The Herbalist's Path

When an FDA inspector showed up to inspect my student's herbal product business, he flagged her elderberry echinacea tincture as dangerous, and cited Google AI as his research source. That's where this episode starts, and it gets crazier from there. This herbalist has done the work, and played by all the rules. She documented everything from seed to final sale. Her SOPs in place, labels...

Wildcrafting has gotten trendy, and that's not always a good thing. Misidentified plants, sketchy sourcing claims, and a whole lot of misinformation are floating around social media right now, and it's worth slowing down to talk about why that matters. Howie Brounstein, founder of Columbine School of Botanical Studies and an herbalist who has been teaching for over 40 years, talks about...

Knowing how to use one herb 40 ways will make you a better herbalist.  Have you ever found yourself buying herb after herb, learning a little about each one, and somehow still feeling like you don't really know what you're doing? If so, you're not alone. This episode will encourage you to slow down, go deeper, and build the kind of intimate plant relationship that turns into real he...

Your gut has been trying to tell you something. The question is whether you know how to listen. In this episode I sit down with Maria Noel Groves , clinical herbalist and author of Herbal Gut Health , and we go deep on bitters, mucilaginous herbs, lemon balm, and how to listen to what your digestive system is telling you. What's in this episode: Why lemon balm is one of the most underrated di...

It only takes one accident to regret not being prepared. So let's talk herbal first aid and the essential plants to keep in your kit. From cuts and scrapes to burns, bites, and unexpected whoopsy daisies, these herbs can help you be ready before you need them, using simple, natural remedies that have been doing this work for a long time. These are the plants that can keep you calm, prepared,...

What if the way we’re learning herbalism is actually harming the plants we depend on? In this episode, I sit down with herbalist Elaine Shefff from Green Path Herb School to explore ethical wildcrafting, plant stewardship, and what it really means to be in relationship with the land. As herbalism becomes more popular, it is more important than ever to slow down, observe, and rethink how we harvest...

Spring is here, and that means some of the most powerful medicinal plants on the planet are popping up in your yard, your garden edges, and along your favorite walking paths. And most people are either pulling them out or walking right past them. In this episode, you'll meet four spring weeds that can have amazing benefits to your health: dandelion root and leaf, nettles, cleavers, and chickw...

What does herbalism look like when your community actually needs you? In this episode I sit down with clinical herbalist Ashley Elenbaas of Sky House Herbs , who has been doing boots-on-the-ground mutual aid work in Minneapolis. We talk about how she organized local herbalists, partnered with existing mutual aid networks, and got herbal care kits into the hands of homebound immigrant families. And...

Heart disease is the number one cause of death globally, and nearly 50% of adults in the US have at least one major cardiovascular risk factor. The good news is you likely have herbs in your kitchen and garden that can help. Learn the herbal actions that matter most for cardiovascular health as we share top herbs for heart support, from culinary powerhouses like garlic, ginger, rosemary, and cayen...

What does it really look like to hold space for someone in their most vulnerable moments? Heather Shelton, nurse-turned-herbalist and psilocybin facilitator, shares her journey from medical trauma to healing work with nervous system herbs and plant medicine. Learn about lemon balm, motherwort, and chamomile for everyday support, what happens in a psilocybin session, and why plants have been her gr...

The world feels heavy right now. Many of us are moving through stress, grief, anger, and exhaustion while trying to stay grounded in our lives and communities. In this co-hosted episode of The Herbalist’s Path , Mel and Brittany talk honestly about what it looks like to stay regulated during hard times. They explore nervous system support through herbs, foundational practices, and self-awareness —...

Essential oils are powerful tools, but they’re also some of the most misunderstood substances in modern herbalism. Safety concerns, quality questions, and sustainability issues are real, and sorting through the marketing noise to find reliable information isn’t easy. This episode cuts through the confusion. Hana Tisserand, internationally respected essential oil educator and author, joins me to ta...

Your liver is working every minute to filter toxins, balance hormones, metabolize fats, and support over 500 functions in your body. But here's what most people get wrong: your liver doesn't need a "cleanse" or punishing detox. What it needs is ongoing support through the right herbs at the right time. In this episode, you'll discover how to think like an herbalist when ch...

What if healing isn't something you rush toward, but something you remember ? In this episode, herbalist Jo Sesay shares how her grandmother, mother, and Aunt Jo created their own healing network long before the internet existed. You'll discover why cultural connection matters deeply in both food and plant medicine, how ancestral wisdom shapes modern herbal practice, and why slowing down...

There’s a moment in most herbalist’s journey when working with plants stops feeling like a fun curiosity and starts feeling more like responsibility. Your remedies work. People notice. And suddenly, friends, family, and community members are asking you for deeper help. Not just a salve or a tea, but real support for chronic issues, complex patterns, and long-standing health concerns. In this episo...

You can study herbs for years, read all the books, memorize the properties… but none of it replaces working with real people. None of it builds your intuition the way practice does, and it definitely doesn't come from AI. If you've ever wondered whether herbs really work or doubted your abilities as an herbalist, this conversation with clinical herbalist Brittany Williams of Eudemonia He...

Have you ever felt like you're not quite herbalist enough? If so, you're not alone, and neither am I. In this episode, we're talking about imposter syndrome in the herbal world and sharing the very human side of growing as an herbalist. And yes, even after 25 years of studying, teaching, formulating, running a product line, and guiding thousands of people with plant medicine, that n...

When healthcare becomes unaffordable, food insecurity rises, and communities are struggling, herbalists have a unique power to help. But how do you actually show up without burning out or giving everything away? In this episode, you'll discover simple, accessible ways to share plant medicine in your community—from free herb walks and sliding-scale care to medicine gardens and mutual aid kits....

If your nervous system has been feeling fried lately — you’re not alone. In this episode of The Herbalist’s Path , I’m sharing the herbal allies that have truly carried me through this season of uncertainty and overwhelm. We’ll chat about my favorite adaptogens and nervines for calming anxiety, easing tension, rebuilding resilience, and supporting the immune system when stress takes over — includi...

What happens when you grow up foraging mushrooms and picking wild berries in the forests of western Oregon? In this episode, I chat with clinical herbalist Logan Keister of Noti Botanica about his journey into bioregional herbalism, growing up in timber country, and the powerful role nature plays in healing. We talk about wildcrafting, teaching kids to connect with plants, and how herbalism can tr...

When my daughter sprained her ankle during a softball game, I was grateful to have Comfrey growing in the garden and some Arnica oil stashed in the van. But as I reached for what I had on hand, I realized most of my oils were past their prime. This episode is a real-life story behind that moment, the herbs I turn to for sprains and strains, and why it’s time to restock my home apothecary. I also t...

Ever wonder what it really takes to grow potent, high-quality herbal medicine—from the ground up? In this inspiring conversation with Elise Higley of Oshala Farm, we explore the art, science, and soul of regenerative organic herb farming. We’ll talk about: How regenerative organic farming nurtures both plants and people The behind-the-scenes process of growing, harvesting, drying, and testing herb...

Is functional medicine really the answer for gut health? Or are we just trading one pill-for-every-ill model for another—this time with supplements? In this candid episode of The Herbalist’s Path, I’m joined by Dr. Nikki DiNezza—chiropractor, nutritionist, and self-proclaimed “gut microbiome queen.” Nikki shares her journey from chronic pain to gut healing, and how functional medicine helped... un...

What if your herbal dabbling was never just dabbling… but the beginning of something much deeper? In this episode, I’m speaking to you—the mama, the maker, the plant-loving human who’s magically become the go-to herbalist in your world. From sleepy teas to fire cider, your remedies are working—and people are noticing. But what happens when the questions get bigger, and your confidence starts to wo...

What if the plants around you are trying to talk to you—and all you need to do is trust yourself enough to listen? In this heart-centered episode of The Herbalist’s Path, I chat with Lauren Almquist of HeartSpace Herbals & Garden Design about the deeply personal and transformative journey of connecting with plants. From childhood rose water magic to calming the mind with Blue Vervain, Lauren s...