Shows / The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Practical herbalism from practicing herbalists. Conversations, botanical deep-dives, Q&A with clinical herbalists Katja Swift & Ryn Midura of CommonWealth Holistic Herbalism.
Episodes
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbalism & Mutual Aid
What do we want to build in place of the unjust systems we are living in? Everyone plays a role in deciding. Let’s do it consciously. The role of herbalists…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbs for Trauma Recovery & Resistance
America is blanketed in righteous protests against police brutality and impunity. This is necessary. In the course of this work many people are being…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
The Fifth Pillar Is Community
Our model of the primary determinants of health is the Four Pillars: food, sleep, stress, and movement. These things are in our individual control – or at…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
This Is Not The Practice Of Medicine
The pharmaceutical model is the dominant paradigm for medicine in our culture. For those of us who grew up in this culture, it shapes our expectations of what…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
A Holistic Herbal Tick Bite Protocol
Finding a tick embedded in your skin is distressing, even without the spectre of Lyme disease and other tick-borne pathogens. But if you find one after your…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Four Herbs for Moms
Happy mother’s day, 2020! The truth is, any herb could be an herb for moms, because not all moms are alike, in their needs or their preferences. These four…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Where Do We Go From Here, Corona?
The battle’s done, and we kind-of won… Well, actually, the battle’s not entirely done either. But things are certainly shifting into a different mode. So, here…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Six Herbs for COVID Anxiety
The pandemic has got all of us in a heightened state of alert. The news changes fast, stories come and go before we can fully process them, and every day…
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How To Practice Herbalism Every Day
Last week we urged you to look at learning herbalism like learning a language or instrument – something that requires daily practice. This week, we’re sharing…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Learn Herbalism Like an Instrument or Language
Herbalism is experiential: you have to DO it to KNOW it. It’s like learning to play a musical instrument – you’re going to sound bad at first! That’s…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbal Home Nursing Basics
It’s not just coronavirus, there’s a lot going on right now! Between the usual circulating strains of flu, some spring colds, and the stirrings of allergy…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
A Week In The Life Of Two Herbalists
Whew! There’s a lot going on right now. Between coronavirus, the election cycle, and the approach of spring, we’ve been extra busy and under more stress than…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbs for Coronavirus Preparedness
The new pandemic coronavirus, COVID-19, is on everyone’s minds lately. As herbalists, we’ve been asked a lot about our thoughts on working with herbs for…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Rebecca Altman & The Wonder Sessions
Join us for a discussion with our friend Rebecca Altman about the importance of self-awareness in the practice of herbalism – but also an exploration of…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Formulating Cocktail Bitters for Flavor & Action
This week we took a trip to New York City, because we were invited to teach a workshop on formulating cocktail bitters for our friends at Kindred, a restaurant…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Grow Your Own Herbs
It might seem difficult to grow your own herbs, but like so many things in herbalism, it’s all about being open to experimentation and maintaining good…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Working With Herbs For Chronic Pain
Pain is complex. Many factors can contribute to pain, or worsen it, including the food we eat, the sleep we do or don’t get, and the stresses we experience in…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Handmade Herbal Aphrodisiacs for Valentine's Day Delight
There are a lot of myths about herbal aphrodisiacs – they don’t make you into an irresistible sex monster, let’s get that out of the way right up front! But…
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New Moon Down Time
It’s really hard to really take a break these days – with smartphones and connected devices everywhere, the pressure to use our time “productively” is…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Sustainability for Herbalists
There are many facets to sustainability for herbalists to consider, from maintaining your personal energy reserves to establishing sustainable working…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbs to Supercharge Bone Broth
It’s 2020, we don’t need to convince you that bone broth is good for you! But in case you’ve been living under a rock, bone broth is awesome for your digestive…
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Herbs for Whole30: Help Reduce Cravings, Improve Digestion, & Boost Nutrition
The Whole30 is one of our favorite diet plans – or, as we prefer to call them, food experiments! It’s a great way to reset your eating habits, change your…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Real Life Resolutions
What do you want to bring into the new year with you? Our first piece of advice is to be specific with your intention – envision how this change will happen in…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Holistic Herbalism for Anxiety
Anxiety is a feeling of exposure, a feeling that one is without protection. The much-maligned ‘safe space’ is in fact a necessity for all humans. (Those who…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Hawthorn
The hawthorns (Crataegus spp.) are some of our most generous and protective herbs. Hathorn offers abundant berries, rich with heart-supporting medicine – but…
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Maybe You Don't Have To
It’s easy to get caught up in your to-do list and everything you “have to” do. Sometimes, it’s ok to not. This week we’re modeling that behavior, with a…
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How To Learn A New Herb
As a brand new student of herbalism, you might think there are a lot of herbs to learn. As an experienced herbalist with decades of practice under your belt…
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How Herbs Are Different From Drugs
Herbs differ from pharmaceuticals in important ways. Understanding how they’re different helps us make better choices about what to take, and how to take it…
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The Definitive Guide to Herbalism
Wouldn’t it be nice if there were one book you could read, one teacher you could study with, one website you could scroll through – that would tell you…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Don't Let The Perfect Be The Enemy Of The Good
Our ideas about health are often context-dependent, and clinging too tightly to rules about what is “good” and “bad” can really get us into trouble when…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Holistic Strategies & Herbs for Joint Pain
Yes, there are herbs for joint pain, and they really work! But when we’re working with this problem, we like to pile on – lots of herbs (in lots of ways), plus…
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Everything Will Be Fine: A Simple Herbal Stress Remedy
Everyone gets stressed out sometimes. So if you’re among “everyone”, you might like this herbal stress remedy formula! It’s one of our favorites and we turn to…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Small Healthy Changes Help You Make Big Ones
Change is hard. It’s hard for everyone, not just you! Acknowledging this is important, whether you’re trying to make a change in your own life or guide others…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbs For Physical Challenges (What Ryn Took To MovNat Level 3)
Earlier this month, Ryn attended a Level 3 certification event for MovNat – a 4-day course/test/immersion in natural movement. It was quite the challenge! On…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Creating A Culture of Support
Good health takes effort. It doesn’t just happen, and our cultural norms definitely don’t make it easy. You have to plan for it! But it can feel difficult to…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbs for Athlete's Foot
The itchy, inflamed, sensitive presentation of a fungal skin infection is something no one wants. These kinds of infections can be difficult to resolve whether…
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How We Make Our Winter Elixir
This winter elixir is our #1 cold & flu remedy! We make a big batch every year around this time, when most of the plants that go into it are fresh and ready to…
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Nicole Rose & The Prisoner's Herbal
"Creating this community garden, and teaching families in your area how to grow food and look out for each other – that is abolition. We’re humanizing people…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
3 Medicinal Invasive Plants
Where does loosestrife belong? Is barberry a badberry? And what’s with all the knotweed everywhere?! Most folks will tell you it’s simple: “These are invasive…
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Herbs for Healthy Skin Care
Your skin is your largest organ, and it’s your presentation to the world – so it’s important to take care of it! It’s not just vanity. For most purposes, a…
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Herbal Awareness Rituals for Everyone
This week we’re talking about something a bit different for us. If you’re a regular listener, you know we’re very interested in science and in the historical &…
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notCoffee - Katja's Decaf Herbal Coffee Replacement
Coffee is surely America’s favorite herb. So many people rely on it as part of their morning ritual, and it’s easy to see why! The aroma, the flavor, the…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Lymphatic Herbs
The lymphatic system is criminally underestimated! It’s intimately tied to the function of your circulatory system, your digestive function, your immune…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbal Smoking Blends & Herbs To Quit Smoking
An herbal smoking blend may not sound like your cup of tea – and it isn’t! – but it’s still an effective method of working with medicinal plants. When smoked…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Our Wedding Herbs
If you’re an herbalist and you marry an herbalist, well, you’re going to need some special wedding herbs! We sure did. We loved the idea (and the herbs…
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Common Herbs and Cancer
Cancer is not as rare as we once thought. Recent research has discovered that even healthy cells can contain potentially cancerous mutations, and that this is…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Friends of Nettle (Herbal Formulas In Pairs)
Boston’s homegrown local herb conference, Herbstalk, is next weekend, and the plant of the year is stinging nettle! In honor of this, we wanted to make an…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
The Role of Herbs In Heroic Medical Interventions
When we talk about “heroic” medical interventions, we mean the high-potency, high-risk (and potentially high-reward) tools that define conventional medicine…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Motherwort for Mother's Day!
Mother’s day can mean different things for different people, but whatever your situation is, Motherwort can be a supportive friend. Physiologically its effects…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
DIY Herbal Spring Cleaning Products
When it comes to chemical-free cleaning, there’s a lot of good stuff out there – but it can get pricey. And there’s a lot of “greenwashed” stuff, too –…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Urban Wildcrafting Ethics & Guidelines
It’s springtime! The plants are popping up everywhere in their colorful displays. This time of year, we always start to get more questions about wildcrafting…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbs to Control Sugar Cravings
Is Easter really the best time to give up sugar? Well, given that there’s always another holiday around the corner, there’s never really an objectively better…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Foundational Health Strategies & Evolution's Expected Inputs
Everyone is different, and healthcare should be individualized for each person – especially when it comes to herbalism! But, on the other hand, people are also…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbal Energetics: Tissue States
When choosing herbs for a health issue, herbalists like us use a system of organization called energetics. In this week’s podcast, we have an excerpt from our…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbs for Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune inflammatory skin problem. Problems like this are complex, because they don’t hinge on a single genetic anomaly or chemical…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Rooted & Ready Alterative/Adaptogen Herbal Formula for Endurance, Resilience, & Detox
This is one of our favorite herbal formulas for endurance situations, whether that’s physical, mental, emotional, or all three. These herbs help build up your…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbs for Seasonal Allergies
It’s just about time for seasonal allergy … um, season … to begin here in Boston! Sniffy noses and red eyes are peeking around every corner. So let’s talk…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Health Is Your Right ... And Your Responsibility
This is what we say at the beginning of every episode: We are not doctors. We are herbalists and holistic health educators. The ideas discussed in this podcast…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
How To Choose The Right Herbs For Sleep
Just going to the internet and searching for “herbs for sleep” isn’t very effective – how do you know the right one for you? First, you need to suss out why…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbs for Stress-Induced Heartburn in Teens
I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but it’s stressful to be a teen! Sometimes, that stress shows up as heartburn. As herbalists, we can help out! Here’s a…