The Family Herbalism Podcast

Happy National Baby Day! In honor of this special day, Dayna Hutchins and I are hosting a special series on the podcast this month, all about the childbearing year. We share our personal experiences as mothers, and our professional experiences as herbalists, along with tons of tips for a healthy, positive experience. We hope you enjoy our conversations, and encourage you to share with your loved o...

Not only was May 2nd National Baby Day, but May 5th was International Day of the Midwife, and on that day we recorded this very special interview with Glory Birth Team! Gloria Hines and Rebekah Hoover are Certified Professional Midwives serving families in Kansas City, where the homebirth rate is currently around 16%! Needless to say, they run a very busy practice, so it was special to have this c...

Happy National Baby Day! In honor of this special day, Dayna Hutchins and I are hosting a special series on the podcast this month, all about the childbearing year. We share our personal experiences as mothers, and our professional experiences as herbalists, along with tons of tips for a healthy, positive experience. We hope you enjoy our conversations, and encourage you to share with your loved o...

Experiencing loss is tremendously hard, and sitting with a loved one who has lost is also really difficult. A cup of tea can be a way to show your love while you hold space for them. In today’s episode, in honor of a dear friend, I share a dozen herbs that offer support for the person who is experiencing heartache and grief, as well as sample recipes you might consider making. If you would like su...

The second part of the episode on PTSD recovery, in which I share about essential oils and flower essences that can be very helpful in creating a new way of being after trauma. I also include specific recipes that have worked for me and my clients, and reminders of how you can create your own for maximum benefit. For more information on how to create an essential oil blend customized to your needs...

What is PTSD? What hormones and parts of the brain are involved? And how do we use this information to help us choose practical tools and herbs to help us heal? In this episode, we will answer all of these questions and talk about many of the herbs that help to support healthy hormone balance when it comes to stress and trauma, to work with alongside lifestyle practices to let go of old stories, a...

If you have been in the essential oil world for any length of time, no doubt you have heard the phrase, “when in doubt use Frank,” referring to Frankincense. In India, it’s not Frankincense, it’s Tulsi. Also known as Holy Basil, or Ocimum Sanctum, this plant is well known for a wide array of benefits, some hard to believe! Over 100 studies have been done on this amazing plant, and the stories arou...

Does the idea of making your own recipe of loose leaf tea sound overwhelming? Not to worry! In this episode, I teach you how to use the traditional blending triangle, considerations for choosing your herbs, resources for choosing them, and I walk you through the process of completing a blend, including how to get from the percentages of herbs provided by the blending triangle to a teaspoon based r...

Nearly half of American children live by the rules of their chronic illness. Their lives are impacted in a myriad of ways by the diagnoses as well as the very real experience of being in their bodies. And. The rates of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and even death among the parents of these precious children leave the rates of said illnesses among parents of well-children in the dust. Just in the past...

How do you get from a bag of dried herbs to a nice, steamy cup of tea? How do you prepare a tea to get the most medicinal benefit? How long can you keep a batch of tea for? How can you make a big batch of tea using a recipe for a single cup? What sweeteners are best? These and more questions are covered in this how-to episode! Thanks for listening! Learn more about me and the services I offer by v...

Since the train crash in Ohio, and the subsequent burning of the vinyl chloride, many people and animals have become ill. While initial measures were taken to remove people from harm’s way, the experts in this field are suggesting we need to be preparing ourselves to deal with the fallout. Last week, I shared about general detoxification methods and tools, this week I am digging into vinyl chlorid...

Spring is right around the corner, and so is the season for detoxification. There are so many supplements and programs for actively detoxifying our bodies, but what actually is detoxification and how can we do it in a way that is both more comfortable and safer for us? In today’s episode, I cover the purpose of detoxification, why some people may need to detoxify at a different time of the year, h...

Most concussions or other brain injuries are quite mild, but the research indicates that recovery is still very important to prevent long term complications. In today’s episode, I share what essential oils I used to recover from my own concussion, as well as foods, teas, mushrooms, and other oils that are shown to quicken the recovery time, improve brain function, support emotional health through...

Researchers have learned that Covid-induced blood clots are unique from normal blood clots, which explains why they happen to healthy people, and why the rate of blood clots has increased in the past three years. With aspirin being the standard recommendation for prevention of blood clots, despite the new information that these Covid clots do not respond to normal anticoagulant medications like no...

What is a normal temperature? What number makes a high temperature? Why are fevers so important to immune function? How can we get rid of them faster without over the counter meds? These and more questions are answered in today’s episode. I hope that you will be encouraged and empowered to take care of yourself and your family, learning why and how you can respond in a different, and even more saf...

Dental cavities are the number one health condition around the world, affecting 3.5 billion people at a time. We are familiar with antibiotics, pain medications, and dental procedures, but what if there were a way to prevent cavities and gingivitis and other oral health problems? Today I share top recommendations for lifestyle choices, food and herbs that will positively impact your oral and entir...

Let’s follow up the interview with Dayna Hutchins, all about making skin care products, with a discussion of herbs and foods that support overall health in the integumentary system! The skin, hair, and nails are a reflection of what is going on under the skin - if your integumentary system is not healthy, we first have to look at what is going on underneath. Are you digesting properly? Are your ho...

The average bar of soap costs $3.54-$4.99, lasting about 25 showers. For my family, this would add up to as much as $125 a year! With us today, is my herbalist mentee, Dayna Hutchins. Dayna has been making her family’s soaps, lotions, shampoo, chapstick, deodorant, and more. Want to know how much you can save making your own soap? Listen to this fascinating episode! Dayna also offers helpful tips...

Polls show that only 50% of people who set New Year’s goals continue to work on them through the month of January. After that the percentage drops. Not many make it to the end of the year. Is it possible to reach New Year’s goals? Perhaps what we’re missing is the mindset that comes before willpower. And this podcast I share not only the definitions of mindset and willpower, and the spectrum they...

My daughter asked me recently, “what’s your favorite herb?” How was I supposed to answer that?! It’s like asking which is your favorite child! Um, all of them! Actually, my response was something along the line of, “whichever I need at that time.” Each year I find myself drawn to 2-3 plants, which I will work with near-daily for several months. For the past few months, my personal favorite has bee...

Tired of feeling gross after eating a large meal on Thanksgiving or Christmas? In today’s episode we cover my five tips for feeling more comfortable after eating and my favorite herbal remedies for all sorts of digestive support meats. What are the herbal actions most helpful for proper digestion? Do I have to taste the bitter herbs in order for them to be useful? What forms should I take these he...

Whereas personality tests help us to understand our personalities, body typing can help us understand our bodies. Ayurveda, TCM, and Southern Folk Medicine are great systems for understanding our physical strengths and weaknesses, and what remedies, foods, and lifestyle practices are best suited to us. Today’s episode is part four of this series, in which I will be sharing about the four body type...

Whereas personality tests help us to understand our personalities, body typing can help us understand our bodies. Ayurveda, TCM, and Southern Folk Medicine are great systems for understanding our physical strengths and weaknesses, and what remedies, foods, and lifestyle practices are best suited to us. Today’s episode is part three of this series, in which I will be sharing about the four body typ...

Whereas personality tests help us to understand our personalities, body typing can help us understand our bodies. Ayurveda, TCM, and Southern Folk Medicine are great systems for understanding our physical strengths and weaknesses, and what remedies, foods, and lifestyle practices are best suited to us. Today’s episode is part two of this series, in which I will be sharing about the four body types...

Whereas personality tests help us to understand our personalities, body typing can help us understand our bodies. Ayurveda, TCM, and Southern Folk Medicine are great systems for understanding our physical strengths and weaknesses, and what remedies, foods, and lifestyle practices are best suited to us. Today’s episode is part one of this series, in which I will be sharing about the four body types...