The Holistic Herbalism Podcast
Episodes
Herbal Awareness Rituals for Everyone
13 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week we’re talking about something a bit different for us. If you’re a regular listener, you know we’re very interested in science and in t...
notCoffee - Katja's Decaf Herbal Coffee Replacement
07 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Coffee is surely America’s favorite herb. So many people rely on it as part of their morning ritual, and it’s easy to see why! The aroma, the flav...
Lymphatic Herbs
01 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The lymphatic system is criminally underestimated! It’s intimately tied to the function of your circulatory system, your digestive function, your im...
Herbal Smoking Blends & Herbs To Quit Smoking
21 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
An herbal smoking blend may not sound like your cup of tea – and it isn’t! – but it’s still an effective method of working with medicinal plan...
Our Wedding Herbs
18 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re an herbalist and you marry an herbalist, well, you’re going to need some special wedding herbs! We sure did. We loved the idea (and the ...
Common Herbs and Cancer
10 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Cancer is not as rare as we once thought. Recent research has discovered that even healthy cells can contain potentially cancerous mutations, and that...
Friends of Nettle (Herbal Formulas In Pairs)
24 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Boston’s homegrown local herb conference, Herbstalk, is next weekend, and the plant of the year is stinging nettle! In honor of this, we wanted to m...
The Role of Herbs In Heroic Medical Interventions
21 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When we talk about “heroic” medical interventions, we mean the high-potency, high-risk (and potentially high-reward) tools that define conventiona...
Motherwort for Mother's Day!
10 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Mother’s day can mean different things for different people, but whatever your situation is, Motherwort can be a supportive friend. Physiologically ...
DIY Herbal Spring Cleaning Products
04 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to chemical-free cleaning, there’s a lot of good stuff out there – but it can get pricey. And there’s a lot of “greenwashed” s...
Urban Wildcrafting Ethics & Guidelines
26 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It’s springtime! The plants are popping up everywhere in their colorful displays. This time of year, we always start to get more questions about wil...
Herbs to Control Sugar Cravings
21 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Is Easter really the best time to give up sugar? Well, given that there’s always another holiday around the corner, there’s never really an object...
Foundational Health Strategies & Evolution's Expected Inputs
14 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone is different, and healthcare should be individualized for each person – especially when it comes to herbalism! But, on the other hand, peop...
Herbal Energetics: Tissue States
08 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When choosing herbs for a health issue, herbalists like us use a system of organization called energetics. In this week’s podcast, we have an excerp...
Herbs for Psoriasis
31 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune inflammatory skin problem. Problems like this are complex, because they don’t hinge on a single genetic anomaly o...
Rooted & Ready Alterative/Adaptogen Herbal Formula for Endurance, Resilience, & Detox
22 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This is one of our favorite herbal formulas for endurance situations, whether that’s physical, mental, emotional, or all three. These herbs help bui...
Herbs for Seasonal Allergies
16 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It’s just about time for seasonal allergy … um, season … to begin here in Boston! Sniffy noses and red eyes are peeking around every corner. So ...
Health Is Your Right ... And Your Responsibility
09 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This is what we say at the beginning of every episode:We are not doctors. We are herbalists and holistic health educators. The ideas discussed in this...
How To Choose The Right Herbs For Sleep
01 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Just going to the internet and searching for “herbs for sleep” isn’t very effective – how do you know the right one for you? First, you need t...
Herbs for Stress-Induced Heartburn in Teens
23 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but it’s stressful to be a teen! Sometimes, that stress shows up as heartburn. As herbalists, we can help ...
Two Herbalists Get The Flu
18 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Yes, it's true: even herbalists get the flu. Two in one house sometimes, even! Each of us gets it a little bit differently, as our constitutions ...
Herbs for Psychological First Aid
08 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It may not have occurred to you that “psychological first aid” is even a thing, let alone that there might be herbs for psychological first aid! B...
How To Not Be A Guru
01 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Things are complex, and there are many factors. But guru syndrome is bad for the teacher and for the student, both. And believe it or not, active meas...
Herbs for First Aid & Disaster Response
25 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There are so many fantastic herbs for first aid purposes, it’s hard to name them all! But if we focus our thoughts specifically on a post-disaster s...
Top 7 Herbs for Nutritionists and Dietitians
18 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re a practitioner of food-as-medicine and are interested in integrating herbs into your work – or just a health-seeker wondering if herbs c...
Herbal Hygge!
14 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Hoo-ga? Hue-guh? However you pronounce it, hygge is big right now! And it makes sense: this time of year, we could all use a bit more comfort, cozines...
Holistic Herbalism for Chronic Headaches & Migraines
05 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week Ryn & Katja share some thoughts on how to address chronic headaches – not just “getting rid of it” in the acute moment, but reduci...
Herbal Resolutions
29 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
New Year’s Eve is right around the corner, and we, like many folks, are ready with our list of resolutions. Let’s all make them more about self-ca...
Herbs & the Holidays: Solstice
21 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Solstice is the quiet time, a moment of pause between the dying of the old and the rebirth of the new year. This week we share some meditations, stori...
Herbs & the Holidays: Handling Food Allergies & Sensitivities
14 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Holiday foods are delightful & delicious, but what if you’re allergic to some of the ingredients? Never fear! In this episode we’ll share some...
Herbs & the Holidays: Herbal Gift Ideas
08 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Handmade herbal remedies and self-care items are a great solution to the conundrum of gift-giving. In this episode we’ll share three DIY herbal gift...
Herbs & the Holidays: Medicinal Virtues of Culinary Herbs
01 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week we continue our exploration of herbal holiday traditions with a quick chat about some of the ways herbs turn up in holiday foods. Whether it...
Herbs & the Holidays: Emotional Support
24 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re kicking off a series of podcasts on herbs and the holidays! We begin with emotional support, because no matter how you feel about the ho...
Cold & Flu Herbs (Beyond Elderberry Syrup & Thyme Steam)
16 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Every time we talk about cold & flu herbs, we seem to start out with elderberry syrup and a good old thyme steam. Well, this time we’re going to...
The Apothekers
10 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week our episode is an interview with Shari & Russ Apotheker of Apotheker’s Kitchen, makers of fine honey-sweetened confections and longtim...
Intentional Inconvenience, Rhodiola Rhapsody, Stimulants for Midwives, & "Poisonous Mints"
02 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This is our one-year anniversary episode! This week we cover a lot of ground. Katja talks about ways adding a little inconvenience to your home enviro...
Exam Time!
27 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Every year, our Advanced Studies Program ends with a weekend-long exam. There’s a written portion with short answers, essays, and case analysis, and...
West Virginia Herbal Medics
20 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week we’re out in Coal River Valley, West Virginia, helping out at a free herbal clinic for folks in this area who’ve been affected by mounta...
A Few Herbs On Our Shelf
12 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week we do a lightning round of “minigraphs” on some of our favorite herbs. We started by taking a look at what we’ve got on our herb shelf...
Pumpkin Spice - That's Herbalism Too!
07 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It's not just for lattes anymore: the ubiquitous pumpkin spice blend is in fact an herbal formula! The standard pumpkin [pie] spice mix is cinnam...
Tinnitus & Headaches
29 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Ryn leads off this week with a variety of herbs to try reducing the ringing in the ears called tinnitus. Herbs to drain stuck fluids, quell nervous ir...
Caring for Eldercaregivers & Botulism
22 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Caregiving is exhausting, thankless, necessary work, and becoming increasingly more common. In the first half of this episode, Katja shares some insig...
How To Start A Free Herbal Clinic
15 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week we bring you a podcast we originally aired on the HerbRally podcast as its inaugural episode, last July, all about the model we use for runn...
Empty Nests & Challenges
07 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
If back-to-school means the nest is empty, you may want some herbal support! Katja shares her favorite allies for this difficult transition. Ryn refl...
Salad Isn't Salad & Back-To-School Herbs
31 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ryn leads off with some thoughts on salad: why it's often boring and nutritionally deficient, and how to boost it up with some wild gr...
Sleep - Of Cravings, Comedians, & Caffeine
25 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode both Ryn & Katja have things to share related to sleep. Katja leads off with a listener question about alcohol cravings at bedtime...
Pets' Paws & Topical EO Safety
18 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, a case of histiocytoma on a dog's paw leads Katja to talk about wound care for animal companions. What to do when a furry friend has a...
Wildfires, Trainwrecks, and Cold Digestion in Hot Weather
10 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The world's on fire, no one wants to admit they're occasionally catastrophic, and sometimes all you want to eat is ice cream. In this episod...
Herbs for Introverts & Extraverts
04 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Introverts & extraverts, as patterns of personality, each have their strengths and weaknesses. In this episode we'll discuss herbal allies to...
Our Top Ten Tinctures
27 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A listener asked us what would be our five favorite tinctures to have on hand, so this week we're each going to share with you a list of herbs we...
Herbs for Summer Camp & Extra Senses of Perception
21 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Katja's daughter Amber is off to camp this week, so she shares with you the list of things they packed into Amber's herbal first aid kit. If...
First Aid for Burns & Sprains
12 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week we share some practical first aid herbalism for burns and sprains. Whether you're hiking far out in the woods or simply have an acciden...
Cinnamon, Vanilla, & Cacao
07 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Katja & Ryn discuss how these "exotic spices" came to be ubiquitous among Americans, and how we can learn from the history of plant trad...
Herbal Affinities & Softening In Service
29 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Ryn leads off this week with a discussion of herbal affinities - the ways in which herbs may be centered in their effects on a particular organ or typ...
Back Pain & Sparkling Summertime Herbal Drinks
22 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week Katja had a bit of back pain, and has some thoughts to share with you about how this can happen an what to do about it. From mindset managem...
Vacation Is Mandatory & Jiaogulan
15 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Katja this week reflects on a bit of wisdom surrounding downtime, and on the ways in which stress management can sometimes be the most difficult of ou...
Resilience Not Dogma
09 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Katja shares a hard-fought lesson: that health is not equivalent to merit, and that as herbalists it's important for us to stay away from idea th...
Tulsi & Formulating Absent Friends
01 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Since it's Herbstalk's 2018 Herb of the Year, Katja wants to finally give Tulsi its due with a quick monograph for you today! As promised l...
Sore Throat Herbs & Classic Cancer Cure-alls
25 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
After seeing Rising Appalachia the other night, Katja wanted to sing! She sang so much she gave herself a sore throat. So today she'll tell you a...
Herbal Allies for Eating Disorders & Herbal Muscle Rub
18 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Katja shares her thoughts on herbal supports for those who are coping with eating disorders. Herbs can help reduce anxiety, center us in the body, sti...
Exploring Energetics With Our Book & Getting Through A Tough Day
11 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Ryn describes a method you can use to expand your understanding of energetics by comparing ailment profiles and the herbs recommended for them in our ...
A Woman In (Herbal) Science & Heartburn 1-2-3
04 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week Katja has some thoughts about the number of syllables in neuraminidase and what it means to be a woman in science. Ryn tries to keep it simp...
Anti-Inflammatory Herbs Beyond Turmeric & Dreaming With Mugwort
27 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Turmeric is a great herb and an effective anti-inflammatory, but it's not the be-all end-all it's sometimes made out to be, usually by folks...
Taco Seasoning Herbs & -Ency vs -Icity
20 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week Katja talks about the herbs that defined taco seasoning in her Texas upbringing, and their qualities when as medicinal herbs. Along the way,...
Schisandra & Peppermint
13 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
No, that's not an herbal tea pairing suggestion! This week, Katja sets off on a 100-day experiment with schisandra berries, and Ryn discusses the...
A Movement & 3 Herbs For Back Pain
06 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week Ryn walks you through a short movement sequence he finds helpful when his low back gets tense, and Katja shares (most of) a recipe for a tin...
Herbs for Braces & Constituents from the Plant’s Perspective
30 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week Katja shares some allies who've helped out with the (several!) kinds of pain which accompany her braces - gentle vulnerary astringents ...
Birth-Day Herbs & Support The Mama
23 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Katja's daughter Amber is about to turn 15 years old, so this week Katja reflects on her birth experience and offers up some herbs to help mamas ...
Good Health Is Your Responsibility
18 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We say it every week: we are not doctors, you are responsible for your own good health. This week, we wanted to expand on that a bit more, explain the...
Pleurisy In Daughter-Caregivers
09 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, in honor of International Women's Day, Katja shares some of her thoughts and experiences with adult daughters who became caregivers fo...
Three Sleep Strategies + What I Should Have Done
02 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ryn shares some strategies he turns to when (as frequently happens) he recognizes that he needs to sleep, but can't quite convince him...
Emotional Support for Mothers & Teens
23 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Katja discusses several herbs to help support mothers and teens who are coping with the difficulties of the adolescent years - especially i...
Harm Reduction Herbalism + African Ashwagandha
16 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Katja describes a way of working with herbs to reduce the harm done when lifestyle factors like diet, sleep, and movement are less-than-ide...
Alternatives to Adaptogens for Burnout
09 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Adaptogens are marketed as a solution to stress, burnout, hormonal imbalances, and a lot more. They can help a lot! But they’re not always appropria...
Herbs & Strategies for Physical Labor
03 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We moved! We made it with just a few bumps & bruises and some sore muscles. That was no accident - we thought ahead and stayed mindful with some m...
Simple Herbs for Digestive Health
19 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week we’re sharing a class Katja delivered recently about basic applications of herbal remedies to improve digestion and relive digestive disco...
Our Students Love Linden
12 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This weekend we kick off the year for our Advanced Studies Program, so we invited our students to participate in the podcast. Somehow, without any pri...
Simple Herbal Self-Care Tips + A Joint Support Decoction
05 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Katja shares three simple ideas for integrating some herbal self-care into your life, especially during the work day, which have helped us a lot durin...
Year-End Reflections
29 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
As 2017 draws to a close, we look back over our year and some of the herbs who helped us get through it.Support the showYou can find all of our online...
Goldenrod for Hanukkah + A Solstice Elixir
22 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Katja draws parallels between the Hanukkah story of unexpected abundance, and the gift of goldenrod for helping us persevere through adversity and exh...
Yaupon + On Being A Boring Herbalist
15 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Ryn talks about the yaupon holly, a caffeine-bearing plant of North America, as well as a few ideas that apply to caffeine herbs in general. Katja is ...
Dynamic Desk Work + Crazy for Cranberries
08 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ryn notices he’s been getting stuck in the same sitting positions too frequently while working on the manuscript, and talks about differe...
Ryn Gets Sick + Katja’s Herbal Introspection
01 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ryn tells you about the herbal strategies he's been using to cope with a respiratory infection for the last few days. Katja shar...
Some Favorite Herbal Books
23 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
We love books! In this podcast we discuss a few of our absolute favorite herbal books for everyone from beginners to experienced practitioners. Here a...
Small But Mighty + Unconditionals
17 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Katja stands up to proclaim the strength and potency of the “pretty little flowers” chamomile and self-heal, and reminds us that gentle doesn’t ...
Avoiding Adaptogen Debt + Emotionalymphatics
10 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In our second episode, Katja gives you her take on adaptogens and their propensity for overuse, outlining her preferred way to work with this category...
I’ll Have What They’re Having + Apples & Oranges
03 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the inaugural edition of our podcast! In this episode, Katja talks about her new strategy for herbal self-care: taking home a bit of each t...