Terra Vita 2017: The Quintessential Herbal Monograph
In early March of 2017, I was lucky enough to break away from the frost of Oregon and head down to southern California, visit some old friends, and make some new ones at the Terra Vita Symposium in Laguna Beach. It was an awesome event held at a funky alternative school for kids and brought together…
Psychology, Astrology, and Herbalism
Let’s face it, people want deeper levels of healing these days. Most are starting to realize that a physical symptom in the body is actually and oftentimes directly influenced by the mind and emotions. Some are even thinking that maybe their physical symptoms are there because of their psychological and emotional state! This is revolutionary to say…
The Allopathic Herbalism Trap
Vitalism is an ancient principle found in the western traditions that recognizes the life principle within plants and people. This vital principle is what gives everything life, and while the biochemical attributes of an organism are important, it is not all there is. When we use an herbal medicine, we are using the…
Herbal Therapeutics and Differentials for Pain
Let’s face it, pain really sucks!! It can completely dominate your consciousness, blurring out everything else until it becomes your sole focal point, making life a bit more difficult to simply live your life. A lot of folks think that herbs don’t really work that well for pain. That the only things that really work are the heavier hitting…
Plant Allies for the Toughest Times
It’s when you get challenged that you find your real strength. It’s when your foundation is shaky that you find your backbone and what really keeps you afloat. These times ahead are going to be testing all of us – they already are. This week has been huge in many ways – frightening at…
What You Should (& Shouldn’t) Do When You Start to Get a Cold
Everyone who knows anything about herbs knows that you take Echinacea at the first onset of a cough, cold or flu. But is that really true? More importantly, is that really holistic or in accordance with the vitalist understanding of herbal medicine. Is it possible that taking a squirt of Echinacea every 30 minutes at the…
The Key to Herbal Energetics and Constitutional Systems
One of the key distinguishing characteristics of the practice of true holistic herbalism is the understanding of herbal energetics juxtaposed with the human constitution. These 2 areas of study are the crux of traditional systems of herbalism and natural medicine, and are likely the most overlooked aspects of people and plants in modern medicine- both pharmaceutical and herbal.…
SALE to support Standing Rock
You’re needed more than ever right now. There isn’t time anymore for you to doubt yourself, to waiver in what you believe in or to put off doing something courageous until tomorrow. There comes a moment in each of our lives where we’ve just got to stand up and step into our power to take…
Restoring the Nervous System with Herbal Medicines
If you were to ask me what one of the most important herbal actions was, I would likely say the nervines. Why? Because our modern world is incredibly taxing on the health of our nerves!! With stress, fatigue, anxiety, tension, nervousness, insomnia, etc. being some of the most common complaints these days it’s become super clear to…
Osha (Ligusticum grayi) profile
Osha is one of our great remedies from North American herbalism with a potent and powerful influence upon the respiratory system. A lot of people reach for it immediately whenever they come down with type of respiratory tract infection, but it’s important to consider the energetics of the plant and match it to the state…
