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 holiday season, I tend to think of it as the season to make homemade fire cider! Fire cider is a traditional immune-supporting remedy with deep roots in folk medicine (but most popularly championed by herbalist Rosemary Gladstar). At its most basic, it’s a zesty infused vinegar,…
