Do you need to know botany to be a great herbalist? Since learning botany is like learning a new language, it’s a fair question. After all, if you won’t use it, is it worth becoming fluent in it?   Being an herbalist means a lot of things: Working with people, plants, and being the bridge between the two. Although it might seem like studying botany is an important part of this process, the answer to this question might surprise you.    In today’s episode, you’ll discover: The three...

Sweet and grounding, Burdock is an Earthy plant with its wide leaves, deep taproots, and ability to both nourish weakness and cleanse excesses from the body. Just as it loves to grow near waste grounds, Burdock clears metabolic waste products and toxins from the fluids in your body to keep your skin glowing and healthy.   Since the health of the skin is merely a reflection of the health of your liver, blood, lymph, and digestion, focusing on topical solutions alone won’t get you very far....

Medical astrology is one of the most misunderstood assessment tools available in herbalism, with many flat out rejecting its usefulness or efficacy because of preconceived notions of astrology in general.  Despite its spiritual or “woo-woo” implications, astrology has practical therapeutic applications. By learning how to use this tool correctly, you can pinpoint an imbalanced organ system, tissue state, or constitutional pattern and develop greater accuracy in your herbalism practice.  In...

The term "holistic" is a key concept in today's holistic healthcare system. But what does it truly mean? According to the Evolutionary Herbalism model, a holistic practitioner is someone who integrates the physical, energetic, and spiritual properties of a plant with these aspects of a person to facilitate profound and transformative healing. Medical astrology stands out as one of the most powerful tools to craft a refined, precise, and effective system of holistic herbal medicine that...

Scott Kloos is an herbalist, wildcrafter, and medicine maker. He founded and acts as the managing director of the School of Forest Medicine and owns Cascadia Folk Medicine, which supplies high-quality, small-batch herbal extracts from the native plants of the Pacific Northwest region. He also co-founded the Elderberry School of Botanical Medicine in Portland, Oregon, and authored the book Pacific Northwest Medicinal Plants: Identify, Harvest, and Use 120 Wild Herbs for Health and Wellness.  ...

I know the beginning of the year is when a lot of us take a step back and look at our lives from a greater perspective.  Perhaps we're looking back on the past year and thinking about what we'd like to change or do differently...   ... Or we're looking forward and planning out how we want our lives to look and resolving to make it that way.   Hopefully as an herbalist, you're thinking about your plant path as well, and considering how you plan on taking your understanding of herbalism,...

With the holiday season approaching, many of you are wondering which gifts would be suitable for an herbalist. Whether you’re unfamiliar with the field or have been practicing for years, we’ve compiled a helpful list of items you can use as a guide for finding the perfect gift for the lucky herbalist in your life. In today’s blog episode, we list Medicine making essentials Wildcrafting tools that make harvesting and cultivation work a breeze Processing tools to help you produce potent...

Do you ever feel lost in your herbal studies or not know what to do next to reach the next level of your development as a plant healer? The journey as an herbalist can seem long and daunting. There are so many books out there, courses, traditions, and of course – herbs to study.    When your path ahead is unclear, it helps to pause and make a plan to figure out where you want to go and how to get there. With a clear map, you can handle any rough terrain, forks in the road, or unmarked...

As you begin your herbal exploration, you’ll notice that there are a lot of books out there that either talk about a plant’s spiritual or medicinal aspects–but rarely both. This separation of science and spirit mirrors the allopathic approach used in conventional medicine. The problem is that this separation doesn’t exist!    The more I studied the alchemical perspective, the more I learned that an herb's physical and spiritual properties are connected. When you study herbs this way, you...

Have you ever noticed how stress can make your body ache, your heart beat increase, or upset your digestion? Or vice versa and you eat a food your intolerant too and you get edgy, irritable or brain foggy? This happens because our mental, emotional, and physical health are all connected. Sadly, people often treat these aspects separately, which lead to treatments that don't address the whole picture. In my journey with herbalism, I discovered something amazing. Plants can heal more than just...

Healing has always been a collaborative journey. In the past, herbalists united in their pursuit of healing, transcending cultural boundaries and traditions. This exchange of wisdom not only laid the foundation for the thriving global herbal community we have today, but also nurtured the seeds of a promising future for herbalism.    In the past, learning about different herbal traditions demanded extensive travel. Now, the digital age bridges the gaps, offering instant access to herbal...

Diving into the world of herbal medicine and the traditions that have carried it for a long time oftentimes introduces us to new concepts, principles, practices, and ways of seeing the world around us that aren’t often taught to us in our modern world. And sometimes there’s something there that changes your life forever.  For me, the principles of vitalism were one of the biggest revolutionary moments in my life, not only as an herbalist, but as a human being. While I’ll share a bit more...

Have you come across the idea of allopathic herbalism? This approach often highlights specific symptoms and conditions that certain herbs are “good for.” However, it has a limitation: it doesn't address the root causes of diseases.   To achieve profound healing, it's crucial to go beyond simply matching herbs with symptoms. Embracing the traditional vitalist herbalism philosophy lets you explore the underlying energies beneath disease symptoms. This empowers you to choose herbs confidently,...

The vitalist approach to healing is like an ecosystem, and herbalism is only one aspect of it. At its heart, vitalism is about living in accordance with nature. This means living harmoniously with it and learning to support your body’s natural intelligence through nutrition, hydration, rest, and other lifestyle habits. By understanding how vitalism extends into every corner of your life, you can make choices that energize and revitalize you.    In today’s episode, you’ll learn:   What...

Science and spirituality are often painted as opposing forces. When this philosophy makes it into herbalism, you get a big divide between herbalists.   Depending on their perspective, herbalists will typically choose a scientific or spiritual approach to healing. The problem with picking a side is that you only get one half of the picture. By seeing the unity of science and spirit and the importance of each, you can become a truly holistic healer.   In today’s episode, you’ll learn:   ...

Do you wish that you felt more vitality? Many people wait until they have time to take a vacation or staycation to recharge, but postponing self-care until you truly need it can leave you feeling burned out.    Instead of seeing self-care as an uphill battle, you can take small and achievable steps that enrich your day and make you feel great. In today’s blog post, I share simple yet life-changing self-care practices you can do that are rooted in the vitalist model of healing.    In this...

Agrimony is the herb of paradox. On the one hand, it’s described as a relaxant,and on the other hand, as an astringent. How does it contract and relax a tissue at the same time?! What do you do when you find conflicting information surrounding the herb you’re studying?   Although these two aspects of Agrimony may seem contradictory at first, there’s a way that you can study the herb that connects them to form a larger whole. By learning how to study herbs in this way, you gain the skillset...

Lemon Balm, the “happiest plant on Earth,” enchants with its vibrant lemony aroma and taste. Beloved for its calming effects, this aromatic herb brings a sense of peace and serenity, along with an uplifted feeling to the spirit.   Loved for its calming and relaxing properties, this aromatic herb soothes tense digestion and eases an anxious mind. Whether sipping it as a delicious cup of tea or taking it in tincture form, there are numerous ways to enjoy this herb. Like a ray of sunshine,...

Step into the enchanting world of Lady's Mantle, fondly known as the little alchemist. This captivating plant enthralls herbal enthusiasts and alchemists alike because of its profound connection with the Water Element.   Lady's Mantle's alchemical correspondences are seen through its cup-shaped leaves that collect dew, and its balancing effects on dampness and lax tissues. Lady’s Mantle harmonizes with the water Element, thereby nurturing and revitalizing all systems in the body governed by...

Sometimes big medicine comes in the form of a small plant. Cleavers is one of those plants; humble and unassuming, yet a potent and highly useful remedy. It’s is like a water purifier for your body. It cleanses the lymphatics, flushes the kidneys, and offers pain relief for urinary tract infections.    Cleavers teaches us that it's not always best to use the strongest remedies, but rather sometimes the milder medicines yield the best results. Sometimes, it's the gentle ones that possess a...

Holy basil is a sacred plant in the Indian and Ayurvedic traditions. There is a wide range of conditions for which it is used, both physically and psychologically. Holy Basil is one of nature's panaceas, making it a powerful plant to grow in your garden and stock in your home.   In today’s plant profile, you’ll discover: Holy Basil’s unique taste and how it supports your nervous, digestive, immune system, and more  Holy Basil's unique combination of adaptogenic and nervine properties...

Alchemy provides a unique perspective on health and disease that differs from conventional medicine. According to this philosophy, periods of sickness and health are as natural as the changing of the seasons.   Alchemy views illness as an initiation. From this perspective, sickness provides you with the opportunity to heal underlying patterns and undergo transformation. One of the best forms of herbal remedies to help you with this process is spagyrics. Because these medicines work on the...

Spagyrics is the branch of the alchemical tradition that specifically concerns itself with the preparation and processing of medicinal plants. One of the unique attributes of spagyric preparations is that they are specifically designed to concentrate the physical, energetic and spiritual qualities of the plants in a singular extract. This process separates, purifies, and recombines the Three Principles of a plant, known as Sulfur, Mercury, and Salt, resulting in a uniquely powerful herbal...

Alchemy is a philosophy and practice that can enhance herbalism. By re-integrating spirituality with science, you can unlock the full potential of herbal medicine. This involves understanding the practical alchemical framework, which focuses on preparing and administering herbal medicine with a holistic perspective.    By integrating the philosophy into your herbalism practice,you can achieve transformative healing for yourself and your community.   In today’s episode, you’ll learn:   ...