Community Monographs (you definitely want to check this one out!!)
So during our newest 3-part video series, I issued a challenge to the Evolutionary Herbalism community to pick a plant… any plant…. and do a monograph writeup based on the 5 key elements of how to use an herb holistically. This framework includes researching and directly experiencing: 1) the taste of the herb, 2) the actions,…
Alchemical Herb Profile: Red Root (Ceanothus cuneatus)
Red Root, or commonly called “Buckbrush” around here – is a wild shrubby plant that flourishes all around the hills where we live. Though this variety of Ceanothus is poky, dense, and hardy – not the most welcoming looking plant around – it exudes the most sweet, heavenly fragrance throughout the forest while its fluffy…
Alchemical Herb Profile: Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
“A weed is a plant whose virtue is not yet known.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson Though Dandelion is a common “weed” found in most people’s yards, it is full of medicinal properties that are valuable to know. I often think that those herbs which show up all over the place, growing up through the cracks in…
Herbal Alchemy: The Water Element
Learn how to use the Elements as a lens for classifying and using herbal remedies. The Alchemical herbal perspective involves looking at the planetary rulerships of different herbs, their organ and tissue affinities, as well as providing a sophisticated and refined way of preparing herbal medicines according to astrological influences. In this video, I reveal how…
Holistic Herbalism and the Adaptogen Myth
What’s the most common mistake most people make when they start using herbs? After years of teaching and traveling across the country, I’ve seen people over and over make the assumption that if they’re using herbs, they’re holistic. It’s actually not true! Many herbalists and naturopaths actually practice what I like to call “green…
Alchemical Herb Profile: Wood Betony (Stachys betonica)
So I know it’s been awhile since my last blog post- sorry about that! Life got really busy there for awhile teaching a lot of workshops, traveling to different conferences and events, and preparing for the opening of next year’s school year! I’ll be in touch with you soon with more info about that real soon.…
Medical Astrology and Herbalism: Mars
Mars is considered one of the “malefic” planets- IE one of the “bad guys.” Of course, no astrological archetype is purely evil or bad, unless we don’t work with it in a good way or have it well integrated into our constitution. Mars typically creates diseases associated with heat, what the old physiomedicalist doctors called…
Evolutionary Herbal Profile: Oregon Grape
This is one of my favorite plants that I’m so glad grows around us. This is one of the great remedies for the solar plexus- on a physical level through it’s impact on digestion and the liver, but also energetically as it operates upon the Manipura, or 3rd chakra. It’s one of my major remedies…
Evolutionary Herbal Profile: Rosemary
Our Rosemary has been going off!! It’s been really standing out to me lately and it’s just in our backyard- so I thought I’d share a little bit about the uses and energetics of the herb as I see it. What are your uses for Rosemary? Any experiences you’d like to share? Post your comments below!
Astro-Herbalism: The Link Between the Above and Below
I get a lot of questions about how astrology and herbalism can work together as a system of medicine. I thought I’d shoot a little quickie and share a little bit more about this unique perspective and approach to practicing plant medicine. What I love about it is that it is a direct reflection of…