Calming Tea Recipe & Natural Stress Management (With Video!)
Sometimes it seems as if stress is all around us. From big traumatic events to small irritations, stress is an inevitable part of life. Because stress can have a detrimental impact on our health and quality of life, it’s imperative that we develop habits—from simple lifestyle practices to go-to formulas, like our Calming Tea Recipe,…
Calming Canine Herbs for Your Four-Legged Friends
There are a number of things that can cause stress and anxiety for our beloved pets, from separation anxiety to loud noises. Whenever my dog hears a loud bang that resembles a gunshot sound, his ears fold back, he gets as close to the ground as he can, and he frantically scrambles to hide. This…
7 Reasons to Forage Wild Food and Herbs
Before the advent of agriculture, our ancestors were hunter-gatherers, relying on the wild food and herbs they brought home in their baskets to keep them alive and well. Foraging is a way to return to those ancestral roots and re-learn what our ancestors knew: that nature provides an abundance of botanicals that can be consumed…
Purple Dead Nettle: Nutrition and Recipes
If you enjoy foraging and using plants that grow naturally around you, then purple dead nettle (Lamium purpureum) is a wonderful plant to become acquainted with. Available across most of the United States, this common “weed” is easy to find and its mild flavor blends well with a wide variety of recipes—from salads and smoothies…
Introducing Our NEW Foraging Class!
As herbalists, we are passionate about all things botanical, and foraging is top of the list! With spring in full swing and summer inching closer, we are enjoying our foraging forays and plan for even more time in the fields and forests as the green world bursts into a riot of growth! To make the…
5 Aromatherapy Mood Sprays for Summer
Summer is right around the corner here in the Northern Hemisphere, and if you can’t wait for it to get here, an aromatherapy mood spray may be just the thing you need to give you that summer feeling right now! In this article, you’ll learn how scent can help put you in a positive frame…
Herbal Allergy Support Using Ayurvedic Herbs
Allergies manifest in many ways. There are food allergies, seasonal allergies, skin allergies, and allergic reactions to fragrances. As is the case with any health imbalance, it’s easy to get distracted by symptoms and acute discomfort. However, Ayurveda has a holistic approach to wellness—and allergy management follows that approach. In this article, you will learn…
Stress-Be-Gone Balm Recipe (and Video!)
In trying times, it’s inevitable to feel anxious and stressed. When we are burdened with these emotions, everyday tasks often become more difficult and we don’t feel like ourselves. While there are many ways to ease stress and anxiety, including nutrition, exercise, and various herbal preparations, it’s nice to have something on hand that’s quick…
New Intensive! Identify and Manage Estrogen Excess
Estrogen. It’s a well-known hormone, but how many of us truly understand the many ways it affects our bodies? As one could guess, estrogen is a key player in reproductive and sexual development, but it also affects cholesterol, metabolism, bone formation, cognition, and more. When estrogen levels are balanced, we hope to operate within a…
Lion’s Mane Mushroom: What You Should Know
For many years, mushrooms have received most of their attention as a popular pizza topping. But recently, these members of the fungi kingdom are getting a lot of spotlight as a “superfood” and functional mushrooms, like lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus), are becoming increasingly popular. These days mushrooms are being studied for their wellness properties and…
Best Herbs for Lungs and Respiratory Support
When addressing viral respiratory infections, we want to think about herbs that have strong immune or antiviral actions in addition to herbs for lungs and basic respiratory support. During the current outbreak of viral infection, it’s better to use what you already have on hand than to spend an extended amount of time out of…
Nettle Vinegar: A Spring Alterative Recipe
A number of herbal allies are especially well-suited for spring—alterative herbs being one of our favorites. Alterative herbs are a great support to the liver and are useful for gentle cleansing and detoxification. The great news is that they can be incorporated into your daily wellness routine with simple recipes, like nettle vinegar, to help…
COVID-19 School Lunch Programs: Keeping Children Fed
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, we’ve become particularly aware of the simple, daily blessings that we take for granted, including access to healthy, year-round produce. As we collectively give thanks for what we’re fortunate to have — from a safe home, to a healthy meal, to our ability to care for our families’ wellbeing —…
The Four Humours of Ancient Greek Medicine: Ancient Thought in Modern Practice
Herbalism is an ancient practice with thousands of years of historical applications. Today, the well-recognized ancient traditions of Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine remain instrumental as effective herbal practices. Equally important is understanding and recognizing the contributions of ancient Greek herbalism, namely the four humours. Although these concepts are no longer mainstream theories, they continue…
A Heart-Warming Herbalist Day
April 17th marks Herbalist Day — a celebration of the many teachers, peers, and herbs that have guided you through your journey as a herbalist thus far. As we all navigate a time of uncertainty, one thing that remains vital is the need to tend to the heart, both physically and energetically. This Herbalist Day,…
Safe Antiviral Herbs for Autoimmune Disease
Immune support is on everybody’s mind right now, and not just for our own benefit but also for the greater good! The changing news and recommendations during the current outbreak of viral illness is enough to make even those who are generally well a little bit uneasy about what to do. For individuals who have…
Mushroom Folklore: Fairy Rings
Before microscopes, test tubes, and organized scientific study, humans all over the world told myths, tales, and legends that explained what mushrooms are, how they came to be, and what they might indicate. Although the modern understanding of fungi and mushrooms is founded on biology, ecology, and chemistry, many people still find insight and inspiration…
Dandelion Greens: 3 Simple Recipes for Spring
As temperatures warm, snow melts, and blossoms emerge, spring cleaning seems to be on everyone’s mind. While some opt for a haircut or a closet purge during this transitional time of year, others may feel compelled to lighten up on more than one level. One way is with these 3 dandelion greens recipes. According to…
Why We Need To Care About Animal Adoption and Rescue
It is important to remember that human beings share the planet with countless other inhabitants. As one part of a larger whole, we have a responsibility to respect and care for our fellow earth-dwellers, including plants and animals. When it comes to animals, people especially love their pets. There is so much we can do…
3 Alcohol-Based Hand Rub Recipes
The most important prevention measures we can take right now are staying home and practicing social distancing if leaving the house for essential work or trips to the grocery store or pharmacy—that is, staying at least 6 feet away from other people (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2020a). Washing hands thoroughly with soap and warm…
Milk Thistle Gomasio: An Herbal Flavoring Salt For Spring Meals
As the flowers awake after the cold days of winter, we often feel a nudge to embrace new growth and shed our winter coats. Spring is the natural time to cleanse, detox, and refresh after a long winter season of extra hours inside, less movement, and heavier foods. Spring’s arrival seems to awaken our longing…
Dark and Stormy Mushroom Bitters Recipe
There are plenty of ways that mushrooms can be used to support digestive health and vitality. One such way is through their bitter properties. Yes! Some mushrooms have a bitter flavor, and these mushrooms can be used to create mushroom bitters just as you would use bitter tasting plants to create herbal bitters. In this…
Good Faith Discount on Herbalism Courses
Hello dear friends, I’m sure you, too, have been feeling the weight of the week. Our hope is that the Herbal Academy can remain a constant in your life when things feel unsettling. In fact, we want to be more than just a constant. We want to be a guiding light, a source of trustworthy…
Safety Discussion: Elderberry and Immune Stimulation Concerns
There has been a great deal of discussion here and elsewhere on whether or not elderberry should be used during the current outbreak of viral illness. For many of us, elderberry is already a common part of supportive care during cold and flu season. Naturally, we’re curious about whether it’s appropriate for use now, and…
5 Herbal Insomnia Options For Better Sleep
If you suffer from insomnia, there are effective, herbal insomnia options available that may help to promote peaceful slumber. Read on to explore how diet and lifestyle changes, as well as herbs, can benefit your sleep health and support you in achieving a good night’s rest. We’ll even share a luxurious bath soak and a…
5 Essential Mushrooms for Your Home Apothecary
Mushrooms: they are as fascinating as they are mysterious. It seems as soon as you dive into the world of mycology, there is an overwhelming amount of information to learn, many rabbit trails to follow, and as many unanswered questions as there are answered ones. While the scientific community has dubbed the study of fungi…
Herbal Terminology: Actions, Categories, Energetics, Flavors, and Properties—Oh, My!
The study of herbalism isn’t for the lazy! There are a plethora of plants to learn about, not to mention herbal history, how the body works, various global herbal systems and the tools they use, how to assess and match herbs to a condition and a person, and more. And then, there’s the terminology that…
Milk Thistle: A Spring Herb Your Liver Will Love
A number of herbal allies are especially well-suited for spring, such as alterative, bitter, and hepatic herbs. These categories of herbs are a great support to the liver and digestive system and are useful for gentle cleansing and detoxification. They can be incorporated into your daily wellness routine throughout the spring to support and aid…
Herbs to Boost Creative Power
If you are looking to boost creative power and cultivate more clarity in 2020, the classical Ayurvedic formula, Saraswati churna, may become your new herbal ally! Aptly named after the Hindu goddess of art, music, and wisdom, Saraswati churna combines tonifying and clarifying nervines, as well as warming digestives. The goddess Saraswati is especially revered…
10 Herbal Crafts for Long Winter Days
There’s nothing better than a hot cup of tea and a winter herbal craft project to help brighten long, cold days in the Northern Hemisphere. These 10 herbal craft projects are inspired by plants, and a few of them even involve taking a walk to find materials in nature, which is therapeutic in and of…
