Herbs of Apollo: Greek God of Healing, Prophecy, and the Sun
Who Was Apollo? Apollo was the ancient Greek god with a multitude of powerful associations, including the sun, music, poetry, healing, oracles, prophecy, plagues, and archery. As the son of Zeus, king of the gods, and Leto, the goddess of motherhood, Apollo was one of the twelve Olympian gods who was both revered and feared…
Seasonal Medicine for the Winter
The following excerpt is from the book “Energetic Herbalism” by Kat Maier RH, (AHG). Kat is the founder and director of Sacred Plant Traditions, a center for herbal studies in Charlottesville, Virginia. In clinical practice for over 30 years, Kat teaches internationally at universities, conferences, and herbal schools. (Chelsea Green, Nov 2021). At this time…
Hot ‘n’ Spicy Essential Oils for Winter
Winter season…snow season…holiday season…fireplace season…conifer season…cocoa and tea season…cold ‘n’ flu season. For so many of us in the Northern Hemisphere, winter means cooler temperatures, more time indoors, and more concerns about viral respiratory diseases. In this article, we will go over various essential oils for winter. This time of year is perfect for creating…
A Healthy Nursing Tea Blend to Increase Milk Supply and Nourish Your Baby
Nursing is a close, intimate, and emotional relationship between a parent and child. Nourishing your baby and bonding over this special experience and unique relationship can be a meaningful experience. But it is not always an easy journey. Especially at the beginning, it can be quite challenging for new parents. To achieve an effective latch…
Herbal Academy Student Feature: Jake Lasorsa (@meadowroot)
This month’s student interview features Herbal Academy graduate, Jake Lasorsa of (@meadowroot). We enjoyed hearing about Jake’s path into herbalism as a personal chef and how he now incorporates herbs into his handmade soap business Meadowroot. Jake has completed Herbal Academy’s Entrepreneur Herbalist Path Package. HA: Please tell us a little bit about yourself and…
Astragalus Chai With Bone Broth
The fire is lit and roaring. Deep orange flames undulate and flicker as the cold white snow falls just outside your door. The days of winter shed a chill of lower temperatures. These colder months are a time for many to find a slower pace, to seek the shelter of the indoors, and to partake…
DIY Herbal Vapor Rub
Making your own herbal vapor rub is a great way to use your essential oil collection while creating a natural alternative to mass-produced mentholated rubs. This recipe features eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) essential oil. This invigorating oil is steam distilled from the leaves of the evergreen tree, which is native to Australia and well-known for its…
Make a Plant Wand To Clear Holiday Stress
The holidays can be a stressful time. Despite messages of good tidings and merriment, the pressure of gift-giving, old traumas, or feeling lonely are all common emotional responses. Just like lighting a candle or burning incense, creating and burning plant wands gives off those same therapeutic properties. Igniting a shift and inviting in a sense…
Ayurvedic Holiday Gift Guide
The holidays can be a wonderful opportunity to show your love and thoughtfulness. Homemade gifts, party favors, and stocking stuffers are a festive way to get crafty, have a little fun in the kitchen, and apply your passion for herbalism and wellness. Making (or purchasing) ayurvedic-inspired gifts is a great way to offer something that…
DIY Herbal Wrapping Paper Craft
Anyone else love those quiet December nights? The ones where the work is done, the kitchen is closed, and there’s a calm? The soft glow from the twinkling lights fills the room. A classic holiday movie plays in the background. On these nights I love to brew a cup of tea and wrap presents with…
How to Make a Simple Chai Syrup
I love any opportunity to share the richness of relationships with plants and have always felt that handmade gifts are the most precious. There’s nothing like gifting friends and family your time and energy, packaged up, with handwritten labels, just brimming with love. This is why for Christmas this year I am offering a little…
Essential Oil Perfume: A DIY Gift Idea
The holidays are a wonderful time to give something that the receiver wouldn’t normally indulge themselves in. Something pretty, or something sentimental, or something handmade. An essential oil perfume recipe checks all those boxes! Crafting a unique scent is a fun way to show care to the receiver, and to pull in special memories through…
3 DIY Herbal Skincare Gifts for the Holiday Season
As this year is coming to an end, we are busy getting ready for the holidays. To show appreciation for our loved ones in a more meaningful way, creating DIY herbal skincare gifts during the holiday season is a wonderful option! Furthermore, it is a great opportunity to take time for yourself to slow down…
Herbal Chapstick Recipe for Dry Winter Lips
Whipping winds, cold air, and a dry climate make for a common annoyance—chapped lips. Winter is particularly harsh on the lips, a fragile skin barrier, and it is no wonder so many stores line their end caps with chapstick during December. Tis’ the season for piling on extra layers! Not just for the body, but…
Herbal Academy Student Feature: Shiang-ling Bissonnette (@halfbakedbarelymeasured)
For this Student Feature, we sat down with Herbal Academy graduate, Shiang-ling Bissonnette of Half Baked Barely Measured. We enjoyed hearing more about her path into herbalism and how she manages herbalism in a self-converted school bus. You can also follow her journey on TikTok and Instagram as @halfbakedbarelymeasured. Shiang-ling has taken Herbal Academy’s Natural…
DIY Aromatic Fire Starter Basket
One of the coziest traditions of this season is welcoming the winter days with a warm, crackling fire. How about putting some creativity to that fire with an aromatic fire starter basket? Aromatic fire starters not only help to get that fire started, but also fill the home with a wonderful aroma. This aromatic fire…
DIY Savory Herbal Whipped Butter Recipe for Holiday Cooking
If you are looking for a special herbal indulgence to enjoy this season, herbal whipped butter is just the thing! You can make this ahead of time and store it in the fridge or freezer to have on hand when cooking or entertaining. Use it to cook in, spread it over squash before baking, dot…
Homemade Hot Toddy for Cold and Flu
My first memories of a hot toddy are from childhood. One of my family’s home remedies for cold and flu, hot toddies were something my mother prepared for me and my sister when the seasonal sniffles got the better of us, and something her grandmother, my mamaw, had made for her family in similar situations….
Plant Allies to Prepare Your Immune System for Winter
Winter stirs up nostalgic thoughts of evergreen trees and warm, cozy fires, but it can also cause increased stress and anxiety, with concerns of the approaching cold and flu season coupled with navigating a pandemic. Luckily, plants are available to us to help support the immune system, soothe the nervous system, and promote balance to…
How to Make Apple Spiced Liqueur
It is November. A cold chill has settled, blanketing the days with lower temperatures. It is time for cozy fires, warm food, and spiced drinks. This homemade apple spiced liqueur recipe gives your taste buds a welcome dose of sweet and spice, with a little bit of heat. The sweet taste of apples with cinnamon…
DIY Pregnancy Belly Cream: Help Prevent Stretch Marks With This Natural Blend
During pregnancy, the body experiences great changes. The belly grows, the breasts are already preparing for breastfeeding, and overall the whole system is working perfectly to create a living being inside. In this article, you will find some holistic tips to prevent stretch marks and also advice on the optimal care of stretch marks that…
15 Heartwarming Herbal Gifts for Plant Lovers
It’s the season of gift giving once more! If you are preparing your gift list and in need of ideas for the herbalists in your life, we’ve got quite the list for you. Deliver heaps of herbal joy this year with these heartwarming herbal gifts for plant lovers, from the botanically curious beginner to the…
Balance Your Holiday Menu With Ayurvedic Six Tastes
Ayurveda teaches that all things in nature are made up of some combination of the five elements: earth, water, fire, air, and ether. This means that our bodies, the food we eat, the herbs that we benefit from, and even colors and aromas—are made of some combination of the five elements. This five-element paradigm is…
Herbal Academy Student Feature: Liz Witter (@backcountry_botanicals)
We sat down with Herbal Academy graduate, Liz Witter (@backcountrybotanicals), to hear more about her path into herbalism and her herbal business. She currently owns and operates Backcountry Botanicals out of her home in Kanab, UT, where she distills essential oils from desert plants, and makes wildcrafted personal care products. Liz has taken Herbal Academy’s…
Ayurvedic Diet: Four Foods to Eat in the Fall
Again and again, I am drawn back to the wisdom of Ayurveda. This is for many reasons, one being that Ayurveda has helped me to become more aware of, and in tune with, the seasons. The transition from summer to fall marks the changeover from pitta season to vata season. Fall is the time of…
13 Last Minute Gift Ideas to Make at Home
When you are short on time to source the perfect gift, skip the store entirely and turn to handmade! We have you covered with our last minute gift ideas to are perfect for adding a little extra herbal goodness to a present, pulling something quickly together for the person that might have slipped your mind…
How to Make Rosehip Syrup
Rose hips are my favorite herbal ally to call on when making a syrup. The constituency profile and energetics of rose hips mesh so well with preservation and delivery by syrup. Let’s look at what makes rose hips the perfect ally for syrup making, and some of the reasons we might make an herbal syrup….
Strange Ways to Heal: Medical Curiosities of Ancient Greece
Throughout history, humans have sought ways to ease many ailments. Some lasted through millennia. Others fell into disuse. The ancient Greek civilization (c. 3,000 BCE-600 CE), practiced a variety of healing methods over centuries influenced by population growth, trade, and conflict throughout the Mediterranean region. Medicine in antiquity shifted and evolved as a result of…
11 Ways to Save Money on Herbal Supplies
As your herbal studies gain momentum, we know how tempting it can be to purchase brand-new herbal supplies: herbs, books, materials, and equipment to bring your recipes and projects to life. Like any craft, there are baskets upon baskets of fun, exciting tools that you’ll want and need as you stock your herbal supply cabinet,…
DIY Herbal Halloween Lollipop Recipe
It’s officially time to break out those cauldrons and brew up something sweet for a Halloween treat! This homemade herbal lollipop recipe is a delicious candy filled with rich flavor and simple ingredients. Watch the Golden Liquid Rise As the concoction bubbled and boiled, I felt like a Sanderson sister stirring up something on a…
