensitivity and plant communication. I have a feeling you might have one of those life changing moments too when you listen to our conversation with Asia.

In this episode, Asia shares...

• How to communicate with the plants that grow around you
• How to embrace the power of your sensitivity
• Grounding practices for sensitive souls in a chaotic world
• How motherhood has transformed her relationship to work and healing and so much more!

You can learn more about Asia Suler and check out her work at https://asiasuler.com/.

Are you ready to take your herbal learning to the next level?

HerbMentor offers a wide variety of rich herbal content — including an in-depth course on food as medicine — that gives you the opportunity to choose your own herbal adventure, take your time, and connect with other herbal learners and experts whenever you login.

• Get a special offer on HerbMentor at https://HerbMentorRadio.com

Are you just starting to make herbal remedies?

• Build your herbal first aid kid with our free Herbal Preparation Cards: https://Herbal.Cards

In this episode of Herb Mentor Radio, John Gallagher interviews Amanda McQuade Crawford, an experienced herbalist and author. Amanda is a prominent figure in herbal medicine, having authored books like "Herbal Remedies for Women" and "Herbal Menopause." She is a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, a founding member of the American Herbalist Guild, and the founder of the National College of Phytotherapy. Amanda discusses her upcoming book, "Herbs, Nutrition, and Other Natural Therapies," and her work at the International Herb Symposium. The conversation dives into topics including managing hot flashes, addressing adrenal fatigue, and Amanda's activism for sustainable practices.

Isla Burgess, DipPE DipTchg DipHerbMed MNZAMH MNHAA, has been an educator for the past 40 years, currently, the Director of the International College of Herbal Medicine, was the founding Director of the Waikato Center for Herbal Medicine in New Zealand, and is a convenor for the International Research Group for the Conservation of Medicinal Plants.

Isla is a graduate in Education of the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. She established the first four-year Diploma in Herbal Medicine in Australasia at the Waikato Centre for Herbal Studies and has been largely responsible for training medical herbalists at the Center over the last 10 years. She developed a practical, innovative course drawing on 25 years of practice and investigation in the field of medicinal plants and their therapeutic uses. She has presented papers at conferences and seminars both nationally and internationally and is the author of Weeds Heal: A Working Herbal. A gardener at heart, Isla continually delights in the potential of unopened packets of seeds.

You can visit Isla at http://HerbCollege.com

Jim McDonald joins us once again on HerbMentor Radio for a double-length episode focused on herbs for back pain. Jim covers nutrition and bodywork as well as the major categories of how to look at and treat back injuries, such as muscle pain, spasm, inflammatory pain, and nerve pain. Also, lubrication of joints and tissue, fluid stagnation, structural integrity, how to customize a treatment, and more. Jim adds a new section on topical applications as well. This nearly 2-hour presentation will bring to life his popular web article on herbs for back pain.

Jim is an herbalist based in Michigan. He teaches many classes locally and also teaches at major conferences such as the Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference and Rootstalk.

Visit Jim at http://herbcraft.org

Here is a direct link to his herbs for back pain article that this HerbMentor Radio is based on: http://www.herbcraft.org/backpain.html

Author and naturalist Jon Young takes you behind the scenes of Wildcraft! and LearningHerbs.com in a special episode called “Mentoring Kids & Nature Connection.”

Why are relationships with nature more important than information? What is Nature Deficit Disorder? Does your child have it? What is the number one secret to nature's connection? How do you share curiosity with kids? What are “kid trails,” and how can we bring them back?

This interview covers how to discover your child’s passions and connect with them in nature. Jon’s world-acclaimed Art of Mentoring curriculum is the engine of LearningHerb’s teaching methodology. You get a first-hand glimpse under the hood to not only see how and why we do what we do but also how you can empower yourself to mentor others.

Jon Young is the author of Coyotes Guide to Connecting with Nature, Animal Tracking Basics, Advanced Bird Language, Seeing Through Native Eyes, Reclaiming our Natural Connections, and the Kamana Naturalist Training Program. He is also the founder of Wilderness Awareness School and creator of the Art of Mentoring workshop series, which is offered by wilderness schools around the world.

Visit Jon at http://JonYoung.org

J.T. is a Seattle-based herbalist and mom. She’s an old friend of mine who started the same herbal apprenticeship that I did in 1998 before my son Rowan was born.

Since she started learning about local plants and how to use them, J.T. has come up with creative ways of gathering herbs and using them to nourish her family. Like myself, J.T. is a family and community-centered herbalist. Not only does she keep her family healthy and help them when they are sick, she also shares her knowledge of herbalism with others in her community. This has led to her teaching classes at local herb shops.

I join J.T. in this interview live at the Northwest Herbal Fair. J.T. had just finished teaching a class on tincture making. This fair was very special since LearningHerbs sponsored it, J.T. was teaching, and our mentor Eaglesong was even teaching there and was honored at the event as a local herbal elder. We all had come a long way since our journeys began together nearly 13 years ago.

There is often talk on the HerbMentor forum on “what herbal school have you gone too?” or lots of detailed discussions on some pretty complicated stuff. Though we need to have these discussions, I wonder sometimes if it’s intimidating to folks who just want to being natural medicines to their lives in a simple and fun way. It’s always challenging on HerbMentor to strike a balance between simplicity and those who want advanced knowledge.

J.T. is the archetype of the family herbalist who kept it simple. I wanted you to see the natural progression of starting out to helping others, which can often lead to opportunities to teach others. There is power in simplicity, and I hope you all get something out of this “home herbalist profile” if you will.

She also shares some of her secrets in urban wildcrafting and other cool tips. She’s figured out quite a bit like someone who has ever stopped harvesting herbs and making remedies.

It’s a change from our usual interviews, but y’all know I like to change it up every so often. Seriously, if you have ever felt overwhelmed at the prospect of learning about herbs, please listen to this interview.

If you live in Seattle, you might catch a class with J.T. at Dandelion Botanical. She also has trained and works with EarthWalk Northwest with Karen Sherwood.

Karta Purkh (K.P.) Singh Khalsa, L.M.T., N.C.T.M.B., D.N.-C., R.H., C.C., is one of the foremost herbal experts in the field today. He is one of the very few practitioners with over thirty-five years of experience in the natural healing field. He is a senior editor for The Harvard University Natural Standard and a professor at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Bastyr University’s College of Naturopathic Medicine. K.P. Khalsa is on the Board of Directors of the American Herbalists Guild. He has spoken in hundreds of venues, including many professional herb conferences.

With a long career as a consultant in the natural foods sector, he is employed as Senior Research Scientist for the Yogi Tea company and is the principal formulator for Yogi Tea products.

Khalsa is the author of over 1,500 published health articles. He has authored or contributed to more than 30 books. His most recent book is The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs, which completes the “Way of” trilogy, started by Michael Tierra with the best-selling American herb book of all time, The Way of Herbs.

In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, K.P. answers many member-submitted questions on herbs and health. This is a fantastic interview that everyone interested in natural health should hear.

Visit K.P. at http://kpkhalsa.com

Phyllis Light is a fourth-generation herbalist and healer and has worked with herbs and in natural health for over 30 years. Her studies began in the deep woods of Northern Alabama, and now Phyllis lectures in herb schools, universities, medical schools, hospitals, and health conferences.

In addition to Traditional Folk studies, Phyllis has studied Traditional Western Herbalism, Nutrition, Exercise Science, Body Work, and Energy Medicine. She continues to maintain an active herbal practice.

Phyllis is also a consultant to business and physicians, a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild, director of herbal studies at Clayton College, and is working on a new book The Geography of Health: Southern Appalachian Folk Medicine, which explores the medicine that is at the heart of her personal herbal traditions.

You can visit Phyllis and learn about her herbal studies programs at http://phyllisdlight.com

Roy Upton, RH, DAy has been working and practicing professionally as an herbalist since 1981. Trained in ayurvedic, Chinese, and western herbal medicine traditions Roy is the founder, executive director, and editor of the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, is a co-founder, past president, and vice-president of the American Herbalists Guild (AHG), and serves on the Committee of Revision for the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and botanical expert advisory committees of AOAC International, the American Botanical Council, and NSF International.

Roy is also visiting faculty for the Master of Science in Herbal Medicine program at Tai Sophia, Laurel, MD, and the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Program at the University of Southern California, School of Pharmacy, Los Angeles, CA. In addition, Roy is the staff herbalist for the California-based herbal supplements company, Planetary Herbals, is a member of the Standards Committee of the American Herbal Products Association, and is an internationally recognized lecturer and author of numerous popular and peer-reviewed scientific publications.

Over the years, many HerbMentor members have asked questions about regulations regarding herbs, information, and products. We collected member questions, and this interview is based on those questions.

You can visit Roy at the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia: http://www.herbal-ahp.org

Michael Pilarski is a farmer, educator, and author who has devoted his life to studying and teaching how people can live sustainably on this Earth. He has extensive experience in organic farming, seed collecting, wildcrafting medicinal herbs, plant propagation, horticulture, teaching, and international networking.

He founded Friends of the Trees Society in 1978 and has authored many books on forestry, agriculture, agroforestry, and ethnobotany. Michael has been involved in the permaculture movement since 1981 as a writer, teacher, and networker.

In this interview, Skeeter and I mostly focus on his work as a professional wildcrafter. We cover wildcrafting in general and then get specific with some of his favorite herbs, which include arnica, Oregon grape, lomatium, and devil’s club. He reveals his secret devil’s club processing trick that he hasn’t shared in public before!

Visit Michael at http://friendsofthetrees.net/

Timothy Lee Scott is an acupuncturist and herbalist with a master’s in Traditional Chinese Medicine. His book, Invasive Plant Medicine, demonstrates the ecological benefits and healing abilities of invasive plants.

Timothy studied extensively with Stephen Buhner, who wrote the forward to his book. Working with Buhner led him to work in the area of Lyme’s disease treatments, and Tim later formed Green Dragon Botanicals to provide remedies to the greater Lyme’s community.

In this interview, we discuss invasive plants, Lyme’s disease, Japanese knotweed, and a few other herbs.

You can visit Tim at http://invasiveplantmedicine.com and http://greendragonbotanicals.com

Caroline Gagnon started teaching and practicing herbalism in 1995, and is co-founder and director of the FloraMedicina School of Herbal Studies in Montreal, Quebec. She also helped create the professional wing of the Guilde des Herboristes (Herbalist Guild) in Montreal.

In this episode, Caroline and I explore plant energetics in a way we’ve never discussed on HerbMentor Radio. We can all learn to communicate with herbs in ways that can not be taught in books. It sounds esoteric, but it’s actually quite simple and practical.

Caroline explains energetics in a much broader sense, which is really helpful should one want to go on and learn an energetics system, such as Chinese or Ayurvedic medicine. Get ready for a paradigm shift. Caroline also answers HerbMentor member questions.

Visit Caroline Gagnon at http://FloraMedicina.com

As one of the most popular herbal teas in the world, this calming herb has managed to find a special place in many of our hearts — and our supermarkets! Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is a gentle herb that is most well known for soothing our nerves, but its gifts go far beyond nervous system support.

Follow along with herbalist Tara Ruth to learn about 3 benefits of chamomile flowersAfter learning these 3 benefits you might be wondering how you can learn more about chamomile...

Well, here’s the easy way to learn more about chamomile: download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes. You’ll learn all about chamomile plus 11 other common herbs like catnip, garlic, elderberry, and more.

Get the FREE Herb Notes cards here: https://herbnotes.cards/

Emily Ruff is a community herbalist and health educator who has practiced the art and science of plant healing for over a decade. Her studies have taken her to three continents, where she has studied under indigenous healers of many traditions. She also apprenticed for many years with Rosemary Gladstar. Emily founded Orenda Herbals and is director of the Florida School of Holistic Living. Through the school, she founded the Community Herbal Clinic and the Florida Herbal Conference.

The Florida Herbal Conference is February 15-17, 2013 in Orlando. Headline herbal teachers are Matthew Wood and Phyllis Light. Workshops focus on bioregional, earth-centered herbalism, with topics including clinical herbalism, herbal crafts, herbal tradition and history, medicine making, plant identification walks, and many hands-on demonstrations. The weekend also includes a marketplace of herbal vendors and musical activities each evening. LearningHerbs.com is a proud sponsor.

Besides hearing Emily’s fascinating story, our interview focuses on many of the medicinal herbs found in Florida. Most people never consider that we have amazing botanicals growing right here on the mainland U.S. We take a virtual plant walk to discover saw palmetto, hibiscus, passionflower, tropical chickweed, St. John’s Mint, and even lemongrass and cayenne.

Visit http://floridaherbalconference.org

Visit http://emilyruff.com

The microphone is turned as John Gallagher, host of HerbMentor Radio, is interviewed by Rosalee de la Forêt in 2012. HerbMentor members asked for it, and John was happy to sit down and reveal the string of random events that lead to the creation of HerbMentor.

How did spraying weeds with herbicide begin John on his herbal journey? Why is a dandelion in the LearningHerbs logo? How is Bruce Springsteen responsible for how John creates and markets products? How and why did he start LearningHerbs? What is in LearningHerbs’ future? It’s all here in this fun-filled, action-packed, chocolate-covered, death-defying act of thrilling audio goodness…

Rebecca Altman is an herbalist, writer, and proprietor of Kings Road Apothecary. As a Scottish herbalist wildcrafting in Los Angeles, she has acclimated well to the Southwest by coming up with herbal remedies that are as unique as she is. Ocotillo blossom elixir, peach leaf and wild rose calming potion, busted joint ointment, white fir and juniper incense, and white sage chaparral salve are just a few of her creations.

In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, we meet a young herbalist who is breaking a new group by thinking outside the herbal box. In fact, she even has an herbal CSA called “The Monthly Surprise Box.” You really never know what Rebecca will do next, and this interview will surely inspire you to think differently based on what is growing around you.

Rebecca shares some practical advice, including how to make some really amazing and simple remedies using local plants, such as conifer-infused olive oil. This interview was recorded live at the Medicine of the People conference in Arizona.

Visit Rebecca at http://kingsroadapothecary.com

Sunny Savage is a wild foodie, filmmaker, and homeschooling parent traveling with the wind … aboard a sailboat with her husband and son.

She has a Master’s degree in Nutrition Education and taught native nutrition at the White Earth Tribal & Community College. Her ancestry includes pirates, diplomats, farmers, to writers of the French constitution. Her ancestor, Thomas Savage, arrived in Jamestown on the second boat at 13.

Sunny was raised by “back to the land” parents and spent a year eating foods only grown within 250 miles of her home. She’s traveled every continent on Earth and has a television show called Hot on the Trail with Sunny Savage that followed her adventures. It airs on Dish 218, FIOS 163, and Frontier 162.

Sunny released her clothing line that is made from wild plants, and we talk about medicinal clothing in the interview.

Sunny joins John from a cafe in Panama. She’s about to begin another leg of her adventures at sea with her family. She is filming the story.

You can visit Sunny at http://SunnySavage.com

AND follow her adventures at http://TheSailingMovie.com

Rosemary Gladstar is the author of several books, including the bestseller Herbal Healing for Women and A Family Herbal. She has taught herbs extensively throughout the U.S. and has led travel adventures worldwide.

Rosemary has founded the California School of Herbal Studies, United Plant Savers, co-founded Sage Mountain Herbs and is a founding member of the Northeast Herb Association. Her experience includes over 30 years in the herbal community as a healer, teacher, visionary, and organizer of herbal events.

Visit Rosemary at http://www.sagemountain.com

Lesley Tierra, L.AC., AHG is a California State and nationally certified acupuncturist and herbalist. In her practice, she combines acupuncture, herb, and food therapies along with lifestyle and inner growth counseling. She is a founding professional member of the American Herbalists Guild. Lesley is the author of Healing with the Herbs of Life and Healing with Chinese Herbs.

She collaborated with Michael Tierra to produce the East West Herb Course and is its dean. She also co-authored Chinese-Planetary Herbal Diagnosis with Michael and Chinese Herbal Medicine. She has also co-authored with Michael a two-volume text on Chinese Herbal Medicine, published by Lotus Press. In addition, she has written a special herbal for young children called A Kid’s Herb Book (for children of all ages).

Lesley and Michael Tierra run the East-West School of Herbology. You can visit them at http://PlanetHerbs.com

Gail Faith Edwards is an herbal educator with more than 30 years of experience as a community herbalist. She runs Blessed Maine Herb Farm, where she runs many herbal programs, a correspondence course, tours, and handcrafts beautiful herbal goods.

Gail is the author of Traversing the Wild Terrain of Menopause; Herbal Allies for Midlife Women and Men. Gail’s Opening Our Wild Hearts to the Healing Herbs is one of our absolute favorites. Her forthcoming book Through the Wild Heart of Mary; Teachings of the 20 Mysteries of the Rosary and the Herbs and Foods Associated with Them comes out mid-November, 2009.

In this engaging interview, we discuss Gail’s unique way of learning about herbs, what important lessons the plants taught her, details on a few key herbs, and she answers HerbMentor member questions.

Christophe Bernard is a clinical herbalist from France who was born and raised in Provence. He spent 15 years of his life in the U.S., studying medicinal plants and running his first clinic in San Diego. While mostly self-taught, Christophe found great inspiration in the writings and teachings of Matthew Wood and the late Michael Moore. Upon returning to France in 2010, he opened a clinic in a small village located in the hills of Provence, where he spends his time consulting, teaching, picking, and growing plants from around the world.

After exploring how Christophe learned about herbs, he takes us on an herb walk in Provence. Christophe shares some unique ways herbs are used in France while exploring linden, fumatory, lavender, and rosemary. He even shares an “off the beaten path” herb for men that will also blow out your tire should you bike off the path in Provence.

Henriette Kress is a clinical herbalist and author from Helsinki, Finland. She is the author of two herbal books, Practical Herbs 1 and Practical Herbs 2. Henriette has been publishing herbal content since the early days of the internet, now runs an amazing website called Henriette’s Herbal Homepage, and has wide respect across the herbal community. Her books are available in English, Finnish, and Swedish.

In this interview, Henriette shares her fascinating story and brings us on a practical herb walk, where she covers horse chestnut, juniper, willow, ground ivy, elecampane, and thyme. She mentions a few herbal tips from Finland I’m quite sure you’ve never heard before. Her new book picks up where her last one left off, with more hands-on remedies and nuts and bolts information about even more amazing herbs.

Darcy Williamson is an herbalist, author, and educator from the Rocky Mountains in Idaho. She is the founder of From the Forest, an herbal products and education business whose mission is to provide education on identifying, sustainable harvesting, formulating, and using medicinal plants found throughout the Rocky Mountains. Darcy is the author of Healing Plants of the Rocky Mountains & The Rocky Mountain Wild Foods Cookbook.

In this interview, Darcy shares her unique perspective on sustainable harvesting, the key to knowing what herbs are safe to harvest, and gives us an incredibly rare look into some of her favorite Rocky Mountain healing herbs, such as willow, chokecherry, avens, lomatium, arrowleaf balsamroot, western mugwort, and Brown’s Peony. Darcy also runs an herbal apprenticeship program like no other I’ve ever heard of. It helps her offer herbal remedies that few other, if any, websites offer. My favorite part was when she shares how she knows when a tree is ready to harvest.

Maria Christodoulou had been living in New York City for years when she decided it was finally time to move to Greece and dive more fully into the wisdom and whimsy of ancient Greek herbal medicine.

This journey took her to Athens where she currently offers educational tours and classes steeped in ancestral herbal medicine and mythology.

In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, Maria weaves personal stories, science, and history together to offer us a beautiful peek into traditional and contemporary Greek herbalism practices.

In our conversation, Maria shares...

• The medicinal uses of Greek arugula, calendula, and dwarf nettle
• The mythological and medicinal lore of bay laurel
• What surprised her the most about plant uses in Ancient Greece and so much more!

You can learn more about Maria Christodoulou and check out her Greek Herbal Medicine Tours right here: https://www.thegreekherbalist.com/

PS...

Are you ready to take your herbal learning to the next level?

Sounds like it’s time to check out HerbMentor!

HerbMentor offers a wide variety of rich herbal content — including an in-depth course on food as medicine — that gives you the opportunity to choose your own herbal adventure, take your time, and connect with other herbal learners and experts whenever you login.

PPS...

• Get a special offer on HerbMentor at https://HerbMentorRadio.com
• Build your herbal first aid kid with your Herbal Preparation Cards: https://Herbal.Cards

John returns to HerbMentor Radio in a conversation with one of his first herbal mentors, EagleSong Evans Gardener.

Go beyond “this herb is for that dis-ease” and body systems healing and journey into the garden, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. EagleSong starts with the most basic question, “What is good health?”

Along the journey, she shares her unique perspective on herbalism and reintroduces you to some of her botanical friends, including the hawthorn and linden trees. Get a new perspective on healing the heart as John takes you back to his herbal learning roots.

EagleSong Evans Gardener is an American herbalist, lifelong gardener, teacher, and visionary who hails from the great Pacific Northwest. For over two decades she has directed RavenCroft Garden, where she specializes in herbal classes and apprenticeships. She has been the Director of Natural Beauty at the world-famous Willows Lodge in Woodinville, WA, where she designed sustainable landscape management systems. Herbalists in the Seattle area have been trained by EagleSong for over four decades.

Her latest endeavor is the new Pacific Women’s Herbal Conference, featuring many local practitioners of the botanical arts. It is happening September 25-28, 2015 in Monroe, WA.

Save $35 on pre-registration before August 31...

http://www.pacificwomensherbalconference.com/#!product-page/c6nb/8e12b7cf-1bde-2ffd-8acf-1b5888d3eba3

Visit…

Pacific Women’s Herbal Conference

http://www.pacificwomensherbalconference.com/

RavenCroft Garden

http://ravencroftgarden.blogspot.com/

Oh echinacea, how I love thee! This beautiful plant, also known as purple coneflower, not only supports pollinators with its abundant blooms but also offers many benefits for us humans too. Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia, E. purpurea) is most well-known for helping to address colds and flu, but its gifts go far beyond internal immune support.

Follow along with herbalist Tara Ruth to learn about 3 benefits of echinacea.

And after learning these 3 benefits you might be wondering how you can learn more about echinacea..

Well, here’s the easy way to learn more about echinacea: download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes. You’ll learn all about echinacea, plus 11 other common herbs like catnip, aloe, elderberry, and more.

Get the FREE Herb Notes cards here: https://herbnotes.cards/

Anna Rósa Grasalæknir had been following the refugee crisis in Iraq for quite some time when she started to wonder, "Would the refugee women in these camps like to take herbal classes?"

This question kickstarted a journey that took her from her native Iceland to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq where she taught classes on making ointments with local herbs. The classes were a hit, and she was able to partner with a local woman, Eman, to teach hundreds of women in the camps.

These classes have now become the organization Helping Herbs, in which Anna Rósa draws on her thirty years of experience to teach women how to make herbal products.

In our conversation with Anna Rósa, she shares...

• How she founded Helping Herbs
• Important lessons she's learned along the way
• How anyone can make a difference in their own community
• Her favorite herbs to work with and so much more!

You can learn more about Anna Rósa Grasalæknir and check out Helping Herbs here: https://helpingherbs.org

Plus, if you're interested in supporting Helping Herbs and also want to learn more about herbs yourself, you can take Anna Rósa's class "The Healing Power of Icelandic Herbs." All of the proceeds of this course support Helping Herbs, and by taking the course you'll learn all about powerful Icelandic herbs that may also grow near you — like yarrow and willow! Use the code learningherbs for 30% off the course, and click to check out "The Healing Power of Icelandic Herbs."

PS...

Are you ready to take your herbal learning to the next level?

Sounds like it’s time to check out HerbMentor!

HerbMentor offers a wide variety of rich herbal content — including an in-depth course on food as medicine — that gives you the opportunity to choose your own herbal adventure, take your time, and connect with other herbal learners and experts whenever you login.

• Get a special offer on HerbMentor at: https://HerbMentorRadio.com
• Build your herbal first aid kid with your Herbal Preparation Cards: https://Herbal.Cards

Elderberry (Sambucus cerulea, S. nigra, S. canadensis) boasts many benefits and is most well-known as a gentle immune-supporting, antiviral herb. The benefits of elderberries go way beyond its immune-bolstering properties, though. What's more, the flowers of elder also boast many healing gifts.

Follow along with herbalist Tara Ruth to learn about 3 benefits of elder. And after learning these 3 benefits you might be wondering how you can learn more about elderberry...

Well, here’s the easy way to learn more about elderberry: download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes. You’ll learn all about elderberry, plus 11 other common herbs like catnip, aloe, echinacea, and more. 

Happy New Year! To welcome you into 2024, we decided to do things a little differently this month: we’re chatting just the two of us. You can consider this episode your herbal guide to the whole year.

Together we go season by season and share our favorite herbs and remedies to work with — and don’t worry, we only go on a few epic tangents along the way.

In this episode we share…

• Why Tara is in love with hawthorn (wedding announcement will come shortly)
• How to easily make garlic honey
• How Oregon grape root saved Tara from having to postpone recent travel plans and so much more!

And the best news? All of the recipes we mention in this episode can be found for free on our blog. Some of our favorites include this hawthorn cordial, calendula oil, and dandelion coffee.

Throughout our herbal guide, we also encourage you to resist the urgency urge to immediately go go go at the start of 2024 and give yourself permission to move with ease and slowness — the plants will be here all year long to support you.

PS...

Are you ready to take your herbal learning to the next level?

Sounds like it’s time to check out HerbMentor!

HerbMentor offers a wide variety of rich herbal content — including an in-depth course on food as medicine — that gives you the opportunity to choose your own herbal adventure, take your time, and connect with other herbal learners and experts whenever you login.

PPS...

Get a special offer on HerbMentor at HerbMentorRadio.com.

Build your herbal first aid kid with your Herbal Preparation Cards right here.

As one of the most popular beverages in the world, coffee is regularly enjoyed as a daily ritual that offers people a boost of energy. Coffee, though, is more than just a ubiquitous beverage: this complex herb offers many healing gifts, and when used in excess it can also present challenges for many coffee drinkers.

Follow along with herbalist Tara Ruth to learn about 3 benefits of coffee.

And after learning these 3 benefits you might be wondering how you can learn more about coffee...

Well, here’s the easy way to learn more about coffee: download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes. You’ll learn all about coffee, plus 11 other common herbs like catnip, aloe, echinacea, and more.

Get the FREE Herb Notes cards here.

Over the past few years, the term "trauma informed" has become a bit of a buzzword. But what does it actually mean to be trauma informed? And how can a trauma informed framework help us become better herbalists? In our latest episode of HerbMentor Radio, we're joined by trauma informed herbalist Dr. Elizabeth Guthrie, who helps us answer these (and many more) questions.

Elizabeth is a wellness practitioner with a PhD in Natural Medicine with a specialization in Naturopathic Psychology and a Master’s of Public Health in Functional Nutrition. They are the best-selling author of The Trauma Informed Herbalist and hold multiple other certifications from conventional and traditional schools.

In our conversation with Elizabeth, they share...

• What it means to be trauma informed
• Their go-to herbs for supporting the trauma journey
• Embodiment practices that can support the trauma journey
• How their past work as a 911 operator informs their current work and so much more!

You can learn more about Dr. Elizabeth Guthrie and check out their book The Trauma Informed Herbalist here.

PS...

Are you ready to take your herbal learning to the next level?

Sounds like it’s time to check out HerbMentor!

HerbMentor offers a wide variety of rich herbal content — including an in-depth course on food as medicine — that gives you the opportunity to choose your own herbal adventure, take your time, and connect with other herbal learners and experts whenever you login.

PPS...

• Get a special offer on HerbMentor right here.
• Build your herbal first aid kid with our free Herbal Preparation Cards.

Just one look at a radiant calendula (Calendula officinalis) flower is enough to make anyone fall in love.

With its uplifting blossoms and dainty leaves, it's no wonder that this easy-to-grow plant has become an incredibly popular ornamental. But calendula's gifts go far beyond its looks — this common herb has long been used in traditional herbal remedies to support health and vitality in a variety of ways.

Follow along with herbalist Tara Ruth to learn about 3 benefits of calendula.

And after learning these 3 benefits you might be wondering how you can learn more about calendula...

Well, here’s the easy way to learn more about calendula:

Download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes. You’ll learn all about calendula, plus 11 other common herbs like catnip, aloe, echinacea, and more.

Get the FREE Herb Notes cards here: http://herbnotes.cards/

I saw mullein (Verbascum spp.) growing all around me for years before I knew its name, let alone its many healing gifts. Now when I see mullein growing upwards of 7 feet tall by sidewalks and trailsides alike, I smile and say hi to this nourishing plant ally.

Follow along with herbalist Tara Ruth to learn about 3 benefits of mullein.

And after learning the benefits of mullein, you might be wondering how you can learn more about other common herbs... Well, here’s the easy way to learn more about our favorite common herbs: download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes. You’ll learn all about popular herbs like catnip, aloe, elderberry, and more.

Get your FREE Herb Notes printable flashcards here: https://herbnotes.cards/.

When Nathan Wright hopped on our HerbMentor Radio call, he readily admitted that he wasn't really in the podcast recording mood. And it totally made sense — after all, he had just returned from an epic adventure in the Michigan wilderness and was still adjusting to being back in the swing of everyday life.

And little did we know when we got on this call that we were in for one of the most fascinating stories ever told on HerbMentor Radio: the story of Nathan's search for the tree that gifted him a 30 pound chaga mushroom decades ago.

Along the twists and turns of Nathan's tale, we learned...

• The true meaning of reciprocity with the plants
• The benefits of chaga
• What exactly is ethical wildcrafting and how to do it
• What it means to be a caretaker of the land and so much more!

Nathan Wright is a citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and member of his tribe’s Crane Clan. Nathan is an herbalist and mycologist who combines both Anishinabek and conventional herbal knowledge into his herbal products business, Herbal Lodge.

You can learn more about Nathan and his work at herballodge.com, and for a limited time you'll get a 10% discount on Herbal Lodge when you use the code lherbs10 at checkout.

PS...

Are you ready to take your herbal learning to the next level?

HerbMentor offers a wide variety of rich herbal content — including an in-depth course on food as medicine — that gives you the opportunity to choose your own herbal adventure, take your time, and connect with other herbal learners and experts whenever you login.

PPS...

• Get a special offer on HerbMentor at http://HerbMentorRadio.com
• Build your herbal first aid kid with your Herbal Preparation Cards: http://Herbal.Cards

Most people are familiar with Aloe vera as an undemanding houseplant that can be called upon in times of sunburn.

And while it is true that the inner filet of the Aloe vera plant is one of our go-to plant allies for mild sunburns, this succulent plant also offers so many more healing gifts.

Follow along with herbalist Tara Ruth to learn about 3 benefits of Aloe vera.

And after learning these 3 benefits you might be wondering how you can learn more about aloe...

Well, here’s the easy way to learn more about aloe: download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes. You’ll learn all about aloe, plus 11 other common herbs like catnip, aloe, echinacea, and more.

Get the FREE Herb Notes cards here.

Chances are you've probably read your horoscope — and I bet sometimes that horoscope was uncannily spot on and sometimes it totally missed the mark. This is how most people encounter astrology and where most people's curiosity about this ancient art stops. But astrology is so much more than just a horoscope: this complex system can teach us a whole lot about ourselves, each other, and, get this, herbs!

Sajah Popham is the author of Evolutionary Herbalism: Science, Spirituality, and Medicine from the Heart of Nature. With his wife Whitney, he co- founded the School of Evolutionary Herbalism and Natura Sophia Spagyrics, which is an herbal extracts company. Sajah trains herbalists in a holistic system of plant medicine that encompasses clinical Western herbalism, medical astrology, Ayurveda, and spagyric alchemy.

In our conversation, Sajah shares...

• What exactly is medical astrology and how it can enrich your herbal practice
• What astrology can teach us about nettles
• How astrology can help us address insomnia
• Why spagyric alchemy is his favorite way to make herbal extracts
• The secret to making stronger herbal remedies and so much more...

Learn more about Sajah Popham and grab a copy of his book on evolutionaryherbalism.com.

And check out his spagyric herbal extracts on https://naturasophiaspagyrics.com/.

PS...

Are you ready to take your herbal learning to the next level?

Sounds like it’s time to check out HerbMentor!

HerbMentor offers a wide variety of rich herbal content — including an in-depth course on food as medicine — that gives you the opportunity to choose your own herbal adventure, take your time, and connect with other herbal learners and experts whenever you login.

 PS...

Build your herbal first aid kid with your Herbal Preparation Cards!

Garlic is the medicine of the people.

From its pungent aroma that fills our kitchens to its centuries-old reputation as a medicinal wonder, garlic holds a special place in both culinary and herbalism traditions. While many people think of garlic only as a tasty addition to their favorite meals, herbalists know that this humble bulbs boasts many benefits that extend far beyond its flavor profile.

Follow along with herbalist Tara Ruth to learn about 3 benefits of garlic.

And after learning these 3 benefits you might be wondering how you can learn more about garlic...

Well, here’s the easy way to learn more about garlic: download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes. You’ll learn all about garlic, plus 11 other common herbs like catnip, aloe, echinacea, and more.

Get the FREE Herb Notes cards here: http://herbnotes.cards/

Elise and Jeff Higley's herb farm was born out of a simple need: they wanted high quality herbs for the teas they loved to drink everyday. So, combining Elises's passion for herbalism and Jeff's passion for farming, they started to grow herbs in their own backyard.

But they didn't stop there! In spite of the many odds stacked against U.S. herb farmers (which Elise and Jeff detail in this episode, by the way), they managed to start Oshala Farm and scale it to over 80 crops per year.

So whether you're already growing lots of herbs or are itching to start an herb garden, you'll want to tune in and hear all Elise and Jeff's herbal wisdom.

In our conversation with Jeff and Elise they share....

• The key to successfully growing herbs at home
• Practical steps for starting your own herb farm
• Why there are so few herb farms in the U.S.
• How to run a profitable herbal business and so much more!

Learn more about Elise and Jeff Higley and check out Oshala Farm's beautiful herbs at oshalafarm.com.

PS...

Are you ready to take your herbal learning to the next level?

Sounds like it’s time to check out HerbMentor!

HerbMentor offers a wide variety of rich herbal content — including an in-depth course on food as medicine — that gives you the opportunity to choose your own herbal adventure, take your time, and connect with other herbal learners and experts whenever you login.

Get a special offer on HerbMentor at http://HerbMentorRadio.com

PPS...

Build your herbal first aid kid with your Herbal Preparation Cards: http://Herbal.Cards

With a name like "stinging nettle," you might think you want to avoid a nettles patch at all costs. Sure, the fresh leaves and stems of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) can irritate the skin upon contact, but here's the thing: stinging nettles are also full of many healing gifts.

It may seem counterintuitive, but once you learn more about the magic of nettles, we have a feeling you'll be reaching for nettles a whole lot more — even if you're wearing a glove while you do it!

Follow along with herbalist Tara Ruth to learn about 3 benefits of stinging nettle.

And after learning these 3 benefits you might be wondering how you can learn more about stinging nettle...

Well, here’s the easy way to learn more about stinging nettle: download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes. You’ll learn all about nettles, plus 11 other common herbs like catnip, aloe, echinacea, and more.

Get the FREE Herb Notes cards here:http://herbnotes.cards/

Whether you're an adventurous wildcrafter or an herbalist who always sticks to the trail, knowing key survival skills is an essential part of your herbal toolkit.

Jason Knight is the co-founder of Alderleaf Wilderness College, one of the leading outdoor schools in the United States offering training in wilderness survival to a broad range of clients, including the US Forest Service, REI, the Seattle Mountaineers, and the cast of the award-winning film, Captain Fantastic.

In our latest episode of HerbMentor Radio, we chat with Jason, who has been teaching wilderness survival skills since 1997.

I've been friends with Jason for over 25 years and have been meaning to interview him on the podcast to talk about survival skills for herbalists — and when I saw that he'd written a new book, The Essential Skills of Wilderness Survival: A Guide to Shelter, Water, Fire, Food, Navigation, and Survival Kits, I knew it was time to finally have him on HerbMentor Radio.

In this long awaited conversation, Jason shares...

• The 4 essentials of wilderness survival, including how to build a shelter, find water, make fire, and get food
• How to make a survival kit
• 3 keys to easy navigation
• Common mistakes most people make in emergencies
• And so much more...

Learn more about Jason Knight and grab a copy of his book on WildernessCollege.com.

PS...

• Get a special offer on HerbMentor at http://HerbMentorRadio.com
• Build your herbal first aid kid with our free Herbal Preparation Cards.

Growing out of sidewalk cracks and wild meadows alike, dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a persistent plant that can teach us about resilience and adaptability. While it may be despised by lawn purists, herbalists recognize that dandelion isn't a pesky weed: rather, dandelion is an important plant with many healing gifts.

Follow along with herbalist Tara Ruth to learn about 3 benefits of dandelion.

And after learning these 3 benefits you might be wondering how you can learn more about dandelion...

Well, here’s the easy way to learn more about plantain: download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes.

You’ll learn all about dandelion, plus 11 other common herbs like catnip, aloe, echinacea, and more.

Visit HerbNotes.cards

It’s not everyday you meet a seasoned herbalist with over 35 years of clinical experience. And it’s even rarer to meet one who is an expert in holistic oncology.

Drawing on her decades of experience supporting people with cancer, medical herbalist Chanchal Cabrera has distilled her learnings into an accessible book for both everyday people and practitioners, Holistic Cancer Care: An Herbal Approach to Preventing Cancer, Helping Patients Thrive during Treatment, and Minimizing the Risk of Recurrence.

In this conversation, we delve into the realms of prevention and cancer support during treatment, gaining invaluable insights along the way. While chatting with Chanchal we learned…

• What exactly “holistic cancer care” means
• How to approach herb drug interactions
• Key lifestyle recommendations for cancer prevention and during treatment
• Herbs that can help address stress during treatment
• Chanchal’s #1 herb for cancer prevention & more!

Whether you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, are seeking preventative info, or are a caretaker, I hope this interview with Chanchal can offer some support on your journey.

You can learn more about Chanchal Cabrera’s work and find her book, Holistic Cancer Care, on chanchalcabrera.com.

Plus, you can learn more from Chanchal at the Shift Network.

If you are a practitioner or advanced student of herbal medicine, you can also join Chanchal in person for a five day clinical case studies intensive, which she is co-facilitating with David Winston at her home and teaching gardens on Vancouver Island.

PS…

Looking for more herbal resources? Check out HerbMentor.

HerbMentor offers a wide variety of rich herbal content — including an in-depth course on food as medicine — that gives you the opportunity to choose your own herbal adventure, take your time, and connect with other herbal learners and experts whenever you login.

PPS...

Get a special offer on HerbMentor right here.

Build your herbal first aid kid with your Herbal Preparation Cards

Chances are you've probably stepped on your fair share of the herb plantain (Plantago major, P. rugelii, and P. lanceolata). This abundant medicinal plant loves to grow within pathways and even the most well-manicured lawns. It's so prolific, in fact, that when many people see it growing wildly in their yard they weed it out and hope it doesn't come back.

But herbalists know that this common herb offers many extraordinary healing gifts. Not only is plantain a first aid superstar, it also helps with more chronic issues too.

Follow along with herbalist Tara Ruth to learn about 3 benefits of the herb plantain.

And after learning these 3 benefits you might be wondering how you can learn more about plantain...

Well, here’s the easy way to learn more about plantain: download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes. You’ll learn all about catnip, plus 11 other common herbs like catnip, aloe, echinacea, and more.

Get the FREE Herb Notes cards right here...

I have been waiting for years to get to dive deep into the Five Elements on HerbMentor Radio, so it was a special treat when Jiling Lin stopped by to chat with us about the principles of Five Elements.

Jiling Lin is a Licensed Acupuncturist, herbalist, and artist. Her integrative medical practice in Ventura, CA and holistic workshops, retreats, and writings empower thriving health and environmental stewardship in our bodies, communities, and world.

In our conversation with Jiling, she drew on her years of experience as an acupuncturist and herbalist to break down the Five Elements into simple terms. Her poetic approach left us feeling inspired and excited to learn more about the elements.  

On the episode, Jiling shares...

• The fundamentals of the Five Elements
• How to live in harmony with the seasons
• How understanding the elements can make us better herbalists
• Herbs for summertime and so much more!

You can learn more about Jiling Lin and check out her work at https://www.jilinglin.com/

Are you ready to take your herbal learning to the next level?

HerbMentor offers a wide variety of rich herbal content — including an in-depth course on food as medicine — that gives you the opportunity to choose your own herbal adventure, take your time, and connect with other herbal learners and experts whenever you login.

• Get a special offer on HerbMentor at https://HerbMentorRadio.com

Are you just starting to make herbal remedies?

• Build your herbal first aid kid with our free Herbal Preparation Cards: https://Herbal.Cards

Nadine Joseph used to work as a chronically stressed neuroscience researcher. Faced with intense burnout, she turned to herbs and fell in love with adaptogens. After experiencing the transformative effects of calming adaptogens, she felt determined to share these powerful herbs with more people.

Nadine founded Peak & Valley, an herbal products business that sells ethically sourced adaptogen blends for skin, brain, and stress support.

In this episode Nadine shares her journey from making adaptogen blends in her kitchen to now nationally distributing Peak & Valley products with major companies like CVS and The Vitamin Shoppe.

In addition to sharing the highs and lows (or the peaks and valleys, if you will) of her adventure as an herbal entrepreneur, Nadine shares…

• What she wishes she’d known as a new herbal business owner
• Why no one sources herbs like she does — and how her methods could transform the herbal supply chain for the better
• Her top tips for managing stress as a busy herbal business owner
• So much more!

Learn more about Nadine and Peak & Valley at Peakandvalley.co and follow her on Instagram at @peakandvalleyco

PS…

Nadine has a very special gift for HerbMentor Radio listeners.

Follow this link to claim your gift.

PPS...

Get a very special listener offer on HerbMentor right here.

You can also see all the podcasts on our blog right here.

When most people think of catnip (Nepeta cataria), they think of it as that plant that makes our feline friends get very hyper. But here’s the thing,: catnip isn’t just for cats! Catnip tea and tincture too offers many healing gifts to us humans as well — perhaps the most surprising of all is that catnip calms and relaxes humans.

Yes, that’s right. The leaves and flowering tops of this plant that hypes up cats has a calming effect on our human nervous systems. Follow along with herbalist Tara Ruth to learn about 3 surprising benefits of catnip.

To learn more about catnip, Download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes. You’ll learn all about catnip, plus 11 other common herbs like cinnamon, aloe, echinacea, and more.

Check out our FREE Herb Notes cards here: herbnotes.cards

Shereel Washington graduated from the California School of Herbal Studies Community Herbalist Program in Clinical Herbalism, and she has completed over 1200 hours of herbal craft making training. She is an instructor in Scarlet Sage's Community Herbalist Program & in the Land of Verse Apprentice Herbal Certification Program, as well as in herbal classes and intensives at the Northern California Women’s Herbal Symposium in Mendocino. Shereel also teaches dance and qi gong at the Deep Root Center for Spiritual Studies MOVE: Spirit & Rhythm Dance Program in Oakland, CA.

Early in this episode Shereel invites us to unpack the term "Western Herbalism" and to honor the immense influence that Black, Indigenous, and People Color have had on herbalism on this continent. She then goes on to share her research and experience with Black North American Herbalism while diving into traditional herbalism recipes and stories.

Shereel also shares with HerbMentor Radio listeners...

• Traditional uses and stories of asafoetida
• Why molasses is a powerful medicine
• The key difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation
• And so much more!

You can learn more from Shereel on Instagram @ixaltednaturalbody

PS...

Are you ready to take your herbal learning to the next level?

HerbMentor offers a wide variety of rich herbal content — including an in-depth course on food as medicine — that gives you the opportunity to choose your own herbal adventure, take your time, and connect with other herbal learners and experts whenever you login.

We have a special offer right here for HerbMentor Radio listeners.

PPS...

Would you like to start building your herbal first aid kid?

Download our free recipe cards here.

Yarrow’s leaf and flower are most typically used by Western herbalists, but there is also traditional usage of the roots. In this article, I’ll focus on the medicinal uses of yarrow leaf and flower.

Yarrow’s leaf and flower are most typically used by Western herbalists, but there is also traditional usage of the roots. In this podcast, I’ll focus on the medicinal uses of yarrow leaf and flower.

Want to learn more about the medicinal uses of yarrow?

Now that we’ve just scratched the surface of the many benefits of yarrow, you might be wondering how you can learn more about this powerful plant.

Well, here’s the easy way to learn more about yarrow: download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes here. You’ll learn all about yarrow, plus 11 other common herbs like cinnamon, aloe, and more.

I hope you enjoy Herb Notes, our new "3 healing herbal uses in 3 minutes" addition to the HerbMentor Radio podcast.

Nada Beydoun is a registered herbalist with a BSc. in Microbiology and Immunology and Masters in Applied Human Nutrition. Her interests include SWANA region herbal medicines, and she has a community work background in refugee settlement and empowerment.

And Fatima Matar is a passionate gardener supporting the work of growing and bringing awareness to milkweed and Monarchs since 2019. Outside of driving around with a backseat filled with milkweed plants, you can find her doing photography as a freelance photographer.

And Nada and Fatima just so happen to be cousins! Several years ago, after learning about the dire situation of declining monarch populations and milkweed habitat loss, these two plant enthusiasts embarked on a journey to start stewarding milkweed for monarch butterflies.

Monarch butterflies rely on milkweed to lay their eggs and feed their larvae. By growing milkweed, we can support endangered monarch butterflies and other vital pollinators.

Together, in this episode of HerbMentor Radio, Nada and Fatima dive into the gifts of the wondrously aromatic milkweed, why they grow milkweeds for monarchs, and the ecological and cultural importance of monarch butterflies.

Nada and Fatima also share...

• Why it's important to grow native milkweed
• Why milkweed is so misunderstood (is it a noxious weed or no?!)
• How to grow milkweed and so much more!

You can learn more from Nada and Fatima — and check out more of Fatima's beautiful milkweed and monarch photography — on Instagram at @beybotany and @naturewithfatimam.

Please note: pleurisy root (Asclepias tuberosa), which is a species of milkweed, is contraindicated during pregnancy, and this plant does increase the risk of cardiac glycoside toxicity if taken with drugs or herbs that contain those constituents.

PS...

Get a special offer on HerbMentor right here.

Build your herbal first aid kid with your Herbal Preparation Cards!