The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Episodes
Herbalists’ Views on the Top-Selling Herbs (Part 13): Bacopa, Senna, Rhodiola
28 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
At number 35, 36, and 37 on the list of top-selling herbal supplements we find bacopa, senna, and rhodiola.Bacopa is also known as brahmi, and this na...
Herbalists' Views on the Top-Selling Herbs (Part 12): CBD, Fennel, Oats
28 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Back to it! Today’s best-seller herbal supplements are CBD, fennel, and oats. To the extent there’s overlap between these, it’s some capacity to...
Thorn Medicine
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wished you had thorns? Have you ever felt like you needed to protect your heart, your space, your peace of mind, or your time from a wor...
Herbs for Happiness
05 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What are the best herbs for happiness? How can herbs make you happy? What does “happiness” even mean? These questions are important to consider be...
Herbalists' Views on the Top-Selling Herbs (Part 11): Yohimbe & Horny Goat Weed
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The best-seller herbal supplements we’re covering today are yohimbe & horny goat weed. They placed #30 and 31 on the list we’re using for this...
A Whole New Body
06 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When people start learning herbalism, it’s not unusual for them to begin to feel like there’s a lot “wrong” with their bodies. Some of this co...
The Herbal Year in Review, 2025
30 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What kind of year has it been for you, as far as herbs & health go? On today’s episode of the Holistic Herbalism Podcast, we’re taking a look ...
You're A Trainwreck. (edition 2025)
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Katja wrote this essay years and years ago, and it’s still a favorite. Today she needed to hear it again – yeah, you can do that with your own wri...
Herbalists’ Views on the Top-Selling Herbs (Part 10): Valerian, Pumpkin, Goji, Red Yeast Rice
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don’t forget, our December sale is on! Details below.It’s time we resumed our exploration of the top-selling herbs as supplements in the US! We&ap...
December Delights! 🌲🌲🌲
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s December, and here are some delightful things we’d like to share with you!December 2025 Sale Code: CALENDULAThe code for this year’s sale i...
Gut-Heal Tea: Variations on a Theme
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A quote attributed to Hippocrates says “all disease begins in the gut.” No surprise, then, that gut-heal tea is a major part of our practice! We w...
Elderberry Syrup Isn't Everything
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Elderberry syrup isn’t everything an herbalist has to offer to someone suffering from a cold, the flu, COVID, RSV, or any of the other respiratory a...
Our Model for Clinical Herbalism Mentorship
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve been running a clinical herbalism mentorship program of one kind or another for more than fifteen years. We have some thoughts! Today’s epis...
Herbal Care Kits for Fall, for All!
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you haven’t made herbal cold/flu/COVID care kits for your household yet, now is the time! Herbal care kits are one of our very favorite things. H...
Herbalists' Views on the Top-Selling Herbs (Part 9): Aloe & Flax + New Market Data!
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week we continue our investigation into the best-selling herbal supplements in the US. First, an update: the 2024 Herbal Market Report data is he...
Aging Is OK, Don't Freak Out
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When Ryn first met Katja, she was in the habit of inflating her age a bit. Why? Because as an herbalist – at that time – it was preferable to pres...
Herbalists' Views on the Top-Selling Herbs (Part 8): Milk Thistle & Black Cohosh
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Herbs #22 and 23 on the top-selling herbs list for 2023 were milk thistle and black cohosh.Today we continue our series on commercially popular herbs,...
Support the Resistance - An Herbalism Clinical Skill
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When you’re using your herbal skills to help others – whether you’re doing that as a Clinical Herbalist in private practice, volunteering in you...
Herbalists' Views on the Top-Selling Herbs (Part 7): Tribulus, Pycnogenol, Garlic
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On the top-selling herbs list for 2023 (the most recent data), the herbs in places #19-21 were Tribulus terrestris, Pycnogenol (an extract of Pinus pi...
Mutual Aid Startup Guide
26 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mutual aid projects are a natural place for herbalists to gravitate, and setting one up in your community is easier than you think! Our mutual aid sta...
Thinking Through Herb-Drug Interactions
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our semi-annual 20% off Sale is active now!For the entire month of July,use code hawthorn at checkoutto take 20% off all our online courses!Sussing ou...
Herbalists' Views on the Top-Selling Herbs (Part 6): Saw Palmetto, Cinnamon, Echinacea
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our semi-annual 20% off Sale is active now!For the entire month of July,use code hawthorn at checkoutto take 20% off all our online courses!On the top...
Bandaging Basics & Mummy Parties
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bandaids are undeniably handy, and there are plenty of situations where they do the job that needs doing. But there are also lots of times when a woun...
Bug-Out Bags & Stay-In Stashes, The Herbalist's Way
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When putting together a bug-out bag in case of emergencies, don’t forget your herbs! Just like a first aid kit, a go bag is best when you construct ...
Herbal First Aid Kit Maintenance
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Just like checking your stock of remedies in the apothecary, herbal first aid kit maintenance is one of those things you need to carve out time for –...
Disaster-Proofing Herbal Business Part 2: Offerings & Audience
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is the second half of the Disaster-Proofing your Herbal Business theme.Economic uncertainty is part of business – but there’s so much you can...
Disaster-Proofing Your Herbal Business
25 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Economic uncertainty is part of business – but there’s so much you can do to disaster-proof your herbal business and make sure it stays strong thr...
Herbalists' Views on the Top-Selling Herbs (Part 5): Ginkgo, Guarana, Maca
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In our fifth installment in this series, we address the facts & fictions about ginkgo, guarana, and maca supplements in commerce! These were #13, ...
Can Herbs "Heal"?
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean to heal? When are we “healed”? Are there some wounds that can’t be healed? If we can’t heal – in the sense of achieving “...
Herbalists' Views on the Top-Selling Herbs (Part 4): Green Tea, Fenugreek, Ivy Leaf
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss green tea, fenugreek, and ivy leaf in this, the fourth part of an episodic sequence about the best-selling herbs in the US.Our primary purp...
Herbalists' Views on the Top-Selling Herbs (Part 3): Wheatgrass, Beet Root, & Ginger
15 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In part three of our series on the top-selling herbs in the United States, we cover wheatgrass, beet root, and ginger supplements.As we share our opin...
Adaptogens, or A Nap To Gen…erate Recovery?
08 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re trying to decide whether you need adaptogens or a nap, well, the answer just might be both! But you can learn how to combine your adaptoge...
Herbalists’ Views on the Top-Selling Herbs (Part 2): Apple Cider Vinegar, Cranberry
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode continues our series covering the top-selling herbs in the United States. As we give you our thoughts about these popular herbal suppleme...
Can I Be A Plus-Sized Herbalist?
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Katja writes…Today a student sent me a question and it was so important, i asked her if i could (anonymously) share it, because i know other people ...
Herbal Detox? Heed the Don’t Ox! ❌🐂
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Talk of herbal detox comes up every spring – some years, earlier than others. We field a lot of questions from people asking our opinions on detox p...
Two Herbal UTI Formulae - Moving Beyond Uva Ursi and Cranberry
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When you think of UTI and herbs, you probably think of cranberry and uva ursi first. You’re not wrong to do so! They’re reliable and effective rem...
Herbalists' Views on the Top-Selling Herbs (Part 1): Psyllium, Elderberry, Turmeric, Ashwagandha
11 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode begins an intermittent series we’ll be doing this year, covering the top-selling herbs in the United States and giving you our thoughts...
A Definitive Guide to Bitters
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to 2025, everyone! Let’s give the year a bitter start – that’s better than a bitter end, right? If you don’t think so yet, listen to t...
Herbal Holiday Gifts for YOU! 🎁
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A brief update this time, to let you know about some herbal holiday gifts we’ve put together for you & yours!Herbal Activities CalendarThe best ...
Just Press Play
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We’re still making the podcast! We have not abandoned you, dear listeners. 💚We’ve been busy producing material for our online courses – espec...
Interview with Ashley Bissonnette-Murphy
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week we’d like you to meet Ashley Bissonnette-Murphy, who is one of our Clinical Mentorship students. Ashley is advanced in her mentorship, and...
Starting A Compounding Herbal "Apothecary"
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is the fourth in a series about herbal businesses. These videos cover what each kind of herbal business is and what kind of work you’d be doing...
On Discomfort, Evasion, & Challenge
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Discomfort and evasion are natural responses to our world. Our ancestors, from a single-celled organism up to Mitochondrial Eve, all survived only bec...
[REPLAY] What You Should Know About Choosing An Online Herb School
07 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
IF YOU'RE SEEING THIS IN JULY 2024, USE CODE "LAVENDER" AT CHECKOUT TO GET 20% OFF ANY OF OUR COURSES OR PROGRAMS!This originally aired...
[REPLAY] Six Herbs for Cognitive Decline Prevention
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
IF YOU'RE SEEING THIS IN JULY 2024, USE CODE "LAVENDER" AT CHECKOUT TO GET 20% OFF ANY OF OUR COURSES OR PROGRAMS!This originally aired...
Emergency Readiness Needs A Meal Plan
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With heat waves hitting heavy, and hurricane season on the move, we’re thinking about disaster preparedness – again! In this episode, we’re cove...
Time Management & Productivity for Herbal Business People
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The single most important factor in the success of your business is your ability to manage your time and be productive.Great – cause that’s not ha...
Starting A Clinical Herbalism Business
29 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We continue this week with Katja’s series: Starting Your Herbal Business! Today the focus is on the practice of clinical herbalism.Building and runn...
Acknowledging Complexity Is Not Gatekeeping
24 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When you’re an herbalist, it’s normal to get questions from people about herbs. Usually they’re thinking that it’s a simple question, and expe...
Starting An Herb Shop
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We continue this week with Katja’s series: Starting Your Herbal Business! Today the focus is on an herb shop or herbal apothecary, with or without a...
Starting An Herbal Products Business
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Katja brings you the first in a new series we’ve been wanting to produce for you: Starting Your Herbal Business! Today the focus is on her...
Herbs A-Z: Zingiber 🫚
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today we reach the end of our apothecary shelves! This series started way back with episode 170 on Achillea & Acorus, and today in episode 227 we’...
Herbs A-Z: Withania & Zanthoxylum
27 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve reached our penultimate Herbs A-Z episode this week, and we’re highlighting ashwagandha & prickly ash – it’s prickly ashwagandha!Wit...
Herbs A-Z: Verbascum & Verbena
08 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We have just three episodes remaining in our Herbs A-Z series! Today’s show features mullein and blue vervain.Verbascum thapsus, mullein, deserves i...
Herbs A-Z: Urtica & Vaccinium
26 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
DECEMBER SALE: 20% off every course & program we offer, all month long! Use code KINDNESS at checkout!As we draw near the end of our tour of the h...
Herbs A-Z: Ulmus & Uncaria
18 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
DECEMBER SALE: 20% off every course & program we offer, all month long! Use code KINDNESS at checkout!This week we return to our home herbal apoth...
Herbs A-Z: Trifolium & Turnera
28 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today our featured herbs are red clover & damiana – two complementary fluid-moving remedies.Red clover (Trifolium pratense) has a reputation as ...
Herbs A-Z: Thymus & Tilia
09 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’re on the final shelf of our home apothecary, and today we’re talking about thyme & linden!Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is our absolute favorite...
Herbs A-Z: Taraxacum & Thuja
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our herbs for this week are dandelion & cedar! Both are diuretic, but their similarities pretty much end there.We are big fans of gardening your w...
Herbs A-Z: Solidago & Stachys
13 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we proceed futher along our shelves, looking at the herbs we keep in our home apothecary. In this episode we discuss goldenrod and wood betony.W...
Herbs A-Z: Schisandra & Scutellaria
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re continuing our “herbs on our shelf” from A to Z series! This week, our herbs are schisandra and skullcap.Schisandra (Schisandra chin...
Reality vs Reality in Herbalism
13 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
20% OFF EVERYTHING for the month of July!Use code ALLTOGETHER at checkout!There’s one reality, that of the human need for fundamentals like nourishi...
Herbs A-Z: Sambucus & Sassafras
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’re continuing our “herbs on our shelf” series from A to Z today! This time our herbs are elder and sassafras.The most famous part of elder (S...
Don't Let the Feds Get You Down
18 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There’s a basic rule when it comes to herbal businesses in the US: “Don’t tell and sell.”Due to rules and regulations set forth by the Food &a...
The Herbal Sisters Project in Kurdistan, with Anna Rósa
19 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We almost never do interviews, but our friend Anna Rósa is collaborating with The Lotus Flower to empower refugee women in Kurdistan to care for thei...
Herbs A-Z: Salvia
07 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s herbs are sage & rosemary – two herbs whose botanical name Salvia indicates they can keep us “safe, healthy, and secure”, if we go...
[REPLAY] An Herbalist's Guide to Successful Self-Experimentation
29 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this period of Fallow Month (see previous episode), we're re-airing a couple of our favorite episodes from the archives. This one was original...
[REPLAY] How To Practice Herbalism Every Day
22 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this period of Fallow Month (see previous episode), we're re-airing a couple of our favorite episodes from the archives. This one was original...
Fallow Month
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In ancient agriculture, the farmers observed the need to let fields rest every year or two, so they could recover their fertility. Letting the fields ...
Herbs A-Z: Rubus
18 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re discussing the entire genus of Rubus plants! We focus most on blackberry & raspberry, because we know them best, but with 1400+ spec...
Herbs A-Z: Rumex & Rosa
15 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Snow-delayed by a couple days, here’s our next episode! Today we’re talking about yellow dock and rose.Yellow dock (Rumex crispus) is also known a...
Herbalist Is A Verb
05 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is it more accurate to say “I am an herbalist” or “I’m doing herbalism”? To us, if “herbalist” is an identity, a name, a noun – then y...
Herbs A-Z: Rhodiola & Rhus
24 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’ve got two astringent herbs to discuss, though their similarities pretty much end with that quality. Rhodiola and staghorn sumac are our to...
Herbs A-Z: Prunella & Pulmonaria
19 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s herbs from our apothecary shelf are self-heal and lungwort!Self-heal, Prunella vulgaris, is a lovely lymph-moving herb who we often find in ...
Herbs A-Z: Pedicularis & Polygonatum
06 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Relaxants come in many varieties. Today we come to two herbs who relax tension patterns in the body, yet are quite different from one another.Pedicula...
Herbs A-Z: Pinus & Plantago
28 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our herbs this week are pine and plantain! A mighty tall tree and a humble herb of the packed earth.Pine trees come in many varieties. Around Boston w...
Herbs A-Z: Palmaria & Passiflora
21 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A seaweed and a vine-flower, how are they alike? We started out this episode feeling like these two herbs were completely different from one another. ...
Herbs A-Z: Ocimum & Oenothera
14 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s herbs are two excellent friends to the human nervous & emotional systems. Tulsi and evening primrose are both nervines, and although the...
Herbs A-Z: Monarda & Nepeta
06 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Happy new year everyone! May 2023 be an herb-filled year for all of us!Monarda species plants are sometimes known as bee balm, wild bergamot, horsemin...
Herbs A-Z: Mentha, Mentha, Mentha!
11 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
20% OFF ALL COURSES & PROGRAMS FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF DECEMBER – USE CODE DECEMBER2022 AT CHECKOUT!Today we’re profiling a few of our favorit...
Herbs A-Z: Lycium & Matricaria
19 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Tonight we’re talking about two of our favorite herbs, and two of the tastier herbs in our materia medica.Goji berry, Lycium barbarum / L. chinense,...
Herbs A-Z: Lavandula & Leonurus
30 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week we highlight lavender & motherwort!Lavandula angustifolia (and many other Lavandula species), a well-known scent to everyone, recognizab...
Herbs A-Z: Inula & Juniperus
17 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back to our apothecary shelf herb profile tour! This week we have a pair of herbs who both support respiratory function. They demonstrate two ...
The Herbs We Didn't Pack
10 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We’re almost moved! This week our episode is about the herbs we’ve kept on the shelves so that we have them available every day. These are plants ...
[REPLAY] Herbs For Physical Challenges (What Ryn Took To MovNat Level 3)
01 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryn says: We've got another replay for you this week, and it's one of my personal favorites. (It also happens to be from right around the la...
[REPLAY] 4 Medicinal Mushrooms: Shiitake, Maitake, Reishi, Lion’s Mane
24 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We're replaying some of our favorite episodes from the back catalog of the Holistic Herbalism Podcast. In this one, originally aired as episode 1...
[REPLAY] Equinox Thoughts On Balance & Amphoteric Herbs
17 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We realized that the Autumnal equinox is coming up soon: Thursday 9/22 at 9:04 PM, for those of you keeping track! This made us want to re-air episode...
We Don’t “Use” Herbs
10 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One of our habits as herbalists and teachers is to avoid the word “use” with reference to plants. We don’t say “I use meadowsweet for headache...
How To See Stress In Wild Plants
03 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Yellow leaves, undeveloped fruit, long “leggy” stems between the leaf nodes – these are some of the key signs of a plant under stress. But if yo...
Climate Change Is Reducing Herb Harvests
21 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back! We had a bit of an interruption in our podcasting schedule, and we’re sorry! We’re moving to our “forever home” very soon, and t...
Let's Practice - Anxious Insomnia
16 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
July sale! Use code TOGETHER2022 at checkout for 20% off any course or program!This week we’re presenting an exercise in practical herbalism.In this...
Herbs A~Z: Tilia & Melissa
11 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today we have abandoned the alphabet! Well, not entirely, just for purposes of bringing you a pair of relaxant diaphoretic herbs in this summer heat. ...
Herbs A-Z: Hibiscus & Hypericum
04 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s featured herbs are excellent in sun tea. Simply spoon them into a jar, pour in water, cover it up, and place it in the sun for several hours...
Herbs A-Z: Glycyrrhiza & Gynostemma
21 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today our apothecary shelves present us with a pair of adaptogens! As we continue our series looking at the herbs we keep on hand at home, this week w...
Herbs A-Z: Filipendula & Foeniculum
08 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back on track! Today we continue our exploration of herbs in our home apothecary, giving you some unscripted thoughts about these herbs we wor...
What You Should Know About Choosing An Online Herb School
01 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
All herb schools are different, in their focus and their style. When you’re choosing an online herb school, whether for a short course or a long pro...
Herbalism In A Time Of Collapse
13 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Collapse is not a single event that occurs everywhere, once and for all. It occurs in fits and starts, unevenly distributed across communities. When t...
Herbs A-Z: Erigeron & Eupatorium
07 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We’re continuing on as we highlight the herbs in our home apothecary. Today we reach the end of our first shelf!Erigeron canadensis, E. strigosus, &...
Herbs A-Z: Elettaria & Eleutherococcus
18 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week we’re talking about cardamom & eleuthero!About Elettaria cardamomum, cardamom, we actually do have “one weird trick” for you today...
Herbs A-Z: Crataegus & Curcuma
03 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode we continue our exploration of the herbs on our home apothecary shelves. This week we made an extra effort to share formulation i...