Maryland University of Integrative Health with Bevin Clare

Bevin Clare lets us know what Maryland University of Integrative Health is all about!

Maryland University of Integrative Health is the leading academic institution for integrative health in the nation. For nearly 40 years, MUIH has educated practitioners in health and wellness through transformative and relationship-centered programs that draw from traditional wisdom and contemporary science. MUIH offers graduate degrees and certificates in a wide range of wellness fields, as well as programs for professional and personal development. In our on-campus Natural Care Center and community outreach settings, we provide compassionate and affordable healthcare from student interns and professional practitioners, and deliver more than 35,000 clinical treatments and consultations each year.

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Bevin Clare, M.S., R.H., CNS,
Associate Professor
Bevin Clareis a clinical herbalist and licensed nutritionist currently appointed as Associate Professor and Program Manager of the Post-Master's Certificate in Clinical Herbalism at the Maryland University of Integrative Health. She holds a MSc in Infectious Disease from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, serves on as an adjunct faculty member of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the New York Chiropractic College. Bevin has studied herbal medicine around the world and blends her knowledge of traditional uses of plants with modern science and contemporary healthcare strategies. Her clinical practice focuses on wellness, nutrition, infection, and women’s health. She is a board member of the United Plant Savers, a group working to protect at-risk medicinal plants in North America. Bevin has been a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild for nearly a decade, on the governing council for 7 years and the vice president since 2010.

The Yoga of Plants with Dan De Lion | 27

Today's episode is with Dan De Lion. 

Dan is an Earth Herbalist, Forager, Musician, and Teacher dedicated to working with Nature to facilitate the reunion of the people with our planetary purpose.  He teaches through Return to Nature, providing classes, lectures, and seminars on wild food foraging, mushroom identification, herbal medicine making, as well as primitive and survival skills with a focus on wild foods and forest medicines.

This workshop is titled "Yoga of Plants"

Learn the foundational practices to apply Ayurvedic constitutional principles to intuit and understand herbal properties and their effects on the body through your own ability to taste wild plants!

You can find the original recording for this class HERE on Dan's YouTube page. 

To check out many more foraging and herbalism articles, videos, webinars, and upcoming classes you should head to ReturnToNature.US

Dan is also running a GoFundMe campaign for a pretty cool project. It's called the Foraging Herbal Roving Van School. For more info on this you can head to GoFundMe.com/returntonature

Join Dan on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/returntonatureskills

And Instagram: www.instagram.com/returntonature

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this podcast please let Dan know on the socials, or leave us a comment in whatever podcast app you may be using. 

Much love. 

Medicine of Pacific Northwest Trees: A Hands-on Medicine Making Class with Natasha Clarke | 26

Today’s episode is brought to you by the NorthWest Herb Symposium.

I had the pleasure of attending this wonderful event a few years ago and I gotta say it’s top notch. The location alone is worth the trip. It’s located at the Camp Casey Conference Center in beautiful Coupeville Washington. 

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Next year’s event, titled “Botanicals at the Beach” will be from August 23 – 26 2018.

For more information you can head to NWHerbSymposium.com.

Also, you can purchase recordings from last year’s event, as well as many other events from the symposium’s organizer’s website: www.treefarmtapes.com

This was recorded at the 2017 NorthWest Herb Symposium.

It’s with none other than herbalist Natasha Clarke.

CLASS DESCRIPTION:

Tree medicine is an oft overlooked resource here in the Pacific Northwest but it was only 60 years ago that harvesting bark from the Cascara trees was a job that folks still remember doing to make some extra money. From the mighty Western Red Cedar and Black Cottonwood to the “weedy’ Red Alder, Cascara and the lesser known Dogwood and Madrona, the trees in this bio region offer a pillar of support for many ailments. As a practicing herbalist focused on using local herbs, tree medicine compromises about 40% of the medicine I use. 
 
Of the trees that lend their medicine well on this land are Western Red Cedar, Red Alder, Black Cottonwood, Pacific Northwest Dogwood, Cascara, Hawthorn and Willow, and Wild Cherry to name just a few. 
 
Trees have a long physical history with man and an even longer relationship. We have been bough in arms with these silent sentient beings and I find that the medicine is rooted in this relationship. It leads to a reaching down and anchoring of ourselves in land, an understanding of where we are to grow from on our healing paths with this land that is our home, whether we are new to place or here all our lives. 
 
The tree’s that I will be discussing are all trees that I use regularly in my practice and we will be talking about their medicine while we make the medicine. 
 
Natasha Clarke is a practicing herbalist on Camano Island, WA. She is an herbal educator and creator of the Herb Hunter on KSER. To find out more go to: www.InnerEarthHealing.com 

Herbalism Schools on the Podcast

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Do you own and operate an herbalism school? 

The HerbRally podcast is looking to post 2 - 15 minute episodes ALL ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL. 

Here's the scoop:

Using any ol' mic (even your iPhone will suffice) record an introduction to your school. It can be as long or as short as it needs to be. Be sure to include details such as location, what y'all specialize in, who the instructors are, and what makes your school special. 

I can edit out the "ums" etc., so don't worry about that part. If you have audio editing software and wish to do all of that, that's fine too, but definitely not necessary. I want to make this as easy on you as possible. 

You can send me the audio file via email or Dropbox. In both cases, my contact info is mason@herbrally.com. 

I plan on publishing these introductions both as podcast episodes, as well as attached to your school listing on HerbRally.

For examples of what two other schools have done, you can listen here:

Admittedly, these both have high-production value, but this is not necessary. Again, whatever recording device you have available to you will work just fine and dandy. 

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to let me know!

On a related topic, I would LOVE to post similar short episodes on your herbalism events. So if that's of interest to you, feel free send those my way as well. Here are some examples of previous event podcast episodes:

Thanks so much for the consideration. I hope we're able to spread the word of all the great work y'all are up to!

~Mason

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7Song talks about Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) | 25

Herbalist 7Song goes in depth on blue vervain in today's episode. 

He discusses identification, medicine making and medicinal uses of this wonderful plant ally. 

This audio is from a video on his YouTube page WHICH YOU CAN FIND HERE. 

For more info on 7Song along with his school’s website, the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine, just head to 7Song.com.

If blue vervain has not been in your materia medica, I hope this episode has been informative to you and potentially introduced you to a new plant friend.

Thanks for listening, enjoy.

7Song is an herbalist, teacher, and naturalist who lives in Ithaca, New York. He is the director and main instructor at the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine and is also a founding member and practitioner at the Ithaca Free Clinic. His focus includes herbal practice, free clinic work, first aid, wildcrafting, and botany. He also spends a lot of time taking photographs of things that run, crawl, fly, or photosynthesize.

Devil's Club Monograph by Mel Kasting | 24

On today's episode I narrate Mel Kasting's devil's club monograph. 

Here's a sampling from her monograph which you can find here: www.herbrally.com/monographs/devils-club

If we parse this striking plant’s latin name into three segments, we find ‘opolo’ meaning armored, ‘panax’ meaning heal-all, and ‘horridus’ meaning to stand on end, fiercely. So this plant literally means fiercely armored heal-all; an apt description.

The first time I saw Devil’s club, I was on a field trip with the Columbines School of Botanical Studies. We had been hiking along an incline and down below, in the moist bellows where two hills met, stood a large patch quietly looming over the smaller ground cover plants. I remember feeling awed by its prehistoric appearance. And a little timid, like I was about to meet someone I have looked up to for years. Talk about presence.

For more monographs: www.herbrally.com/monographs

You can visit Mel online at: eclecticschoolofherbalmedicine.com/mel-kasting

Let us know what you thought of the episode! Thanks so much for listening. 

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Mel Kasting is a Clinical Herbalist, Freelance Writer, and Assistant Clinic Director for the Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine’s student-led free clinic.  She has been in practice for 5 years, collaborating with free clinics, and working with private clients all over the country.

David Hoffmann: Herbs for Elder Issues (if I can remember what they are…) | 22

Today’s episode is brought to you by the NorthWest Herb Symposium.

I had the pleasure of attending this wonderful event a few years ago and I gotta say it’s top notch. The location alone is worth the trip. It’s located at the Camp Casey Conference Center in beautiful Coupeville Washington. 

Next year’s event, titled “Botanicals at the Beach” will be from August 23 – 26 2018.

For more information you can head to NWHerbSymposium.com.

Also, you can purchase recordings from last year’s event, as well as many other events from the symposium’s organizer’s website: www.treefarmtapes.com

Today’s episode was recorded at the 2017 NorthWest Herb Symposium.

It’s with none other than David Hoffmann.

What can herbalism do as opposed to the hype? What actions are relevant, what tonics can support the various body systems. We will discuss acetylcholinesterase inhibitors from Sage to Huperzia. How do these herbs actually effect the aging body and mind.

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David, a Fellow of Britain’s National Institute of Medical Herbalists, has been a clinical phytotherapist for more than twenty-five years.

He started his herbal practice in Wales, continuing at the Findhorn community in Scotland, and has been practicing in California since 1986.

A long time activist in the environmental and peace movements, he ran for parliament in Britain for the Green party in 1983. He is one of the founding members and a past president of the American Herbalists Guild and is on the advisory boards of the American Botanical Council and HerbalGram.

The author of seventeen books, including the highly regarded The Complete Illustrated Holistic Herbal, An Elders’ Herbal,Medical Herbalism and The Herbal Handbook, Hoffmann teaches phytotherapy throughout the English-speaking world and is currently a faculty member of the California School of Herbal Studies. He is also a visiting faculty member at Bastyr University, the California Institute of Integral Studies, the National College of Phytotherapy, and the Rocky Mountain School of Botanical Studies.

Wild Cherry Monograph by jim mcdonald | 21

On today's episode I narrate jim mcdonald's wild cherry monograph. 

Here's a sampling from his monograph which you can find here: www.herbrally.com/monographs/wild-cherry

When considering wild cherry, most will immediately think of its use in the address of coughs and colds; indeed, such a staple it was that when plant medicine was being replaced by chemical drugs "wild cherry" was retained as the flavor of cough syrups and drops, because, well... that's just what those things were supposed to taste like.  The actual bark, though, does much more than provide flavor.  Wild cherry is a respiratory relaxant/antispasmodic and, in varying degrees, an astringent tonic.  A cooling sedative to lung tissue, it excels when heat and irritability undermine healthy expectoration.

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Now, here's where I want to paint a little word picture that really sums up wild cherry's respiratory sphere of influence perfectly; that's really what all herb writers want to do when we write these things.  But, darnit, Michael Moore did it so well I can't resist quoting him: "Chokecherry or wild cherry bark is a simple sedative for cardiopulmonary excitability.  If your child is lying in bed, glowing a dull infrared and breathing rapidly with a dry cough, give him/her chokecherry.  That hot, vibratile pulse of blood through the lungs can be counterproductive, not nourishing the membranes as well as needed and maybe even slowing the defensive responses to a viral infection.  The hectic breathing can dry out mucous membranes and harden secretions, making them little more than dried blobs adhering to the bronchial membranes---difficult enough for an adult to expectorate, very difficult for a respiratory-impatient child to handle."

Yeah, Moore was awesome.

For more monographs: www.herbrally.com/monographs

You can visit jim online at HerbCraft.org

Let us know what you thought of the episode! Thanks so much for listening. 

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jim mcdonald offers a knowledge of herbalism that blends western folk and indigenous views with the Vitalist traditions of the 19th century, presented through story, humor and common sense. He has taught classes throughout the US, hosts the website www.herbcraft.org and has written for Plant Healer Magazine, the Journal of Ontario Herbalist Association and Llewelyn's Herbal Almanac. He is currently writing a "Great Lakes Herbal" and "Foundational Herbcraft". jim is a manic wildcrafter and medicine maker. 

The Doctrine of Signatures with Ellen Evert Hopman | 20

Today’s episode is with herbalist and author Ellen Evert Hopman.

She's going to teach us all about the Doctrine of Signatures. This class was taught at the 2017 New England Women’s Herbal Gathering in New Hampshire.

Learn an ancient plant classification system that was developed in a time before most people could read. Did the plant grow in sun or shade? In damp soil or in a dry area? The shape of a leaf, the color of a 9 flower, the taste of an herb were all guides to which body system or organ the plant was appropriate for.

Although you'll learn a lot in this episode, you should look into her book: Secret Medicines from Your Garden - Plants for Healing, Spirituality and Magic

She covers the Doctrine of Signatures along with a lot of other herbal and magical concepts. 

To find out more about Ellen, you can visit her online at elleneverthopman.com.

Thanks Ellen for sharing this class with us!

Hopman is the author of a number of books and has been a teacher of Herbalism since 1983 and of Druidism since 1990. She has presented on Druidism, herbal lore, tree lore, Paganism and magic at conferences, festivals, and events in Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and in the United States.

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She has participated in numerous radio and television programs including National Public Radio’s “Vox Pop” and the Gary Null show in New York.

She presented a weekly “herb report” for WRSI radio out of Greenfield, MA for over a year and was a featured subject in a documentary about Druids on A&E Television’s; “The Unexplained” (Secret Societies, February 1999).

She is a Master Herbalist and professional member of the American Herbalists Guild (AHG) and lay Homeopath who holds an M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling.

She is a founding member of The Order of the White Oak (Ord Na Darach Gile) and its former Co-Chief, a Bard of the Gorsedd of Caer Abiri, and a Druidess of the Druid Clan of Dana. She is currently ArchDruid of Tribe of the Oak, an international Druid teaching Order based in New England, USA.

She was Vice President of The Henge of Keltria, an international Druid Fellowship, for nine years and has been at times a member of The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids and Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship (ADF).

 

Ecological Herb Walk with Betzy Bancroft | 19

This class was recorded at the superb event: The Great Lakes Herb Faire. 

If you've not been and you're in the region, I encourage you to try and make it to the 2018 shindig. Here's the details:

Great Lakes Herb Faire
September 7 - 9, 2018
Cedar Lake Outdoor Center,
2500 Pierce Rd, Chelsea, Michigan

“We have had three amazing Faires so far and are so looking forward to doing this again! The feedback we received from people who attended was overwhelmingly positive. People were excited to network and meet other herbalists in their communities, learn directly from teachers rather than relying on books, and walk the trails on the surrounding land meeting the herbs in person. There were many kids attending and we heard from parents and the kids themselves that they couldn’t wait to come back next year! There was amazing energy from everyone, the food was delicious and the marketplace was loaded with fantastic herbal creations.”
— Anna Fernandez

I had the great fortune of attending the 2017 Faire (as a representative for Mountain Rose Herbs) and I concur on all of that. And yes, the food was phenomenal! 

If interested in purchasing recordings from the 2016 and 2017 Faires (for a great price) you can do so here>> RECORDINGS

I also ended up going on this epic plant walk with Betzy Bancroft!

Thanks to Anna and Betzy for letting me share it on the HerbRally podcast. 

I hope y'all enjoy it! I think it's fun to listen to plant walks personally. Especially as we head into the winter. Takes me back to that beautiful September day in Michigan :)

Here's the description for the walk from the website:

Developing a deep understanding of a few common weeds helps us save the native and less common species for special needs. On this walk we’ll include discussion of the abundance or ecological concerns of the herbs we meet, in addition to the medicinal and edible uses. And probably spend a lot of time on a few common weeds . . . . 

LIKE THE GREAT LAKES HERB FAIRE ON FACEBOOK

A little bit about Betzy...

Betzy Bancroft, RH(AHG) is a teacher, clinical herbalist, gardener, craftsperson and environmentalist who’s had a deep appreciation for the magic of plants since childhood. As Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism's co-director and core faculty, Betzy provides the earth element to the organization’s staff. Plants are truly her friends, and she feels ever inspired by the natural world—all its varied beings and the amazing interconnections and beauty that make up the great web of life. 

 

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An Herbal Education: Options For Learning All You Need To Know by Jesse Wolf Hardin | 18

In today's episode I narrate an excerpt from Jesse Wolf Hardin's excellent book The Plant Healer's Path: A Grassroots Guide for the Folk Herbal Tradition. 

You'll hear the four main ways to go about learning the skill and craft of herbalism. 

“In all cases, however, you will want an education that is in-depth and not superficial, grounded in but not restricted to good holistic science, requiring actual practice, and aimed at personal excellence and effectiveness.”
— Jesse Wolf Hardin
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I hope you give it a listen! If you enjoyed the episode please share or leave us a comment in iTunes. 

On another note...

Wolf and Kiva Rose host one of the BEST herb conferences around. I can't recommend attending the Good Medicine Confluence enough. The next one is in Durango, CO from May 16 - 20, 2018. Perhaps I'll see you there! 

RESOURCES

Your Own Wellness Foundational Herbalism Apprenticeship with Aline Potvin, ND

Listen in as Aline Potvin, ND talks about her apprenticeship in Biddeford, ME. 

Photo Credit: Jaime Lynn Photography

Photo Credit: Jaime Lynn Photography

Foundational Herbalism is a 10 month Herbal Apprenticeship that will meet one Saturday a month from February to November 2018. The dates are as follows: 02/10, 03/10, 04/07, 05/19, 06/09, 07/14, 08/11, 09/08, 10/13, 11/17. Enrollment begins September 2, 2017 and concludes January 31, 2018. 

Become fluent in foundational herbal definitions, terms, and ID strategies: While this isn't a in-depth botany class, we will be covering basic plant structure and ID cues.  Herbal definitions and terms will be reinforced throughout the entirety of the class.

Dig into basic materia medica and develop your understanding of the many layers of medicinal plants: While deepermateria medica will be focus of Year 2 (Greater Applications), as we explore different herbal preps, we will cover the layers of herbs we work with. Students will be expected to conduct self study on the 2 herbs they will be doing greater in-depth projects for. We'll dig into the scientific, energetic, and esoteric lore of the herbs we encounter.

And so much more...

FOUNDATIONAL HERBALISM APPRENTICESHIP

“15 years since I started on my own plant medicine journey, I’m in awe of the model the natural world provides us to become more “whole” humans. You can’t ignore relationships in the natural world. Everything and everyone is connected. I often see people approach their herbalism studies with the intention of treating others. It’s a noble plan. But I can say that knowing myself well and honoring self-care has been the key to my ability to work with others. That’s why self-care and relationship is the essence of my Foundational Herbalism Apprenticeship. This apprenticeship is a very full, experiential 10 months.”
— Aline Potvin

EVENT | Sacred Plant Medicine Retreat in Peru with Bliss Without Bother and Rachelle Robinett

Heal, expand, learn, explore, or return for a life-changing experience with some of the world’s oldest plant remedies in Sacred Valley, Peru.

Friday, February 9, 2018 - Sunday, February 18, 2018
Spirit Plant Journeys
Sacred Valley, Peru

Join Bliss Without Bother and Medicinal Herbal Healer Rachelle Robinett on a 10-day journey with healing plant remedies, ceremonies with local, direct-lineage shaman, and guided tours of sacred sites in cozy lodging with nourishing plant-based meals. Optional activities include yoga, sharing circles, plant baths, and more. This retreat is a carefully curated small-group experience for friendship and camaraderie as we adventure together with powerfully healing herbs.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS AND RSVP

 

Sacred Plant Medicine Retreat Package

  • San Pedro Ceremony + Group Sharing

  • Four Ayahuasca Healing Ceremonies

  • Sacred Valley Guided Tours

  • Restorative Body Work

  • Cleansing Flower Baths

  • Gentle Yoga

  • Nourishing Ayahuasca Meals

  • Healing Music + Song

About the Organizers:

Bliss Without Bother is a wellness retreat planning service for individuals, wellness instructors, and organizations, offering a variety of services to provide exceptional wellness experiences, making it blissful for all. Because why not bliss without the bother?

Rachelle Robinett, Medicinal Herbal Healer and Complementary & Integrative Health Guide, combines natural approaches to holistic health with functional lifestyle practices for transformative well-being. 

 

REGISTER HERE

Yarrow Monograph by Krystal Thompson | 17

On today's episode I narrate Krystal Thompson's monograph on Yarrow. 

Here's a sampling from her monograph which you can find here: www.herbrally.com/monographs/yarrow

Medicinal Use: Perhaps most famously, yarrow is prized for its benefits to wounds or minor bleeding. Its mild antiseptic and anodyne properties coupled with its ability to coagulate blood and stop bleeding make it the perfect ally in this case. These properties also make it useful in cases of hemorrhoids, post-partum care, bruises, and mouth sores, as well as internal bleeding (4). Yarrow beautifully harmonizes blood circulation and can be beneficial in cases of stagnation such as vericose veins or fibroids, as well as cases of overstimulated blood flow, such as hypertension. It is sometimes considered a skin tonic and can be used in a very effective facial steam to improve complexion through circulation and cooling inflamed tissue. Yarrow can also be protective against topical sun and wind damage.

Yarrow prepared as tea is a wonderful ally in the face of tough colds. Its diaphoretic action makes it especially useful at the onset of fever or in cases of obstructed perspiration (1). Diaphoretic plants “move the circulation toward the surface of the body, helping to cool it off through sweating, and increasing the immunological activity on the “front lines” of the body’s battle against the cold” (6). For these same reasons it is a common plant accompaniment to sweat lodges and other types of therapeutic sweating where the “front lines” of the battlefield can be physical as well as spiritual. Yarrow opens pores and purifies the blood, a great combination for eruptive conditions such as measles, chickenpox, fevers, etc. In TCM, yarrow’s benefits here would be described as tonifying Qi or releasing to the exterior (5). No doubt related to these indications, yarrow also has a reputation for being generally beneficial to kidney disorders.

Yarrow has an additional affinity for the pancreas and the lungs. It can benefit “thick blood,” which occurs when liver or pancreatic function is compromised due to high insulin levels or low digestive enzymes (10). Here, the blood contains more fats and other dense compounds that struggle to move freely through the blood vessels. This causes overexertion on the heart and improper gas exchange within the lungs, which puts stress on the entire body. Yarrow stimulates pancreatic function and boosts blood flow to help avoid these instances, but can benefit the anxiety or insomnia that may follow if thick blood does set in.

For more monographs (40+ as of now) please visit: www.herbrally.com/monographs

You can visit Krystal online at HotelWilderness.com

Let us know what you thought of the episode! Thanks so much for listening. 

Please share this if you feel so inclined :) 

Krystal is the woman behind Hotel Wilderness, a food and project blog focused on bringing healing herbs into the nooks and crannies of our daily lives. She is a photographer with a deep-seated love for food and plant medicine, and can usually be fou…

Krystal is the woman behind Hotel Wilderness, a food and project blog focused on bringing healing herbs into the nooks and crannies of our daily lives. She is a photographer with a deep-seated love for food and plant medicine, and can usually be found happily crafting between the three.

Rachel Burgos of Snakeroot Apothecary is interviewed by Mary Evans of Spirit Speak Tarot | 16

Today's episode we'll hear from Rachel Burgos of Snakeroot Apothecary. She's interviewed by her good friend and fellow magic maker Mary Evans, of Spirit Speak Tarot.

Here's some questions that are asked: 

  • When did Rachel first become interested in herbalism? 
  • How does living in the desert effect Rachel's herbal medicine practice? 
  • What are flower essences? 
  • What are Rachel's opinions on wildcrafting? 
  • How does herbalism aid in being an activist? 
  • And many more... 

This is a super fun interview and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did! 

Show 'em some love on Instagram:

“My strongest education with plants began in Big Sur, California. Living on an isolated mountain above the fog line I began to listen. I connected deeply with manzanita and madrone. Suddenly I was relearning and remembering how to communicate with and learn from animals, plants, rocks and other elements of the earth.

Today I am walking my path and purpose as a clinical herbalist. I am currently living in the small desert town of Joshua Tree, California. I want to respectfully acknowledge that this land is occupied native Cahuilla land.”
— Rachel Burgos
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Cultivating and Caretaking the Ecosystems We Call Home with Sam Thayer | 15

This episode was recorded at the event "Planting the Future: Medicinal Plant Conservation in the Driftless Region" hosted by United Plant Savers on August 12, 2017 in Wisconsin. 

Thank you to Sam Thayer and Susan Leopold for sharing this!

Beyond, sustainable harvest, we look at the long-term future of our landscape, and the special role that plant gatherers have in maintaining its ecology and prosperity. We'll talk about the threats and historical changes to our ecosystems, and discuss strategies to work and grow past them. We can do more than just "reduce our impact"—we can be a positive force to create and maintain vibrant and diverse communities of native plants that are at once productive for us and a paradise for wildlife. Nurturing the land that nurtures us. The Driftless Area will be used as an example for ecological and management concepts that apply everywhere. We'll explore some traditional, mutually beneficial relationships between Native peoples and the plants that support them, and discuss practical techniques for implementing this kind of harmony on our own sacred gathering grounds.

BECOME A MEMBER OF UNITED PLANT SAVERS

Pumpkin Spice: A Deep Dive into the Medicinal Properties of this Beloved Fall Blend with Katja Swift and Ryn Midura | 14

Katja and Ryn are back on the podcast! 

Always love havin' 'em share their wisdom. And this time...we're going deep on the topic of...PUMPKIN SPICE. 

This is a fun episode, y'all. We'll learn which herbs are in this blend. Then, Katja and Ryn break down the medicinal properties of each spice within. 

Hope you enjoyed the episode as much as I did! 

For more on what Katja and Ryn are up to, check out their website: www.commonwealthherbs.com

They've got A TON of offerings, including a BRAND NEW ONLINE PROGRAM. 

Also, feel free to show 'em some love on the socials>> FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM 

If you'd like to be updated on more great herbal content like this, please subscribe in iTunes or your podcast player of choice. 

Fall is upon us...

EVENT | Free Herbalism Project hosted by Mountain Rose Herbs

In today's episode I'm talking about the upcoming event hosted by Mountain Rose Herbs: The Free Herbalism Project. 

This FREE EVENT is taking place this weekend, Sunday October 15, 2017 at the Mount Pisgah Arboretum in Eugene, OR. 

This time they're hosting two fantastic guest speakers, Kathleen Maier and Rosalee de la Forêt. These two amazing herbalists are not to be missed! 

“The Free Herbalism Project is an interactive community event with botanically inspired lectures from experts in the field, live music, vendors and plenty of free organic herbal tea! Our goal is to create a remarkable experience for those who wish to delve further into the world of herbalism, wild foods, and natural living. It is one of the ways in which Mountain Rose Herbs hopes to give back to herbalists and our local community.”
— Mountain Rose Herbs

Here's the day's schedule!

11:45am - 12:30pm Live music with Corwin Bolt and the Wingnuts

12:30am - 2:15pm Rosalee de la Forêt - The Language of Herbs

2:15pm - 2:45pm Live music with Corwin Bolt and the Wingnuts

2:45pm - 4:30pm Kathleen Maier - Introduction to Western Energetic Herbalism 

4:30pm - 5pm Live music with Corwin Bolt and the Wingnuts

We hope y'all can join us!

REGISTER HERE

Crafting a Holistic Framework for Abortion with Paris Rae Iha | 13

“Liberation must come from within”
— Sandra Cisneros

Today's episode we hear from herbalist Paris Iha. She focuses on herbal allies for, during and after abortion. She also discusses and dismantles perspectives around the distinction made between abortion and miscarriage and offers a little history lesson on the topic through an herbal lens.

Paris: A woman has already made her decision to have an abortion. Regardless of what that decision looks like, we are there to support her. She may be sister, client, friend; certainly she is maiden, mother and crone. And we are in solidarity with her.

Once someone has reached out and we have committed to being in their support sphere, we are with them through it.

(I use the words woman, she, etc. and sometimes gender neutral people get pregnant too, so being pronoun sensitive, but for purposes my personal connection to abortion story I often use woman or she)

A woman’s womb is potently aligned with the womb of the earth; Her sacred cycle is the earth’s sacred cycle.

“Herbs are a first choice medicine for many women’s health problems…I think herbs act in a particularly impressive way on women’s health because there is a natural affinity between women and the plant world. Plants spring from the heart of earth; they are nourished by the seasons and whims of Mother Nature. Beautiful, strong, and powerful, herbs are in sympathy with women’s spirit… Herbs can also be used to support and nourish the female system when a woman chooses to use allopathic medicine.”
— Rosemary Gladstar

Paris Rae Iha is a clinical herbalist intern and apprentice, wild-crafter, rock-climber, perennial adventurer, activist and artist.

Herbalism has been Paris’ chosen path now for over six years, weaving her passion for healing with just a touch of magic. She believes herbal wisdom to be the birthright of all peoples as it fulfills an intrinsic aspect of human nature—the connection to our wild-ish-ness and the formation of meaningful relationships.

Paris’ first encounters with plants as medicine came when she made a choice to shift her lifestyle to embrace lunar rhythms, thus living more closely with her innate cycles and with the earth as a gardener.

This inevitably gestated Paris into the sphere of the healing agency of plants where she discovered something she had been yearning for; a deeper sense of self through the community of plants, our planet, and of the people who tend to them.

In her practice, Paris seeks to guide her clients in formulating and supporting existing wellness goals, finding their allies, and fostering connection to their innate sense of healing.

THE CONTENT ON THIS WEBSITE IS FOR EDUCATIONAL and entertainment PURPOSES ONLY.
it IS NOT INTENDED TO cure, DIAGNOSE, TREAT, OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.
THIS INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION.