How To Dry Fresh Herbs Using A Dehydrator
Summer is the season of abundance. The days are long, the plants are growing, flowers blooming, and the bees buzzing and dancing in the air. It can be easy to take this abundance for granted, but of course, the world turns, the seasons change, and once again winter will descend upon us. We are fortunate that…
Family Wildcrafting (Family Herbal Summer Series: Part 3)
Welcome to week 3 of our special Family Herbal Summer Series! This week it is time to get out and explore the world of herbalism in the wild with some family wildcrafting. Many useful and wonderful herbal plants grow in the wild places of the world and herbalists often adore finding their green friends growing…
5 Herbal Spice Blends To Make And Use
Throughout human history, herbal spice blends have been the stuff of legend, wars, and poetry, they have served as valuable currency, and in medieval times were the driving force behind world exploration (Dalby, 2000). These aromatic herbs have crisscrossed national and cultural boundaries over and over again as those who cook (and those who eat) have created…
Unlock the Power of Mint: A Family-Friendly Herb
Beautifully fragrant with a delightful taste, amazing mint (Mentha genus) is a helpful and welcome herb for everyone in the family. Right at home in a yummy cup of tea or in an herbal extract, the uses are simple to enjoy! There is a vast variety of mints to savor. Peppermint, spearmint, chocolate mint, apple…
6 Of The Best Books For Your Advanced Herbal Studies
Building a home library is essential for beginning herbalists because it allows you to cross reference different views and glean more information about a topic while you study. Continuing to add to your herbal library is also very important for advanced and career herbalists, but what are the best books for your advanced herbal studies?…
Tips on Balancing the Sacral Chakra
Last month, balancing the first or root chakra was briefly described. This month, we follow the energy upward from the root chakra to the second or sacral chakra. Understanding The Sacral Chakra The root chakra is at the base of the spine, and the sacral chakra is located about two inches below the naval. The…
Giveaway: Body Into Balance
We love Herbal Academy educator Maria Noël Groves’s new book, Body Into Balance, so much that we’ve teamed up to give you the chance to win a FREE copy of your own! This book is all about taking a holistic approach to your health and how herbs can fit in with that. Sure, healthy patterns of…
Creating a Local Materia Medica with Yellow Dock
I had originally intended to write this month’s local materia medica about another herb entirely, but then I replaced the fence around the patio and stumbled upon a new plant to my land – yellow dock. Join me as I explain how to identify and use yellow dock in your local materia medica! Discovering Yellow Dock The aforementioned fence…
Introduction to Herbs for Kids
Welcome to our very special Introduction to Herbs for Kids series! Children are often fascinated by the natural world, learning from simple interactions with a puddle or a bug or a tree. This series of lessons caters to that natural inquisitiveness while introducing children to the world of herbalism in interesting and enjoyable ways. Written towards children,…
How To Make Fresh Herbal Sun Tea
It’s an herbalist’s favorite time of year again. The earth has turned green and we have an abundance of plants all around us. What better way to become acquainted with your green allies than by sipping fresh herbal sun tea? Fresh plant teas produce a sparkling crisp drink that feels like sipping in the summer…
Enhance Your Herbal Education with these Affordable Resources!
Aromatherapy and herbalism are vast subjects, and learning them is a joyous, life-long journey! Many of us are simply impassioned with a desire to learn and we often find ourselves looking for new resources to expand and deepen our knowledge of these subjects. Building a home library is extremely helpful for anyone learning about aromatherapy…
Herb Gardening With Children (Family Herbal Summer Series: Part 2)
Welcome back to the Family Herbal Summer Series at the Herbal Academy! I am so happy you and your family are here to join us for our second week of camp. This week our Family Herbal Summer Series is all about getting outside and herb gardening with children. Learn about herbs that are useful, family-friendly,…
When Is An Herbalist Prepared To See Clients?
Some of the most common questions that we are asked here at the Academy are, “When is an herbalist prepared to see clients,” and “How will I know when I am ready to see my first client?” Unfortunately, there are no easy answers to these questions or questions like them. Because there is no formal licensure or…
How To Stay Cool Using Herbs
Summer is just around the corner, and many of us are looking forward to the seasonal activities that come along with it—grilling outdoors with friends and family, visits to the beach or our favorite swimming holes, outdoor concerts and events, and more fun in the sun. But depending on where you live, things might be…
First Aid Essential Oils For A Summer Travel Kit
Summer is here, which means that most of us will do at least a little bit of traveling. There’s nothing like being away from home and having some sort of an illness or wound, only to realize you don’t have natural remedies with you that you need. It’s a good idea to put together a…
How To Make Dandelion and Fennel Kombucha
You may have heard about kombucha in recent years as this fermented drink has become quite popular. What you may not know, however, is how easy it is to make at home. The best part is that you can flavor kombucha to your own liking (or not flavor it at all), and you will know…
Botany for Herbalists (Family Herbal Summer Series: Part 1)
Welcome to our Family Herbal Summer Series for kids and parents! I am so happy you are here! This week I want to introduce you and your child to my friend “Herb,” and we’ll be covering some basic botany for herbalists, too. Don’t worry, though. Everything is broken down into small sections to make it…
Memory of Summer
When I was a young girl, we would take our yearly summer trip to visit my grandparent’s house. They lived in South Georgia where dirt roads gently suggested a way through the landscape. The drive up to their house was a dusty one; to pass the time, we would hang our arms out of the…
A Family Herb: Gentle Linden Flower and Leaf
Deliciously fragrant linden trees perfume the air in early summer, beckoning us to come and enjoy their beneficial properties for body, mind, and spirit. This stately tree, a time-tested favorite herbal remedy in Europe, is often found lining city streets and growing in parks. And it may surprise you to know that linden flower and…
Reflections of an Herb Gardener
To those who are afraid of starting an herb garden, don’t be. The rewards of having your own fresh herbs to use and dry, the therapy of working in the dirt, the ability to sit quietly and meditate in your own special place far outweigh the “errors in judgment” one can make. Looking back at…
Tips on Balancing the Root Chakra
Today we’ll be starting a new series on chakras. In this series, we’ll be discussing the different chakras of the body as well as the herbs, foods, vegetables, and essential oils that can help each chakra stay balanced. In this month’s post, I’ll be sharing tips on balancing the root chakra, or the base chakra….
Herbal Infused Snacks On the Go
This time of year, as the weather warms up, we have no trouble filling our schedule with activities to get us out of the house. I find that for both the little ones and the big ones in our family, having some grab and go snacks on hand makes us all happier as we come…
The Rewards and Challenges of Being a Clinical Herbalist
Clinical herbalism is a dynamic career path for advanced herbalists that has some unusual challenges and rewards! Not only does a clinical herbalist balance the business aspects of running a client based business with the legal aspects of being an herbal wellness coach, but they also need to pursue continuing education and professional development that…
Spicy Chorizo And Sweet Potato Hash With Eggs
Do you eat breakfast every day? I mean, isn’t it supposed to be the most important meal of the day anyway? Today I want to share a bit about why I have decided to start eating breakfast in the morning as well as give you a delicious, easy to make breakfast recipe for Spicy Chorizo…
A Comprehensive School Directory & Guide to Finding the Best Herbal Education For You!
It is, after all, transformation that all the best herbal schools encourage, enabling and supporting our transitioning into informed and empowered plant healers who have amazing gifts to share with this world. – Plant Healer, Herbal Education Guide & Herbal School Directory, p. 26 It is in this spirit that the wonderful folks at Plant…
Creating a Local Materia Medica with Violet
Modern herbalists are fortunate to have access to a vast array of herbs from far corners of the globe. Herbs and spices have long been a significant driver in world trade, and while this looks a bit different in the 21st century than it did in the 17th, we are still often intrigued most by…
How To Make Calendula Salve
Calendula is a beautiful flower and is well known throughout the world as a powerfully supportive plant. It grows most climates and readily reseeds itself to come back year after year, and it’s a plant that I believe most herbalists would recommend growing yourself. I was so pleased when I moved into my new house…
A Family Herb: Helpful Calendula Blossoms
Vivacious, happy Calendula blossoms are a delight to grow and use in herbal remedies for everyone in the family. As a member of the Asteraceae family, Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is a relative of other helpful plants such as chamomile, yarrow, dandelion, Echinacea, and Arnica. And just like its family members, Calendula has a plethora of…
8 Careers For Advanced Herbalists
Working one-on-one with clients may be the first thought to cross your mind when you think of careers for advanced herbalists. However, someone with advanced skills in herbalism can make a living as an herbalist in a variety of ways. Herbalism is less mainstream than other fields, and there are many good things that advanced…
How To Use Hydrolats For Babies And Young Children
There’s nothing more stressful for a parent than a baby who won’t sleep or a sick, inconsolable child. Fortunately, we can turn to natural remedies to help and support during these challenging situations. One option parents can choose is to use hydrolats for babies and young children. But what are hydrolats, where do they come from,…
