Herb Mentor Radio (LearningHerbs.com)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In our conversation, Maria shares...

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

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

PS...

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

Sounds like it’s time to check out HerbMentor!

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

You can join HerbMentor for just $1 to see if it’s part of your own herbal path. :)

PPS...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PS...

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

Sounds like it’s time to check out HerbMentor!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In this episode we share…

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

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

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

PS...

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

Sounds like it’s time to check out HerbMentor!

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

You can join HerbMentor for just $1 to see if it’s part of your own herbal path. :)

PPS...

Get a special offer on HerbMentor at HerbMentorRadio.com.

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

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

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

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

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

Get the FREE Herb Notes cards here.

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

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

In our conversation with Elizabeth, they share...

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

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

PS...

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

Sounds like it’s time to check out HerbMentor!

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

You can join HerbMentor for just $1 to see if it’s part of your own herbal path. :)

PPS...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PS...

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

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

You can join HerbMentor for just $1 to see if it’s part of your own herbal path.

PPS...

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

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

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

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

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

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

Get the FREE Herb Notes cards here.

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

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

In our conversation, Sajah shares...

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

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

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

PS...

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

Sounds like it’s time to check out HerbMentor!

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

You can join HerbMentor for just $1 to see if it’s part of your own herbal path. :)

PS...

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

Garlic is the medicine of the people.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PS...

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

Sounds like it’s time to check out HerbMentor!

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

You can join HerbMentor for just $1 to see if it’s part of your own herbal path. :)

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

PPS...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In this long awaited conversation, Jason shares...

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

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

PS...

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

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

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

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

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

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

Visit HerbNotes.cards

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PS…

Looking for more herbal resources? Check out HerbMentor.

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

You can join HerbMentor for just $1 to see if it’s part of your own herbal path.

PPS...

Get a special offer on HerbMentor right here.

Build your herbal first aid kid with your Herbal Preparation Cards

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

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

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

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

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

Get the FREE Herb Notes cards right here...

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

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

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

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

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

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

PS…

Nadine has a very special gift for HerbMentor Radio listeners.

Follow this link to claim your gift.

PPS...

Get a very special listener offer on HerbMentor right here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shereel also shares with HerbMentor Radio listeners...

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

You can learn more from Shereel on Instagram @ixaltednaturalbody

PS...

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

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

You can join HerbMentor for just $1 to see if it’s part of your own herbal path.

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

PPS...

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

Download our free recipe cards here.

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

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

Want to learn more about the medicinal uses of yarrow?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nada and Fatima also share...

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

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

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

PS...

Get a special offer on HerbMentor right here.

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

Christa Sinadinos is the author of The Essential Guide to Western Botanical Medicine, and is the founder and director of the Northwest School for Botanical Studies in Fieldbrook, California, where she has trained hundreds of students. She has more than 25 years of experience as a clinician, teacher, gardener, and medicine maker.

In this episode, we have one of those aha moments with Christa. We were chatting about herbal garnishes like parsley, and Christa said...

When we think about any of the herbs that people use to decorate the plate, they often are good for digestion.

Then we started to rack our brains thinking about all of the the herbal garnishes we've ever seen: mint, lemon, parsley — all herbs that promote healthy digestion!

These herbal garnishes have been passed down for generations as a simple kitchen herbalism remedy for digestive health, but we never thought about garnishes this way until chatting with Christa.

In addition to totally blowing our minds about garnishes, Christa shares how to work with angelica, the surprising health benefits of parsley, her #1 herbal condiment for immunity, and how she wrote our favorite herb book.

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

ALSO... while supplies last, readers will receive $20 off Christa's book The Essential Guide to Western Botanical Medicine with the promo code LHSave$20.

Rosemary Gladstar is literally a star figure in the field of modern herbalism, internationally renowned for technical knowledge and stewardship in the global herbalist community. She has been learning, teaching, and writing about herbs for over 40 years and is the author of 11 books. Rosemary is the founding president of United Plant Savers and founder and past director of the International Herb Symposium.

Susan Leopold is an ethnobotanist and passionate defender of biodiversity. Over the past 20 years, Susan has worked extensively with Indigenous peoples in Peru and Costa Rica. She is the Executive Director of United Plant Savers and Director of the Sacred Seeds Project. She is a proud member of the Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia and the author of the children’s book Isabella’s Peppermint Flower, teaching about Virginia’s botanical history. 

Together Rosemary and Susan shared with us all about the International Herb Symposium, a gathering right outside of Boston where herbalists just like you come together in honor of the plants and in the spirit of respect and reciprocity to share and learn from one another. By coming together in this way, the Symposium strives to create local and global communities dedicated to healing and caretaking the Earth and all beings.

Oh and by the way, did we mention that the Symposium is super fun?! The event's tagline is "Come for the plants, stay for the party." And Rosemary and Susan certainly brought the party to HerbMentor Radio.

In this episode they shared...

• How to build your herbal community
• How to be in reciprocity with the plants
• What every beginner herbalist needs to know about herbalism
• And so much more!

Learn more and register for this year's International Herb Symposium (June 9th–11th) here: https://www.internationalherbsymposium.com/registration/

PS...

If you listen to the episode, you might even get a promo code to save big on your Symposium ticket ;)

PPS...

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

So, usually we interview a special guest on the pod, but today to bring in the new year we're chatting just the two of us all about herbs for wintertime.

Winter really asks us to slow down, rest, and dream about our year to come.

But many of us don’t have the time and space to actually slow down right now. Whether we’re recovering from the festivities of the holiday season, working, or caring for our families, modern life sure makes it hard to slow down.

Luckily, we can still draw on herbal remedies and rituals to nourish and soothe our nervous systems so that we can feel fueled enough to dream and plan for the year ahead.

In this episode Tara shares her 3 key herbal strategies for stress relief like...

• Drinking her favorite nourishing herbal tea blend (see below)
• Working with blue vervain tincture
• And herbal body oiling (listen to find out exactly what body oiling is!)

Plus, we offer you a simple framework for planning out your herbal year so you can prepare for all of the beautiful seasons to come. 

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

Tara's nourishing herbal tea blend...

Ingredients:

• 1 big handful Oatstraw (dried)
• 1 small handful Hawthorn berries (fresh or dried)
• 1 pinch Cardamom (powdered)
• 1 pinch Cinnamon (powdered)

Directions:

1. Add all of your herbal ingredients and two quarts of water to a pot.

2. Cover the pot and heat it enough so that the water reaches a steady simmer.

3. Simmer your herbs for about 15 minutes. 

4. Remove herbs from the heat and let cool for about 15 minutes. Now strain your tea and enjoy!

Dr. Keren Dolan is a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition, Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild, and Holistic Aromatherapist. Emphasizing integrative Functional Nutrition, her goal as a clinician is promoting wellness and resilience through advanced nutritional strategies and targeted botanical interventions.

So, we didn't exactly make this conversation easy for Dr. Dolan — knowing that she had such an extensive background in clinical nutrition, herbalism, and aromatherapy, we couldn't help but ask her some pretty big questions...

• How can we weave nutrition and herbalism together?
• What does "nourishment" actually mean?
• And what is aromatherapy?

Dr. Dolan graciously answered all of our questions and more, and we sure learned a lot along the way, including...

• How to weave deep nourishment into our everyday lives
• How the scientific concept of hormesis can help us find the sweet spot for herbal dosages
• How probiotics work... and lots more!

Get a special offer on HerbMentor at HerbMentorRadio.com

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

Corinna Wood teaches earth-based herbalism in the Wise Woman Herbal Tradition and focuses on inner-growth and transformation. She was co-founder of Red Moon Herbs and her Southeast Wise Woman Herbal Conference ran for 15 years.

Grab a cup of tea and your favorite blanket — it's time to get cozy and learn all about herbs for fall! Corinna draws on her years of experience as an herbalist and educator to share how we can nourish our bodies this season and beyond with herbal roots.

In this episode you'll learn how to make healing remedies with prolific roots like comfrey and burdock, how to work with poke root safely, why broth is the key to autumn self-care, and so much more.

• Visit Corinna on this special page she set up for our listeners
• Get a special offer on HerbMentor at HerbMentorRadio.com
• Build your herbal first aid kid with our free Herbal Preparation Cards at Herbal.cards

Mimi Prunella Hernandez has dedicated her life’s work to serving as an advocate for both traditional and herbal pathways while building cultural bridges of understanding. As an herbalist she draws upon the influence of her Granny Healers and her background in biochemistry to weave together an herbal practice that’s rooted in folk traditions and modern science.

In our conversation, Mimi shows us how to think beyond capsules and tinctures and easily bring herbs into our kitchens. The phrase “food is medicine” gets casually tossed around a lot these days, but Mimi really lives by this principle. She weaves herbs into her everyday life: making vinegars, honey, wine, tea, and even frosting with the herbs that grow all around her. Mimi offers us a few of her favorite tips for bringing herbs into the kitchen that we at LearningHerbs are definitely going to start adding to our daily routine — including “Mimi’s Mystery House Tea.”

In addition to kitchen herbalism, Mimi also shares…

• How to work with sunflowers and prickly pear cactus as herbal remedies
• How to weave together traditional folk herbalism and modern science
• The importance of native plants for people, pollinators, and plants
• Plus, Mimi tells us all about her current project, a National Geographic herb book on 99 plants from around the world.

You can learn more from Mimi at herbalnightschool.com

Get a special offer on HerbMentor at HerbMentorRadio.com

Build your herbal first aid kid with your Herbal Preparation Cards

When you enter MXED GREENS apothecary, one of the first things you'll notice is the deep care that herbalists Tasha and Devon Greenwood have put it into every detail of this herb shop...

From the cozy self care station to the herbal zine library to the handmade signs outlining their sliding scale model, MXED GREENS is a space that centers the deeply rooted wellness of its community.

In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, Tasha and Devon draw on their experience as new business owners and practicing clinical herbalists to share...

• Their #1 piece of advice for new herbal business owners
• The importance of healthcare settings that celebrate queer and trans experiences
• Why the gap between herbal and allopathic medicine might be smaller than you think
• We even go on a little herb nerd tangent to chat about one of Tasha's favorite seaweeds, Irish Moss, which has a rich history as a food, immune tonic, and skincare ingredient.

You can find Tasha and Devon Greenwood at mxedgreens.com

Get a special offer on HerbMentor at HerbMentorRadio.com

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

When you first start studying herbs it can feel like you need to find the best herb school, the best herb books, and the best way to study herbs in order to become a "real herbalist"...

But after studying and teaching herbalism for the last few decades, jim mcdonald (a Michigan herbalist who blends traditional folk influences and mixes it up with a bit of 19th century eclectic and physiomedical vitalism) can definitively say that there’s no one “right way” to learn about herbs. Rather than racing to find the right answer to every herbal question as quickly as possible, learning about herbs is actually about choosing your own herbal adventure and cultivating a growth mindset.

And jim certainly fits into the “choose your own adventure” mentality we have here on HerbMentor Radio: this is our third interview with jim, and each time we’ve gotten to go on some of the most amazing herbal tangents and dive deep into exciting herbal questions.

In this episode we ask questions from HerbMentor members and learn more about...

• jim's healing journey and the herbs that have supported him after a recent health crisis
• The difference between calendula and plantain
• How to use Solomon's seal
• And more!

You can find jim at herbcraft.org.

Get a special offer on HerbMentor at HerbMentorRadio.com

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

Juliet Blankespoor shares 5 easy-to-grow herbs for container gardening with medicinal benefits that range from immune support to gentle skin care to first aid essentials — with just these 5 herbs you’ll be well on your way to having a full blown home apothecary. 

With her B.A. in Botany and her new book The Healing Garden, it could be easy to assume that Juliet must have always had a green thumb... but Juliet reveals that she didn’t start gardening until her 20s, and her first garden was a total flop!

Listen as Juliet guides us through how she went from a “flop garden” to stewarding several thriving herb gardens. Plus, Juliet shares the key to having a green thumb — it’s a lot simpler than you might think.

• You can find Juliet and get your copy of The Healing Garden at https://chestnutherbs.com/
• Get a special offer on HerbMentor at https://HerbMentorRadio.com
• Build your herbal first aid kid with your Herbal Preparation Cards: https://Herbal.Cards

Some of Abi Huff’s earliest plant memories begin in her mother’s garden: delighting in the abundant beds of sugar cane and taro root, and climbing the apricot tree to feast on its delicious fruit. Abi carries these stories in her transformative work as an ever-evolving community and clinical herbalist, educator, medicine maker, intuitive life strategist, healing justice organizer, and overall plant nerd.



In this episode, we dive into Abi’s work as a politicized herbalist and how to create more inclusion within herbalism. We also discuss food as medicine and how ancestral healing is deeply intertwined with herbalism. Abi then draws connections between stress and immunity and how herbs can support the radiant wellness of our nervous and immune systems. Abi then shares a simple way that you can incorporate healing herbs into your everyday life.

Abi’s passion lies in connecting people to their inner wisdom, and responsibility to the planet and each other through gratitude for, and relationship with the plant kingdom.


You can find Abi on Instagram @_thestingingnettle_

Explore the healing plants of the Southeast with CoreyPine Shane, including mimosa and sweet gum trees. Also, how to discover a plant’s personality so you can become an herbal matchmaker. This is a great episode for all you wildcrafters.

CoreyPine Shane is a Holistic Clinical Herbalist who founded the Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine in 1999. He is the author of Southeast Medicinal Plants: 106 Wild Herbs for Health and Wellness and has taught at schools and conferences across the country and in Europe. CoreyPine has written extensively on herbal medicine and is a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild.

CoreyPine says, “Herbal medicine is your medicine. Not that you own it but that you inherited it because your grandparents or maybe your great grandparents used plants to heal themselves. Even if they didn’t call it herbal medicine. This is just a remembering and a reconnection.”

Visit CoreyPine at PinesHerbals.com and BlueRidgeSchool.org

Jocelyn Boreta is the cofounder of the Botanical Bus, the granddaughter of a farmworker, and a community organizer committed to cultivating health equity through the empowerment of indigenous knowledge and self-healing communities.

Long before the Botanical Bus became a bilingual mobile herb clinic serving Latinx and Indigenous farmworkers in Sonoma County, the seeds of this project were sprouting as Jocelyn Boreta and other local herbalists met weekly at a community garden to share their herbal knowledge. And when the devastating 2017 North Bay fires hit, they knew it was time to address health inequities in their community and launch the Botanical Bus.

In this episode, Jocelyn shares the origin story of the Botanical Bus, why herbalism is activism, her go-to herbs for stress relief, how food is medicine, and the importance of culturally relevant care.

You can learn more about Jocelyn and the Botanical Bus at TheBotanicalBus.org and follow them on Instagram @botanical.bus and Facebook @bilingualmobileherbclinic.

Rosemary Gladstar covers the importance of wild greens, both nutritionally and energetically. Dandelions, plantain, nettle, chickweed, and many more favorites will be covered. In addition to her favorite ways to prepare wild greens, Rosemary will also cover ethical wild harvesting. It’s time to clean out the closets and leave the winter blues behind!

Rosemary Gladstar is the author of many books, including Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide, Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health, and Herbal Healing for Women. Rosemary has been inspiring herbalists for nearly 40 years with the herbal schools, conferences, organizations, and companies she has founded, which include the California School of Herbal Studies, Traditional Medicinals, the International Herb Symposium, and United Plant Savers.

David Winston RH (AHG), is an herbalist and ethnobotanist with over 40 years of training in Cherokee, Chinese and Western herbal traditions. He has had a clinical practice for over 30 years and is an herbal consultant to physicians throughout North America. David founded an herbal manufacturing company called Herbalist & Alchemist as well as David Winston’s Center for Herbal Studies. David is the author of many books including Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief. He is also a founding member of the American Herbalists Guild and a founding advisory board member of United Plant Savers.

In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, David explores adaptogens and their importance in this day and age. Adaptogens help the body adapt to stress and increase health. David also answers questions on adaptogens submitted by HerbMentor members.

Stephen Harrod Buhner is an Earth poet and the award-winning author of books on nature, indigenous cultures, the environment, and herbal medicine. He comes from a long line of healers including Leroy Burney, Surgeon General of the United States under Eisenhower and Kennedy, and Elizabeth Lusterheide, a midwife and herbalist who worked in rural Indiana in the early nineteenth century.

The greatest influence on his work, however, has been his great-grandfather C.G. Harrod who primarily used botanical medicines, also in rural Indiana, when he began his work as a physician in 1911.

Stephen’s work has appeared or been profiled in publications throughout North America and Europe including Common Boundary, Apotheosis, Shaman’s Drum, The New York Times, CNN, and Good Morning America. He has spoken at colleges and conferences around the world, including the United Nations.

Stephen’s books include:

* Herbal Antibiotics: Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug-Resistant Bacteria

* Healing Lyme: Natural Healing & Prevention of Lyme Borreliosis and Its Coinfections

* The Lost Language of Plants: The Ecological Importance of Plant Medicines for Life on Earth

* Sacred Plant Medicine: The Wisdom in Native America Herbalism

* Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers: The Secrets of Ancient Fermentation

* The Secret Teachings of Plants: The Intelligence of the Heart in the Direct Perception of Nature

* The Natural Testosterone Plant: For Sexual Health and Energy

* Herbs for Hepatitis C and the Liver

…and more

Stephen and I started our conversation around old-time doctors and kitchen medicine, exploring herbs like ginger, cayenne, and even honey. Then, as I expected and hoped for, Stephen went in some interesting directions. So, though he talks about the effects of accidentally breathing dust from Western Skunk Cabbage, and ingesting some well-known toxic plants such as Poison Hemlock…well, I would ask you to stay away from using those plants internally.

Stephen does offer some amazing gems of information, and you never know when he is going to drop one of them on you. However, there is gold in the overall message he is trying to say. Try to stay in the space of looking at the larger picture of the conversation.

Visit http://www.gaianstudies.org

Sandor Katz returns to HerbMentor Radio in celebration of his new book, The Art of Fermentation: An In-Depth Exploration of Essential Concepts and Processes from Around the World. This nearly 500-page volume gives practical information on fermenting vegetables, fruits, grains, milk, beans, meats, and more. It has a forward by Michael Pollan and is published by Chelsea Green.

Sandor is also the author of Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods and The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved: Inside America’s Underground Food Movement. Starting with sauerkraut, Sandor has been fermenting foods for years. As an avid cook, gardener, herbalist, and nutritional enthusiast, his interests have led to a life of spreading “culture” wherever he travels. He refers to himself as a "fermentation revivalist."

A well-known and respected member of the Meso-American Zapotecan people located in Oaxaca, Dona Enriqueta Contreras is a descendant of a long line of Zapoteca shamans that date back to 500 B.C. Dona Enriqueta owns and operates a health clinic for her community, as well as for international visitors, in the small town of San Francisco Tutla.

Her history as a practicing midwife of more than fifty years has yielded her a flawless career with no mother or child ever lost during the birth process… an extraordinary feat, even by western standards. She travels the world disseminating her wisdom and knowledge.

While her address does not talk about herbs directly, Dona Enriqueta shares very important wisdom from an ancient people. Such wisdom is essential for having a strong foundation for herbal studies.

Dona Enriqueta first performs a simple ritual from the Zapotecan people and then reminds us of how important it is to live with the rhythms of nature, work with each other, and give us tips for a healthier world.

Wintertime is traditionally the time when we as humans would gather around the fires and hear the stories of our elders. This is the perfect time to dim the lights, light a candle, make a cup of tea, and hear timeless words from this wise woman. Wonderful words for the new year.

Guido Masé is a clinical herbalist, educator, and garden steward specializing in holistic Western herbalism. He is a founding co-director of the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism in Montpelier, VT, and a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild, the American Botanical Council, and United Plant Savers. He has worked extensively in the herbal products industry, with a focus on local and sustainable growing, harvesting, and production. Guido is the author of the new book, The Wild Medicine Solution: Healing with Aromatic, Bitter and Tonic Plants, published by Healing Arts Press.

In this interview, Guido discusses how the Wild Medicine Solution is the antidote to “Plant Deficiency Syndrome.” As modern culture moved further from nature, humans lost their cultural links to the plants and the health they brought us. Guido makes it super simple to reconnect to the herbs by exploring three classes of plants… aromatics, bitters, and tonics. Learn how to connect to herbs and easily enhance your health. Guido also shares how his unique upbringing led to this unique way of approaching herbalism.

Jim McDonald returns to HerbMentor Radio for a special episode on fevers and herbal energetics. What is a fever, why do they happen, and what are the popular myths? The difference between stimulating and relaxing diaphoretics as well as detailed descriptions of many herbs with diaphoretic properties.

Diaphoretics are herbs that direct circulation, open pores, ventilate the body, and allow perspiration. This 105-minute lesson is sure to clear up any confusion you may have had about herbs and fevers.

You can visit Jim Mcdonald at http://HerbCraft.org. His site has many wonderful and extended articles on a number of plants and how to use them for various ailments.

Robert Rogers has been a student of native plants and fungi from the Canadian prairies for over 40 years. He teaches plant medicine at Grant McEwan University and the Northern Start College of Mystical Studies in Edmonton, Canada. Robert is a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild, and chair of the medicinal mushroom committee of the North American Mycological Association. He is also on the editorial board of the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms.

Robert is the author of 14 books, including his latest, The Fungal Pharmacy, The Complete Guide to Medicinal Mushrooms & Lichens of North America.

You can see Robert teach this July at the Montana Herb Gathering as well as the North American Mycological Association in December.

You can visit Robert at http://www.selfhealdistributing.com

In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, Robert gives us a wonderful introduction to medicinal mushrooms, their ecological and human health importance, and shares the medicinal qualities of some of his favorites. He also shares an excellent tip on how to tincture reishi for your fungal pharmacy.

Demetria Clark has written one of the best books on using herbs with kids we’ve seen: Herbal Healing for Children: A Parent’s Guide to Treatments for Common Childhood Illnesses.

Demetria is a North American herbalist specializing in herbals for pregnancy, birth, postpartum, nursing, and children. She is a traditional family herbalist. She has worked with families for over 20 years as an herbalist, aromatherapist, midwife, doula, and traditional medicine maker. She works extensively in the US and Europe, blending the two traditions. Demetria lectures extensively on herbal care for sexuality, pregnancy, and woman’s health.

Demetria believes in families having options to self-empower and have health and wellness options.

She is the Founder and Director of Heart of Herbs Herbal school and the doula training program, Birth Arts International.

In this interview, Demetria discusses her top 10 choices her an herbal apothecary for kids, tells her story and answers HerbMentor member questions.

Here is a link to “What are those herbs in the pregnancy tea blend?” she mentions in the interview:

http://www.birtharts.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/pregnanctea.pdf

Visit Demetria at:

http://www.heartofherbs.com

http://www.birtharts.com/

Peter Gail, Ph.D. has been studying, writing about edible and medicinal plants for half a century. Author of 13 books, including The Dandelion Celebration, he is an esteemed elder of botany and champion of weeds. He has had a big impact on awareness of pesticide use dangers through environmental awareness.

USA Today called him the King of Dandelions. Good Morning America, the Wizard of Weeds. Many call him Dr. Dandelion.

He founded the Dandelion Cook off, the Defenders of the Dandelion, and created a coffee-like beverage called DandyBlend.

Dr. Gail is the director of the Goosefoot Acres Center for Resourceful Living in Ohio. His literary and research legacy is vast, and we are truly honored to have him on HerbMentor Radio.

In this episode, John and Peter focus heavily on the Dandelion, Peter’s story, edible weeds, and the impact he has had since starting this journey 50 years ago.

Visit Peter at http://www.dandyblend.com

Aviva Romm began studying herbal medicine and midwifery in 1981. A Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and herbalist, practicing since 1985, Aviva is recognized internationally as an accomplished specialist in the areas of herbal medicine for gynecology, obstetrics, and pediatrics.

Her numerous books are now regarded as standards for mothers, midwives, herbalists, and other health professionals using herbs for women’s and children’s health. Additionally, she has written numerous articles, has been published in medical journals, and has contributed to several major integrative medicine textbooks. Forthcoming is her latest book, Textbook of Herbal Medicine for Women (Churchill/Elsevier, 2008).

Aviva is the President of the American Herbalists Guild. She has been active in establishing standards for botanical medicine practice and education in the United States and has taught at national herbal, midwifery, and medical conferences and in private seminars, as well as being a guest on nationally syndicated radio programs. She serves on a number of scientific review boards including the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP) and the Botanical Safety Handbook review committee for the American Herbal Products Association and has recently been invited to serve as an adjunct faculty for the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy.

Aviva is currently pursuing a medical degree (MD) at the Yale School of Medicine.

Visit Aviva at her website, http://AvivaRomm.com

Dr. James Duke is an ethnobotanist with a Ph.D. in botany from UNC, served with Missouri Botanical Garden in his earlier years, and for over 3 decades in several posts with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was chief of the Medicinal Plant Resources Laboratory and chief of the USDA’s Economic Botany Lab. One of the most frequented parts of the USDA website is the ethnobotanical and phytochemical database he created before retiring.

Dr. Duke has written more than 30 books including the best selling Green Pharmacy, Dr. Duke’s Essential Herbs, Herbs of the Bible, Handbook of Edible Weeds, Duke’s Handbook of Medicinal Plants of Latin America, and Peterson’s Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs: Of Eastern and Central North America. He’s also spent years exploring the ecology and culture of the Amazon Rain Forest.

Dr. Duke is currently updating the third edition of Peterson’s guide. He mainly cares takes the Green Farmacy Garden with his wife Peggy and volunteers.

In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, Jim covers herbs of the Bible in the midst of other fun stuff, such as a few bluegrass songs Jim wrote for his cd, Herbalbum.

Jim’s books are available at your favorite online and real-life book stores. At this time, Jim’s music cd is not available, but as he said in the interview, he wants to re-release it.

You can visit Jim in person and on the web at https://thegreenfarmacygarden.com

Dr. Patrick Jones is a veterinarian with a passion for herbs. He grew up close to the land, and his interest in herbs eventually led to him treating animals with herbal remedies. He has a private practice and is also does formulation, support, and training for Silver Lining Herbs. Patrick's wife LoriAnn is also an herbalist, and together they have raised 15 children. Patrick practices veterinary medicine in Twin Falls, ID.

Patrick is also a long-time HerbMentor member and a regular presence in the forum. In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, Dr. Jones answers many questions that HerbMentor members posted about herbs for dogs and cats. We cover basic herbal nutrition, delivery methods, common pet issues, what not to give your pets, and the truth about catnip.

7Song is an herbalist, naturalist, and director of the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine in Ithaca, NY.

He is known throughout the herbal community as someone passionate about meeting new plants, someone who loves to help people whereever he travels, and as the “herbal first aid guy.” He has run the first aid tent at the Rainbow Gatherings for years.

7Song is an herbal practitioner and Director of Holistic Medicine at the Ithaca Free Clinic. He also teaches nationwide at herbal conferences and gatherings, as well as the California School of Herbal Studies.

In this interview we discuss herbal first aid, go over a case study, and chat a bit about learning plants.

You can visit his site at http://www.7song.com

Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa, Yogaraj (Ayurveda), DN-C, RH, LMT, NCTMB, CC, NAMAPM, has over 40 years of experience in holistic medicine and is one of the foremost natural healing experts in North America. He is the president of the American Herbalists Guild and is a respected teacher, writer, and lecturer. As the author of over 3,000 published health articles, K.P. has written or edited 30 books on a variety of health topics including major works on massage, Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, and physiology. His latest book, The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs, co-authored with Michael Tierra, brings to life Ayurveda in an understandable and practical way.

K.P. is also a frequent contributor to mainstream and professional publications in the natural healing field, including The Herb Quarterly. K.P. is a professor at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, and a founding faculty in the Ayurvedic Sciences program at Bastyr University. For 30 years Khalsa served as Senior Research Scientist and Chief Medical Formulator for Yogi Tea.

In this interview, K.P. answers HerbMentor member questions, including advice for beginners, K.P.’s personal daily herbal routine, supplements, and how to address chronic health conditions with herbs. This episode is jam-packed with incredible information. Please do not miss it.

Visit K.P. Khalsa at his website:

http://www.kpkhalsa.com/

David Hoffmann, B.Sc., F.N.I.M.H. has traveled the world, run for Parliament on a Green Party ticket, and has been an activist in the Green and Peace movements for longer than he cares to remember. He is the author of 17 books, his latest is a textbook on science and clinical skills for phytotherapists entitled Medical Herbalism, published by Inner Traditions. These accomplishments aside, David, a Fellow of Britain’s National Institute of Medical Herbalists, has been a phytotherapist (that’s a practitioner of herbal medicine) for over 30 years.

David promotes herbal medicine around the world, teaches at the California School of Herbal Studies, Bastyr University, and the California Institute of Integral Studies, and, as previously mentioned, has authored many books about plants and plant medicine. Books include The Holistic Herbal: A Safe and Practical Guide to Making and Using Herbal Remedies and The Herbal Handbook: A User’s Guide to Medical Herbalism.

David is on the advisory board of the American Botanical Council, and a founding member and past president of the American Herbalist Guild. He is also a medical herbalist for Traditional Medicinals.

You can read some of David’s articles at http://Heathy.net (Just search for Hoffmann to find his articles.)

Leslie Alexander, Ph.D., RH (AHG) is a medical herbalist and co-author of the new book Dental Herbalism, Natural Therapies for the Mouth. Leslie is a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild and co-owner of Restoration Herbs in Pennsylvania. She is a member of the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health and the American Botanical Council.

In this interview, Leslie discusses the ecology of the mouth, how the mouth is a microcosm of the body, how stress affects our dental health, natural oral hygiene, and some of her favorite dental herbal recipes such as tooth powder and herbal rinses. In addition, she discusses the most important herbs to know for excellent oral health, including thyme, cinnamon, turmeric, and many others.

Todd Caldecott is a Medical Herbalist and practitioner of Ayurvedic medicine, author of the textbook Ayurveda: The Divine Science of Life, Food as Medicine: The Theory and Practice of Food and an editor of a text on Nepalese ethnobotany called Ayurveda in Nepal.

Todd teaches and practices in the Vancouver, BC area in Canada. He also works as a consultant in the natural products industry. Todd was also the Director of Clinical Herbal Studies at Wild Rose College and is a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild.

Todd’s practice integrates Western Clinical Herbalism with Ayurveda and the synthesis results in an insightful look at Western herbalism from a unique perspective.

In this interview Todd and I discuss Ayurveda, the state of traditional medicine in modern times, food as medicine, and he answers member questions.

You can visit Todd at http://toddcaldecott.com

Food As Medicine is available on Amazon or http://foodasmedicine.ca

Chanchal Cabrera, MSc, FNIMH, (RH)AHG is a medical herbalist whose clinical specialty is helping people manage cancer and chronic disease. Chanchal has held the faculty chair in Botanical Medicine at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in New Westminster since 2004. She serves on the board of advisors of Dominion Herbal College in Burnaby, on the editorial board of Medical Herbalism clinical newsletter and she publishes widely in professional journals and lectures internationally on medical herbalism, nutrition, and health. Chanchal is the author of the book Fibromyalgia – A Journey Toward Healing. published by Contemporary Books.

Chanchal is a certified Master Gardener and a certified Horticulture Therapist. Chanchal has been a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists in the UK since 1987, wherein in 2009 she was honored with a Fellowship for service to the profession for over 25 years. She lives on Vancouver Island in BC where she and her husband farm 7 acres.

This interview mostly focuses on HerbMentor member-submitted questions, which focus on using herbs for chronic illness. Chanchal reviewed the questions before the interview and answered them in a way that could help as many people as possible as to how to approach their health conditions with natural medicine.

Will Endres is an herbalist, wildcrafter, and outdoor guide with more than 40 years of experience. Originally from West Virginia, Will studied 28 years with herb doctor and healer CF “Catfish” Gray. He has had many herbal elders and has been deeply influenced by the traditional Cherokee approach to plants and medicine. Will runs “Will’s Wild Herbs” in North Carolina, and has been in business for 37 years. Living and working in the woods has given him a uniquely intimate knowledge of the natural world. He offers year-round walks, talks, classes, and apprenticeships.

In this episode, we hear about the unique way Will was mentored, and how this affected his relationship with plants. There is a lot of wisdom to be gained by listening to our herbal elders, including Will’s mentor Catfish Gray. Will is one of these elders, and his story is incredible. This HerbMentor Radio is sure to give you a new perspective on the way you learn about herbs. You’ll learn about some plants close to Will along the way.

You can learn about Will’s classes and private consultations at http://WillsWildHerbs.org

Margi Flint practices herbalism in the seacoast town of Marblehead, Massachusetts, and over the last 30 years has become their village herbalist. She is an adjunct professor at North Shore Community College, The Tufts University School of Medicine, Bastyr University, Pacific Rim College, and the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. Margi is the author of the textbook, The Practicing Herbalist: Meeting with Clients, Reading the Body. She also lectures internationally and is a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild.

In this interview, Margi discusses her work as a practicing herbalist, how she mentors, facial diagnostics as well as other methods she uses and answers many questions submitted by HerbMentor members on health issues and being a practicing herbalist.

You can visit Margi Flint at http://EarthSongHerbals.com

Dina Falconi returns to HerbMentor Radio to give us a great foundation in harvesting wild edibles and preparing them into delicious dishes. Dina is the author of the new book, Foraging, and Feasting: A Field Guide and Wild Food Cookbook. We start the interview with the fascinating way Dina self-published this book under her own publishing company. This is informative to anyone who might have an herbal product idea.

Then, Dina gets into the basics of wild foods foraging, such as plant ID, where and when to harvest, safety, how you can get started. Then Dina shares some amazing tips for turning your wild foods bounty into amazing meals, appetizers, and beverages.

Dandelion root bisque soup sound good? How about garlic mustard horseradish? Looking for more creative ways of using all that lemon balm? Learn how to be a “plant detective” and turn any recipe into a wild foods delight.

RIcho Cech is a village herbalist, conservationist, and expert on making herbal extracts. For many years he was a developer at HerbPharm. He and his wife Mayche are owners of Horizon Herbs, an organic medicinal herb seed company based in Williams, Oregon. Their mission is to sow seeds worldwide for the benefit of people plants and the planet.

Richo is author of the books Making Plant Medicine and Growing At-Risk Medicinal Herbs. His Horizon Herbs catalog is well known not only for its variety of hard to find extracts and seeds, but also as a treasure trove of information.

In this interview we discuss not only the basics of herb gardening, but also answer some excellent questions from HerbMentor.com members. Of course, Richo infuses his amazing insights on working with herbs. Also, Richo and I talk a bit about comfrey. And as you might expect, another knowledgeable and wise herbalist with yet another varying opinion.

Brigitte Mars is an herbalist, author, raw foods chef, and nutritional consultant from Boulder, Colorado. Brigitte has been teaching for over 40 years, most recently Naropa University, Boulder College of Massage, and Bauman College of Holistic Nutrition. Brigitte is a professional member of The American Herbalists Guild.

Her many book titles include The Desktop Guide to Herbal Medicine, Addiction-Free Naturally, Beauty by Nature, Natural First Aid, Dandelion Medicine, Healing Herbal Teas, Rawsome! and Sex, Health and Love.

In this interview, we focus on the doctrine of signatures.

Visit Brigitte at http://BrigitteMars.com

David Bruce Leonard is a practitioner and teacher of all five branches of Chinese medicine: acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, food medicine, and martial arts. Besides studying traditional medicines with healers in Asia, North and South America, David also studied Hawaiian native plants for over 20 years and is the author of Medicine at Your Feet: Healing Plants of the Hawaiian Kingdom and Wild Wisdom: Listening to the Heart of Nature. David is Dean of Oriental Medicine at the Hawaii College of Oriental Medicine and founder of Earth Medicine Institute.

In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, David explores Hawaiian herbalism, including a few things the elders taught him about herbal learning, gathering protocols, and teachings that cross-cultural boundaries. Also, learn what Hawaiian herbalism can teach you about learning the plants of your own bioregion.

Visit David at http://EarthMedicineInstitute.com

"Wildman" Steve Brill is known as America’s Best Known Forager. His 1986 arrest in Central Park made international headlines and set his career as an environmental educator in motion.

Wildman has appeared on every news channel as well as David Letterman and many other talk shows.

His books include Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and Not-So-Wild) Places and The Wild Vegetarian Cookbook.

Visit http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com

Dr. Ryan Drum joins us from his remote location on Waldon Island, WA, where he lives in a cabin he built 30 years ago. We are lucky to have him since he is one of the few of the island's 40 inhabitants who get cell reception (there are no electric or phone lines on the island). It is on that island where he gathers, processes, and sells some of the very best sea veggies money can buy.

Ryan is a practicing community-supported medical herbalist, herbal educator, and professional medicinal herb wildcrafter. He taught botany and other subjects for years at the university level, has written many scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals, and now teaches at major conferences and herb schools. Ryan specializes in seaweed therapies, thyroid issues, and men’s health.

You can visit Ryan at http://RyanDrum.com. He has many wonderful articles on sea vegetables, other herbs, and much more. If you get to the Northwest this summer, make sure you catch one of his many seaweed walks.

In this interview, we get a rare glimpse into Ryan’s lifestyle, and mostly discuss many aspects of gathering and using kelp and other seaweeds. Enjoy!

I am truly honored to share with you a mentor that…well, let’s put it this way. There would be no HerbMentor.com without her. Also, I doubt I would be an acupuncturist as well if I had never met EagleSong.

EagleSong is not only an extraordinary herbalist and gardener, but also one of the most grounded teachers and mentors you’ll ever meet. She has an eloquent way of sharing her views of health, herbs, sustainable living, gardening, and so much more. EagleSong was the first to teach me how to step back and look at the bigger picture when it comes to health. She has a way of “bringing it all together” and making sense of what can be an overwhelming course of study.

Sure I had lots of influential mentors, but when it comes to herbs and health, EagleSong’s guidance became a foundation for me. It is the bedrock that LearningHerbs.com is built on.

It is my hope and dream that YOU continue this lineage and one day teach others in your communities about herbs and health.

In this Interview, some of what we cover includes…

* What gardening and plants can teach us about health

* The importance of community herbalism

* A VERY unique look at Black Cottonwood

EagleSong, CCH is a Community Centered Herbalist who started RavenCroft Garden in the Seattle area in 1991. Though she has been a practicing herbalist for over 30 years, she has also been the chief gardener at the world famous HerbFarm Restaurant as well as the environmental horticulturalist for Willows Lodge, ranked the #12 hotel in the U.S.

Visit http://ravencroftgarden.com

James Jungwirth and his family run Naturespirit Herbs, located in the Siskiyou Mountains of southwestern Oregon. They are harvesters of edible and medicinal wild seaweed, herbs and mushrooms. They are also clinical herbalists and producers of high quality herbal medicines.

I met James at the Northwest Herbfest in Oregon last summer. I was immediately drawn to his table, which was filled with the most beautifully harvested sea vegetables I have ever seen. If you have ever ordered kelp or other seaweed from Mountain Rose Herbs, there is a good chance you have purchased their handy work.

I FINALLY caught up with James to ask him some questions about sea vegetables. We cover medicinal and edible uses, as well tips on harvesting. There is PLENTY of useful information even if you do not live near an ocean with cleaner waters for harvesting. I made sure our conversation was mostly geared towards folks who would not be harvesting their own.

Visit http://naturespiritherbs.com

Kiva Rose is an herbalist in the Anima Medicine Woman Tradition. She teaches and practices down to earth herbalism, nutrition and healing based on the same principles our ancestors followed within an adaptive and contemporary context.

Kiva is the author of The Medicine Woman’s Herbal, an in depth guide to common nourishing herbs, traditional and wild foods, and healing the Medicine Woman way. She makes her home in the Mogollon Mountains of the Gila bioregion of New Mexico, where she and her partners, Wolf and Loba, live in a small off the grid cabin at the Anima Botanical and Women’s Sanctuary.

Visit http://bearmedicineherbals.com

Maria Atwood, CNHP is a Certified Natural Health Professional and has produced a DVD called Cook Your Way to Wellness. Her focus is on fermented foods and nourishment, in the tradition of our ancestors, the Weston Price Foundation and Sally Fallon. Sally Fallon is the author of the celebrated book Nourishing Traditions, who said Maria’s DVD is "A great companion to Nourishing Traditions! Perfect for beginners new to Nourishing Traditions principles."

In this interview, Maria and I talk about the origins of this traditional style of nutrition, why it’s so good for us, as well as some ideas on how to bring it into your life. We discuss kefir, beet kvass, bone broth, fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut, how to eat well on a budget, and where to begin. We also answer questions gathered from HerbMentor members, which includes weight loss in relation to this style of eating.

You can check out Maria’s DVD and lots more at http://TraditionalCook.com

Tammi Hartung, M.H., is a medical herbalist, certified organic grower, and consultant to the Natural Products Industry. She has taught at the Rocky Mountain Center for Botanical Studies, the School of Natural Medicine, and has lectured internationally. Tammi and her husband Chris own and operate Desert Canyon Farm in Colorado, where they grow over 175 medicinal, rare, and native plants.

Tammi is the author of Growing 101 Herbs That Heal: Gardening Techniques, Recipes, and Remedies.

When my good friend Mark worked at Tom Brown’s Tracker School, he often talked about a great herbalist who worked there named Betzy. Now, I finally get to meet her! She is an accomplished herbalist in many areas, and she is currently working with United Plant Savers!

United Plant Savers’ mission is to protect native medicinal plants of the United States and Canada and their native habitat while ensuring an abundant renewable supply of medicinal plants for generations to come.

I ask Betzy all about sustainable and ethical wildcrafting, her journey as an herbalist, and other practical tips and skills for collecting and storing herbs.

Doug Elliott is a naturalist, herbalist, musician, and storyteller. Doug has performed at festivals, museums, botanical gardens, nature centers, national parks, schools, and conferences from Canada to the Caribbean. A couple of notable places are the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and the Royal Ontario Museum.

Doug has authored several books and cd’s including Wildwoods Wisdom: Encounters with the Natural World, Woodslore: Stories, Lore, and Truth Stranger Than Fiction About the Natural World, Wild Roots: a Forager’s Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Roots, Tubers, Corms, and Rhizomes, and most recently, Swarm Tree: of Honeybees, Honeymoons and the Tree of Life.

In this episode, we discuss herbs and storytelling, mushrooms, life in the Blue Ridge Mountains, old-time remedies, mentors, and more. Doug even reveals the time-honored and best way to learn about herbs!

Doug’s programs, products, concerts, and workshops are all listening on his website, which is http://DougElliott.com

Heidi Bohan has over 18 years of experience working as an educator of native plants, horticulture, woodworking, ethnobotany, and traditional ecological knowledge of the Pacific Northwest.

She has been a carpenter, fine woodworker, architectural designer, and as a teacher has taught classes in basketry, carving, weaving, edible and medicinal plants, and more. She has worked with many local tribes, as an instructor and mentor for the Northwest Indian College.

Heidi is the author of a new book, The People of Cascadia: Pacific Northwest Native American History. It is an incredible living work with over 300 pen and ink illustrations depicting the daily life of the four major cultural groups of the Pacific Northwest. It was reviewed by tribal members and cultural experts and approved for the school social studies curricula in Washington State.

In this interview, I visit Heidi in person in her study. This interview goes deep into how to effectively use plants in your life, using Heidi’s incredible life as an example. Though Heidi happens to be my neighbor in the Snoqualmie Valley, I regard her as the most hard-core plant skills learner I have ever met. Medicine, tools, weaving, dyes, gardening, carving, baskets… you name it, she’s done it. She was a crucial mentor for me in my understanding of how to make the plants that grow around come alive in my life.

You can visit Heidi at http://heidibohan.com and http://peopleofcascadia.com

Jessica Moore is a mom who has a passion for herbs. When her baby had a diaper rash, she whipped up an amazing balm that healed it. To make a long story short, she founded an awesome herbal remedy company out of that experience. Many who come to LearningHerbs often wonder how to learn about herbs and take that passion into the world. We’ll see how Jessica did it, and we’ll also ask her some of her favorite herbal first aid secrets.

I have known Jon for over half my life. He has been a mentor and is a good friend.

Jon is an amazing speaker. We’ll focus on how one learns about plants in their ecosystems, how to mentor young ones in nature and herbs, permaculture, health, and…well, get us two together and you never know what will come up! Jon also discusses native peoples' relationship to the plants.

“Weeds are in every country of the world, so it’s beyond me why there is world hunger. An entire civilization is walking on their food.” –Linda Runyon

Linda Runyon’s knowledge and expertise come from years of wilderness living and learning on her own just what foods were safe to eat. She became familiar with medicinal herbs as well, as an offshoot of her friendship among members of an Iroquois Indian tribe in the Adirondacks wild, where she lived for many years.

Karen Sherwood is a Northwest native who grew up studying the flora of the Pacific Northwest. While studying at the University of Washington, she was hired by Tom Brown Jr. to develop and expand the wild foods curriculum for the Tracker School.

Karen gained a strong understanding of the traditional uses of wild plants while teaching there. Since returning home to the Northwest, she continues to teach ethnobotany programs through Earthwalk Northwest and other organizations such as the Department of Ecology, Washington Outdoor Women, King County Parks, and Wilderness Awareness School.

In addition to her botany background, Karen also spent many years in search and rescue, fine-tuning her wilderness survival skills. To balance her expertise, she also teaches utilitarian uses of plants, including cordage and natural plant dyes. Her professionalism and credibility are enhanced by a special gift for helping students become confident and comfortable with harvesting and using plants. Her current passion is teaching about the vast and wondrous uses of seaweeds, as well as traditional Northwest basketry.

Karen Sherwood and her husband Frank run EarthWalk Northwest at http://earthwalknorthwest.com

In this interview, Karen discusses all sorts of useful wild foods information, from foraging, harvesting, and recipes. Especially interesting is a segment on fermentation, views on wildcrafting, recipes with burdock, yellow dock, and much more.

Christopher Hobbs is a fourth-generation herbalist and botanist with 40 years of experience with herbs. Founder of Native Herb Custom Extracts (now Rainbow Light Custom Extracts) and the Institute for Natural Products Research. Christopher writes and lectures internationally on herbal medicine. He is a consultant to the herb industry and is currently practicing and working on a doctorate in biological sciences at Cal Berkeley.

He has become an acknowledged expert in the field, lecturing all over the U.S., and internationally in such countries as Canada, Great Britain, and Spain. Christopher’s specialties include herbs and the immune system; adaptogenic herbs, Native American uses of herbs, the pharmacology, and chemistry of herbal medicines, herbs for the liver, and the botany, and taxonomy of herbs.

Christopher has taught or lectured at universities and medical schools such as Stanford Medical School, Yale Medical School, Bastyr University, and the National School of Naturopathic Medicine; including ongoing classes at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Co-founder of the American Herbalists Guild, acupuncturist, rare book collector, and author of over 20 herbal books are also part of his impressive resume.

His 20 books include Peterson’s Field Guide to Medicinal Plants of the Western U.S., Women’s Herbs, Women’s Health (his most recent), and Herbal Remedies for Dummies.

We discuss learning about herbs, his upbringing, botany, answering a few member questions, and other odds and ends.

Visit http://ChristopherHobbs.com

Dina Falconi is a practicing herbalist with a strong focus on food activism and nutritional healing. She is the author of Earthly Bodies & Heavenly Hair, owner of Falcon Formulations, a natural body care product business, co-creator of Earthly Extracts, a line of medicinal tinctures, and a founding member of the Northeast Herbal Association. She offers workshops and consultations throughout the Northeast.

Dina is Chapter Leader of the Hudson Valley Weston A. Price Foundation, on the steering committee of Slow Food- Hudson Valley Convivium, and organizes the Family Farm Festival, a sustainable agriculture festival in High Falls, NY, held the Sunday after Labor Day.

In this episode, we mainly discuss questions from many HerbMentor members.

Jim McDonald is a self-taught herbalist whose approach blends a folk and indigenous perspective of herb craft with the eclectic/physio medical approaches of 19th century American herbalism. If you ever spent time on Henriette’s forum or the Herbwifery forum, then you may know Jim. He also gives herb walks at many conferences, including the International Herb Symposium.

He has a unique way of teaching people how to connect with plants, and how to learn herbal properties. These are the areas we focus on in this interview, along with some other fun topics. Jim runs programs in Michigan from day-long classes to a 9 month intensive. He is a knowledgeable and engaging teacher, and I was excited to be able to interview him for HerbMentor Radio.

You can visit Jim McDonald at http://HerbCraft.org. His site has many wonderful and extended articles on a number of plants and how to use them for various ailments.

Linda Runyon is an expert in wild foods and has been teaching since the 1970s. Though she has a lifelong love of nature, she really learned her stuff when she spent 13 years with her family homesteading in rural New York State, without indoor plumbing, electricity, or running water.

Linda has turned her amazing life story into many publications, namely her wild foods field guide called The Essential Wild Food Survival Guide (formerly From Crabgrass Muffins to Pine Needle Tea) and a brand new DVD called Linda Runyon’s Master Class on Wild Food Survival. She is also the creator of Wild Cards, the deck of edible plant playing cards many LearningHerbs.com folks have come to love.

For Linda’s return to HerbMentor Radio, we spend nearly 90 minutes on a virtual herb walk. We cover lamb’s quarter, and how to make flour. Also, dandelions (and dandelion french fries!), red clover, cattail, and milkweed. We even take a trip to the Southwest to visit prickly pear cactus and tumbleweed. Linda also reveals the secret to processing and eating thistle! Of course, there are many more wild food nuggets to chew on as well.

Visit Linda at http://OfTheField.com.

Sandor Ellix Katz is the author of Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods and The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved: Inside America’s Underground Food Movement.

Starting with sauerkraut, Sandor has been fermenting foods for over 14 years. As an avid cook, gardener, herbalist, and nutritional enthusiast, his interests have led to a life of spreading “culture” wherever he travels. He refers to himself as a “fermentation revivalist.”

Hailing from the great city of New York, and a graduate of Brown University, Sandor now lives in a community in the wooded hills of Tennessee.

You can visit “Sandorkraut,” check out his resources, read FAQ’s on fermentation, find out his teaching schedule, and order his books at http://www.WildFermentation.com

Tom Elpel is one of our “herbal author heroes” at HerbMentor.com. Besides penning Botany in a Day and Shanleya’s Quest for us herbal folks, here are a few other things Tom has done…

* Founder of Hollowtop Outdoor Primitive School and Green University.

* Author of Participating in Nature, Roadmap to Reality, Living Homes, and Direct Pointing to Real Wealth.

* Producer of four wilderness survival skills videos.

* Founder of Granny’s Store in Silver Star, MT with his wife Renee.

* Founder of 3 Rivers Park.

In this episode, John and Tom mostly discuss Botany in a Day, along with some other fun topics. Learn how easy it is to remember the plants of your bioregion.

He’s got loads of websites, and you can access them all at

http://Hollowtop.com

Paul Bergner is a medical herbalist and founder/director of the North American Institute of Medical Herbalism in Boulder, Colorado. The North American Institute of Medical Herbalism teaches in the vitalist tradition.

He has been practicing and teaching natural medicine since 1973. Paul has edited the Medical Herbalism Journal since its founding in 1989 and has written many books on medical herbalism, nutrition, Chinese medicine, ethnobotany, and naturopathic medicine. He has also edited periodicals on clinical nutrition and naturopathic medicine.

Paul has taught at the Rocky Mountain Center for Botanical Studies, is on the adjunct faculty for Naropa University and the Tai Sophia Institute, and speaks at all the major herbal conferences.

In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, Paul lays a wonderful foundation for learning about herbs as he gets to the heart of herbal medicine…nature. With wonderful stories and insights, Paul will teach you what needs to be at the core of all herbalists and healers.

Visit:

North American Institute of Medical Herbalism

http://www.naimh.com

Paul’s MedHerb.com

http://www.medherb.com

Raylene Ha`alelea Kawaiae`a is a long-time teacher of the Hawaiian way of life, has been a Kumu (teacher) hula for over 30 years. She teaches hula and Hawaiian culture as a way of life to people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. Her lineage has brought her an understanding of the traditions of her heritage.

A practitioner and Haku (master) of Ho`oponopono, a spiritual practice to restore and maintain good relationships between the Divine, humankind, and nature, she comes forth to assist and to be of service to those in need of her skills. Raylene combines her gentle nature with a deep connection to the land and the Spirit of Hawaii to offer deep insight into the mysteries of life.

I met Raylene after a class she taught at the International Herb Symposium. Her insights and culture have much to offer the herbal community. She was also featured in the film, Numen: The Nature of Plants.

Sean Donahue is a traditional herbalist and poet. He has also worked as a freelance journalist, a political organizer, and a nonviolence trainer. He is proud to be a regular contributor to Plant Healer Magazine.

While he has been blessed to receive amazing support and guidance from other herbalists, Sean’s primary teachers have been the wild and feral plants growing in the forests, fields, and swamps around him. He has trusted his own health completely to the plants since they first began helping him begin to heal asthma he struggled with since childhood.

As a practitioner, he looks to plants as allies in helping people remember their own beauty, strength, and power and in guiding them to health.

As a teacher, he encourages students to build their own deep, personal relationships with the plants around them grounded in the experience of their own senses and their own hearts. He identifies deeply with the traditions of the edge dwellers – those who live in the places where the human and wild meet, bridging the worlds.

For Sean, magic, medicine, and poetry are all expressions of a deep connection to the living Earth, and personal, cultural, and ecological healing are inextricably linked. He is currently working on his first book, a guide to plants for the underworld journey.

In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, Sean discusses herbs, magic and goes deep into two herbs… Hawthorne and ghost pipe.

Visit Sean at http://MedicineAndMagic.com

Bevin Clare, M.S., LDN, CNS, RH(AHG), is a clinical herbalist and nutritionist with a deep love of plants. Bevin holds a M.S. in Infectious Disease from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, with her thesis research conducted at the NIA (National Institute on Aging) at the National Institutes of Health, and a B.S. in ethnobotany from Lesley University.

Bevin has studied herbal medicine around the world and blends her knowledge of traditional uses of plants with modern science and contemporary healthcare strategies.

She is the Clinical Division Chair of the Masters of Science in Herbal Medicine Program at Tai Sophia Institute in Laurel, MD, a 2.5-year clinical training program in Herbal Medicine. She also serves on the faculty of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, is on the board of directors of United Plant Savers, is co-director of the Herbal Clinic for All, and lectures nationally. Bevin is a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild, where she serves as vice-president.

In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, Bevin answers over a dozen HerbMentor member-submitted questions. Topics include her favorite herbs, tinctures, herbs for recovering from surgery, herbs for aging, adrenal herbs, and MUCH more.

Visit Bevin at http://www.bevinclare.com

Nome McBride is an herbalist, farmer, wildcrafter and medicine maker from Eugene, Oregon.

He grew up farming in Indiana and was making tinctures in his parents garage before he could drive. Nome founded Pharmacopia Herbals in 2004, whose original name was Under the Yew Botanicals.

You can find Nome’s book, the Herbal Preparations Books, along with hundreds of products Pharmacopia Herbals creates at PharmacopiaHerbals.com

Nome tells his story, from growing up on an Indiana farm to his extreme wildcrafting missions that make Pharmacopia Herbals remedies some of the best available. Nome also covers a couple of his favorite herbs, including pedicularis. Learning how Nome gathers, grows and processes herbs in addition to his vision of “people, plants and place” are truly inspirational.

Paul Bergner and Tania Neubauer, N.D. join me at the Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference for a special live edition of HerbMentor Radio.

Paul has been practicing natural medicine since 1973, is the author of 7 books, and is the founder of the North American Institute of Medical Herbalism.

Dr. Neubauer is a naturopathic physician, was a medical coordinator at the Berkeley Free Clinic, has worked extensively with Natural Doctors International, and has studied with Karen Sanders, Michael Moore, and Adam Seller.

A “calling,” according to Paul, is something that “when you’re doing it, the universe conspires to make you succeed.”

Paul and Tania, along with herbalist 7Song (Northeast School of Botanical Medicine), are leading a delegation to the island of Ometepe in Nicaragua. This trip is open to anyone, no matter what your herbal or language background. It is an amazing opportunity for those who want herbal clinical experience.

Paul and Tania discuss this opportunity in great detail, however, this interview will be of interest to everyone, as Paul discusses what a calling is, and some tips for those who might be interested in being a clinical herbalist. It’s a fascinating look at the state of herbalism from someone who has been doing this for nearly 40 years.

I wanted to get this interview out for 2 reasons… 1) To share what I learned from Paul about finding one’s calling and 2) to spread the word about this trip, which will help a lot of people get quality, natural medical help.

To find out more about Paul, Tania, and 7Song’s clinical training in Nicaragua, visit http://medherb.com/nicaragua.html

In the early 1970s, disgruntled with straight medicine and an educational system where soldiers with big guns were posted on campus, Cascade Anderson Geller channeled her political activism into healing and started three food cooperatives across the U.S. Taking advantage of her love of the outdoors and her Appalachian family heritage of wildcrafting herbs and foods, she decided to pursue becoming an herbalist as a way to gather up her passions into one basket. In 1979, she was a founding member of the Everett House Healing Center in Portland, Oregon, where she saw clients and taught classes.

She served on the faculty of the National College of Naturopathic Medicine, Bastyr College, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, and the California School of Herbal Studies and taught at many other institutions and conferences. She was trained by a host of people who walk their talk, including the late Ella Birzneck, Norma Myers, and Juliette di Bairacli Levy, as well as many others living in remote regions across the Earth.

This interview covers Cascade’s origins as an herbalist and answers HerbMentor member questions.

Charles Garcia is a third-generation curandero and practicing herbalist. He is the founder and director of the California School of Traditional Hispanic Herbalism.

Charles has worked in law enforcement, special education, lectured at many schools and was a contributing author to the book, Wilderness Emergency Care. He taught herbal first aid to the Red Cross and also volunteers many hours helping the homeless population of his hometown of Richmond, CA.

Chuck considers his style of teaching and philosophy of herbal healing as minimalist. If you can make a fire, get a pot of water simmering, find herbs in your back yard, your neighbor's lawn, a city park, an empty lot, in a mountain meadow, or in the middle of the desert, you can aid the sick. The unofficial motto of the school is, “Is est non silicis scientia.” (It is not rocket science.)

This interview focuses on Charles’ unique brand of grassroots herbalism. His story is like no other.

You can visit Charles at http://hispanicherbs.com

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

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

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

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

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

Visit Jim at http://herbcraft.org

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

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

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

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

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

Visit Jon at http://JonYoung.org

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Visit Michael at http://friendsofthetrees.net/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Visit Caroline Gagnon at http://FloraMedicina.com

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

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

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

Visit http://floridaherbalconference.org

Visit http://emilyruff.com