Herb Mentor Radio

Let's get to the heart of the matter, shall we? When it comes to hawthorn , the first thing herbalists tend to think about is the organ that pumps blood throughout our bodies: the heart. And while hawthorn can be a wonderful herbal ally for the heart, there's so much more to know about hawthorn's benefits beyond its affinity for the cardiovascular system.  Follow along with herbalist Tara Rut...

Spring is (finally) here! With this season of new growth and warmer days, comes the opportunity to connect with all the plants freshly sprouting up around us. In your neighborhood you might notice "weeds" like cleavers, chickweed, plantain, and dandelion. Or perhaps you're tending your own herb garden and getting to watch the seeds you planted transform into tiny but mighty seedlings. If you're re...

As one of the most popular herbal teas in the world, this calming herb has managed to find a special place in many of our hearts — and our supermarkets! Chamomile ( Matricaria chamomilla ) is a gentle herb that is most well known for soothing our nerves, but its gifts go far beyond nervous system support. Follow along with herbalist Tara Ruth to learn about 3 benefits of chamomile flowersAfter lea...

Maria Christodoulou had been living in New York City for years when she decided it was finally time to move to Greece and dive more fully into the wisdom and whimsy of ancient Greek herbal medicine. This journey took her to Athens where she currently offers educational tours and classes steeped in ancestral herbal medicine and mythology. In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, Maria weaves personal s...

Oh echinacea , how I love thee! This beautiful plant, also known as purple coneflower, not only supports pollinators with its abundant blooms but also offers many benefits for us humans too. Echinacea ( Echinacea angustifolia, E. purpurea ) is most well-known for helping to address colds and flu, but its gifts go far beyond internal immune support. Follow along with herbalist Tara Ruth to learn ab...

Anna Rósa Grasalæknir had been following the refugee crisis in Iraq for quite some time when she started to wonder, "Would the refugee women in these camps like to take herbal classes?" This question kickstarted a journey that took her from her native Iceland to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq where she taught classes on making ointments with local herbs. The classes were a hit, and she was able to p...

Elderberry   (Sambucus cerulea, S. nigra, S. canadensis)  boasts many benefits and is most well-known as a gentle immune-supporting, antiviral herb. The benefits of elderberries go way beyond its immune-bolstering properties, though. What's more, the flowers of elder also boast many healing gifts. Follow along with herbalist Tara Ruth to learn about 3 benefits of elder. And after learnin...

Happy New Year! To welcome you into 2024, we decided to do things a little differently this month: we’re chatting just the two of us. You can consider this episode your herbal guide to the whole year. Together we go season by season and share our favorite herbs and remedies to work with — and don’t worry, we only go on a few epic tangents along the way. In this episode we share… Why Tara is in lov...

As one of the most popular beverages in the world, coffee is regularly enjoyed as a daily ritual that offers people a boost of energy. Coffee, though, is more than just a ubiquitous beverage: this complex herb offers many healing gifts, and when used in excess it can also present challenges for many coffee drinkers. Follow along with herbalist Tara Ruth to learn about 3 benefits of coffee. And aft...

Over the past few years, the term "trauma informed" has become a bit of a buzzword. But what does it actually mean to be trauma informed? And how can a trauma informed framework help us become better herbalists? In our latest episode of HerbMentor Radio, we're joined by trauma informed herbalist Dr. Elizabeth Guthrie, who helps us answer these (and many more) questions. Elizabeth is a wellness pra...

Just one look at a radiant calendula ( Calendula officinalis ) flower is enough to make anyone fall in love. With its uplifting blossoms and dainty leaves, it's no wonder that this easy-to-grow plant has become an incredibly popular ornamental. But calendula's gifts go far beyond its looks — this common herb has long been used in traditional herbal remedies to support health and vitality in a vari...

When Nathan Wright hopped on our HerbMentor Radio call, he readily admitted that he wasn't really in the podcast recording mood. And it totally made sense — after all, he had just returned from an epic adventure in the Michigan wilderness and was still adjusting to being back in the swing of everyday life. And little did we know when we got on this call that we were in for one of the most fascinat...

Most people are familiar with Aloe vera as an undemanding houseplant that can be called upon in times of sunburn. And while it is true that the inner filet of the Aloe vera plant is one of our go-to plant allies for mild sunburns, this succulent plant also offers so many more healing gifts. Follow along with herbalist Tara Ruth to learn about 3 benefits of Aloe vera. And after learning these 3 ben...

Chances are you've probably read your horoscope — and I bet sometimes that horoscope was uncannily spot on and sometimes it totally missed the mark. This is how most people encounter astrology and where most people's curiosity about this ancient art stops. But astrology is so much more than just a horoscope: this complex system can teach us a whole lot about ourselves, each other, and, get this, h...

Garlic is the medicine of the people. From its pungent aroma that fills our kitchens to its centuries-old reputation as a medicinal wonder, garlic holds a special place in both culinary and herbalism traditions. While many people think of garlic only as a tasty addition to their favorite meals, herbalists know that this humble bulbs boasts many benefits that extend far beyond its flavor profile. F...

Elise and Jeff Higley's herb farm was born out of a simple need: they wanted high quality herbs for the teas they loved to drink everyday. So, combining Elises's passion for herbalism and Jeff's passion for farming, they started to grow herbs in their own backyard. But they didn't stop there! In spite of the many odds stacked against U.S. herb farmers (which Elise and Jeff detail in this episode,...

With a name like "stinging nettle," you might think you want to avoid a nettles patch at all costs. Sure, the fresh leaves and stems of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) can irritate the skin upon contact, but here's the thing: stinging nettles are also full of many healing gifts. It may seem counterintuitive, but once you learn more about the magic of nettles, we have a feeling you'll be reaching f...

Whether you're an adventurous wildcrafter or an herbalist who always sticks to the trail, knowing key survival skills is an essential part of your herbal toolkit. Jason Knight is the co-founder of Alderleaf Wilderness College, one of the leading outdoor schools in the United States offering training in wilderness survival to a broad range of clients, including the US Forest Service, REI, the Seatt...

Growing out of sidewalk cracks and wild meadows alike, dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale ) is a persistent plant that can teach us about resilience and adaptability. While it may be despised by lawn purists, herbalists recognize that dandelion isn't a pesky weed: rather, dandelion is an important plant with many healing gifts. Follow along with herbalist Tara Ruth to learn about 3 benefits of dande...

It’s not everyday you meet a seasoned herbalist with over 35 years of clinical experience. And it’s even rarer to meet one who is an expert in holistic oncology. Drawing on her decades of experience supporting people with cancer, medical herbalist Chanchal Cabrera has distilled her learnings into an accessible book for both everyday people and practitioners, Holistic Cancer Care: An Herbal Approac...

Chances are you've probably stepped on your fair share of the herb plantain ( Plantago major , P. rugelii , and P. lanceolata ). This abundant medicinal plant loves to grow within pathways and even the most well-manicured lawns. It's so prolific, in fact, that when many people see it growing wildly in their yard they weed it out and hope it doesn't come back. But herbalists know that this common h...

Nadine Joseph used to work as a chronically stressed neuroscience researcher. Faced with intense burnout, she turned to herbs and fell in love with adaptogens. After experiencing the transformative effects of calming adaptogens, she felt determined to share these powerful herbs with more people. Nadine founded Peak & Valley, an herbal products business that sells ethically sourced adaptogen bl...

When most people think of catnip ( Nepeta cataria ), they think of it as that plant that makes our feline friends get very hyper. But here’s the thing,: catnip isn’t just for cats! Catnip tea and tincture too offers many healing gifts to us humans as well — perhaps the most surprising of all is that catnip calms and relaxes humans. Yes, that’s right. The leaves and flowering tops of this plant tha...

Shereel Washington graduated from the California School of Herbal Studies Community Herbalist Program in Clinical Herbalism, and she has completed over 1200 hours of herbal craft making training. She is an instructor in Scarlet Sage's Community Herbalist Program & in the Land of Verse Apprentice Herbal Certification Program, as well as in herbal classes and intensives at the Northern Californi...

Yarrow’s leaf and flower are most typically used by Western herbalists, but there is also traditional usage of the roots. In this article, I’ll focus on the medicinal uses of yarrow leaf and flower. Yarrow’s leaf and flower are most typically used by Western herbalists, but there is also traditional usage of the roots. In this podcast, I’ll focus on the medicinal uses of yarrow leaf and flower. Wa...