Essential Oils vs. Infused Oils
The Difference Between Essential Oils and Infused Oils People commonly confuse the term essential oil with infused oils, not realizing they are in fact two different types of extraction. We also have the term herbal oils or aromatic oils, which also contributes to the confusion, as these terms have all been used interchangeable and applied…
The Holistic Properties of Valerian
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is one of those herbs that a lot of people are aware of, especially in regards to its usage as a remedy for sleep. But why does Valerian help us sleep? What are the underlying properties that lend to this popularized usage? And what else can Valerian be used for? In this…
The Magnetic Power of Plants as Teachers + Healers
I recently had the honor of being featured on the Feed Your Wild podcast, sharing about my perspective & story around working with plant medicine, healing and living as a human on this earth at this time. In this interview, I share stories around the personal process of my own healing and what walking the plant…
Herbs to Support the Heart in Times of Grief
“Grief expressed out loud, whether in or out of character, un-choreographed and honest, for someone we have lost, or a country or home we have lost, is in itself the greatest praise we could ever give them. Grief is praise, because it is the natural way love honors what it misses.” -Martine Prechtel Grief is…
One of the Most Important Ways to Learn Herbalism That Has Nothing To Do With Books
There’s one critical key to truly understanding healing & herbalism that has nothing to do with what you’ll read in a book. This foundational element will deepen your connection to herbs and your understanding of how they work, which overall will make you a better herbalist (which is what you want, right?!) But before I…
The Herbal Equation: Plants AND People
I know how it goes when you first start studying herbalism, you get SO excited about learning about all of these beautiful amazing plants. I mean after all, isn’t that what usually gets us into herbal medicine to begin with, an absolute love for plants? But they are just one half of the “herbal equation.” It’s…
The Human Body: Machine or Ecosystem?
Modern biomedicine tends to view the human body like a machine made up of multiple “gears.” When something goes wrong, we simply need to fix the broken part (or replace it in some instances). This mechanistic view of the body is significantly different from more traditional perspectives on our anatomy and physiology. Central to the…
Developing Your Herbal Competence and Confidence
As we walk the plant path, there eventually comes a time when we come up against certain blocks that prevent us from reaching that next level in our practice of herbalism. While it’s critical that we learn the external skills, strategies, principles and practices to become an herbalist, there is also an internal component…
The Next Generation of Herbalists: Teaching kids how to use herbs
In this video, I share a bit about my story of growing up foraging wild foods & medicinal herbs and how that shaped me as an adult today. It’s really what set me on my plant path and is ultimately why I’m an herbalist today! I also share some of the healing qualities of the…
Preventative Medicine With Astro-Herbalism
One of the main problems with modern medicine isn’t just based on the fact that pharmaceutical drugs can often cause more problems than solutions, but rather, it’s a problem of philosophy which directly influences the way medicine is practiced. The overarching philosophical approach to modern medicine is based on the treatment of symptoms. It is…
