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
Two Herbalists Get The Flu
Yes, it's true: even herbalists get the flu. Two in one house sometimes, even! Each of us gets it a little bit differently, as our constitutions are balanced…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbs for Psychological First Aid
It may not have occurred to you that “psychological first aid” is even a thing, let alone that there might be herbs for psychological first aid! But let us…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
How To Not Be A Guru
Things are complex, and there are many factors. But guru syndrome is bad for the teacher and for the student, both. And believe it or not, active measures are…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbs for First Aid & Disaster Response
There are so many fantastic herbs for first aid purposes, it’s hard to name them all! But if we focus our thoughts specifically on a post-disaster situation…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Top 7 Herbs for Nutritionists and Dietitians
If you’re a practitioner of food-as-medicine and are interested in integrating herbs into your work – or just a health-seeker wondering if herbs can support…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbal Hygge!
Hoo-ga? Hue-guh? However you pronounce it, hygge is big right now! And it makes sense: this time of year, we could all use a bit more comfort, coziness, and…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Holistic Herbalism for Chronic Headaches & Migraines
This week Ryn & Katja share some thoughts on how to address chronic headaches – not just “getting rid of it” in the acute moment, but reducing the frequency &…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbal Resolutions
New Year’s Eve is right around the corner, and we, like many folks, are ready with our list of resolutions. Let’s all make them more about self-care and…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbs & the Holidays: Solstice
Solstice is the quiet time, a moment of pause between the dying of the old and the rebirth of the new year. This week we share some meditations, stories, and…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbs & the Holidays: Handling Food Allergies & Sensitivities
Holiday foods are delightful & delicious, but what if you’re allergic to some of the ingredients? Never fear! In this episode we’ll share some of our best tips…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbs & the Holidays: Herbal Gift Ideas
Handmade herbal remedies and self-care items are a great solution to the conundrum of gift-giving. In this episode we’ll share three DIY herbal gift ideas that…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbs & the Holidays: Medicinal Virtues of Culinary Herbs
This week we continue our exploration of herbal holiday traditions with a quick chat about some of the ways herbs turn up in holiday foods. Whether it’s a nice…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbs & the Holidays: Emotional Support
Today we’re kicking off a series of podcasts on herbs and the holidays! We begin with emotional support, because no matter how you feel about the holidays…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Cold & Flu Herbs (Beyond Elderberry Syrup & Thyme Steam)
Every time we talk about cold & flu herbs, we seem to start out with elderberry syrup and a good old thyme steam. Well, this time we’re going to talk about…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
The Apothekers
This week our episode is an interview with Shari & Russ Apotheker of Apotheker’s Kitchen, makers of fine honey-sweetened confections and longtime friends of…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Intentional Inconvenience, Rhodiola Rhapsody, Stimulants for Midwives, & "Poisonous Mints"
This is our one-year anniversary episode! This week we cover a lot of ground. Katja talks about ways adding a little inconvenience to your home environment…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Exam Time!
Every year, our Advanced Studies Program ends with a weekend-long exam. There’s a written portion with short answers, essays, and case analysis, and an…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
West Virginia Herbal Medics
This week we’re out in Coal River Valley, West Virginia, helping out at a free herbal clinic for folks in this area who’ve been affected by mountaintop removal…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
A Few Herbs On Our Shelf
This week we do a lightning round of “minigraphs” on some of our favorite herbs. We started by taking a look at what we’ve got on our herb shelf (okay . . …
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Pumpkin Spice - That's Herbalism Too!
It's not just for lattes anymore: the ubiquitous pumpkin spice blend is in fact an herbal formula! The standard pumpkin [pie] spice mix is cinnamon, ginger…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Tinnitus & Headaches
Ryn leads off this week with a variety of herbs to try reducing the ringing in the ears called tinnitus. Herbs to drain stuck fluids, quell nervous irritation…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Caring for Eldercaregivers & Botulism
Caregiving is exhausting, thankless, necessary work, and becoming increasingly more common. In the first half of this episode, Katja shares some insights into…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
How To Start A Free Herbal Clinic
This week we bring you a podcast we originally aired on the HerbRally podcast as its inaugural episode, last July, all about the model we use for running free…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Empty Nests & Challenges
If back-to-school means the nest is empty, you may want some herbal support! Katja shares her favorite allies for this difficult transition. Ryn reflects on a…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Salad Isn't Salad & Back-To-School Herbs
This week, Ryn leads off with some thoughts on salad: why it's often boring and nutritionally deficient, and how to boost it up with some wild greens, herbal…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Sleep - Of Cravings, Comedians, & Caffeine
In this episode both Ryn & Katja have things to share related to sleep. Katja leads off with a listener question about alcohol cravings at bedtime, then…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Pets' Paws & Topical EO Safety
This week, a case of histiocytoma on a dog's paw leads Katja to talk about wound care for animal companions. What to do when a furry friend has a wound? Help…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Wildfires, Trainwrecks, and Cold Digestion in Hot Weather
The world's on fire, no one wants to admit they're occasionally catastrophic, and sometimes all you want to eat is ice cream. In this episode we'll talk about…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbs for Introverts & Extraverts
Introverts & extraverts, as patterns of personality, each have their strengths and weaknesses. In this episode we'll discuss herbal allies to accommodate…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Our Top Ten Tinctures
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…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbs for Summer Camp & Extra Senses of Perception
Katja's daughter Amber is off to camp this week, so she shares with you the list of things they packed into Amber's herbal first aid kit. If you have kids…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
First Aid for Burns & Sprains
This week we share some practical first aid herbalism for burns and sprains. Whether you're hiking far out in the woods or simply have an accident at home…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Cinnamon, Vanilla, & Cacao
Katja & Ryn discuss how these "exotic spices" came to be ubiquitous among Americans, and how we can learn from the history of plant trade, cultivation -…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbal Affinities & Softening In Service
Ryn leads off this week with a discussion of herbal affinities - the ways in which herbs may be centered in their effects on a particular organ or type of…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Back Pain & Sparkling Summertime Herbal Drinks
This week Katja had a bit of back pain, and has some thoughts to share with you about how this can happen an what to do about it. From mindset management to…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Vacation Is Mandatory & Jiaogulan
Katja this week reflects on a bit of wisdom surrounding downtime, and on the ways in which stress management can sometimes be the most difficult of our…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Resilience Not Dogma
Katja shares a hard-fought lesson: that health is not equivalent to merit, and that as herbalists it's important for us to stay away from idea that there is A…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Tulsi & Formulating Absent Friends
Since it's Herbstalk's 2018 Herb of the Year, Katja wants to finally give Tulsi its due with a quick monograph for you today! As promised last time, Ryn shares…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Sore Throat Herbs & Classic Cancer Cure-alls
After seeing Rising Appalachia the other night, Katja wanted to sing! She sang so much she gave herself a sore throat. So today she'll tell you all about her…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbal Allies for Eating Disorders & Herbal Muscle Rub
Katja shares her thoughts on herbal supports for those who are coping with eating disorders. Herbs can help reduce anxiety, center us in the body, stimulate…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Exploring Energetics With Our Book & Getting Through A Tough Day
Ryn describes a method you can use to expand your understanding of energetics by comparing ailment profiles and the herbs recommended for them in our book. If…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
A Woman In (Herbal) Science & Heartburn 1-2-3
This week Katja has some thoughts about the number of syllables in neuraminidase and what it means to be a woman in science. Ryn tries to keep it simple with a…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Anti-Inflammatory Herbs Beyond Turmeric & Dreaming With Mugwort
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…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Taco Seasoning Herbs & -Ency vs -Icity
This week Katja talks about the herbs that defined taco seasoning in her Texas upbringing, and their qualities when as medicinal herbs. Along the way, she…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Schisandra & Peppermint
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…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
A Movement & 3 Herbs For Back Pain
This week Ryn walks you through a short movement sequence he finds helpful when his low back gets tense, and Katja shares (most of) a recipe for a tincture…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbs for Braces & Constituents from the Plant’s Perspective
This week Katja shares some allies who've helped out with the (several!) kinds of pain which accompany her braces - gentle vulnerary astringents for the cuts…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Birth-Day Herbs & Support The Mama
Katja's daughter Amber is about to turn 15 years old, so this week Katja reflects on her birth experience and offers up some herbs to help mamas in the last…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Good Health Is Your Responsibility
We say it every week: we are not doctors, you are responsible for your own good health. This week, we wanted to expand on that a bit more, explain the…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Pleurisy In Daughter-Caregivers
This week, in honor of International Women's Day, Katja shares some of her thoughts and experiences with adult daughters who became caregivers for their…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Three Sleep Strategies + What I Should Have Done
This week, Ryn shares some strategies he turns to when (as frequently happens) he recognizes that he needs to sleep, but can't quite convince himself to go to…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Emotional Support for Mothers & Teens
This week, Katja discusses several herbs to help support mothers and teens who are coping with the difficulties of the adolescent years - especially in the…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Harm Reduction Herbalism + African Ashwagandha
This week, Katja describes a way of working with herbs to reduce the harm done when lifestyle factors like diet, sleep, and movement are less-than-ideal…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Alternatives to Adaptogens for Burnout
Adaptogens are marketed as a solution to stress, burnout, hormonal imbalances, and a lot more. They can help a lot! But they’re not always appropriate. Today…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Herbs & Strategies for Physical Labor
We moved! We made it with just a few bumps & bruises and some sore muscles. That was no accident - we thought ahead and stayed mindful with some mental…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Simple Herbs for Digestive Health
This week we’re sharing a class Katja delivered recently about basic applications of herbal remedies to improve digestion and relive digestive discomforts…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Our Students Love Linden
This weekend we kick off the year for our Advanced Studies Program, so we invited our students to participate in the podcast. Somehow, without any prior…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Simple Herbal Self-Care Tips + A Joint Support Decoction
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…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Year-End Reflections
As 2017 draws to a close, we look back over our year and some of the herbs who helped us get through it. Send us Fan Mail Support the show You can find all of…
- The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Goldenrod for Hanukkah + A Solstice Elixir
Katja draws parallels between the Hanukkah story of unexpected abundance, and the gift of goldenrod for helping us persevere through adversity and exhaustion…