Rose Petal and Rhodiola Valentine’s Day Herbal Lollipops
Although sugar shouldn’t be a regular feature in a healthy diet, homemade candy making can be a delightful way to celebrate Valentine’s Day without the artificial sweeteners and dyes found in typical store-bought candy. Roses, hawthorn, and Rhodiola are the herbs that take center stage for these special Valentine’s Day herbal lollipops, and they bring…
Love Potions, Charms, and Such (+3 Recipes!)
Back in the days when I co-owned an herb shop at a renaissance faire, a great many of our sales would be used as components of amulets, talismans, potions, charms, and spells. More often than not, they were used to draw love to the one purchasing the herbs. The only other purpose that even came…
How To Make Essential Oil Solid Perfume to Warm Your Winter Romance
Winter, in many places in the world, means shorter days, longer nights, and cooler temperatures. We tend to stay indoors more and work on different tasks than we did during the longer, sunlit summer days. This can be a time to slow down, have a cup of tea, and nurture your personal relationships with friends…
5 DIY Floral Body Polish Recipes
“The earth laughs in flowers” Ralph Waldo Emerson Flowers are delightful, bringing joy to a weary soul. Savor the beauty of flowers and enjoy a bit of summertime in your self-care routine with a floral body polish. Filled with the goodness of flowers, a floral body polish offers sensuous fragrance and beauty while bringing the…
How To Make and Use Rose Infused Honey
Tranquility, love, and contentment are some of the emotions triggered when inhaling the beautiful aroma of the humble rose. For thousands of years, roses have been powerful symbols associated with love and beauty. Not only are roses an elegant way to say “I love you,” but they offer extraordinary health benefits, both for our bodies…
Free Pages for your Materia Medica
If the concept of creating a materia medica is somewhat new for you, we welcome you to learn more on the blog with our post What is a Materia Medica? The Herbal Academy materia medica is compiled in The Herbarium, our online plant monograph database. If you’re already a member of The Herbarium, you are…
Homemade Marshmallow Root Lip Balm
Whether it’s the parching of the hot summer sun or the blustering cold wind of our Michigan winters, my lips always seem to be in need of some sort of soothing, healing, moisturization all year long. I used to spend money on fancy lip balms and butters at the store until I realized how wonderfully…
How To Establish An Herb Study Group
If you are new to using and appreciating herbs, or if you have been a solitary herbalist or student, you may be missing the whole social aspect of herbalism—that of studying in a group setting (such as an herb study group) where there is learning and sharing with other people. As much as we would…
Teacher Feature: Ayo Ngozi
The teacher community here at the Herbal Academy thrives alongside our student community, and today we are delighted to share another interview from one of our Academy Educators, herbalist Ayo Ngozi. Ayo is part of the behind the scenes team that developed, coordinated, and edited the Advanced Herbal Course, while also contributing lessons of her…
All About Wild Cherry Bark (Printable Monograph)
Wild cherry bark has been used in a variety of ways in years past to support the health of the body. Today, we want to peel back the layers so you can learn all about wild cherry bark and how to use it in your home or your herbal practice. Not only are we going…
How To Make Herbal Hot Chocolate (3 Recipes!)
Growing up in New England, my childhood winters were snowy, cold, and long. But that didn’t stop me from enjoying the season. My brother, friends, and I made snow people and snow angels, went sledding and skiing, skated on the frozen lakes… and then came home to perfect, homemade hot chocolate. I’m not talking the…
5 Storage Containers Every Herbalist Should Have On Hand (And Where To Buy Them)
One of the joys of being an herbalist is making herbal preparations. Whether you are using herbs from your own garden and foraging expeditions or purchasing thoughtfully sourced herbs, the alchemy that transforms these herbs into an herbal infusion, tincture, elixir, or salve is enchanting and tremendously satisfying. Making herbal preparations is not only chemistry…
Gathering Supplies for your Herbal Materia Medica
A couple of weeks ago, we told you about our newest course here at the Herbal Academy—the Herbal Materia Medica Course. To quickly recap, we’re offering this course during January 2017, and it will focus on teaching you how to create your own herbal materia medica. A “materia medica” is a collection of in-depth plant…
Top Essential Oils for Winter Wellness
Cool crisp air. Snowflakes floating down. Children laughing during a snowball fight. A fire crackling in the fireplace. Salvation Army kettle bell ringers. Door wreaths and garlands. Candles. Reds, blues, yellows, greens, and silver. Hot cocoa and hot tea. Snuggly blankets. Sneezing. Coughing. Stuffy nose. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Winter can be a beautiful time…
Warming Winter Rituals: Herbal Truffles for Good Circulation
One of the charms of integrating herbs into your daily routine is the possibility for pleasure. The smell, textures, and flavors are important and integrated aspects of an herbal approach to balanced health. What’s more, “compliance” with taking one’s herbs becomes all the more likely when in the form and taste of a pleasing ritual….
18 Herbal Teas To Help You Stay Healthy This Winter
Keeping our bodies healthy and strong during winter can be a challenge! Thankfully, there many wonderful herbs that we can use to provide the support we need. Prepared as tasty teas, these herbs can help support wellness right in your tea cup! Brewing up a cup of tea to enjoy is a wonderful form of…
How To Create An Herbal Materia Medica (E-Course)
For those of us in the northern hemisphere, winter has settled over our gardens, over the fields, and over the wild places around us. For some of us, winter means snow. For others, a bleak landscape where nothing stirs. We miss the presence of our garden herbs and wild allies acutely. It’s tempting to pine…
The Best of The Herbal Academy Blog In 2016
As 2016 comes to a close, we reflect on the past year and all that’s happened here at the Herbal Academy. We’ve continued to add to our team, launch new courses, and offer physical products in our herbal Goods Shop. We’ve also enjoyed connecting with students in our courses, in The Herbarium, and through our…
How To Make Your Home Smell Good With Essential Oil Diffuser Blends
What is one of the first things you notice when you arrive home from a long trip? What makes “home” feel so “homey” when you first walk through the door? Oftentimes, it is the smell. It might be a comforting smell, the smell that tells you that you are back in a safe place. Or,…
Teacher Feature: Erika Galentin
Erika Galentin is a clinical herbalist and member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH) who studied at the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine in Glasgow, Scotland, before returning to the United States to continue her career. She is the Course Development Director here at the Herbal Academy and leads our team as we…
Lavender Sachets and Dream Pillows
A delightful, calming herb, lavender is a great addition to any home during the holidays. Lavender sachets and dream pillows are a very simple yet lovely craft which can be whipped up in a snap as a last minute gift. Whether used to impart a fragrance to clothes or as a nighttime companion, lavender provides a gentle aroma…
How To Make Homemade Fire Cider (With Video!)
While some think of this time of year as the holiday season, I tend to think of it as the season to make homemade fire cider! Fire cider is a traditional immune support with deep roots in folk medicine (but most popularly championed by herbalist Rosemary Gladstar). At its most basic, it’s a zesty infused…
How To Make Mulled Wine For Holiday Celebrations
Whether it’s a holiday gathering, a crisp autumn evening, or a bone-chilling winter night, mulled wine is both a wonderful winter warmer and a great holiday cocktail. Instead of going with a plain bottle of wine or the typical home stocked bar drinks, why not be trendy and serve up some great tasting wine with…
Clove Pomanders: An Old Fashioned Holiday Favorite
Clove pomanders are a seasonal delight! Made with numerous little cloves, pomanders are a wonderfully fragrant addition to holiday decorations as well as a lovely gift to share with others. Gathered in bowls around the home, hung in windows to catch the warmth of the sun, or displayed on a tree, this old fashioned favorite…
How To Celebrate The Winter Solstice Like The Ancients
The winter solstice is approaching. This year it will be on Wednesday, 21 December 2016 at 4:44 a.m. central time. What is the solstice? It is an astronomical event caused by the tilt of the earth on its axis and its orbit around the sun. The result in the Northern Hemisphere is the longest night…
23 Gifts for the Aspiring Herbalist
The holidays are quickly approaching. As we scramble to find the perfect gifts for all of our loved ones, we find ourselves wondering what to buy that plant-crazed friend or relative on the list. Below you’ll find 23 gifts for the aspiring herbalist—many of which are things I’ve both shared and received. May they become…
Homemade Squash Cinnamon Dough for Holiday Decorations and Ornaments
What spice reminds us more of the holidays than cinnamon? The smell of cinnamon cookies baking or perhaps a few cinnamon sticks brewing on the stove instantly brings warm memories to mind. There are many ways to enjoy cinnamon during the holidays and squash cinnamon dough is a surprisingly fun way to welcome this beloved…
Adaptogens: 75 Herbal Recipes and Elixirs – Book Review
Adaptogens: 75+ Herbal Recipes and Elixirs to Improve Your Skin, Mood, Energy, Focus, and More by Agatha Noveille is an inspiring read. This book takes a common sense approach to making this class of herbs (which should be on the top of everyone’s list) understandable and approachable. Agatha brings us back to the origin of the…
101 Herbal Books To Build Your Herbal Library
As we so often remind our readers and students, learning herbalism is a lifelong journey to be savored and experienced. It is an endeavor to be nurtured with hands-on practice, study with experienced teachers, and learning from the many herbal books written by herbalists of all traditions and approaches, both modern and historical. As herbalists,…
How To Make Your Own Fresh Rosemary Wreath
With its fragrant aroma reminiscent of fresh pine, rosemary is a wonderful herb to enjoy during the winter holidays. Bring rosemary into your home and adorn your walls with this beautiful aromatic herb. A fresh rosemary wreath is easy to make and will add a special herbal flare to your holidays. Be sure to make extras to…
