The Family Herbalism Podcast

After releasing episodes on wildcrafting and on keeping your already-made remedies safe, it was high time we talked about how to get those herbs from the wild and into your pantry - how do we preserve them? In today’s episode we focus on two herbs as examples - St. John’s Wort and Red Raspberry - how to recognize them, when to harvest, which parts to harvest, how to preserve them, and my favorite...

Bruises, varicose veins, palpitations… these and other cardiovascular symptoms may be considered variations of normal, but even if they don’t precede serious conditions, they can still be uncomfortable! In today’s episode I offer herbal and nutritional remedies that strengthen the heart and blood vessels and build the blood. This episode is included in the Family Herbalist Program offered by Herba...

Summer is on its way! And that means bug bites, sunburns, poison ivy, and garden dermatitis (it’s a real thing!). That’s what you were thinking about, right?! As fun as summer is, it can come with unwanted experiences like rashes that leave you feeling sore, itchy, and otherwise uncomfortable. In today’s episode, I share my favorite herbs for skin care and some ways I use these herbs for my family...

Now described on a continuum between risk-avoiding compulsion and risk-seeking impulsiveness, OCD is a facet of many neurological conditions, as well as an experience all on its own. Antidepressants and anxiolytics are sometimes prescribed, but why? What do we know about this disorder of the brain and what can that teach us about what we need, to experience order and comfort in our day-to-day life...

We’ve all heard that food should be our medicine, and medicine our food, but water is equally important! In today’s episode, I make the case for proper hydration, mineral balance, using water as part of our herbal remedies and as a standalone treatment, and present some of the best sources of drinking water. This may seem like a simple subject not worth talking about, but water is a complex, biolo...

It sounds like an unscientific name, but it’s what doctors use to refer to bile when it no longer resembles bile. I see this scenario a surprising amount, and it’s one are herbalism can really shine, because the standard approach is to wait until it causes pain and then just remove the whole gallbladder! But functional nutritionists and clinical herbalists know there is SO much you can do to corre...

So many of my clients have come into my office thinking that the constipation they grew up with was an inconvenience they just learned to live with, as if it was a variation of normal. But chronic constipation can have serious consequences, and throwing more fiber or laxatives at it isn’t necessarily going to fix it. In today’s episode, I break down the most common reasons why people experience di...

With the number of children getting sick with chronic illnesses in our country, it has become ever more crucial that we as parents take steps to protect our children’s health. We know that we cannot change their genetic weaknesses, but we can impact how they turn on and off. In today’s episode, I offer my top tips for raising healthy children in this crazy world, based on my experience as a mother...

Using four characteristics to blend essential oils for their therapeutic value, today I share how to create a custom blend with essential oils that will help to continue the healing process after an injury. Note: If you do get essential oils in your eyes or on sensitive skin, apply additional carrier oil without essential oils, or wash the area in milk. The fat will absorb the essential oil and re...

For all of us home herbalists, one of the common themes of our remedy making is first aid. Today we’re talking specifically about wild-harvesting first aid supplies specifically. Knowing how to pick out a weed on a hiking path or by the family cabin, or out in your back yard might actually come in handy! Being able to go outside your back door and pick out a little flower or leaf amongst a sea of...

The idea of planning a kitchen garden with abundant herbs brings up idyllic images of curling up in a cozy chair with a cup of tea, a seed catalog, and a notebook. And while kitchen gardens are all unique, and may not reflect the cottage garden image we easily conjure up, today we get to explore the idea of creating a kitchen garden for nutritional and medicinal use as a home herbalist. This episo...

We are covering some hot button topics in today’s episode! Informed decision making, self-autonomy, co-dependence, interdependence, parental rights, authority to make healthcare decisions… all this and more when it comes to being your own herbalist and working with herbs to support your family’s needs. When starting out, it’s normal (as our culturally ingrained beliefs go) to question whether you...

Just when you think you have recovered from a virus, you get hit by a secondary infection. You’re exhausted, frustrated, and need options. In this episode I share about four common bacterial infections that often follow viruses, and proven herbal remedies for recovery - ear infections, conjunctivitis, strep throat, and sinus infections. This episode is included in the Family Herbalist Program offe...

Common colds may not be cause for concern for some, but for others with preexisting respiratory conditions, or when a virus is prolonged or unknown, a viral illness can be scary. In this episode I share some practical steps for strengthening the lungs and amping up the immune response, plus my next herbs of choice to hone in on respiratory support. This episode is included in the Family Herbalist...

Today I share with you about the underlying tissue state associated with common viruses and the foods and herbs that balance this state to support the body’s natural immunity and speed recovery. This episode is included in the Family Herbalist Program offered by Herba Remedium. Herba Remedium is an online, Christian herbalist school. Enrollment for the next FHP year will begin in June 2024. For mo...

Welcome to season four of The Family Herbalism Podcast! In today’s episode I describe the four stages of sleep, the importance of the circadian rhythm, common reasons someone might have difficulty getting quality sleep, and sleep hygiene and herbal combinations that can improve it. This episode is included in the Family Herbalist Program offered by Herba Remedium. Herba Remedium is an online, Chri...

What does the future of holistic health look like? Chiropractor and Nutritional Response Therapist, Dr. Keith Sheehan gives us a sneak peek into the grassroots movement of people who advocate for their own health, learn how their bodies work, and take action to improve their experience with the help of practitioners using skills like Nutritional Response Testing, Biochemical Lab Testing, and Clini...

Did you know that your liver is responsible for over 500 functions in your body? it’s important to take care of it! Fatty liver disease is a common consequence of over-nutrition in the United States, and it is the early phase of more serious liver conditions. Thankfully the liver is fully capable of regenerating itself if damage is detected in time. In today’s episode, I talk about food, herbs, an...

Happy new year to the listeners of The Family Herbalism Podcast! I am so grateful you are starting off the year by listening to this episode. In today’s show, I share about my vision for personal health this coming year in balancing hormones and listening to my bodies needs. I also share about my plans for the podcast for this coming year, And about the various resources available through Laurel T...

Today’s episode is the final episode of the 2023 year, and it focuses on two symptoms that I commonly see together in people who have tendencies toward low blood pressure and a slow pulse. I explain why this tendency occurs, along with herbs I commonly work with to create balance in the cardiovascular system and relieve symptoms of dizziness and ringing in the ears. Herbs mentioned include licoric...

The holidays are upon us and that means, for those with IBS, the choice must be made to either eat to support the digestive system or eat to make other people comfortable. But what if there were a way to restore gut function and increase tolerance for a wider range of food? In today’s episode we talk about the root causes of IBS and how to reduce inflammation and tone the gut for long-term health....

Resources for those with sustained hypertension are pretty easy to find, but what about those who have a form of transient hypertension, which seems to come and go at will, sometimes without a good explanation? In today’s episode, I share about the four categories of hypertension that look like wide swings a variability; most days it is perfectly normal and then all of a sudden there will be a ver...

We recognize our kidneys when we have UTIs or stones, but what about when we have back pain, wake frequently during the night, or have foamy urine? In today’s episode, I share about some of the important jobs that our kidneys perform, how to know when they need support (including lab markers), and a dozen herbs that help balance out the tissue states associated with kidney symptoms. Mentioned in t...

Today’s listener-requested topic is about parasites, including worms, bacteria, and yeast, as well as the biofilms and heavy metals that may protect them. Included are suggestions on testing, a sample recipe that may help you, and numerous herbs that may be helpful as part of your particular approach. herbs mentioned include black walnut, juniper berry, barberry, garlic, thyme, marigold, aloe, pri...

In this mini episode I share about my kitchen accident last week. -> Please note, if you are squeamish about wounds, use caution listening to this story.