How to Correctly Identify and Use Evergreens for Internal and External Use
Attempting to correctly identify evergreen trees can be challenging. Evergreens get their name because the leaves, or needles, stay “green forever.” No matter the weather outside, you can always rely on evergreens to be green throughout the seasons. But if you plan on using some parts of the tree for herbalism, it’s important to correctly…
DIY Cold and Flu Bombs With Immune-Stimulating Herbs
We are all well aware of the looming cold and flu season that is approaching. As it inches its way closer, we are stocking our herbal pantries with strong allies like elder, echinacea, ginger, and thyme, among others. One option for utilizing these herbs is by making a simple recipe like these DIY cold and…
Herbal Oils for Acne Scarring
Few things can make a person feel as vulnerable and self-conscious as acne. While many chronic issues aren’t immediately obvious to others, the pimples and bumps associated with acne are on display for peers, love interests, and strangers to see. Frustratingly, even after the blemishes have resolved, they can leave long-lasting scars that can continue…
Herbal Academy Student Feature: Deema Al Huqail (@alkamicare)
Welcome to another installment in our Student Feature interview series! For this installment, we spoke with Deema Al Huqail (@alkamicare) of AlkamiCare where she creates hand-blended tea, flower essences, botanical skin care, and artisanal crafts inspired by the old and folk ways. Deema has completed the Botanical Skin Care Course and Intermediate Herbal Course, the Herbal Aphrodisiac Intensive, and…
Protect Plants Over the Winter: The Importance of Overwintering Your Garden
Preparing your garden to rest for the winter is just as essential as preparing your garden for planting in the spring. In fact, the work you put in at the end of the growing season can give you a jumpstart come spring. Overwintering is an umbrella term, under which there are several strategies for preparing…
Cannabis and Adaptogens for Stress
When it comes to modern-day living, it can seem like there is no relief in the frequency of life’s demands and the required fast pace to stay on top of things. This go-go-go way of living can wreak havoc on our nervous system. Over time, it can begin to rewire our brain to be in…
Chamomile Canna Bedtime Biscuits Recipe
With the launch of our new Canna+ Herbs Course, we’ve been exploring the many ways you can safely and responsibly invite cannabis (Cannabis sativa) into your herbal practice with intention and respect. One of our favorite ways to do that is to use cannabis-infused oils and butters in culinary creations. But before we dive into…
The Secret Network of Trees: Exploring the Important Relationship to Groundwater
The following book excerpt on the important relationship between forest trees and groundwater is adapted with permission of the publisher from the book The Secret Wisdom of Nature: Trees, Animals, and the Extraordinary Balance of All Living Things written by Peter Wohlleben and published by Greystone Books in March 2019. Available in paperback as The…
3 Simple No-Bake Vegan Cake Recipes
Working with botanical ingredients opens the door for creating recipes that are nourishing, tasty, and beautifully colorful. In this post, I share three recipes for gluten-free, dairy-free botanical vegan cake recipes: mango banana, raw cocoa, and lemon coconut. These cakes are not baked but are more of a cheesecake consistency. Each recipe is raw and…
Troubleshooting Fire Cider: Answering Your Questions
Fire cider is a beloved and potent wellness tonic known for giving the immune system a powerful kick. Made from a variety of herbs infused into apple cider vinegar, a classic herbalist’s recipe is easy to make, convenient to dose, and a delight to the tastebuds. Here at the Herbal Academy, we’ve been sharing our…
5 Autumn Spices for the Herbalist’s Kitchen
I adore autumn, and yet I find it a bittersweet time of year, being the harbinger of the cold, dark days of winter. Whether or not you welcome the transition from the heat of summer to the cool of autumn and winter, adjusting your foods, spices, and herbs to fit the season is one important…
Sanderson Sisters S’mores With Herbal Chocolate and Marshmallow Root Marshmallows
Create your own black flame chocolate, dripping in herbal goodness with a hint of rose flavor. Whip up homemade fluffy marshmallows made with the very ingredient they were named after — marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis). Sandwich them between two graham crackers and you’ll have the tastiest bite of s’mores you’ve tried yet! “Sisters, we’ve been…
How to Make a Culinary Fall Wreath Using Wild Grapevines and Herbs From the Garden
As summer dwindles and the first frost approaches, it’s time to start thinking about ways to hold over any garden surplus through the winter. Drying and freezing are two popular ways to preserve garden herbs. Crafting a fall wreath is one way of drying herbs which has become my absolute favorite this time of year….
Pumpkin Beer Bread Recipe With Homemade Herb Butter
I’m here to pass along a delightful crowd-pleasing recipe that could become a new autumnal tradition! It’s a mix of herbaceous goodness and a little hint of fall flavors. That’s right, homemade pumpkin beer bread and herb butter. The smell of freshly baked bread warms the kitchen as it bakes, the top crisping to…
Greek Olive Oil Traditions + How to Do an Olive Oil Tasting and Identify the Best Variety
Olive oil has a rich and magical history in Greece, where the landscape is dotted with millions of majestic olive trees. Derived from the pressing of ripe olives picked from the Olea europaea tree, this supreme food has been used for thousands of years in the Mediterranean region, Asia, and Africa. The magic of Greek…
Nourishing Matcha Tea Recipe With Lion’s Mane
Want to start your day with energy, but skip the intensity of coffee? Look no further than this Lion’s Mane Matcha recipe! This unique blend provides a mild caffeine boost while also supporting mental calm and focus. It’s the perfect cup of goodness to accompany your herbal study time or any activity that requires mental…
3 Moistening Herbs to Explore
In an article in The Herbarium, herbalist Erin Gangi discusses the role of moistening herbs through the lens of a few traditional medicine systems and outlines the uses, safety, and dosage of some specific herbs. This excerpt from the article explores the properties and benefits of moistening herbs and shares profiles of a few key…
DIY Chamomile Teething Gummies: Herbal Support for Teething Babies
Sleepless nights are a part of parenthood, particularly during teething. Some babies are quite distressed by this process, and the associated pain can leave them feeling uncomfortable and unsettled night and day. The time frame of when the first teeth erupt varies from child to child. For example, one child may already be teething at…
The Core Carrier Oils: How to Store Them Properly
This excerpt on core carrier oils is from the book The Carrier Oil Palette by Jade Shutes and Sherilyn Siegmund-Roach and is reprinted with permission from The School for Aromatic Studies. Carrier Oil Storage Carrier oils deteriorate via two separate processes: oxidation and spoilage. To prevent such deterioration, you must protect carrier oils from light,…
Tincture, Decoction, Tea, or Ghee: An Ayurvedic Perspective on Herbal Preparations
We all have our preferred methods of enjoying herbs. Some love hot herbal tea, some like a cool infusion, and others reach for the convenience and potency of tinctures. Or, some may crave the unctuous, nourishing qualities of herb-infused oils and ghee. There are many reasons why one may choose one type of herbal preparation…
Herbal Academy Student Feature: Jovan Sage (@jovansage)
Welcome to another Student Feature interview! For this installment, we spoke with Jovan Sage (@jovansage) of Sage’s Circle where she works as an earth and plant tender, healing facilitator, teacher, and doula. Her work includes one on one with clients, small group programs, and herbal research and consulting. Jovan has completed the Entrepreneur Course and Herbal…
3 Herbal Tea Recipes to Support Fertility, Pregnancy, and Postpartum
Many people are interested in exploring herbs while starting a family but don’t quite know where to begin. Put the kettle on, because these herbal tea recipes are a wonderful delivery method for gentle, nourishing herbs that are safe to consume during pregnancy, lactation, and the postpartum period. Herbs have helped people on their journey…
Fun and Easy Herbal Homemade Ice Cream for Those Hot Summer Days
As the weather gets warmer, the craving for cooler treats is also on the rise. When it comes to sweet treats, nothing beats homemade ice cream, and I like to incorporate herbs into all my homemade treats. It’s like guerilla herbalism, sneaking herbal allies into the fare at all my social gatherings. Whether I’m hosting…
How to Use Flower Petals in 5 Creative Ways
The last weeks of summer are here and nature continues to provide an abundance of gifts. Blossoms are not only beautiful and fragrant, but we can also use them in a variety of ways. Each blossom has a specific effect and can be used for a range of purposes. To inspire you to take advantage…
Savory Chickpea Flour Pancakes With Garden Herbs
If you are looking for a gluten-free, protein-rich, high-fiber, nutritious alternative to bread or conventional pancakes, chickpea flour pancakes may become a new mealtime favorite! Several years ago, I started making chickpea flour pancakes for their ease, taste, and nutritional value. I have made many iterations over the years and have landed on this tasty,…
Cultivating Clarity With Foods and Herbs
Most of us agree that a clear, peaceful mind is desirable. There are few of us who wish for an internal state that is characterized by turbulence and discord. Of course, cultivating and maintaining inner clarity is often easier said than done. However, we can take steps to create conditions for greater clarity and harmony…
How to Make a First-Aid Kit Yarrow Tincture
Yarrow, and especially yarrow tincture, is a wonderful herbal ally and addition to your first-aid kit to help you stay well prepared for any unfortunate bump in your herbal adventures! Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), known also as woundwort, staunch weed, nosebleed, and carpenter’s weed, is a rather common herb that can be wild foraged in many…
How to Propagate Herbs From Cuttings
When it comes to multiplying your beloved herbs, growing new plants from seeds you’ve collected is the easiest and most practical option. But there are other ways to propagate herbs using your already-established plants. Your herb garden is in full swing, your potted botanicals an abundant source of joy, making their way into your apothecary…
DIY Frozen Aloe and Calendula Cubes to Soothe Sunburns and Other Hot Skin Issues
Summer is a blessing and a curse. There’s nothing better than playing out under the sun’s warm rays, but a little too long in the sun can cause skin damage. But have no fear, herbalism is here! Beat the heat and soothe sunburns this summer with a cooling and soothing frozen calendula (Calendula officianalis) infused…
Herbal Academy Student Feature: Toni Green (@unveil_natural)
For this Herbal Academy interview, we spoke with Toni Green (@unveil_natural) to learn more about her herbal journey. Toni is a wellness advocate and owner of Unveil Natural Herbal Apothecary and Wellness Center in Belleville, New Jersey. She has completed Herbal Academy’s Introductory Herbal Course, Intermediate Herbal Course, Entrepreneur Herbal Course, Herbal Aphrodisiacs Intensive, Holistic…
