HerbRally

Today's episode is from a webinar that herbalist Amanda Dilday recorded last month as an offering for #MeToo. You can find the original webinar on her website Alchemilla. Amanda also wrote a book called Flowers for a Girl: Plant Medicine and Sexual Trauma. This is not a protocol or a prescription. Rather, it is something of a memoir, a healing memoir, an herbal memoir, a story. "Well, friends. Here it is: last night's class on plant medicine and sexual trauma. Just send it out into the world, and pray for it to be blessed. Pray for protection and for healing. Pray for light and for truth. I know there will be more classes. There was so much more to say--even about these plants, and there were so many more plants! Gentle, powerful support is all around us. It's a simple beginning (and quickly put together), but yesterday, I knew in my very heart that I needed to quickly put some simple tools into people's hands. I had to begin. Some plants from last night's class include violet, ghost pipe, marjoram, and blueberries--to name a few. ABOUT AMANDA: I am a wife, mother, writer, teacher, and student of the plants. My roots are in the Appalachian Mountains. My home rests at the foothills of the Blue Ridge. Mountains are in my heart, and when hearth and home aren't looking, I slip away and get lost in the woods. A lover of burdock and books, tinctures and teas, I am most at home under a blue sky with my bare feet rooted to the earth. Adversity brought me to the plants. A walk through the valley of the shadow of death led me to green pastures, and every green herb. I began my herbal studies at Green Comfort School of Herbal Medicine in Virginia. My healing path has been pleasant and sweet, sprinkled all along the way with generous, green teachers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and He has filled my hands to overflowing with green gifts. Gifts meant to be given to others. Coming to know the plants has changed me profoundly--and blessed me beyond measure. My prayer is that the same will be true for you. May we see Him in all that is. May His life flow through us. Blessings, Amanda Alchemilla HerbRally Podcast

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. 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. To find herbalism events in your neck of the woods, head to www.herbrally.com/events

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. Mason www.herbrally.com

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 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

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. 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. www.herbrally.com/podcast

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. 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.

NorthWest Herb Symposium organizer, Jay D. Johnson, welcomes the crowd to the 2017 meeting. SAVE THE DATE FOR 2018 "Botanicals at the Beach" August 23-26, 2018 Located on Whidbey Island in Puget Sound at the Camp Casey Conference Center, Coupeville, Washington

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. 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.

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. 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. 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.

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. 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).

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. RESOURCES Great Lakes Herb Faire Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism Herbalism Events Marc G (Intro music) Monsoon (Intro music)

In today's episode I'll be narrating an excerpt from Jesse Wolf Hardin's excellent book The Plant Healer's Path: A Grassroots Guide for the Folk Herbal Tradition. You'll learn about 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 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 Plant Healer Magazine The Good Medicine Confluence Plant Healer Bookstore and Gallery Herbal Education Guide & Herbal Schools Directory HerbRally Schools Directory HerbRally Online Schools Directory

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

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.

On today's episode I narrate herbalist 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 found happily crafting between the three.

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: Snakeroot Apothecary Spirit Speak Tarot "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 RESOURCES Snakeroot Apothecary Spirit Speak Tarot Bach Flower Essences Alaskan Essences A-Z West

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

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... RESOURCES Pumpkin spice as an aphrodisiac, study in the American Academy of Neurology and Orthopaedic Surgeons Cinnamon for blood sugar management study Pumpkin spice muffins!

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

"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. RESOURCES http://www.samanthazipporah.com/ http://www.sisterzeus.com/ https://jezebel.com/5873380/how-to-help-a-friend-through-an-abortion https://exhaleprovoice.org/sites/default/files/ProVoiceCounseling_Abridged.pdf www.lightonthepath.earth http://hawthornherbclinic.com/herbalist-intern/paris-rae-iha/ www.herbrally.com/herbalistdirectory/paris-iha

Imagine you are walking through the forest near your home. As you look around you, you start noticing the plants growing nearby. Imagine knowing each of these plants; understanding how to use them, when to harvest them and which parts to use. Envision being able to make these plants into medicines such as salves, oils, pills, syrups and tinctures. How would it feel to help others use these herbal medicines for healing purposes? These are the skills of an herbalist. Are you ready to follow the path less traveled? Are you interested in deepening your connection with plants and the earth? It is time to get excited about plants and awaken your passion for natural healing! Green Path Herb School empowers students to use medicinal plants for themselves, their families and as professional herbalists. We offer several herb programs designed for the beginning student to the advanced practitioner. Join us on a journey of exploration of medicinal herbs and natural remedies! Students foster a life long relationship with herbs as we explore the healing power of plants and the study of herbal medicine. We offer classes in Missoula, Montana and have upcoming online classes as well. Our offerings include community herb classes, herbal workshops, wildcrafting trips, online herb certificate classes and programs, a school for training professional herbalists, herb books and lots of free herbal information! Our three main courses are Herbal Foundations an Herbalist Certificate Program and a Clinical Program. GREEN PATH HERB SCHOOL

Menstruation, typically a taboo subject in our culture, can be a rich source of information about health and well-being for both women and their practitioners. But what is normal menstruation? Join herbalist Elaine Sheff of Green Path Herb School to take a deeper look at how to interpret the fertility cycle by creating a menstrual map. This class focuses on hormonal balancing, as well as addressing herbal actions including reproductive antispasmodics, emmenagogues, hormone balancers, phyto-estrogens, progesterone encouraging herbs, uterine astringents, and reproductive tonics. *This class was recorded at the 2015 Midwest Women's Herb Conference. The author of several books on herbal medicine and healing, clinical herbalist Elaine Sheff has been passionate about sharing herbal knowledge for over 25 years. Her latest book is Naked: Botanical Recipes for Vibrant Skin and Healthy Hair Naked: Botanical Recipes for Vibrant Skin and Healthy Hair. Elaine is the Co-Director of Green Path Herb School, located in Missoula, MT, where she strives to inspire and empower students and clients to remember their connection to the earth, the plants and their own healing process. As a certified Instructor of the Natural Family Planning and Fertility Awareness Methods, Elaine has helped many couples to avoid or achieve pregnancy naturally. An artist and writer, Elaine has written numerous articles about her family's journey with epilepsy and a special needs child. You can often find her bent over an herb in her garden or marveling at small flowers in mountain meadows with her husband and sons. Elaine's workshops have been featured at conferences including the Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference, Montana Herb Gathering, Northwest Herb Symposium, Midwest Women's Herbal Conference, Spokane Herbal Faire, the Ecoexpo and the Mountain West Herb Gathering.

Today we're talkin' about about Vata! Amanda Stanley is our instructor for this episode. She is an Ayurvedic herbalist, yogi and reiki practitioner. I loved gaining new insight in this system of herbalism. She has a wonderful way of weaving the philosophy of Ayurveda with practical health practices we could all stand to implement more of in our daily lives. I got a lot out of this episode and I know you'll come away inspired! Thanks so much to Amanda for sharing her wealth of knowledge. If you'd like to reach out to her, you can find her here: Facebook JupitersLabyrinth.com Herbalist Directory RESOURCES What is Ayurveda? Discover Your Dosha Type

Today's episode I'm talking about an upcoming event here in my hometown, Eugene, OR. New Orleans based herbalist Jen Stovall is on a west coast teaching tour and she'll be making a stop here next Saturday, September 30th, 2017. She'll be teaching the six hour intensive "Tools for Working with Addiction". If you've ever wanted to study with her, this event is not to be missed! REGISTER CLASS DESCRIPTION Substance use and addiction are pervasive in our culture. As herbalists we need as many tools as possible to address the needs of clients struggling with these issues. This daylong class offers you three practical tools you can use when treating substance use and addiction: herbs, supplements, & ear beads. In this class, we will explore ways to provide support to clients who want to quit, as well as those who choose to keep using, review the way specific drugs affect certain body systems, and explore how herbs can mitigate these patterns of imbalance. We will focus primarily on the effects and treatment of opiates, alcohol, pharmaceutical sedatives and pain reliever use but will also touch on stimulants. You'll learn about the history and benefits of the NADA Ear Acupuncture Detoxification Protocol as well as how to use ear beads to stimulate one of the points in lieu of acupuncture needles. Throughout the class, you'll be introduced to the basic concepts of harm reduction and trauma informed care as we consider how these models can improve our quality of care. Used together these modalities provide a powerful approach that may be used to support your clients, friends, family, and wider community when addiction is a factor in restoring balance. The true cost of this class is $60 but we are offering a sliding scale of $45-75 with a $20discount for OM volunteers. Wondering where you might fit along this scale? Read below for some ideas! OM volunteers, contact Mason or Tree for a discount code. ••••••••••••• Sliding Scale Info: We leave this up to you, but here are some helpful hints. You might pay near the high end of the sliding scale if: ~ you have a job with dependable hours and have no dependents ~ you regularly (once a year or more) pay for airline travel for recreation ~ you pay to eat at restaurants (ie not fast food) regularly (once a month or more) ~ you pay to drink at a bar on the regular (once a week or more) You might pay near the low end of the sliding scale if: ~ you are currently unemployed ~ you have a job but care for many dependents and doing so is a strain on your budget ~ you are a full-time student ~ you are a full-time organizer/activist (this list has been adapted from bearteachesyoga.com, thanks, Bear!) BIO Jen Stovall works as a Community Herbalist & Health Educator, using a blend of Southern Folk Medicine, Western Herbalism, and harm reduction in her classes and with her clients. She is co-owner of Maypop Community Herb Shop in New Orleans and has a BSN-RN & a NADA Ear Acupuncture Detox Specialist & Trainer license, both of which inform her herbal practice. She has found herbalism to be both a potent tool for pursuing social justice in the world, and a powerful manifestation of the ethical and ideological path she walks in her personal life. She believes that health care should be accessible to everyone and that the most powerful strategy for this is educating and empowering people to choose their own path to health. She is constantly renewed and inspired by witnessing the magic spark that occurs when people are introduced to plant allies through consultations, herb walks, medicine making, & health education.

In today's episode we hear from Charis Lindrooth as she informs us all about the upcoming event, the MidAtlantic Women's Herbal Conference. September 30th - October 1st Kempton, PA Keynotes with Rosemary Gladstar and Susan Leopold! Learn more about using, identifying, preparing and growing herbs for yourself, for your family or to help others on their healing path. Connect with like-spirited women, laugh, sing, dance and be inspired by a great line up of teachers and by each other. Take the day to stretch your mind, enjoy the outdoors and get a rest from day to day stress. Over 20 workshops on women's health,herbal medicine, gardening, and plant identification. Activities include basket making, fermentation basics, drumming, singing and dancing! Food offered by local women vendors. Vegan and gluten-free alternatives. Meal tickets are catered by Hive Local Food and include organic, locally sourced, gluten-free and both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. For more info and to register you can CLICK HERE.

Today's episode we hear from Erika Galentin MNIMH, RH (AHG) of Sovereignty Herbs in Athens, Ohio speaking on Demystifying Herb-Drug Interactions. Many people get very frightened when they think about herbs and drugs interacting with each other. Some even may feel defensive about the idea that pharmaceutical medicine so easily puts herbs in the hot-seat. In this episode you will be introduced to the means by which herbs and drugs may interact with each other, for better or for worse. You will also learn skills for easier interpretation of scientific research behind these interactions. Also, just a heads up, this episode does contain a bit of colorful language. It's nothing too crazy, though. You've been forewarned! If you'd like to obtain Erika's slide for her presentation you can contact her directly at [email protected]. I had the pleasure of attending this class at the 2017 Chesapeake Herb Gathering. I recorded it on my phone so the audio quality isn't 100%. That said, it was such an amazing class packed full of important info Erika and I were both really excited to share it with the community. If you're on the east coast and looking for a great annual herbal event you gots to check this one out! Molly Meehan of Centro Ashé and her team throw a heck of a gathering. Show Erika and Sovereignty Herbs some love on the socials! Facebook Instagram Erika's clinical education, experience, and knowledge are based in both science and tradition. Much of her herbal and clinical rationale is derived from the past and present Physiomedical philosophy, with utmost faith placed upon vix medicatrix naturae, or the healing power of nature. She sees the human body as possessing a vital integrity and intelligence with inherent integrative, reconstructive, and resistive, tendencies. She does not see it as a broken-down machine, lacking the savvy for self-repair; given the right set of circumstances, the right nutriment and encouragement, the human body, your body, is capable of amazing things. RESOURCES Hierarchy of Research Clinically Relevant Herb-Drug Interactions with Bill Gurley Herb, Nutrient and Drug Interactions by Jonathan Treasure

Katja and Ryn are back! This time to discuss the winter syrup that they make annually for the upcoming winter season. They always are sure to include elderberry, however they mix it up with various other plant allies depending on what they find growing around them. Be sure to tune in to learn about the formulation they made for this year. They also delve into the properties of the many different plants they included. This was a fun and informative episode. We hope you enjoy it! You can visit Katja and Ryn online at CommonWealthHerbs.com. They have many fantastic resources, including both an in-person apprenticeship and online school. Go show 'em love on the Facebooks! www.facebook.com/commonwealthherbs If you enjoyed the episode, an iTunes ranking and/or comment would be most appreciated! Please share the episode with all of your herb lovin' friends. Thanks, y'all! RESOURCES Where Do Camels Belong, Ken Thompson Invasive Plant Medicine, Tim Scott A blog about Loosestrife Hudson River Study Ginger Chamomile Cookies

Join Lauren with Midwest Women's Herbal as she discusses their upcoming fall event Mycelium Mysteries: A Women's Mushroom Retreat. October 6th - 8th, 2017 Almond, WI This event looks just FANTASTIC! Here's what it's all about... This weekend-long, women's retreat will focus on understanding fungi as the Grandmothers of our ecosystems. Workshops will be offered at the beginner through advanced levels, and include topics in wild mushroom skills, fungal ecology, fungi and human health, and ethnomycology. This is a place to share knowledge and get comfortable with using our mycological skills in a supportive, fungal community! Check out THE PRESENTERS HERE. The keynotes are going to be awesome: Mycophilia - a story of community, and how mushrooms can be the window by which we can understand nature, and ourselves, in a deeper way . ~ with Eugenia Bone, author and food journalist Fungal HERstory - explore with us the connections between the feminine and the fungal, in mythology and in science, from cultures all around the world. ~ with Alanna Burns & Mara Fae Penfil. For more info on this event and to register, here's the link: www.midwestwomensherbal.com/mushrooms Thanks to Lauren and Midwest Women's Herbal for taking the time to share this wonderful event that they are hosting! I hope y'all are able to make it.

On today's episode I narrate herbalist Ruthie Hayes monograph on Tulsi (AKA holy basil). Here's a sampling from her monograph which you can find here: www.herbrally.com/monographs/tulsi-rh Herblore + Tradition: Tulsi is native to India and has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for well over 5,000 years. It is the most sacred of plants in Hinduism, essential in the ritual worship of Vishnu and Krishna. Tulsi is believed to be the earthly incarnation of the Divine Mother, Tulasi, and the doorway between heaven and earth. A tea of the leaves is often given to the dying to guide their soul from this world to the next. The wood of the tulsi plant is used in the making of mala beads which are used in meditation and prayer. Traditionally, the mala consists of 108 beads, one for each time the mantra or name of the deity is prayed or chanted. In sacred places, tulsi can be seen growing in its own altar where offerings and prayers can be made to the plant. There are strict rules for harvesting tulsi leaves, and forgiveness from the plant must be asked first. The powder of the root in milk, ghee, or as a decoction was a treatment for malarial fever, bug bites, and to increase sexual stamina. It has also been used traditionally to remedy the cognitive effects of excessive cannabis use. The seeds mixed with water, juice, or milk was a traditional remedy for low energy and stomach/digestive problems. Tulsi is also a popular herb in Thai cooking. It's used as a potherb, in making cheeses, liqueurs, in salads, rice, jellies, and a sherbert is often prepared from an infusion of the leaves. For more monographs (40+ as of now) please visit: www.herbrally.com/monographs You can visit Ruthie online at MotherHylde.com. Let us know what you thought of the episode! Thanks so much for listening. Please share this if you feel so inclined :)

On today's episode we'll hear from Portland, OR counselor and herbalist Jon Keyes. He teaches us about the connection between mental health and gut health as well as the connection to trauma. Jon also covers various protocols we can use including herbal allies. This is a super important episode! I gained a lot of insight and I hope you do as well. Please share if you know someone who would benefit from this info. Thanks for sharing your wisdom, Jon! Resources HearthsideHealing.com HerbsForMentalHealth.com Herbs for Mental Health Facebook Group

"First the word, then the plant, and lastly the knife" On today's episode, herbalist Lori Rose discusses the importance of integrating nutrition and coaching skills with clinical herbalism. She also discusses holistic wellness program at Hill College where she teaches herbalism and coaching. For more info on what she's up to you can visit her at several places: Hill College Holistic Wellness Program loriroseholistic.wordpress.com The Weight Free Wellness Podcast Resources: International Integrative Educational Institute (KP Khalsa's school) The Wheel of Life SMART Goals

Massachusetts herbalists Katja Swift and Ryn Midura return to discuss what they learned from their most recent free herb clinic outing in West Virginia.

Katja Swift and Ryn Midura join us again to talk about how to be a successful herbalist. They run an herbal apprenticeship in Brookline, MA and offer distance learning courses as well. To find out what they're up to, visit www.commonwelathherbs.com. If you're not in the northeast and you're looking for an herbalism school, visit www.herbrally.com/schools. If you're just gettin' goin' on your path, a great place to start would be to attend an event! There's tons of events happening all of the United States. To find one in your neck of the woods, go here: www.herbrally.com/events Please let us know what you thought about the podcast. Thanks for listening!

On this episode I narrate herbalist Nick Moya's moringa monograph. I love his perspective because he gives such a balanced (non-hyped) approach to this wonderful and useful plant. If you loved this as much as I did I recommend his burdock monograph as well. Please let us know what you think! If you don't want to miss an episode of the HerbRally podcast you can subscribe in iTunes.

Join Katja Swift and Ryn Midura from the Commonwealth Center for Holistic Herbalism as they discuss the free clinic they started in Brookline, MA. They go over the finer details of creating a clinic, along with some of the pain points (i.e. burnout, funding, etc.). Thanks to Katja and Ryn for taking the time to share their expertise! You can visit them online to find out about more of what they're up to at CommonWealthHerbs.com. Be sure and check out their in-person apprenticeship program as well as all of the distance learning opportunities.