The Active Herbalist

This episode explores the role of herbs in addressing long-term digestive imbalances, emphasizing a holistic approach to wellness. Becca highlights several herbs, such as calendula, licorice root, gotu kola, red raspberry leaf, and burdock, noting their supportive roles in gut health and overall well-being. The podcast focuses on long-term digestive health and lifestyle practices using a variety o...

What does recovery actually look like—before and after a race? In this episode, I share how I approached tapering, racing, and recovery from my final Ironman without fully stepping away from training. We talk about nervous system support, reducing input, and the herbal blend I’ve been using for both myself and clients during race season. This is a holistic look at recovery—what you add in, what yo...

Caffeine-free doesn’t have to mean low energy. In this episode, we explore herbal allies for focus and sustained vitality—without the jitters or crash. From gotu kola for calm mental clarity, to mint for a quick sense of alertness, eleuthero for long-term resilience, and holy basil for steady, stress-balanced energy, this conversation breaks down how to support your system rather than overstimulat...

Hibiscus is highly regarded for its beauty, taste, color, and health benefits. Today, we'll deep dive into the history, actions, energetics, traditional and current uses of hibiscus before wrapping up with an easy hibiscus recipe and astrological associations! 

Your starter herbal toolkit episode! Discover how chamomile, ginger, and mint can address a variety of patterns and enhancing daily wellness with easy, natural remedies anyone can use.

In this episode, Becca explores herbal remedies for emotional overwhelm, burnout, and grief, emphasizing their supportive roles during challenging times. She highlights key herbs such as passionflower and skullcap for evening relaxation, hawthorn and nettle to ease the heart and calm anger, wood betony and St. John’s Wort for grounding, and holy basil and mint to boost mood and cognitive clarity....

In this episode, we explore herbal allies for supporting the prostate during midlife and beyond. As hormones shift and the body changes, herbs like nettle root, saw palmetto, soothing plants and adaptogens, can offer steady nourishing support for the urinary, endocrine and reproductive systems. We discuss the role of DHT, the importance of screening, and how herbal practices, diet, and lifestyle c...

Comfrey ( Symphytum officinale ) has a centuries-long reputation as a powerful wound healer. In this episode, we dive into its history, traditional and modern uses, growing tips, and herbal actions, exploring why herbalists turn to it for tissue repair and skin support. We also break down the scientific studies that shaped today’s safety guidelines, including adverse reports from internal use and...

In this episode, we explore gentle, nourishing herbal allies for pregnancy and the postpartum season. I share why not all herbs are safe during pregnancy, how to think in terms of  herbal actions  rather than trends, and what qualities I look for when supporting expecting and new mothers. We talk about the power of nutritive tonics, nervines, demulcents, digestive herbs, and galactagogues, and I h...

Discover how your skin mirrors your internal health and meet five herbs that support liver, lymphatic flow, and calm, clear skin. This episode explores how to use them both as tea ingredients, food herbs, salves, and gentle facial rinses for an inside-out skincare approach. Learn about Becca's Calm & Clear Skin Bundle before wrapping up with a Calendula Salve recipe to experiment with your...

Today Becca discusses herbal formulation and "science" behind crafting an herbal remedy. We unpack herbal taste, actions, affinities, energetics, dosage and potential interactions to create plant remedies from the lens of an herbalist. 

The discussion focuses on herbs that support the reproductive system, particularly for athletes and those under chronic stress. Emotional wellness, sleep quality, and nutrition are foundational for restoring sexual health. Several herbs, including rose, ashwagandha, oats, shatavari, pau d'arco, and damiana, are highlighted for their nourishing and restorative properties to enhance libido and o...

Today, we’ll look at hawthorn’s physical support for the cardiovascular system, as well as its role in emotional healing, resilience, and long-term cardioprotective health. Join Becca for a deep dive into hawthorn's herbs energetics, actions, uses, preparations and alchemical correspondence before wrapping up with a weekly recipe.

Join Becca for a deep dive into vanilla! We review vanilla’s taste, actions, energetic, uses and elemental/planetary associations before wrapping up with an easy DIY vanilla extract recipe!

Today, we review J uniperus communis, a hardy shrub of the Northern Hemisphere. Juniper berry is most commonly used medicinally for the musculoskeletal and urinary systems, but has extended traditional and current uses we review in depth. Explore herbal actions, energetics, preparations, alchemical correspondence and more before wrapping up with our usual recipe of the week.

Today's episode highlights 6 traditional Christmas herbs: juniper, clove, cinnamon, orange, pine, and elder! We discuss the parts of each herb used medicinally, herbal actions, energetics, traditional uses, folklore and fun facts, and a recommended preparation or recipe before wrapping up with a combined simmer pot recipe! I touch on special considerations for each herb as well. Happy Holidays...

The Active Herbalist Episode 38: Elder Sambucus nigra, Sambucus canadensis Family History & Growing Parts Used Medicinally Supplementation Forms:  Taste Energetics Actions Organs & Body Systems Herb Acts Upon Traditional Uses Current Uses (& Studies/Research) When to Reach for Herb & In What Form Dosage & Preparation Contraindications Elemental, Planetary & Dosha Discussion...

Today, we're talking about herbs for sleep! Becca reviews her four favorite nervine relaxant herbs: Chamomile, Valerian, Skullcap, and Passionflower. We review each herb's use, taste, growing style, dosage and preparation. Thanks for tuning in!

Episode Summary: Introduction Herbs for Athletes Nettle Dandelion Licorice Root Comfrey Adaptogens: Tulsi, Gotu Kola, Eleuthero Herbal Preparations: Tea, tincture, topical

Centella asiatica  Family History & Growing Parts Used Medicinally Supplementation Forms Taste Energetics Actions Organs & Body Systems Herb Acts Upon Traditional Uses Current Uses (& Studies/Research) When to Reach for Herb & In What Form Dosage & Preparation Contraindications Elemental, Planetary & Dosha Discussion Citations & Recommended Reading Recipe of the Week

Eleutherococcus senticosus Family History & Growing Parts Used Medicinally Supplementation Forms Taste Energetics Actions Traditional Uses Current Uses & Studies When to Reach for Herb & In What Form Dosage & Preparation Contraindications Elemental, Planetary & Dosha Discussion Citations & Recommended Reading Recipe of the Week

Burdock Arctium lappa, A. minus Family History & Growing Parts Used Medicinally Supplementation Forms Taste Energetics Actions Traditional Uses Current Uses & Studies When to Reach for Herb & In What Form Dosage & Preparation Contraindications Elemental, Planetary & Dosha Discussion Citations & Recommended Reading Recipe of the Week

Wood Betony Stachys betonica; Stachys officinalis  Family History & Growing Parts Used Medicinally Supplementation Forms Taste Energetics Actions Traditional & Current Uses When to Reach for Herb & In What Form Dosage & Preparation Contraindications Elemental, Planetary & Dosha Discussion Citations & Recommended Reading

Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris Family History & Growing Parts Used Medicinally Supplementation Forms Taste Energetics Actions Affinities & Current Uses/Studies Traditional Uses When to Reach for Herb & In What Form Dosage & Preparation Contraindications Elemental, Planetary & Dosha Discussion Citations & Recommended Reading Recipe of the Week

White Willow  Salix alba Family History & Growing Parts Used Medicinally Supplementation Forms Taste Energetics Actions Organs & Body Systems Herb Acts Upon Traditional Uses Current Uses (& Studies/Research) When to Reach for Herb & In What Form Dosage & Preparation Contraindications Elemental, Planetary & Dosha Discussion Citations & Recommended Reading Recipe of the W...