Jen and Dan's Natural Healing with Plants

What if you've been focusing on the wrong part of nutrition? Most people obsess over what they eat, but new research suggests when you eat may have just as much influence on your blood sugar, energy, weight, and even sleep. In this episode of Jen and Dan's Natural Healing with Plants, we explore the connection between your body's internal clock and your metabolism. You'll disco...

Heart disease. Diabetes. Alzheimer's disease. Arthritis. Autoimmune conditions. What if these different diseases share a common root cause? In this episode of Natural Healing with Plants, Jen and Dan explore the growing body of research connecting chronic inflammation to many of today's most common health challenges. Before inflammation became a popular topic in social media, herbalists...

Everyone wants to know the same thing: What's the best diet for healing? Plant-based. Mediterranean. Raw foods. Keto. Carnivore. Mucusless diets. Each has passionate supporters and incredible success stories. In this episode, Jen and Dan explore what they learned from the School of Natural Healing, recent discussions in Harvard Tools For Change Conference, and decades of research on food and...

Have you ever heard of an herb called the "Tree of Happiness"? For centuries, traditional herbalists used Mimosa to support grief, emotional trauma, sadness, nervous tension, and what we might now call emotional resilience. Many people have never heard of it. In this episode, we explore the story behind Mimosa, why there are actually two different plants commonly called Mimosa, and what...

Could the foods people fear most actually help improve insulin resistance? In this episode of Jen and Dan’s Natural Healing with Plants, we explore research on the best plant-based proteins for blood sugar and metabolic health, including beans, lentils, split peas, chickpeas, and edamame. We discuss: -what insulin resistance actually is -why fiber is necessary for metabolic health -the gut microbi...

Could peppermint help support healthy blood pressure naturally? A new clinical trial found that peppermint oil significantly reduced systolic blood pressure in adults with mild hypertension, but this conversation goes far beyond one study. In this episode of Jen and Dan’s Natural Healing with Plants, we discuss the connection between peppermint, circulation, stress, the nervous system, and heart h...

New research is giving us a reason to look at garlic differently. In this episode, Jen and Dan explore a 2026 Cell Metabolism study showing that a compound found in aged garlic extract may support age-related muscle function through a fat-brain-muscle pathway. We’ll connect the science and healthy aging with traditional herbal wisdom from natural healing teachers who have valued garlic for circula...

Parasites are one of the most controversial topics in natural health, but could they also be one of the most overlooked? In this episode, Jen and Dan explore the role parasites can play in digestive issues, brain fog, fatigue, cravings, inflammation, skin, and overall health. Drawing from traditional herbal wisdom, modern research, and conversations happening in functional medicine, they discuss w...

Most people know to use Ginger for digestion, but it’s Jen’s very favorite herb/food, and it is AMAZING for us. From lowering cholesterol and triglycerides to supporting blood pressure and reducing inflammation, this simple root is wonderful for heart health. In this episode, Jen and Dan break down what the research actually shows, including a double-blind clinical trial on ginger and lipid levels...

For years, natural health practitioners have said, “All disease begins in the gut.” Now, new research is starting to reveal just how important gut function really is, and it may be simpler than we thought. In this episode, Jen and Dan explore how gut transit time can influence your microbiome, inflammation levels, and overall health. From digestion and elimination to the role of plant foods and he...

What if improving your health didn’t require hours of exercise? New research suggests that just a few minutes a day of getting slightly out of breath could significantly impact your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and even cognitive decline. In this episode, Jen and Dan break down what the science actually says and why intensity, even in small doses, is important. They also connect this research...

Most heart health advice focuses on what to avoid, but what if the real answer is what you consistently add in? In this episode, Jen and Dan explore a different approach to cardiovascular health, drawing from traditional herbalists like Dr. Christopher, Dr. Richard Schulze, and Christopher Hobbs. Instead of focusing on restriction, they discuss how daily plant foods and herbs like hawthorn, garlic...

Ever feel like you’re not thinking clearly when you’re stressed… or like you’re reacting in ways that don’t feel like “you”? In this episode, we explore the “lizard brain” and “monkey brain” and simple ways to understand how your thinking changes under stress, and why that affects everything from your decisions to your digestion. We also connect the dots between stress, nervous system regulation,...

What if your thoughts are influencing your health more than you realize? Emerging research, including findings from Harvard, is showing that the connection between mind and body is not just theoretical. Chronic stress, fear-based thinking, and negative internal dialogue impact inflammation, immunity, and even long-term brain health. In this episode, Jen and Dan explore how thoughts translate into...

If you struggle every spring with sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, and fatigue, the time to act is weeks before the pollen hits. Seasonal allergies are a reflection of immune balance and inflammation. In this episode, Jen and Dan explain why it’s important to prepare, how the gut influences allergy response, and which herbs and foods can help calm immune overreaction before things get worse. We d...

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most feared health conditions of our time. But what if the foods we eat every day play a role in protecting our brains? New research from Harvard scientists, functional medicine doctors, and leading nutrition experts is connecting the link between diet, inflammation, blood flow, and cognitive health. In this episode, Jen and Dan explore what the science really say...

Salt has been labeled dangerous, essential, toxic, necessary, and everything in between. So what’s the truth? Do we actually need salt for health? If so, how much? Are sea salt and Himalayan salt really better than table salt? And if we’re using salt for minerals, could herbs be a better option? In this episode, Jen and Dan break down the science and the tradition behind salt. We explore the role...

Stress and grief don’t just affect your emotions, they affect your sleep, digestion, immunity, and overall health. In this solo episode, Jen shares how to care for your body during difficult seasons. From calming herbs to simple daily tasks, this conversation explores how to stay gently connected to your health when life feels overwhelming. Sometimes the most powerful changes happen when we soften...

What if your thoughts are shaping your health more than you realize? The connection between mind and body is amazing. Every thought influences hormones, inflammation, digestion, and recovery. Stress is real. And when the mind is set, so is healing. In this episode, Jen and Dan explore how mindset impacts the body and how understanding this changes the way we approach natural healing. We discuss ho...

Testosterone isn’t just a “male hormone,” and it’s not something to aggressively boost or suppress. It’s a critical hormone for energy, strength, mood, libido, and resilience in both men and women, and balance is everything. In this episode, Jen and Dan break down how testosterone naturally changes with age, why imbalances occur, and how stress, lifestyle, and nutrition quietly influence hormone l...

Modern nutrition tells us what food contains. Traditional healing/Natural Healing focuses on whether the body os ready to  actually receive it. In this episode, Jen and Dan explore how traditional healing systems look at food, not calories and macros, but as information that communicates with digestion, energy, and hormones.  You’ll learn  -why digestion is considered the foundation of health -how...

Most people think of vitamin D as a bone or immune nutrient, but emerging research suggests it plays a much bigger role in metabolism, muscle preservation, and how the body decides what to do with energy. In this episode of Jen and Dan’s Natural Healing with Plants, we explore vitamin D as a regulatory signal. We break down how vitamin D may influence whether surplus calories are stored as fat or...

The 2025 Dietary Guidelines: When the Science Gets Compromised The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans are out and on the surface, they sound familiar: eat whole foods, limit sugar, drink more water. But when you look closer, the contradictions start stacking up. In this episode of Jen and Dan’s Natural Healing with Plants, we break down what the federal guidelines say, what they don’t say,...

Everyone wants motivation, but motivation fades. What actually creates lasting health, energy, and change is something far less dramatic: consistency. In this episode, Jen and Dan break down: - why consistency works when motivation doesn’t - how small daily choices reshape your health over time - why you don’t need extreme routines to see real results.  You’ll learn how the body responds to repeti...

Every year brings new health trends, but instead diving into another extreme, we’re focusing on what actually works. In this episode, Jen and Dan share how we’re approaching health and diet this year using a whole food, plant-based, gluten-free lifestyle, blending both raw and cooked vegan foods for balance, nourishment, and sustainability. We talk about: * Why we don’t believe in rigid food rules...