Medicine of the Evergreens
Evergreen trees are revered throughout the world for their medicinal properties, rich folklore, and uplifting symbolism. Although you might be familiar with these trees from your walks through the forest or the holiday seasons, this year you can take your knowledge to the next level by learning how to use them medicinally at home and […]
Hyssop: A Biblical Remedy
Hyssop is an ancient herb that is an important part of the Western Materia Medica. This combination of information from ancient sources and the modern scientific model lends a unique perspective on this plant and how you can use it in your herbalism practice. In today’s blog post, you’ll learn: The medicinal properties of Hyssop’s […]
Marshmallow: The Great Moistener
Marshmallow (Althea officinalis) is, in my opinion, one of the most important remedies to get acquainted with, as it’s one of our best demulcent remedies. While Althea derives from the Greek altho, meaning “to cure,” its family, the Malvaceae, is derived from the Greek word malake, meaning “soft.” With these two simple words, you know […]
Motherwort: The Lion Hearted Herb
Motherwort, the “lion-hearted herb,” fills your heart with courage and soothes its inner wounds. This herb tends to the physical and emotional heart and is an indispensable part of the Materia medica. With its many uses and simple administration techniques, this herb is sure to become a favorite herb to support a healthy heart. In […]
Lemon Balm: The Happiest Plant on Earth
Lemon Balm, the “happiest plant on Earth,” enchants with its vibrant lemony aroma and taste. Beloved for its calming effects, this aromatic herb brings a sense of peace and serenity, along with an uplifted feeling to the spirit. Loved for its calming and relaxing properties, this aromatic herb soothes tense digestion and eases an anxious […]
Keeping Warm: Countering the Cold with Warming Herbs
There’s something about winter that makes us want to bundle up and get warm. And while many of us do this with sweaters, a beanie, and thick wool socks, there’s another critical way we stay warm: Through the herbs and food we eat. In many herbal traditions, plants are often split into warming or cooling. […]
Do You Need to Know Botany to Be a Great Herbalist?
Do you need to know botany to be a great herbalist? Since learning botany is like learning a new language, it’s a fair question. After all, if you won’t use it, is it worth becoming fluent in it? Being an herbalist means a lot of things: Working with people, plants, and being the bridge between […]
Why I Wish What I Did Wasn’t Called Medical Astrology
Medical astrology is one of the most misunderstood assessment tools available in herbalism, with many flat out rejecting its usefulness or efficacy because of preconceived notions of astrology in general. Despite its spiritual or “woo-woo” implications, astrology has practical therapeutic applications. By learning how to use this tool correctly, you can pinpoint an imbalanced organ […]
Pathways to Herbal Mastery
I know the beginning of the year is when a lot of us take a step back and look at our lives from a greater perspective. Perhaps we’re looking back on the past year and thinking about what we’d like to change or do differently… … Or we’re looking forward and planning out how we […]