Today we proceed futher along our shelves, looking at the herbs we keep in our home apothecary. In this episode we discuss goldenrod and wood betony.When using the botanical Latin name for goldenrod, we write Solidago spp. – that “spp.” means “species plural”; there are many varieties in the genus. It can hard to tell them apart! Fortunately, your senses can tell you about the particular actions of your particular goldenrod. Is it more bitter? That’ll have more digestive action. Is it more aromatic? That’ll really get you kidneys moving. It’s also worth trying goldenrod leaf-only vs flower-only tea or tincture.Betony, also called wood betony, is Stachys officinalis. It’s related to lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina), but nowhere near as fuzzy, and with smaller, scallop-edged leaves. An herb with a panoply of benefits, in modern people we find its most important attributes are its grounding and centering effects. These can help us oppose the habits of multitasking and dissociation from the body which are so prevalent today. It’s also a very easy herb to grow in a pot on your portch!Mentioned in this episode:episode 077: Urban Wildcrafting Ethics &amp; Guidelinesepisode 195: How To See Stress In Wild Plantsepisode 113: Grow Your Own HerbsTaking a fallow period to focus on the hands-on aspects of herbalism is one of our favorite tips for people who are learning. There are lots of ways to study, and lots of ways to enhance your learning. We’ve collected our best suggestions into a FREE COURSE for you: Herbal Study Tips! This fun course is designed to make all your learning – whether that’s with us, from other teachers, from books, or from the plants themselves – more exciting and effective.Like all our offerings, these are self-paced online video courses, which come with free access to twice-weekly live Q&amp;A sessions, lifetime access to current &amp; future course material, twice-weekly live Q&amp;A sessions with us, open discussion threads integrated in each lesson, an active student community, study guides, quizzes &amp; capstone assignments, and more!If you enjoyed the episode, it helps us a lot if you subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen. This helps others find us more easily. Thank you!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

Today we proceed futher along our shelves, looking at the herbs we keep in our home apothecary. In this episode we discuss goldenrod and wood betony.When using the botanical Latin name for goldenrod, we write Solidago spp. – that “spp.” means “species plural”; there are many varieties in the genus. It can hard to tell them apart! Fortunately, your senses can tell you about the particular actions of your particular goldenrod. Is it more bitter? That’ll have more digestive action. Is it more aromatic? That’ll really get you kidneys moving. It’s also worth trying goldenrod leaf-only vs flower-only tea or tincture.Betony, also called wood betony, is Stachys officinalis. It’s related to lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina), but nowhere near as fuzzy, and with smaller, scallop-edged leaves. An herb with a panoply of benefits, in modern people we find its most important attributes are its grounding and centering effects. These can help us oppose the habits of multitasking and dissociation from the body which are so prevalent today. It’s also a very easy herb to grow in a pot on your portch!Mentioned in this episode:<ul><li><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/podcast-077-urban-wildcrafting-ethics-guidelines/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">episode 077: Urban Wildcrafting Ethics &amp; Guidelines</a></li><li><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/podcast-195-how-to-see-stress-in-wild-plants/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">episode 195: How To See Stress In Wild Plants</a></li><li><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/podcast-113-grow-your-own-herbs/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">episode 113: Grow Your Own Herbs</a></li></ul> Taking a fallow period to focus on the hands-on aspects of herbalism is one of our favorite tips for people who are learning. There are lots of ways to study, and lots of ways to enhance your learning. We’ve collected our best suggestions into a FREE COURSE for you: <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/courses/herbal-study-tips" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Herbal Study Tips!</a> This fun course is designed to make all your learning – whether that’s with us, from other teachers, from books, or from the plants themselves – more exciting and effective.Like <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/collections" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">all our offerings</a>, these are self-paced online video courses, which come with free access to twice-weekly live Q&amp;A sessions, lifetime access to current &amp; future course material, twice-weekly live Q&amp;A sessions with us, open discussion threads integrated in each lesson, an active student community, study guides, quizzes &amp; capstone assignments, and more! If you enjoyed the episode, it helps us a lot if you subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen. This helps others find us more easily. Thank you!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Herbs A-Z: Solidago & Stachys

Today we’re continuing our “herbs on our shelf” from A to Z series! This week, our herbs are schisandra and skullcap.Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis) is SOUR. That flavor stands out most strongly when you taste the herb. But it’s also bitter, pungent, acrid, and a little bit sweet – that’s why it’s sometimes called five-flavor berry. Schisandra’s a great herb for modern people, not least because it helps a lot with anger and with sugar. It does have some drug interactions to be aware of, though!Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) is one of the ‘bitter mints’. It’s not powerfully bitter, like motherwort, but more like betony, ground ivy, or self-heal. This group includes mostly relaxants, lymphatics, alteratives, &amp; anti-inflammatories, and skullcap is primarily a relaxant. Its specific affinities are tension in the neck &amp; shoulders, or else tension that’s intermittent. It makes a great base compound with betony and passionflower, whether that’s for a nervine tea blend or a before-bed tincture.Schisandra &amp; skullcap are featured herbs in our Neurological &amp; Emotional Health course. This is a user’s guide to your nerves &amp; your emotions – including the difficult and dark ones. We discuss holistic herbalism strategies for addressing both neurological &amp; psychological health issues. It includes a lengthy discussion of herbal pain management strategies, too!Like all our offerings, these are self-paced online video courses, which come with free access to twice-weekly live Q&amp;A sessions, lifetime access to current &amp; future course material, twice-weekly live Q&amp;A sessions with us, open discussion threads integrated in each lesson, an active student community, study guides, quizzes &amp; capstone assignments, and more!If you enjoyed the episode, it helps us a lot if you subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen. This helps others find us more easily. Thank you!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

Today we’re continuing our “herbs on our shelf” from A to Z series! This week, our herbs are schisandra and skullcap.Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis) is SOUR. That flavor stands out most strongly when you taste the herb. But it’s also bitter, pungent, acrid, and a little bit sweet – that’s why it’s sometimes called five-flavor berry. Schisandra’s a great herb for modern people, not least because it helps a lot with anger and with sugar. It does have some drug interactions to be aware of, though!Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) is one of the ‘bitter mints’. It’s not powerfully bitter, like motherwort, but more like betony, ground ivy, or self-heal. This group includes mostly relaxants, lymphatics, alteratives, &amp; anti-inflammatories, and skullcap is primarily a relaxant. Its specific affinities are tension in the neck &amp; shoulders, or else tension that’s intermittent. It makes a great base compound with betony and passionflower, whether that’s for a nervine tea blend or a before-bed tincture. Schisandra &amp; skullcap are featured herbs in our <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/courses/neurological-and-emotional" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Neurological &amp; Emotional Health</a> course. This is a user’s guide to your nerves &amp; your emotions – including the difficult and dark ones. We discuss holistic herbalism strategies for addressing both neurological &amp; psychological health issues. It includes a lengthy discussion of herbal pain management strategies, too!Like <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/collections" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">all our offerings</a>, these are self-paced online video courses, which come with free access to twice-weekly live Q&amp;A sessions, lifetime access to current &amp; future course material, twice-weekly live Q&amp;A sessions with us, open discussion threads integrated in each lesson, an active student community, study guides, quizzes &amp; capstone assignments, and more! If you enjoyed the episode, it helps us a lot if you subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen. This helps others find us more easily. Thank you!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Herbs A-Z: Schisandra & Scutellaria

20% OFF EVERYTHING for the month of July!Use code ALLTOGETHER at checkout!There’s one reality, that of the human need for fundamentals like nourishing food, restorative sleep, consistent movement, ways to mitigate stress, and community support. Then there’s the other reality: that so much of this is not accessible for so many people in our society.What can we do about it, as herbalists? A lot!We can start by keeping our recommendations as accessible and affordable as possible. We can center our practice on grocery store herbs, abundant weeds, and widely available plants instead of those that are rare or expensive. We can teach people to minimize waste, and get the most goodness out of their herbs. We can keep a mental store of “cheapbest” formulae – things that serve common needs and keep expenses low, but don’t compromise on quality.We can recognize that people don’t only have to budget money, but also time and energy. Especially in the context of chronic illness and fatigue syndromes, being able to work effectively with simple protocols – to hone in on the manageable essentials – is critical to success. And perhaps most importantly, we can improve access to herbalism and cultivate community connections. One individual against the world is in a really tough spot, but a community together is healthier.If this topic is speaking to you today, check out our Herbal Community Care Toolkit. It’s chock full of low-cost, abundantly accessible herbal remedies for addressing common health issues. Students in this program learn our most inexpensive strategies for improving health and well-being. This course is available by donation, but if you can’t afford it, email us and we’ll send you a coupon code so you can get it for free!And, don’t forget! Our semi-annual 20% off sale is running for the whole month of July!Use code ALLTOGETHER at checkout to get 20% off any of our courses or programs!(This code can be used several times, if there’s more than one course you’d like to take.)If you enjoyed the episode, it helps us a lot if you subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen. This helps others find us more easily. Thank you!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

20% OFF <a href="http://online.commonwealthherbs.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">EVERYTHING</a> for the month of July! Use code ALLTOGETHER at checkout! There’s one reality, that of the human need for fundamentals like nourishing food, restorative sleep, consistent movement, ways to mitigate stress, and community support. Then there’s the other reality: that so much of this is not accessible for so many people in our society.What can we do about it, as herbalists? A lot!We can start by keeping our recommendations as accessible and affordable as possible. We can center our practice on grocery store herbs, abundant weeds, and widely available plants instead of those that are rare or expensive. We can teach people to minimize waste, and get the most goodness out of their herbs. We can keep a mental store of “cheapbest” formulae – things that serve common needs and keep expenses low, but don’t compromise on quality.We can recognize that people don’t only have to budget money, but also time and energy. Especially in the context of chronic illness and fatigue syndromes, being able to work effectively with simple protocols – to hone in on the manageable essentials – is critical to success. And perhaps most importantly, we can improve access to herbalism and cultivate community connections. One individual against the world is in a really tough spot, but a community together is healthier.If this topic is speaking to you today, check out our <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/courses/herbal-community-care-toolkit" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Herbal Community Care Toolkit</a>. It’s chock full of low-cost, abundantly accessible herbal remedies for addressing common health issues. Students in this program learn our most inexpensive strategies for improving health and well-being. This course is available by donation, but if you can’t afford it, <a href="mailto:info@commonwealthherbs.com">email us</a> and we’ll send you a coupon code so you can get it for free! And, don’t forget! Our semi-annual 20% off sale is running for the whole month of July! Use code ALLTOGETHER at checkout to get 20% off <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">any of our courses or programs!</a> (This code can be used several times, if there’s more than one course you’d like to take.) If you enjoyed the episode, it helps us a lot if you subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen. This helps others find us more easily. Thank you!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Reality vs Reality in Herbalism

We’re continuing our “herbs on our shelf” series from A to Z today! This time our herbs are elder and sassafras.The most famous part of elder (Sambucus nigra) is the berry, which is indeed an effective remedy for viral infections including colds, flu, and COVID. It’s a rather safe one, despite occasional herban legends do the contrary. (No, the berries will not kill you with cyanide. No, elderberry does not cause cytokine storms. No, it is not a risk for people with autoimmunity.) But it’s so much more than that! We can break elder berry out of the ‘cold &amp; flu’ box, and appreciate it as an anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular tonic, and traditional alterative. Plus, we can also work with the flowers! They make an excellent relaxant diaphoretic, for releasing both physical and emotional heat.As for sassafras (Sassafras albidum), its root bark is its most famous part, and it’s a key component of ‘root beer’ flavors. We like it that way, with sarsaparilla (whether that’s Smilax, Hemidesmus, or Aralia), ginger, &amp; birch – and why not add some adaptogens too? That’s how you get Rooted &amp; Ready. But wait! Sassafras leaf is also quite nice. It’s one of those interesting herbs which combines demulcent and astringent qualities all in the same herb, like purple loosestrife, and it’s one of Katja’s preferred herbs to correct for too much dryness in a formula.Elder and Sassafras both turn up in our course Elements of Detoxification. This course takes a fresh look at the concepts of “toxicity” and “detoxification”, a holistic perspective that goes beyond “cleanses” and products. Learn a memorable, practical model for understanding how the body’s detox functions work, along with the roles herbs can play in supporting them. And, take a look at some key formulas like Rooted &amp; Ready, that bring together taste, action, and energetics for maximum effect. Check it out!Like all our offerings, these are self-paced online video courses, which come with free access to twice-weekly live Q&amp;A sessions, lifetime access to current &amp; future course material, twice-weekly live Q&amp;A sessions with us, open discussion threads integrated in each lesson, an active student community, study guides, quizzes &amp; capstone assignments, and more!If you enjoyed the episode, it helps us a lot if you subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen. This helps others find us more easily. Thank you!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

We’re continuing our “herbs on our shelf” series from A to Z today! This time our herbs are elder and sassafras.The most famous part of elder (Sambucus nigra) is the berry, which is indeed an effective remedy for viral infections including colds, flu, and COVID. It’s a rather safe one, despite occasional herban legends do the contrary. (No, the berries will not kill you with cyanide. No, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/elderberry-cytokine-storms/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">elderberry does not cause cytokine storms.</a> No, it is not a risk for people with autoimmunity.) But it’s so much more than that! We can break elder berry out of the ‘cold &amp; flu’ box, and appreciate it as an anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular tonic, and traditional alterative. Plus, we can also work with the flowers! They make an excellent relaxant diaphoretic, for releasing both physical and emotional heat.As for sassafras (Sassafras albidum), its root bark is its most famous part, and it’s a key component of ‘root beer’ flavors. We like it that way, with sarsaparilla (whether that’s Smilax, Hemidesmus, or Aralia), ginger, &amp; birch – and why not add some adaptogens too? That’s how you get <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/rooted-ready/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rooted &amp; Ready</a>. But wait! Sassafras leaf is also quite nice. It’s one of those interesting herbs which combines demulcent and astringent qualities all in the same herb, like <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/herb-of-the-week-purple-loosestrife/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">purple loosestrife</a>, and it’s one of Katja’s preferred herbs to correct for too much dryness in a formula. Elder and Sassafras both turn up in our course <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/courses/elements-of-detoxification" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Elements of Detoxification</a>. This course takes a fresh look at the concepts of “toxicity” and “detoxification”, a holistic perspective that goes beyond “cleanses” and products. Learn a memorable, practical model for understanding how the body’s detox functions work, along with the roles herbs can play in supporting them. And, take a look at some key formulas like Rooted &amp; Ready, that bring together taste, action, and energetics for maximum effect. <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/courses/elements-of-detoxification" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out!</a>Like <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/collections" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">all our offerings</a>, these are self-paced online video courses, which come with free access to twice-weekly live Q&amp;A sessions, lifetime access to current &amp; future course material, twice-weekly live Q&amp;A sessions with us, open discussion threads integrated in each lesson, an active student community, study guides, quizzes &amp; capstone assignments, and more! If you enjoyed the episode, it helps us a lot if you subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen. This helps others find us more easily. Thank you!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Herbs A-Z: Sambucus & Sassafras

There’s a basic rule when it comes to herbal businesses in the US: “Don’t tell and sell.”Due to rules and regulations set forth by the Food &amp; Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), there are many limits on what one can say about herbal products. You may already know that it is not allowed to make “disease claims” on product packaging or promotional materials, only “structure &amp; function” claims – that’s why a garlic supplement will says it “supports heart health” rather than “lowers cholesterol”. But you may not be aware that this prohibition extends also to any website, social media presence, or other materials you produce – including as a clinical herbalist or a teacher.The long and short of it is, you can’t realistically maintain an herbal products line and a teaching or clinical herbal practice.A lot of herbalists get frustrated with the tell &amp; sell rules, but in reality they’re not as constraining as it seems. They’re part of doing business, and there are actually good reasons things are set up this way. So in this episode, we’ll go through some examples to make this clearer – and find some silver linings along the way!Referenced in this episode:FDA – Small Entity Compliance Guide: Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packaging, Labeling, or Holding Operations for Dietary SupplementsFDA – Warning Letters databaseFTC – Health Products Compliance GuidanceWould you like to know more? We’ve got just the thing! The Herbal Business Program has all the nitty-gritty details about setting up your herbal business – whether that’s products, clinical herbalism, or another variety of herbal pursuit. From GMPs and labeling laws, to marketing, to taxes &amp; insurance, to the technology you’ll need to make it all happen, this course has everything. You can do this! We can help.If you enjoyed the episode, it helps us a lot if you subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen. This helps others find us more easily. Thank you!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

There’s a basic rule when it comes to herbal businesses in the US: “Don’t tell and sell.” Due to rules and regulations set forth by the Food &amp; Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), there are many limits on what one can say about herbal products. You may already know that it is not allowed to make “disease claims” on product packaging or promotional materials, only “structure &amp; function” claims – that’s why a garlic supplement will says it “supports heart health” rather than “lowers cholesterol”. But you may not be aware that this prohibition extends also to any website, social media presence, or other materials you produce – including as a clinical herbalist or a teacher. The long and short of it is, you can’t realistically maintain an herbal products line and a teaching or clinical herbal practice. A lot of herbalists get frustrated with the tell &amp; sell rules, but in reality they’re not as constraining as it seems. They’re part of doing business, and there are actually good reasons things are set up this way. So in this episode, we’ll go through some examples to make this clearer – and find some silver linings along the way! Referenced in this episode:<ul><li><a href="https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/small-entity-compliance-guide-current-good-manufacturing-practice-manufacturing-packaging-labeling" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FDA – Small Entity Compliance Guide: Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packaging, Labeling, or Holding Operations for Dietary Supplements</a></li><li><a href="https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/compliance-actions-and-activities/warning-letters" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FDA – Warning Letters database</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Health-Products-Compliance-Guidance.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FTC – Health Products Compliance Guidance</a></li></ul> Would you like to know more? We’ve got just the thing! The <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/courses/herbal-business-program" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Herbal Business Program</a> has all the nitty-gritty details about setting up your herbal business – whether that’s products, clinical herbalism, or another variety of herbal pursuit. From GMPs and labeling laws, to marketing, to taxes &amp; insurance, to the technology you’ll need to make it all happen, this course has everything. You can do this! We can help. If you enjoyed the episode, it helps us a lot if you subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen. This helps others find us more easily. Thank you!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Don't Let the Feds Get You Down

We almost never do interviews, but our friend Anna Rósa is collaborating with The Lotus Flower to empower refugee women in Kurdistan to care for their own health, their families and communities, and to start herbal businesses to support themselves as they rebuild their lives.We are so excited to support her efforts, and we wanted to tell y’all all about it too!You can learn more about the collaboration here:Herbal Sisters Workshops for WomenAnd you can find her fundraiser course here – all proceeds go to support the Herbal Sisters project!The Healing Power of Icelandic HerbsDISCOUNT CODE: Use code commonwealth to get 30% off the price! Valid until June 30th, 2023.If you enjoyed the episode, it helps us a lot if you subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen. This helps others find us more easily. Thank you!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

We almost never do interviews, but our friend Anna Rósa is collaborating with The Lotus Flower to empower refugee women in Kurdistan to care for their own health, their families and communities, and to start herbal businesses to support themselves as they rebuild their lives.We are so excited to support her efforts, and we wanted to tell y’all all about it too! You can learn more about the collaboration here:<a href="https://thelotusflower.org/blog1/2023/4/6/herbal-sisters-workshops-for-women" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Herbal Sisters Workshops for Women</a>And you can find her fundraiser course here – all proceeds go to support the Herbal Sisters project!<a href="https://annarosaskincare.com/courses/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Healing Power of Icelandic Herbs</a>DISCOUNT CODE: Use code commonwealth to get 30% off the price! Valid until June 30th, 2023. If you enjoyed the episode, it helps us a lot if you subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen. This helps others find us more easily. Thank you!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

The Herbal Sisters Project in Kurdistan, with Anna Rósa

Today’s herbs are sage &amp; rosemary – two herbs whose botanical name Salvia indicates they can keep us “safe, healthy, and secure”, if we go with a literal translation. Sounds pretty good to us! And tastes good, too…Sage, Salvia officinalis, is the subject of a great many old sayings &amp; adages, like “if a man would live for aye [forever], then should he eat sage in Maye” – or, “why should a man die while sage grows in his garden?” (We’d like to point out that sage is good for women and enbies too, just for the record!) Ryn’s personal favorite is this one: “Sage, make green the winter rain / charm the demons from my brain!” As a mental awakener and mind-sharpener, sage is hard to beat. It’s amazing for digestive sluggishness too, especially when that involves difficulty digesting fats. But don’t relegate it to food applications only – sage can be beautiful in formulae for cocktails or mocktails, bitters blends, and nervine elixirs.Rosemary, Salvia rosmarinus, was categorized in its own genus as Rosmarinus officinalis until 2017. Well, we’ve had six years to get used to it, and we’re aaaalmost there – but you should still know both names, because in a lot of good herbal books you’ll only find it under the older name. It’s an excellent cerebral circulatory stimulant, aromatic carminative, and hepatic stimulant herb. Rosemary is an herb for remembrance, also, as Shakespeare’s Ophelia tells us in Hamlet. See how much this herb has in common with sage? They go great together, or with lavender and other aromatic mints. Try them in concert with sweet herbs, too – a “sweet heat” blend of sage, rosemary, monarda, fennel, goji, and a pinch of licorice is one of Ryn’s favorites recently.Sage &amp; rosemary are featured herbs in our Neurological &amp; Emotional Health course. Although often when herbalists refer to “nervine” herbs, they mean relaxants and gentle sedatives, the term can also be applied to stimulants, like these two herbs. They can awaken and enliven nerve activity, and mental activity too.This course is a user’s guide to your nerves &amp; your emotions – including the difficult and dark ones. We discuss holistic herbalism strategies for addressing both neurological &amp; psychological health issues. It includes a lengthy discussion of herbal pain management strategies, too!Like all our offerings, these are self-paced online video courses, which come with free access to twice-weekly live Q&amp;A sessions, lifetime access to current &amp; future course material, twice-weekly live Q&amp;A sessions with us, open discussion threads integrated in each lesson, an active student community, study guides, quizzes &amp; capstone assignments, and more!If you enjoyed the episode, it helps us a lot if you subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen. This helps others find us more easily. Thank you!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

Today’s herbs are sage &amp; rosemary – two herbs whose botanical name Salvia indicates they can keep us “safe, healthy, and secure”, if we go with a literal translation. Sounds pretty good to us! And tastes good, too…Sage, Salvia officinalis, is the subject of a great many old sayings &amp; adages, like “if a man would live for aye [forever], then should he eat sage in Maye” – or, “why should a man die while sage grows in his garden?” (We’d like to point out that sage is good for women and enbies too, just for the record!) Ryn’s personal favorite is this one: “Sage, make green the winter rain / charm the demons from my brain!” As a mental awakener and mind-sharpener, sage is hard to beat. It’s amazing for digestive sluggishness too, especially when that involves difficulty digesting fats. But don’t relegate it to food applications only – sage can be beautiful in formulae for cocktails or mocktails, bitters blends, and nervine elixirs.Rosemary, Salvia rosmarinus, was categorized in its own genus as Rosmarinus officinalis <a href="http://khkeeler.blogspot.com/2018/08/what-happened-to-rosemary.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">until 2017</a>. Well, we’ve had six years to get used to it, and we’re aaaalmost there – but you should still know both names, because in a lot of good herbal books you’ll only find it under the older name. It’s an excellent cerebral circulatory stimulant, aromatic carminative, and hepatic stimulant herb. Rosemary is an herb for remembrance, also, as <a href="https://rosenbach.org/blog/rosemary-for-shakespeare/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shakespeare’s Ophelia tells us in Hamlet</a>. See how much this herb has in common with sage? They go great together, or with lavender and other aromatic mints. Try them in concert with sweet herbs, too – a “sweet heat” blend of sage, rosemary, monarda, fennel, goji, and a pinch of licorice is one of Ryn’s favorites recently. Sage &amp; rosemary are featured herbs in our <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/courses/neurological-and-emotional" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Neurological &amp; Emotional Health</a> course. Although often when herbalists refer to “nervine” herbs, they mean relaxants and gentle sedatives, the term can also be applied to stimulants, like these two herbs. They can awaken and enliven nerve activity, and mental activity too.This course is a user’s guide to your nerves &amp; your emotions – including the difficult and dark ones. We discuss holistic herbalism strategies for addressing both neurological &amp; psychological health issues. It includes a lengthy discussion of herbal pain management strategies, too!Like <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/collections" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">all our offerings</a>, these are self-paced online video courses, which come with free access to twice-weekly live Q&amp;A sessions, lifetime access to current &amp; future course material, twice-weekly live Q&amp;A sessions with us, open discussion threads integrated in each lesson, an active student community, study guides, quizzes &amp; capstone assignments, and more! If you enjoyed the episode, it helps us a lot if you subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen. This helps others find us more easily. Thank you!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Herbs A-Z: Salvia

In this period of Fallow Month (see previous episode), we're re-airing a couple of our favorite episodes from the archives. This one was originally episode #145, originally aired December 20th 2020.In this episode we explore the skills and disciplines necessary to conduct a successful self-experiment. Self-experimentation in this context might mean making changes to dietary, lifestyle, &amp; movement habits; developing stress management skills; or trying out herbal medicines.First we address why and how self-experimentation can fall into self-justification, and how to avoid this. Then we highlight the skills of perception, reflection, and connection which are the bones of a good n=1 experiment, and share some key methods for developing them. Finally we talk about the practicalities that make this work go more smoothly, and share a few thoughts on how this all applies to clinical practice work as distinct from individual efforts.This is at the root of our work as herbalists, so we hope you’ll listen in!We teach herbalism online! When you sign up for any of our courses – including our FREE Herbal Study Tips course – you get access to twice-a-week live Q&amp;A sessions, integrated discussion threads on every lesson, and a vibrant student community. Our courses are centered on video lessons you can watch at your own pace, and once you’ve bought a course you retain access to it (and any future updates!), forever.If you have a moment, it would help us a lot if you could subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen, so others can find it more easily. Thank you!!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

In this period of Fallow Month (see previous episode), we're re-airing a couple of our favorite episodes from the archives. This one was originally episode #145, originally aired December 20th 2020. In this episode we explore the skills and disciplines necessary to conduct a successful self-experiment. Self-experimentation in this context might mean making changes to dietary, lifestyle, &amp; movement habits; developing stress management skills; or trying out herbal medicines.First we address why and how self-experimentation can fall into self-justification, and how to avoid this. Then we highlight the skills of perception, reflection, and connection which are the bones of a good n=1 experiment, and share some key methods for developing them. Finally we talk about the practicalities that make this work go more smoothly, and share a few thoughts on how this all applies to clinical practice work as distinct from individual efforts.This is at the root of our work as herbalists, so we hope you’ll listen in! We teach herbalism online! When you sign up for any of our courses – including our FREE <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/courses/herbal-study-tips" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Herbal Study Tips</a> course – you get access to twice-a-week live Q&amp;A sessions, integrated discussion threads on every lesson, and a vibrant student community. Our courses are centered on video lessons you can watch at your own pace, and once you’ve bought a course you retain access to it (and any future updates!), forever. If you have a moment, it would help us a lot if you could subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen, so others can find it more easily. Thank you!!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

[REPLAY] An Herbalist's Guide to Successful Self-Experimentation

In this period of Fallow Month (see previous episode), we're re-airing a couple of our favorite episodes from the archives. This one was originally episode #120, originally aired April 4th 2020.Previously, we've urged you to look at learning herbalism like learning a language or instrument – something that requires daily practice. This week, we’re sharing some specific practices you can do to build your herbal skills on a daily basis!You can take lessons in herbalism, and study to learn – but the key here is, a little bit each day is better than “a lot” which happens only rarely. Building a habit of reading a few pages of an herb book, watching a half hour video lesson, or listening to an audio lesson on your commute every day will serve you well.Another way is to make space to experience your herbs daily. Drink tea, take tincture, taste them, smell them. Even better, do this while you’re studying to enhance your learning, to root it in your body and give your mind a touchpoint to return to. This strengthens memory!A helpful motto (especially for those who are allergic to regimentation) is “Don’t miss an opportunity.” Whenever something new-to-you comes up, take the chance to come up with an herbal plan of resolution. First, learn all you can about what’s happening. Then, try to identify energetic patterns; that helps you select applicable herbal actions. Then you can come up with a set of herbs to do the job, and finally you can decide how those herbs will go to work – what preparations and formulations will best match the situation. (Then you start that cycle over again, to expand or refine!)It’s all about building habits – whether habits of daily activity, or habits of response to new events. Put those habits into place now, and your confidence and capability will grow every single day.Did we mention that studying individual herbs every day is a great habit to get into? With our Holistic Herbalism Materia Medica course, you can do just that! Each of the 90 herbs we cover in this course has a video lesson, plant profile document, and a quiz to test your knowledge. It teaches you much more than “just” the individual plants, too – key concepts in herbal energetics, medicine-making, and pathophysiology are woven into every lesson. Check it out, and watch the first video (all about ginger) for free!As always, please subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen, so others can find it more easily. Thank you!!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

In this period of Fallow Month (see previous episode), we're re-airing a couple of our favorite episodes from the archives. This one was originally episode #120, originally aired April 4th 2020. Previously, we've urged you to look at learning herbalism like learning a language or instrument – something that requires daily practice. This week, we’re sharing some specific practices you can do to build your herbal skills on a daily basis!You can take lessons in herbalism, and study to learn – but the key here is, a little bit each day is better than “a lot” which happens only rarely. Building a habit of reading a few pages of an herb book, watching a half hour video lesson, or listening to an audio lesson on your commute every day will serve you well.Another way is to make space to experience your herbs daily. Drink tea, take tincture, taste them, smell them. Even better, do this while you’re studying to enhance your learning, to root it in your body and give your mind a touchpoint to return to. This strengthens memory!A helpful motto (especially for those who are allergic to regimentation) is “Don’t miss an opportunity.” Whenever something new-to-you comes up, take the chance to come up with an herbal plan of resolution. First, learn all you can about what’s happening. Then, try to identify energetic patterns; that helps you select applicable herbal actions. Then you can come up with a set of herbs to do the job, and finally you can decide how those herbs will go to work – what preparations and formulations will best match the situation. (Then you start that cycle over again, to expand or refine!)It’s all about building habits – whether habits of daily activity, or habits of response to new events. Put those habits into place now, and your confidence and capability will grow every single day. Did we mention that studying individual herbs every day is a great habit to get into? With our <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/courses/materia-medica" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Holistic Herbalism Materia Medica</a> course, you can do just that! Each of the 90 herbs we cover in this course has a video lesson, plant profile document, and a quiz to test your knowledge. It teaches you much more than “just” the individual plants, too – key concepts in herbal energetics, medicine-making, and pathophysiology are woven into every lesson. Check it out, and watch the first video (all about ginger) for free! As always, please subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen, so others can find it more easily. Thank you!!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

[REPLAY] How To Practice Herbalism Every Day

In ancient agriculture, the farmers observed the need to let fields rest every year or two, so they could recover their fertility. Letting the fields lie fallow in this way actually yielded more food than trying to force them to grow every year.We can apply this same insight to the learning process. You cannot cram in more information forever, just by gritting your teeth and bearing down. Humans need time to process and integrate what we’ve learned. The best way to enhance that processing &amp; integration is by getting out of your brain and into your body.Take time to practice what you’ve learned, to engage your senses and your hands. Dig, grow, tend; taste, smell, touch; make, try, play; share!Taking a fallow period to focus on the hands-on aspects of herbalism is one of our favorite tips for people who are learning. There are lots of ways to study, and lots of ways to enhance your learning. We’ve collected our best suggestions into a FREE COURSE for you: Herbal Study Tips! This fun course is designed to make all your learning – whether that’s with us, from other teachers, from books, or from the plants themselves – more exciting and effective.Like all our offerings, these are self-paced online video courses, which come with free access to twice-weekly live Q&amp;A sessions, lifetime access to current &amp; future course material, twice-weekly live Q&amp;A sessions with us, open discussion threads integrated in each lesson, an active student community, study guides, quizzes &amp; capstone assignments, and more!If you enjoyed the episode, it helps us a lot if you subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen. This helps others find us more easily. Thank you!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

In ancient agriculture, the farmers observed the need to let fields rest every year or two, so they could recover their fertility. Letting the fields lie fallow in this way actually yielded more food than trying to force them to grow every year.We can apply this same insight to the learning process. You cannot cram in more information forever, just by gritting your teeth and bearing down. Humans need time to process and integrate what we’ve learned. The best way to enhance that processing &amp; integration is by getting out of your brain and into your body.Take time to practice what you’ve learned, to engage your senses and your hands. Dig, grow, tend; taste, smell, touch; make, try, play; share! Taking a fallow period to focus on the hands-on aspects of herbalism is one of our favorite tips for people who are learning. There are lots of ways to study, and lots of ways to enhance your learning. We’ve collected our best suggestions into a FREE COURSE for you: <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/courses/herbal-study-tips" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Herbal Study Tips!</a> This fun course is designed to make all your learning – whether that’s with us, from other teachers, from books, or from the plants themselves – more exciting and effective.Like <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/collections" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">all our offerings</a>, these are self-paced online video courses, which come with free access to twice-weekly live Q&amp;A sessions, lifetime access to current &amp; future course material, twice-weekly live Q&amp;A sessions with us, open discussion threads integrated in each lesson, an active student community, study guides, quizzes &amp; capstone assignments, and more! If you enjoyed the episode, it helps us a lot if you subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen. This helps others find us more easily. Thank you!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Fallow Month

Practical herbalism from practicing herbalists. Conversations, botanical deep-dives, Q&amp;A with clinical herbalists Katja Swift &amp; Ryn Midura of CommonWealth Holistic Herbalism.

What a gift! Love, Love, Love! Everything you guys offer. Thank you so much! @AgesApothecary

Wonderful

Good topics, solid information. Thank you.

Great Information

The Holistic Herbalism Podcast

A listener asked us what would be our five favorite tinctures to have on hand, so this week we're each going to share with you a list of herbs we just can't live without! We talk a bit about each one's virtues and the way we ourselves work with these herbs. Katja's list: ghost pipe, tulsi, calamus, ginger-chamomile, lobelia. Ryn's list: solomon's seal, catnip, yarrow-sage, kava, cayenne. Mentioned in this podcast:The Hidden Life of Trees, Peter WohllebenHerbal Medicine for Beginners - our book, which teaches you how to work with 35 multi-purpose herbs. It's perfect for people who are just starting to build their apothecaries, or for more advanced students who'd like to see how you might solve a wide array of problems with a small set of herbs.Katja's ginger-chamomile cookies~ If you like our podcast, you might like learning from us in a more intentional way - like with our Herbalism 101 program! It's a great way to start incorporating herbs into your daily life, to keep you and your loved ones healthy and resilient all year round!Our theme music is "Wings" by Nicolai Heidlas.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

A listener asked us what would be our five favorite tinctures to have on hand, so this week we're each going to share with you a list of herbs we just can't live without! We talk a bit about each one's virtues and the way we ourselves work with these herbs.  Katja's list: ghost pipe, tulsi, calamus, ginger-chamomile, lobelia.  Ryn's list: solomon's seal, catnip, yarrow-sage, kava, cayenne.  Mentioned in this podcast: <ul><li><a href="https://amzn.to/2uxWPIe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Hidden Life of Trees</a>, Peter Wohlleben</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/2GejaQN" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Herbal Medicine for Beginners</a> - our book, which teaches you how to work with 35 multi-purpose herbs. It's perfect for people who are just starting to build their apothecaries, or for more advanced students who'd like to see how you might solve a wide array of problems with a small set of herbs.</li><li><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/ginger-chamomile-cookies/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Katja's ginger-chamomile cookies</a>~</li></ul>  If you like our podcast, you might like learning from us in a more intentional way - like with our <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/bundles/101" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Herbalism 101</a> program! It's a great way to start incorporating herbs into your daily life, to keep you and your loved ones healthy and resilient all year round! Our theme music is <a href="https://soundcloud.com/nicolai-heidlas/wings-acoustic-guitar-background-music" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Wings" by Nicolai Heidlas</a>.<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Our Top Ten Tinctures

Turmeric is a great herb and an effective anti-inflammatory, but it's not the be-all end-all it's sometimes made out to be, usually by folks who want to sell it to you! This week Katja shares some other anti-inflammatory herbs you may not have considered. Meanwhile, Ryn's been thinking about dreaming - or dreaming about thinking? - with the help of mugwort, a city-dwelling weedy friend who is very talented when it comes to deepening the dream experience. Mentioned in this podcast: If I Read One More Post About Turmeric Being Anti-inflammatory, My Head Will Explode!, Tammi SweetMugwort for Dreaming, Ryn MiduraThe Twenty-Four Hour Mind, Rosalind D. CartwrightHerbstalk - Boston's homegrown herbal conference, June 2nd &amp; 3rd!Herbs discussed include turmeric, ginger, rosemary, ginkgo, peppermint, tulsi, ashwagandha, rose hips, hibiscus, elder, calendula, self-heal, red clover, and mugwort.   Don't forget!  Herbal Medicine for Beginners, our first book, is available for pre-order now on Amazon!Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

Turmeric is a great herb and an effective anti-inflammatory, but it's not the be-all end-all it's sometimes made out to be, usually by folks who want to sell it to you! This week Katja shares some other anti-inflammatory herbs you may not have considered. Meanwhile, Ryn's been thinking about dreaming - or dreaming about thinking? - with the help of mugwort, a city-dwelling weedy friend who is very talented when it comes to deepening the dream experience.  Mentioned in this podcast: <ul><li><a href="https://www.heart-stone.com/2015/11/if-i-read-one-more-post-about-turmeric-being-anti-inflammatory-my-head-will-explode/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">If I Read One More Post About Turmeric Being Anti-inflammatory, My Head Will Explode!</a>, Tammi Sweet</li><li><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/mugwort-for-dreaming/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mugwort for Dreaming</a>, Ryn Midura</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/2HwbbyY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Twenty-Four Hour Mind</a>, Rosalind D. Cartwright</li><li><a href="http://herbstalk.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Herbstalk</a> - Boston's homegrown herbal conference, June 2nd &amp; 3rd!Herbs discussed include turmeric, </li></ul><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/ginger-herb-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ginger</a>, rosemary, ginkgo, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/podcast-023-schisandra-peppermint/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">peppermint</a>, tulsi, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/ashwagandha-herb-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ashwagandha</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/rose-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">rose hips</a>, hibiscus, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/herb-week-elder/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">elder</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/herb-of-the-week-calendula-officinalis/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">calendula</a>, self-heal, red clover, and mugwort.    Don't forget! <a href="http://bit.ly/HerbalMedicine_Beginners" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Herbal Medicine for Beginners</a>, our first book, is available for <a href="http://bit.ly/HerbalMedicine_Beginners" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pre-order now on Amazon!</a> <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Anti-Inflammatory Herbs Beyond Turmeric & Dreaming With Mugwort

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 &amp; maitake, nettle, rose, &amp; calamus.Mentioned in this podcast:Gut-Heal TeaOrganic India Tulsi TeaThe Holistic Herbalism Podcast, episode 23: Schisandra &amp; PeppermintUrban Moonshine Calm Tummy Digestive Bitters – with chamomile &amp; gingerThe Metabolic Plant Feedback Hypothesis, Jurg GertschChlorophyll and Chlorophyllin, Linus Pauling InstituteNettle &amp; Friends – our other most important formula!Herbal Medicine for Beginners, our book!The Holistic Herbalism Podcast, episode 30: Tulsi &amp; Formulating Absent Friends~Herbalism 101: Learn Your Herbs &amp; 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!Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

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 <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/meadowsweet-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">meadowsweet</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/podcast-030-tulsi-formulating-absent-friends/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tulsi</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/023-schisandra-peppermint/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">schisandra</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/chamomile-herb-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">chamomile</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/red-seaweeds-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Irish moss</a>, shiitake &amp; maitake, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/nettle-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">nettle</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/rose-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">rose</a>, &amp; <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/calamus-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">calamus</a>.Mentioned in this podcast:<ul><li><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/heal-gut-herb-tea-formula/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gut-Heal Tea</a></li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/2W2SnLv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Organic India Tulsi Tea</a></li><li><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/023-schisandra-peppermint/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Holistic Herbalism Podcast, episode 23: Schisandra &amp; Peppermint</a></li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/2RYbZkE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Urban Moonshine Calm Tummy Digestive Bitters</a> – with chamomile &amp; ginger</li><li><a href="https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/html/10.1055/s-0042-108340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Metabolic Plant Feedback Hypothesis</a>, Jurg Gertsch</li><li><a href="https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/phytochemicals/chlorophyll-chlorophyllin" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chlorophyll and Chlorophyllin</a>, Linus Pauling Institute</li><li><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/nettle-and-friends-nutritious-miracle-tea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nettle &amp; Friends</a> – our other most important formula!</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/2GejaQN" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Herbal Medicine for Beginners</a>, our book!</li><li><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/podcast-030-tulsi-formulating-absent-friends/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Holistic Herbalism Podcast, episode 30: Tulsi &amp; Formulating Absent Friends</a></li></ul>~<a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/bundles/101" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Herbalism 101</a>: Learn Your Herbs &amp; 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!<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Top 7 Herbs for Nutritionists and Dietitians

Is Easter really the best time to give up sugar? Well, given that there’s always another holiday around the corner, there’s never really an objectively better or worse time to try it. So why not try it now? You don’t have to do it alone – herbs can help! In this episode we’ll talk about some of our favorite herbs to control sugar cravings and help you change your relationship to sweet treats.We always combine our herbalism with rational lifestyle interventions, so we’ll also discuss holistic strategies to cope with an oversized sweet tooth. Establishing a “sugar budget”, identifying your favorite low-sugar treats, keeping dessert close to mealtime, and finding ways to treat yourself that don’t involve food are all key here. Beneath that, there’s also value in recognizing what a sugar craving really is: a communication from the body, letting you know about an unmet need. This helps stave off guilt and shame!Mentioned in this podcast:How To Minimize Hyperglycemic Toxicity – this post discusses the ways in which a complex meal mitigates the glycemic impact of a carby/sugary food.The Holistic Herbalism Podcast, episode 23: Schisandra &amp; Peppermint – in which Katja embarked upon her 100-day schisandra experiment.Nettle &amp; Friends – our classic formula. For sugar control, add in tulsi, cinnamon, or even schisandra!Everything Will Be Fine – an example of a nervine blend to help cope with the difficult emotions that often drive us to seek sugar.Herbs discussed include: cinnamon, schisandra, tulsi, nettle, ashwagandha, licorice, calamus.If you’d like to learn more about sugar, its effect on the body, more herbs for sugar cravings, and (almost) everything else about food and your health, check out our Fundamentals of Holistic Nutrition course! In it, we teach you the foundational principles of nutrition which apply to any diet type, while identifying particular diet adjustments that can help with common troubles. We also look at herbs as nutritive in their own right – as providers of mineral, vitamin, and phytonutrient compounds that can bolster a diet that’s otherwise lacking. Learn more and get started right here: Fundamentals of Holistic NutritionSupport the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

Is Easter really the best time to give up sugar? Well, given that there’s always another holiday around the corner, there’s never really an objectively better or worse time to try it. So why not try it now? You don’t have to do it alone – herbs can help! In this episode we’ll talk about some of our favorite herbs to control sugar cravings and help you change your relationship to sweet treats.We always combine our herbalism with rational lifestyle interventions, so we’ll also discuss holistic strategies to cope with an oversized sweet tooth. Establishing a “sugar budget”, identifying your favorite low-sugar treats, keeping dessert close to mealtime, and finding ways to treat yourself that don’t involve food are all key here. Beneath that, there’s also value in recognizing what a sugar craving really is: a communication from the body, letting you know about an unmet need. This helps stave off guilt and shame!Mentioned in this podcast:<ul><li><a href="http://perfecthealthdiet.com/2011/10/how-to-minimize-hyperglycemic-toxicity/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How To Minimize Hyperglycemic Toxicity</a> – this post discusses the ways in which a complex meal mitigates the glycemic impact of a carby/sugary food.</li><li><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/023-schisandra-peppermint/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Holistic Herbalism Podcast, episode 23: Schisandra &amp; Peppermint</a> – in which Katja embarked upon her 100-day schisandra experiment.</li><li><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/?p=5537&amp;preview=true&amp;_thumbnail_id=3643" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nettle &amp; Friends</a> – our classic formula. For sugar control, add in tulsi, cinnamon, or even schisandra!</li><li><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/the-beauty-of-imperfection-and-a-tea-for-gracelessness/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Everything Will Be Fine</a> – an example of a nervine blend to help cope with the difficult emotions that often drive us to seek sugar.</li></ul>Herbs discussed include: <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/podcast-035-cinnamon-vanilla-cacao/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cinnamon</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/023-schisandra-peppermint/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">schisandra</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/linden-and-tulsi-two-great-herbs-that-go-great-together/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tulsi</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/nettle-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">nettle</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/ashwagandha-herb-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ashwagandha</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/licorice-oil-for-eczema/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">licorice</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/calamus-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">calamus</a>.If you’d like to learn more about sugar, its effect on the body, more herbs for sugar cravings, and (almost) everything else about food and your health, check out our Fundamentals of Holistic Nutrition course! In it, we teach you the foundational principles of nutrition which apply to any diet type, while identifying particular diet adjustments that can help with common troubles. We also look at herbs as nutritive in their own right – as providers of mineral, vitamin, and phytonutrient compounds that can bolster a diet that’s otherwise lacking. Learn more and get started right here: <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/courses/fundamentals-of-holistic-nutrition" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fundamentals of Holistic Nutrition</a><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Herbs to Control Sugar Cravings

This week we’re sharing a class Katja delivered recently about basic applications of herbal remedies to improve digestion and relive digestive discomforts. Enjoy! We’ll be off next week as we are moving from one apartment to another. We’ll return the following Friday, don’t worry!Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

This week we’re sharing a class Katja delivered recently about basic applications of herbal remedies to improve digestion and relive digestive discomforts. Enjoy! We’ll be off next week as we are moving from one apartment to another. We’ll return the following Friday, don’t worry!<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Simple Herbs for Digestive Health

Holistic Herbalism

Anxiety is a feeling of exposure, a feeling that one is without protection. The much-maligned ‘safe space’ is in fact a necessity for all humans. (Those who malign it tend to be speaking from a place of unchallenged safety.) But how to create that for yourself, in an environment that feels hostile? Herbs can help, and in more than one way! Working with the principles of holistic herbalism for anxiety involves several interwoven threads.Building healthy boundaries is a way to protect your inner space – both to keep unfriendly things out and to leave room for you to focus on your present moment. Anxiety is fundamentally an expression of tension, so relaxing tension in the muscles and nerves, and in the emotions themselves, is almost always needful. Anxiety both causes and results from elevated stress hormones, and reducing cortisol in particular helps mitigate the physiological effects of stress.Holistic lifestyle changes are the core of the work, and herbs help us enact these intentions. The synergy between them is what we mean when we talk about employing holistic herbalism for anxiety. Listen in for lots of ideas as to how they can fit into your life!Herbs discussed include: motherwort, yarrow, lion’s mane, chamomile, linden, skullcap, passionflower, betony, calamus, kava, tulsi, ashwagandha, turmeric, cinnamon, &amp; st john’s wort.Mentioned in this episode:A Midwife’s Tale, Laurel Thatcher UlrichKatja’s Favorite Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free SubstitutesGut-Heal TeaOur End-Of-Year Sale is going strong! Don’t miss out – use the code 2019 to get 19% off any of our courses or programs today!As always, please subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen, so others can find it more easily. Thank you!!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

Anxiety is a feeling of exposure, a feeling that one is without protection. The much-maligned ‘safe space’ is in fact a necessity for all humans. (Those who malign it tend to be speaking from a place of unchallenged safety.) But how to create that for yourself, in an environment that feels hostile? Herbs can help, and in more than one way! Working with the principles of holistic herbalism for anxiety involves several interwoven threads.Building healthy boundaries is a way to protect your inner space – both to keep unfriendly things out and to leave room for you to focus on your present moment. Anxiety is fundamentally an expression of tension, so relaxing tension in the muscles and nerves, and in the emotions themselves, is almost always needful. Anxiety both causes and results from elevated stress hormones, and reducing cortisol in particular helps mitigate the physiological effects of stress.Holistic lifestyle changes are the core of the work, and herbs help us enact these intentions. The synergy between them is what we mean when we talk about employing holistic herbalism for anxiety. Listen in for lots of ideas as to how they can fit into your life!Herbs discussed include: <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/motherwort-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">motherwort</a>, yarrow, lion’s mane, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/chamomile-herb-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">chamomile</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/linden-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">linden</a>, skullcap, passionflower, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/betony-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">betony</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/calamus-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">calamus</a>, kava, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/podcast-030-tulsi-formulating-absent-friends/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tulsi</a>, ashwagandha, turmeric, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/podcast-048-pumpkin-spice-thats-herbalism-too/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cinnamon</a>, &amp; <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/st-johns-wort-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">st john’s wort</a>.Mentioned in this episode:<ul><li><a href="https://amzn.to/38CKClT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Midwife’s Tale</a>, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich</li><li><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/favorite-gluten-free-dairy-free-substitutes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Katja’s Favorite Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Substitutes</a></li><li><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/heal-gut-herb-tea-formula/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gut-Heal Tea</a></li></ul> Our End-Of-Year Sale is going strong! Don’t miss out – use the code 2019 to get 19% off any of <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/learn/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">our courses or programs</a> today! As always, please subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen, so others can find it more easily. Thank you!! Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Holistic Herbalism for Anxiety

We love books! In this podcast we discuss a few of our absolute favorite herbal books for everyone from beginners to experienced practitioners. Here are the books we mentioned: Practical Herbs &amp; Practical Herbs 2, Henriette Kress - you can also pre-order her Practical Herb Cards!The Herbal Medic, Sam CoffmanIcelandic Herbs, Anna Rósa RobertsdottirWild Urban Plants of the Northeast, Peter del TrediciInvasive Plant Medicine, Timothy Lee ScottEncyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, Andrew ChevallierBody Into Balance, Maria Noel GrovesThe Wild Medicine Solution, Guido MaséHerbal Constituents, Lisa GanoraBotany In A Day &amp; Shanleya's Quest, Tom ElpelRadical Mycology, Peter McCoySupport the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

We love books! In this podcast we discuss a few of our absolute favorite herbal books for everyone from beginners to experienced practitioners. Here are the books we mentioned: <ul><li><a href="http://amzn.to/2A3kAsO" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Practical Herbs</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.henriettes-herb.com/articles/pract-herbs2.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Practical Herbs 2</a>, Henriette Kress - you can also pre-order her <a href="https://www.henriettes-herb.com/articles/herbcards.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Practical Herb Cards</a>!</li><li><a href="http://amzn.to/2A262K5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Herbal Medic</a>, Sam Coffman</li><li><a href="http://amzn.to/2zgdIVS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Icelandic Herbs</a>, Anna Rósa Robertsdottir</li><li><a href="http://amzn.to/2A26GHv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast</a>, Peter del Tredici</li><li><a href="http://amzn.to/2zhX3kK" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Invasive Plant Medicine</a>, Timothy Lee Scott</li><li><a href="http://amzn.to/2zeX1Kp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine</a>, Andrew Chevallier</li><li><a href="http://amzn.to/2zfivHk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Body Into Balance</a>, Maria Noel Groves</li><li><a href="http://amzn.to/2A0qLOm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Wild Medicine Solution</a>, Guido Masé</li><li><a href="http://herbalconstituents.com/herbal-constituents-book/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Herbal Constituents</a>, Lisa Ganora</li><li><a href="http://amzn.to/2BgD8nB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Botany In A Day</a> &amp; <a href="http://amzn.to/2zg88Ts" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shanleya's Quest</a>, Tom Elpel</li><li><a href="http://www.chthaeus.com/Radical-Mycology-by-Peter-McCoy-p/b-rmp.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Radical Mycology</a>, Peter McCoy</li></ul><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Some Favorite Herbal Books

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 &amp; 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!Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

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 &amp; 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! <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/bundles/emergent-responder" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Emergent Responder Program</a> 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? <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/bundles/emergent-responder" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Get started today!</a><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Herbs for Psychological First Aid

Your skin is your largest organ, and it’s your presentation to the world – so it’s important to take care of it! It’s not just vanity. For most purposes, a simple daily routine will do the job. In this episode Katja shares her own personal daily routine, and then we discuss how to work with herbs for healthy skin care in a variety of situations. Simple kitchen ingredients and inexpensive herbs are the focus, as always!The best herbs for healthy skin are the ones that match your own constitution and your current state, so we offer insights into how you can choose the right herbs for your skin type. We’ve got tips for working with herbs to reduce acne, and herbal strategies for resolving eczema. And because we always keep things holistic, we share considerations around movement, stress, food, &amp; sleep and how they can affect the skin. Lots of factors affect skin health, which is a good thing – it means you have lots of options for how to get started! Listen in to hear the choices and make your first steps.Herbs discussed include yarrow, chamomile, thyme &amp; oregano &amp; monarda, rose, witch hazel, licorice, turmeric, marshmallow, linden, &amp; the seaweeds.Our We’re All In This Together sale end on July 31st – there are only a few days left! Don’t miss out – use the code TOGETHER to get 15% off any of our courses or programs today!As always, please subscribe &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen, so others can find it more easily. Thank you!!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

Your skin is your largest organ, and it’s your presentation to the world – so it’s important to take care of it! It’s not just vanity. For most purposes, a simple daily routine will do the job. In this episode Katja shares her own personal daily routine, and then we discuss how to work with herbs for healthy skin care in a variety of situations. Simple kitchen ingredients and inexpensive herbs are the focus, as always!The best herbs for healthy skin are the ones that match your own constitution and your current state, so we offer insights into how you can choose the right herbs for your skin type. We’ve got tips for working with herbs to reduce acne, and herbal strategies for resolving eczema. And because we always keep things holistic, we share considerations around movement, stress, food, &amp; sleep and how they can affect the skin. Lots of factors affect skin health, which is a good thing – it means you have lots of options for how to get started! Listen in to hear the choices and make your first steps.Herbs discussed include <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/yarrow-herb-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">yarrow</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/chamomile-herb-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">chamomile</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/thyme-herb-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">thyme</a> &amp; oregano &amp; monarda, rose, witch hazel, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/licorice-oil-for-eczema/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">licorice</a>, turmeric, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/marshmallow-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">marshmallow</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/linden-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">linden</a>, &amp; the seaweeds.Our We’re All In This Together sale end on July 31st – there are only a few days left! Don’t miss out – use the code TOGETHER to get 15% off any of <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/online-course-catalog/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">our courses or programs</a> today!As always, please subscribe &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen, so others can find it more easily. Thank you!!Our theme music is <a href="https://soundcloud.com/nicolai-heidlas/wings-acoustic-guitar-background-music" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas</a>.<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Herbs for Healthy Skin Care

The new pandemic coronavirus, COVID-19, is on everyone’s minds lately. As herbalists, we’ve been asked a lot about our thoughts on working with herbs for coronavirus preparedness, so that’s our topic today!First, we try to understand the virus and some facts about the illness it causes. How does it compare to “normal” flu, to H1N1, to SARS? Estimates and projections are in flux and will continue to evolve, but we share what seems most clear so far about the potential risks &amp; severity of corona.There’s no benefit to be gained from a panic about pandemic. (Remember, the term “pandemic” doesn’t actually say anything about the severity of an illness – only its novelty and rapid spread.) The best way to avoid panic? Be prepared!There’s a lot more than herbs for coronavirus preparedness, though. We discuss why handwashing is so important (and why masks aren’t), and why it’s good to be ready for a period of self-quarantine. To that end, we cover how to stock up with immune-boosting nutrition – more than just calories – while also avoiding things that’ll deplete immunity. And how to “stock up” on intangibles like sleep and community support.And of course, we highlight our favorite herbs to build immunity, mitigate symptoms, and combat the virus at every stage of illness.Mentioned in this episode:Most Essential Prevention Against Coronavirus COVID-19? – an excellent handwashing demonstration with blue ink, so you can really see what parts get missed with normal handwashing movements.Herbs discussed include: thyme, elder, elecampane, angelica, ginger, garlic, pleurisy root, marshmallow, cinnamon, licorice, sage, monarda, pine, peppermint, yarrow, catnip, boneset, codonopsis.As you can see, there are really a lot of immune-supportive herbs that could be relevant in COVID! Our Immune Health course is a great way to learn them in detail and really understand how they work together with your own immune system to combat infections. The course also covers imbalances and dysregulations in immunity – allergies, autoimmunity, immune deficiency, etc – that affect an enormous number of people. Immunity is complex, but really worth understanding!As always, please subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen, so others can find it more easily. Thank you!!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

The new pandemic coronavirus, COVID-19, is on everyone’s minds lately. As herbalists, we’ve been asked a lot about our thoughts on working with herbs for coronavirus preparedness, so that’s our topic today!First, we try to understand the virus and some facts about the illness it causes. How does it compare to “normal” flu, to H1N1, to SARS? Estimates and projections are in flux and will continue to evolve, but we share what seems most clear so far about the potential risks &amp; severity of corona.There’s no benefit to be gained from a panic about pandemic. (Remember, the term “pandemic” doesn’t actually say anything about the severity of an illness – only its novelty and rapid spread.) The best way to avoid panic? Be prepared!There’s a lot more than herbs for coronavirus preparedness, though. We discuss why handwashing is so important (and why masks aren’t), and why it’s good to be ready for a period of self-quarantine. To that end, we cover how to stock up with immune-boosting nutrition – more than just calories – while also avoiding things that’ll deplete immunity. And how to “stock up” on intangibles like sleep and community support.And of course, we highlight our favorite herbs to build immunity, mitigate symptoms, and combat the virus at every stage of illness.Mentioned in this episode:<ul><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RisoBy8lX0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Most Essential Prevention Against Coronavirus COVID-19?</a> – an excellent handwashing demonstration with blue ink, so you can really see what parts get missed with normal handwashing movements.</li></ul>Herbs discussed include: <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/thyme-herb-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">thyme</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/herb-week-elder/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">elder</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/elecampane-herb-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">elecampane</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/angelica-herb-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">angelica</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/ginger-herb-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ginger</a>, garlic, pleurisy root, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/marshmallow-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">marshmallow</a>, cinnamon, licorice, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/sage-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sage</a>, monarda, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/white-pine-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pine</a>, peppermint, yarrow, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/catnip-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">catnip</a>, boneset, codonopsis. As you can see, there are really a lot of immune-supportive herbs that could be relevant in COVID! Our <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/courses/immune" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Immune Health course</a> is a great way to learn them in detail and really understand how they work together with your own immune system to combat infections. The course also covers imbalances and dysregulations in immunity – allergies, autoimmunity, immune deficiency, etc – that affect an enormous number of people. Immunity is complex, but really worth understanding! As always, please subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen, so others can find it more easily. Thank you!!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Herbs for Coronavirus Preparedness

Handmade herbal remedies and self-care items are a great solution to the conundrum of gift-giving. In this episode we’ll share three DIY herbal gift ideas that you can make at home and share with all your loved ones: herb-infused wines, coffee-pecan cocktail bitters, and an evergreen-scented sugar scrub. The gift of herbs shows you care – give something unique this year!PLUS: Listen in to get a coupon code for 25% off ANY of our online courses, good from now until December 21stHerbs discussed include cacao, cayenne, ginger, cinnamon, angelica, calamus, hawthorn berries, goji berries, rose hips, hibiscus, elderberry, lemon balm, coffee, pecan, wild cherry, orange, black pepper, maple, pine, spruce, &amp; fir. (Whew!)Mentioned in this podcast:Herbal Medicine-Making – Our video course teaches you to make more than two dozen types of herbal remedies.~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 &amp; make your medicines with this in-depth set of herb profiles &amp; medicine-making instructions.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

Handmade herbal remedies and self-care items are a great solution to the conundrum of gift-giving. In this episode we’ll share three DIY herbal gift ideas that you can make at home and share with all your loved ones: herb-infused wines, coffee-pecan cocktail bitters, and an evergreen-scented sugar scrub. The gift of herbs shows you care – give something unique this year!PLUS: Listen in to get a coupon code for 25% off ANY of <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/collections" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">our online courses</a>, good from now until December 21stHerbs discussed include cacao, cayenne, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/ginger-herb-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ginger</a>, cinnamon, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/angelica-herb-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">angelica</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/calamus-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">calamus</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/hawthorn-herb-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">hawthorn berries</a>, goji berries, rose hips, hibiscus, elderberry, lemon balm, coffee, pecan, wild cherry, orange, black pepper, maple, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/white-pine-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pine</a>, spruce, &amp; fir. (Whew!)Mentioned in this podcast:<ul><li><a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/courses/herbal-medicine-making" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Herbal Medicine-Making</a> – Our video course teaches you to make more than two dozen types of herbal remedies.</li></ul>~<a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/bundles/101" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Herbalism 101</a> 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 &amp; make your medicines with this in-depth set of herb profiles &amp; medicine-making instructions.<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Herbs & the Holidays: Herbal Gift Ideas

The lymphatic system is criminally underestimated! It’s intimately tied to the function of your circulatory system, your digestive function, your immune responsiveness – pretty much everything. Conventional medicine doesn’t have much to offer in the way of pharmaceuticals to alter lymphatic activity, but fortunately there are a number of excellent lymphatic herbs that can do the trick.In this episode we’ll lay out some of the many reasons why lymph is so important, how to support lymph circulation &amp; combat lymphatic stagnation. We highlight seven of our favorite lymphatic herbs and give you the rundown on their specific talents regarding lymph movement and disorders of the lymphatic system.Herbs discussed include: calendula, self-heal, ground ivy, red clover, violet, chickweed, cleavers.We’re All In This Together Sale! Listen to the end for a discount code that will get you 15% off any of our courses or programs! This offer is good for the month of July 2019, so don’t delay – get your herb on today!As always, please subscribe &amp; review our podcast so others can find it more easily. Thank you!!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

The lymphatic system is criminally underestimated! It’s intimately tied to the function of your circulatory system, your digestive function, your immune responsiveness – pretty much everything. Conventional medicine doesn’t have much to offer in the way of pharmaceuticals to alter lymphatic activity, but fortunately there are a number of excellent lymphatic herbs that can do the trick.In this episode we’ll lay out some of the many reasons why lymph is so important, how to support lymph circulation &amp; combat lymphatic stagnation. We highlight seven of our favorite lymphatic herbs and give you the rundown on their specific talents regarding lymph movement and disorders of the lymphatic system.Herbs discussed include: <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/herb-of-the-week-calendula-officinalis/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">calendula</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/self-heal-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">self-heal</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/ground-ivy-herb-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ground ivy</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/red-clover-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">red clover</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/violet-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">violet</a>, chickweed, cleavers.We’re All In This Together Sale! Listen to the end for a discount code that will get you 15% off any of <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/online-course-catalog/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">our courses or programs!</a> This offer is good for the month of July 2019, so don’t delay – get your herb on today!As always, please subscribe &amp; review our podcast so others can find it more easily. Thank you!!Our theme music is <a href="https://soundcloud.com/nicolai-heidlas/wings-acoustic-guitar-background-music" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas</a>.<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Lymphatic Herbs

Katja &amp; Ryn discuss how these "exotic spices" came to be ubiquitous among Americans, and how we can learn from the history of plant trade, cultivation - including some bitter history and present affairs of colonization and slavery. We try to recognize and explore the chain of relationships between the farmers and ourselves, and give thanks and respect to the hands that touch these precious herbs. A few resources on ethical cacao:Ethical Consumer's shopping guide - goes over a lot of the major issues and third-party certifications (e.g. Fair Trade, Equal Exchange, UTZ, Rainforest Alliance, etc.Slave Free Chocolate13 Fair Trade Chocolate Companies For Your Conscious Cravings~ If you like our podcast, you might like learning from us in a more intentional way - like with our Herbalism 101 program! It's a great way to start incorporating herbs into your daily life, to keep you and your loved ones healthy and resilient all year round! Use the code resilience between now and July 14th to get $50 off!Our theme music is "Wings" by Nicolai Heidlas.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

Katja &amp; Ryn discuss how these "exotic spices" came to be ubiquitous among Americans, and how we can learn from the history of plant trade, cultivation - including some bitter history and present affairs of colonization and slavery. We try to recognize and explore the chain of relationships between the farmers and ourselves, and give thanks and respect to the hands that touch these precious herbs.  A few resources on ethical cacao: <ul><li><a href="http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/buyersguides/food/chocolatebars.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ethical Consumer's shopping guide</a> - goes over a lot of the major issues and third-party certifications (e.g. Fair Trade, Equal Exchange, UTZ, Rainforest Alliance, etc.</li><li><a href="http://www.slavefreechocolate.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Slave Free Chocolate</a></li><li><a href="http://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/fair-trade-chocolate" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">13 Fair Trade Chocolate Companies For Your Conscious Cravings</a>~</li></ul>  If you like our podcast, you might like learning from us in a more intentional way - like with our <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/bundles/101" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Herbalism 101</a> program! It's a great way to start incorporating herbs into your daily life, to keep you and your loved ones healthy and resilient all year round! Use the code resilience between now and July 14th to get $50 off! Our theme music is <a href="https://soundcloud.com/nicolai-heidlas/wings-acoustic-guitar-background-music" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Wings" by Nicolai Heidlas</a>.<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Cinnamon, Vanilla, & Cacao

This is our one-year anniversary episode! This week we cover a lot of ground. Katja talks about ways adding a little inconvenience to your home environment helps encourage you to move more. She also talks about how she came around to appreciating rhodiola as an herb on our honeymoon to Iceland, and offers some non-caffeine-containing stimulant herbs for midwives (and anyone who may have long nights ahead). Then, Ryn shares some of his discoveries on looking for exceptions to the herbalist’s adage that “nothing in the mint family is poisonous”.Herbs discussed include rhodiola, angelica, eleuthero, tulsi, betony, calamus, yarrow, ground ivy, &amp; pennyroyal.Mentioned in this podcast:Roseroot – Herb of the North, Anna Rósa8 Poisonous Plant Families, Marc WilliamsBotany In A Day &amp; Shanleya’s Quest, Tom ElpelToxic Plants of North America, Second Edition, Burrows &amp; Tyrl~If you like our podcast, you might like learning from us in a more intentional way – like with our Herbalism 101 program! It’s a great way to start incorporating herbs into your daily life, to keep you and your loved ones healthy and resilient all year round!Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

This is our one-year anniversary episode! This week we cover a lot of ground. Katja talks about ways adding a little inconvenience to your home environment helps encourage you to move more. She also talks about how she came around to appreciating rhodiola as an herb on our honeymoon to Iceland, and offers some non-caffeine-containing stimulant herbs for midwives (and anyone who may have long nights ahead). Then, Ryn shares some of his discoveries on looking for exceptions to the herbalist’s adage that “nothing in the mint family is poisonous”.Herbs discussed include rhodiola, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/angelica-herb-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">angelica</a>, eleuthero, tulsi, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/betony-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">betony</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/calamus-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">calamus</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/yarrow-herb-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">yarrow</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/ground-ivy-herb-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ground ivy</a>, &amp; pennyroyal.Mentioned in this podcast:<ul><li><a href="https://www.thepracticalherbalist.com/holistic-living/roseroot/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Roseroot – Herb of the North</a>, Anna Rósa</li><li><a href="http://www.botanyeveryday.com/online-classes/2013-plant-talk-8-poisonous-plant-families" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">8 Poisonous Plant Families</a>, Marc Williams</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1892784351/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=commonwealthh-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1892784351&amp;linkId=16217545d926840df15699f9e7c9619a" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Botany In A Day</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shanleyas-Quest-Botany-Adventure-Kids/dp/1892784165/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1505695463&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=shanleya%27s+quest&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=commonwealthh-20&amp;linkId=0d769441d3dea15d15453cf83d8d22d6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shanleya’s Quest</a>, Tom Elpel</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/2Fdc52N" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Toxic Plants of North America, Second Edition</a>, Burrows &amp; Tyrl</li></ul>~If you like our podcast, you might like learning from us in a more intentional way – like with our <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/bundles/101" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Herbalism 101</a> program! It’s a great way to start incorporating herbs into your daily life, to keep you and your loved ones healthy and resilient all year round!<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Intentional Inconvenience, Rhodiola Rhapsody, Stimulants for Midwives, & "Poisonous Mints"

Yes, there are herbs for joint pain, and they really work! But when we’re working with this problem, we like to pile on – lots of herbs (in lots of ways), plus some changes to the diet, plus gentle movement, plus better sleep &amp; stres management. This is what holistic herbalism looks like: combining strategies for maximum effect.For joint pain, herbs can help very directly. Decoctions and liniments help us work from the inside out and the outside in – and they work best when you do both. At the same time, you can eliminate pro-inflammatory foods and emphasize anti-inflammatory ones. You can move in ways that build your range of pain-free motion without directly aggravating the sore spots. And you can sleep more and stress less, which may not sound like they’re directly related to joint issues – but they really are.Whether it’s from a sports mishap, a repetitive stress injury, Lyme disease*, rheumatoid arthritis, or some other source, these strategies &amp; herbs for joint pain have brought enormous relief to our students and clients – and us, too! – through many years of practice. Listen in and learn how!Herbs discussed include solomon’s seal, st john’s wort, alder, cayenne, lobelia, goldenrod, kava, skullcap, birch, willow, meadowsweet, self-heal, licorice, kelp, turmeric, cat’s claw, &amp; chamomile.Mentioned in this episode:The Holistic Herbalism Podcast, episode 010: Simple Herbal Self-care Tips &amp; Joint Support DecoctionRyn’s Go-To Joint LinimentOur book, Herbal Medicine for Beginners* That’s right, joint pain associated with Lyme responds really well to these methods! But if you have Lyme or know someone who does, you know there can be a lot more to it than achy knees and headaches. Our course A Holistic Approach To Lyme Disease lays out our complete plan for building a personalized holistic herbalism protocol for your specific symptoms. It’s comprised of video lessons you can watch at your own pace, and you can ask questions &amp; get feedback from us right inside the course platform. Check it out and start taking control of Lyme today!As always, please subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen, so others can find it more easily. Thank you!!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

Yes, there are herbs for joint pain, and they really work! But when we’re working with this problem, we like to pile on – lots of herbs (in lots of ways), plus some changes to the diet, plus gentle movement, plus better sleep &amp; stres management. This is what holistic herbalism looks like: combining strategies for maximum effect.For joint pain, herbs can help very directly. Decoctions and liniments help us work from the inside out and the outside in – and they work best when you do both. At the same time, you can eliminate pro-inflammatory foods and emphasize anti-inflammatory ones. You can move in ways that build your range of pain-free motion without directly aggravating the sore spots. And you can sleep more and stress less, which may not sound like they’re directly related to joint issues – but they really are.Whether it’s from a sports mishap, a repetitive stress injury, Lyme disease*, rheumatoid arthritis, or some other source, these strategies &amp; herbs for joint pain have brought enormous relief to our students and clients – and us, too! – through many years of practice. Listen in and learn how!Herbs discussed include <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/solomons-seal-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">solomon’s seal</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/st-johns-wort-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">st john’s wort</a>, alder, cayenne, lobelia, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/goldenrod-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">goldenrod</a>, kava, skullcap, birch, willow, meadowsweet, self-heal, licorice, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/kelp-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">kelp</a>, turmeric, cat’s claw, &amp; chamomile.Mentioned in this episode:<ul><li>The Holistic Herbalism Podcast, episode 010: <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/podcast-010-simple-herbal-self-care-tips-joint-support-decoction/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simple Herbal Self-care Tips &amp; Joint Support Decoction</a></li><li>Ryn’s <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/herbal-joint-liniment/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Go-To Joint Liniment</a></li><li>Our book, <a href="https://amzn.to/2GejaQN" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Herbal Medicine for Beginners</a></li></ul> * That’s right, joint pain associated with Lyme responds really well to these methods! But if you have Lyme or know someone who does, you know there can be a lot more to it than achy knees and headaches. Our course <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/courses/lyme" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Holistic Approach To Lyme Disease</a> lays out our complete plan for building a personalized holistic herbalism protocol for your specific symptoms. It’s comprised of video lessons you can watch at your own pace, and you can ask questions &amp; get feedback from us right inside the course platform. Check it out and start taking control of Lyme today! As always, please subscribe, rate, &amp; review our podcast wherever you listen, so others can find it more easily. Thank you!!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Holistic Strategies & Herbs for Joint Pain

In this episode both Ryn &amp; Katja have things to share related to sleep. Katja leads off with a listener question about alcohol cravings at bedtime, then discusses some of her own strategies for coping with restless thoughts that interfere with rest. Ryn lays out the effects of caffeine in the body to help you understand how it can in fact interfere with sleep, even many hours after consumption. Herbs discussed include tulsi, ginger &amp; chamomile, coffee, &amp; tea. Mentioned in this podcast:Tammi Sweet's Anatomy &amp; Physiology CourseThe Irish History PodcastPaul Bergner's article on coffee: A New Look At An Old DevilWikipedia's History of Coffee - here you can see the 1652 advert for the first coffee shop in London.~ If you like our podcast, you might like learning from us in a more intentional way - like with our Herbalism 101 program! It's a great way to start incorporating herbs into your daily life, to keep you and your loved ones healthy and resilient all year round!Our theme music is "Wings" by Nicolai Heidlas.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

In this episode both Ryn &amp; Katja have things to share related to sleep. Katja leads off with a listener question about alcohol cravings at bedtime, then discusses some of her own strategies for coping with restless thoughts that interfere with rest. Ryn lays out the effects of caffeine in the body to help you understand how it can in fact interfere with sleep, even many hours after consumption.  Herbs discussed include <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/podcast-030-tulsi-formulating-absent-friends/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tulsi</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/ginger-chamomile-cookies/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ginger &amp; chamomile</a>, coffee, &amp; tea. Mentioned in this podcast: <ul><li><a href="https://www.heart-stone.com/programs/online-courses/online-anatomy-and-physiology/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tammi Sweet's Anatomy &amp; Physiology Course</a></li><li>The <a href="https://irishhistorypodcast.ie/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Irish History Podcast</a></li><li>Paul Bergner's article on coffee: <a href="http://medherb.com/eletter/Caffea-Review-Bergner.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A New Look At An Old Devil</a></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_coffee" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wikipedia's History of Coffee</a> - here you can see the 1652 advert for the first coffee shop in London.~</li></ul>  If you like our podcast, you might like learning from us in a more intentional way - like with our <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/bundles/101" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Herbalism 101</a> program! It's a great way to start incorporating herbs into your daily life, to keep you and your loved ones healthy and resilient all year round! Our theme music is <a href="https://soundcloud.com/nicolai-heidlas/wings-acoustic-guitar-background-music" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Wings" by Nicolai Heidlas</a>.<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Sleep - Of Cravings, Comedians, & Caffeine

Katja shares three simple ideas for integrating some herbal self-care into your life, especially during the work day, which have helped us a lot during the writing of our forthcoming book. Ryn's taking a MovNat certification course this weekend, so he offers a formula for supporting joint health.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

Katja shares three simple ideas for integrating some herbal self-care into your life, especially during the work day, which have helped us a lot during the writing of our forthcoming book. Ryn's taking a <a href="https://movnat.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MovNat</a> certification course this weekend, so he offers a formula for supporting joint health.<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Simple Herbal Self-Care Tips + A Joint Support Decoction

Wouldn’t it be nice if there were one book you could read, one teacher you could study with, one website you could scroll through – that would tell you everything you need to know about herbalism? Sometimes it seems like there ought to be a definitive guide to herbalism – and for our 100th episode, we’d love to give it to you!But the thing is, there isn’t one.There’s only the hard way.But don’t let that discourage you! The “hard way” turns out to be the nuanced way, the complex way, the adaptable way – it turns out to be the only way, because shortcuts don’t work. Lifehacks don’t hack it. One-size-fits-all prescriptions and panacea formulae don’t actually fit everyone or solve everything. Herbalism has to be flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of people in different bodies, situations, times, and places.Herbalism has changed and evolved a lot just in the time we’ve been practicing, and it will continue to change for as long as humans and plants come together. So even though there’s no definitive guide to herbalism, there are ways to orient yourself and organize your training that can make you a more adaptable and agile herbalist. We’ve built our practice and our curriculum with a focus on these, and in this episode we’re sharing the big-picture view of what we’ve learned along the way.Has it really been 100 episodes? Wow! Thanks so much to our supporters for keeping us going and enabling us to put this out there in the world. You’re also making it possible for us to do our free clinics and community outreach projects. If you’d like to become a supporter, you can! We’ll even share you a special supporters-only video each week. Lately we’ve been making a series of videos about herbs you can harvest fresh all winter long. Get access to the whole archive and all the new ones by becoming a supporter today!Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

Wouldn’t it be nice if there were one book you could read, one teacher you could study with, one website you could scroll through – that would tell you everything you need to know about herbalism? Sometimes it seems like there ought to be a definitive guide to herbalism – and for our 100th episode, we’d love to give it to you!But the thing is, there isn’t one.There’s only the hard way.But don’t let that discourage you! The “hard way” turns out to be the nuanced way, the complex way, the adaptable way – it turns out to be the only way, because shortcuts don’t work. Lifehacks don’t hack it. One-size-fits-all prescriptions and panacea formulae don’t actually fit everyone or solve everything. Herbalism has to be flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of people in different bodies, situations, times, and places.Herbalism has changed and evolved a lot just in the time we’ve been practicing, and it will continue to change for as long as humans and plants come together. So even though there’s no definitive guide to herbalism, there are ways to orient yourself and organize your training that can make you a more adaptable and agile herbalist. We’ve built our practice and our curriculum with a focus on these, and in this episode we’re sharing the big-picture view of what we’ve learned along the way. Has it really been 100 episodes? Wow! Thanks so much to our supporters for keeping us going and enabling us to put this out there in the world. You’re also making it possible for us to do our free clinics and community outreach projects. If you’d like to <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">become a supporter</a>, you can! We’ll even share you a special supporters-only video each week. Lately we’ve been making a series of videos about herbs you can harvest fresh all winter long. Get access to the whole archive and all the new ones by <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">becoming a supporter today!</a><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

The Definitive Guide to Herbalism

Today we’re kicking off a series of podcasts on herbs and the holidays! We begin with emotional support, because no matter how you feel about the holidays, those feelings are probably pretty big. In this episode we take an energetics-based approach to sorting out emotional categories and matching supportive herbs to them. Whether you’d like to be more grounded, centered, resolved, or emotionally flexible, herbs can help you get there!Herbs discussed include lady’s mantle, yarrow, marshmallow, violet, lemon balm, elderflower, cardamom, vanilla, motherwort, hawthorn, linden.Mentioned in this podcast:Check out our YouTube Herbs for Holidays series from 2017 – wow, we’ve learned a lot about video production since then! We’ll be adding a lot more video content to YouTube soon – subscribe to our channel now so you don’t miss it!The Holistic Herbalism Podcast, episode 2 – Avoiding Adaptogen Debt &amp; EmotionalymphaticsThe Holistic Herbalism Podcast, episode 14 – Alternatives to Adaptogens for BurnoutThe Holistic Herbalism Podcast, episode 16 – Emotional Support for Mothers &amp; TeensThe Holistic Herbalism Podcast, episode 39 – Herbs for Introverts &amp; Extraverts~Herbalism 101 is our entry-level program in practical herbalism: $450 gets you 58 hours of direct video instruction – that’s just $7.75 per hour! Pay all at once or in installments – and don’t worry: your access never expires. Still not sure? Try it for 14 days with our zero-risk return policy. Learn your herbs &amp; make your medicines with this in-depth set of herb profiles &amp; medicine-making instructions.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

Today we’re kicking off a series of podcasts on herbs and the holidays! We begin with emotional support, because no matter how you feel about the holidays, those feelings are probably pretty big. In this episode we take an energetics-based approach to sorting out emotional categories and matching supportive herbs to them. Whether you’d like to be more grounded, centered, resolved, or emotionally flexible, herbs can help you get there!Herbs discussed include lady’s mantle, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/yarrow-herb-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">yarrow</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/marshmallow-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">marshmallow</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/violet-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">violet</a>, lemon balm, elderflower, cardamom, vanilla, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/motherwort-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">motherwort</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/hawthorn-herb-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">hawthorn</a>, <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/linden-herb-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">linden</a>.Mentioned in this podcast:<ul><li>Check out our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF498RNPVTmkLRbI7-3swhba8b6_b2J9G" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube Herbs for Holidays series from 2017</a> – wow, we’ve learned a lot about video production since then! We’ll be adding a lot more video content to YouTube soon – <a href="https://www.youtube.com/commonwealthherbs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">subscribe to our channel</a> now so you don’t miss it!</li><li><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/podcast-002-avoiding-adaptogen-debt-emotionalymphatics/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Holistic Herbalism Podcast, episode 2 – Avoiding Adaptogen Debt &amp; Emotionalymphatics</a></li><li><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/podcast-014-alternatives-adaptogens-burnout/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Holistic Herbalism Podcast, episode 14 – Alternatives to Adaptogens for Burnout</a></li><li><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/podcast-016-emotional-support-mothers-teens/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Holistic Herbalism Podcast, episode 16 – Emotional Support for Mothers &amp; Teens</a></li><li><a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/podcast-039-herbs-for-introverts-extraverts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Holistic Herbalism Podcast, episode 39 – Herbs for Introverts &amp; Extraverts</a></li></ul>~<a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/bundles/101" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Herbalism 101</a> is our entry-level program in practical herbalism: $450 gets you 58 hours of direct video instruction – that’s just $7.75 per hour! Pay all at once or in installments – and don’t worry: your access never expires. Still not sure? Try it for 14 days with our zero-risk return policy. Learn your herbs &amp; make your medicines with this in-depth set of herb profiles &amp; medicine-making instructions.<a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Herbs & the Holidays: Emotional Support

No, that's not an herbal tea pairing suggestion! This week, Katja sets off on a 100-day experiment with schisandra berries, and Ryn discusses the nuances of peppermint's energetics - is it warming or cooling? Listen in and find out what we think! Don't forget!  Herbal Medicine for Beginners, our first book, is available for pre-order now on Amazon!Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

No, that's not an herbal tea pairing suggestion! This week, Katja sets off on a 100-day experiment with schisandra berries, and Ryn discusses the nuances of peppermint's energetics - is it warming or cooling? Listen in and find out what we think!  Don't forget! <a href="http://bit.ly/HerbalMedicine_Beginners" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Herbal Medicine for Beginners</a>, our first book, is available for <a href="http://bit.ly/HerbalMedicine_Beginners" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pre-order now on Amazon!</a> <a href="https://commonwealthherbs.com/supporters/" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>You can find all of our online herbalism courses at <a href="https://online.commonwealthherbs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online.commonwealthherbs.com!</a>

Schisandra & Peppermint

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