Dissolving the Green Wall: Learning to Connect With Plants and Our Environment
The following book excerpt titled “The Green Wall” is taken from Mirrors in the Earth by Asia Suler and is used with permission. For over a decade, Asia Suler has worked one on one with people in her private practice and with numerous students as a teacher, guiding them on a journey of learning, healing,…
An RSV Tea Formula to Assist as a Gentle and Soothing Expectorant
This soothing RSV Tea is a nice blend to have on hand for all of those respiratory viruses that have been rearing their ugly heads this winter! Especially useful for the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and safe for most children, the herbs in this tea blend act as a gentle expectorant, assisting the body in…
Orange Peel Tincture Blend for Digestive Support
As a student going through Herbal Academy’s Introductory Herbal Course, I was inspired by a lesson in which herbalist Guido Masé shared how to make digestive bitters. His enthusiasm was contagious, and I felt excited to create my own orange peel tincture blend. I am constantly amazed at the power of herbs, and I find…
Herbs and Yoga: How Plant Wisdom Can Support Your Yoga Practice
Yoga has come to mean many things to many people. An ancient practice designed to serve as a path to self-liberation, there are almost as many approaches to yoga as there are people practicing. The practice of yoga asana (yoga postures) offers immense benefits—physical, physiological, and psychological. However, cultivating a nourishing yoga practice that stands…
How to Make Linden Love Tea to Uplift Your Heart and Soul
This gentle Linden Love Tea recipe we are sharing below soothes the energetic heart and is taken from our Intermediate Herbal Course. It’s the perfect thing to add to your herbal toolkit as a way to uplift yourself emotionally and soothe heartache and grief. While many of us feel all the love that’s in the…
New Pregnancy Intensive and Herbal Support for Insomnia
Insomnia during pregnancy is common, and can be caused by a variety of factors—hormonal changes, nausea and vomiting, an increased need to urinate, pregnancy-related aches and pains, having to sleep in a position that one isn’t accustomed to, and worries about the pregnancy, the birth, and life with a new baby can all keep someone…
Valentine’s Day, The Herbal Way: Herbs, Gifts, Treats, and Unlocking Pleasure With Aphrodisiacs
Picture Valentine’s Day, the herbal way! This holiday embraces, and often evokes, a powerful feeling— love. Sharing how we feel about others and ourselves, and tying that all together with a pretty herbal bow, is just how we like to do things. We have pulled together ideas for an herbal Valentine’s Day that will help…
Herbal Academy Student Feature: Robin Ahrens (@barberryherbal)
Our Student Feature this month is with Robin Ahrens, owner of Barberry Herbal, where she works as an herbalism educator that teaches others how to forage and learn about the plants growing around them. Robin has completed Herbal Academy’s Advanced Herbal Course, Intermediate Herbal Course, and Becoming an Herbalist Mini Course. HA: Please tell us…
How to Make Schisandra Berry Syrup + A Schisandra & Strawberry Valentine’s Day Smoothie
If there was ever an herb that had the ability to positively influence multiple facets of the human body, it would be the schisandra berry. For thousands of years, traditional Chinese herbalists have used this famed berry as a nerve tonic, adaptogen, and an astringent, all of which it is still used as today. With…
Cold and Flu Essential Oils for Children
The best way to avoid the tell-tale signs of cold and flu is to deter illness from entering your home in the first place. However, unfortunately, no matter how much handwashing, surface disinfecting, citrus essential oil diffusing, and mask wearing we do, our children may still develop some type of upper respiratory infection during the…
Starting Herbs From Seed
Have you ever wanted to start growing herbs from seed? We are delighted to share our friend Richo Cech’s new book, Growing Plant Medicine: The Medicinal Herb Grower, Volume 1, with you today to give you some base knowledge for starting herbs from seed for your herbal garden. In this book, you’ll discover theory and…
5 Herbal Study Tools for Different Learning Styles
As a new or experienced herbal student, there are many ways to prime yourself for success as you dive into your studies. Perhaps you set an intention for your herbal education, craft an inspiring study space, and even snack or sip on some herbal-infused helpers to prepare you for studying. You can continue to set…
To Tonify or Purify? That Is the Question
As we bid ado to the year gone by and welcome a fresh new turn of the calendar, it is not uncommon to crave practices that create a sense of clarity and renewal. After holiday feasts and merriment, you may yearn for simpler foods or wonder if it’s time for a cleanse. However, with the…
DIY Pickled Cattail Shoots
The following excerpt and Cattail Shoots recipe is from Pascal Baudar’s book Wildcrafted Vinegars: Making and Using Acetic Acid Ferments for Quick Pickles, Hot Sauces, Soups, Salad Dressings, Pastes, Mustards, and More (Chelsea Green Publishing, Oct 2022) and is reprinted with permission from the publisher. Cattail Cattail loves wetland habitats, and it grows along the…
The Majestic Honey Bee in Ancient Greece + 3 Recipes with Greek Honey to Try at Home
The majestic honey bee (Apis spp.) has been celebrated for thousands of years by civilizations across the world. In ancient Greece, the honey bee was a symbol of birth, death, and rebirth—transformational themes connected to the mysterious and supernatural realms. As the creator of honey, the first known sweetener in Greek antiquity, the honey bee…
Embracing the Silence of Winter With Intention
We are now in the heart of the winter season here in the northern hemisphere. With its shorter days, longer nights, and colder temperatures, winter has not always been a season I’ve enjoyed. The lack of sunlight can lead to winter blues, now known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and poor weather can leave us…
Herbal Academy Student Feature: Sarah Jaroch (@evidence_of_providence)
For this Student Feature, we interviewed Sarah Jaroch (@evidence_of_providence), owner of Yarrow Creative Copy, where she works as a copywriter for herbalists and as an online marketer to help herbal businesses grow and succeed. Sarah has completed the Business Herbal Course. HA: Please tell us a little bit about yourself and how you started your…
Herbal Wellness Routines On the Go For Travel and a Busy Schedule
Whether you are traveling, hosting guests, or taking a vacation or staycation, most of us experience some disruption to our daily routines during the holidays. It is quite normal for one’s wellness routines to become altered during these busy and festive times. However, in order to keep your balance and optimize your ability to enjoy…
Holiday Home Essential Oil Diffuser Blend Recipe
Whether we’re baking our favorite pies and cookies, decorating with fresh greenery, or making crafts and gifts using herbs and spices, we enjoy the special aromas that accompany these activities during the holidays. There truly is an enchanting, warming scent to the season. This Holiday Home Diffuser Blend recipe we are sharing below is another…
Homemade Eggnog Chia Pudding Recipe
There are some recipes that elicit a debate, and this, friends, is one of them… eggnog! Boasting a strong reputation– either you love it or hate it. A yuletide drink filled with sweetness, milk, cream, alcohol, and the infamous eggs. A classic holiday recipe that dates back to the medieval times. Variations have been enjoyed…
Easy Homemade Kitchen Spices Cough Syrup
The following excerpt is taken from our FREE Pantry Herbalism ebook, where you’ll find monographs and recipes for spices, foods, and backyard herbs that you likely already have at home. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) aerial parts A close relative of oregano, thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is also rich in volatile oils. These constituents, especially thymol, are antimicrobial…
Herbal Support for Pregnancy Nausea
Pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting can affect up to 85% of pregnancies to varying degrees. Although a small amount of people do experience pregnancy nausea during their entire pregnancy (as in hyperemesis gravidarum), it normally starts around 4 to 9 weeks and usually subsides by 12 to 16 weeks (Romm, 2014). There are different theories as…
How to Make Holiday-Inspired Melt and Pour Soap for Easy Gift Giving
Pour out a batch of holiday cheer perfect for someone you think is very dear! This easy-to-make (and customize) melt and pour soap is an herbal gift everyone will enjoy. Simple ingredients, handcrafted techniques, and a touch of plant power make this herbal DIY a wonderful way to ring in the season. Soap Making…
How to Decorate Your Home With Fresh Greenery
Make your home come alive this holiday season by bringing the outdoors in with fresh greenery! The festive and cozy feeling that lush greens bring is enough to put anyone in the holiday spirit. With a little bit of planning and creativity, you can create stunning displays that you’ll find yourself wanting to repeat year…
5 Herbal Chocolate Bark Recipes for the Holidays
With a whole string of winter holidays ahead, the busiest gift-giving time of year is upon us. One of my holiday strategies is to keep a little stash of goodies I can grab on my way out the door to whatever gathering is on the schedule. I find that homemade gifts always make a good…
Herbal Academy Student Feature: Amrit-Sadhana Boyd (@theuntamedherbalist)
For this Student Feature, we interviewed Amrit-Sadhana Boyd (@theuntamedherbalist), owner of The Untamed Herbalist. As a trauma informed holistic anxiety coach and herbalist, Amrit-Sadhana applies extensive training and a lifetime of experience to provide her clients with a toolkit of modalities to help strengthen, nourish, and repair their nervous systems. She has completed the Introductory…
The Ultimate Herbal Gift Guide for Herbal Students, Entrepreneurs, Formulators, and More!
With the holidays right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about gifts for the herbalist in your life! Or perhaps you are the herbalist and want to drop a few hints to your friends and family. Either way, we’ve got you covered with a comprehensive gift guide for herbalists of all levels and…
3 Foraging Inspired Recipes for Autumn
These mushroom burgers, mushroom tart, and walnut pie were inspired by a foraging outing in the woods. This particular walk in the woods was the first time I collected large parasol mushrooms. I used them for dinner (délicious!) to make mushroom burgers fried in buckwheat flour and black sesame seeds. I also incorporated the mushrooms…
Mood-Boosting Hot Cacao Recipe
The dark season is approaching, a time of inner reflection and tranquility. As the days become shorter, the decrease in daylight hours may dampen one’s mood. Especially in the months of late fall and winter, it is helpful to create rituals that promote our sense of strength and cheer. Even if it is not always…
Herbs for Health and Cheer During Winter
As we head into the darker, cooler months of winter, many of us look forward to the sights, sounds, and activities of the holidays. Some of us may pine for quiet snow days and the opportunity to turn within and reflect. Or, depending on where you live, winter may take on a slightly different flavor….
