The Plant Path: Herbalism, Medical Astrology & Spagyric Alchemy

Happy New Year. I hope this finds you well and emerging from a wonderful holiday season. Welcome to 2026, I can't believe we're here!   I really appreciate you taking time out of your life to engage with everything I share here. Whether you're new to my work or you've been with me since the beginning, thank you from the bottom of my heart for being part of the Evolutionary Herbalism community.   ...

There's something about winter that makes us want to bundle up and get warm. And while many of us do this with sweaters, a beanie, and thick wool socks, there's another critical way we stay warm: Through the herbs and food we eat. In many herbal traditions, plants are often split into warming or cooling. A cooling herb might be great in summer, but it can leave you feeling off-balance during the c...

Adaptogenic herbs are everywhere these days, offering promises of being the ultimate cure for fatigue and the secret to boundless energy. But here's the truth: adaptogens are one of the most misunderstood and misused herbal remedies out there these days.    When used incorrectly, they can backfire, potentially worsening fatigue instead of helping it. Many people fall into the trap of misusing thes...

Evergreen trees are revered around the world for their medicinal properties, rich folklore, and uplifting symbolism. Although you might be familiar with these trees from your walks through the forest or the holiday seasons, this year you can take your knowledge to the next level by learning how to use them medicinally at home and for your loved ones.  In today's episode, you'll learn: How the arom...

Have you ever felt anxious about giving herbs to someone who's already taking medications? Many herbalists feel hesitant to help people taking prescribed drugs because of concerns about herb-drug interactions. But how much do we really need to worry about this?   Herbs can impact how drugs are absorbed and metabolized, which can actually be helpful at times, but very risky at other times. By under...

When you hear Echinacea, chances are you think of its immune-boosting properties. But did you know that this popular use is relatively new? Traditionally, Echinacea was used for entirely different reasons.   By rediscovering its original applications, we can break free from the idea that Echinacea is just a "cough, cold and flu" herb and appreciate the many ways it supports the body holistically....

Making herbal medicine — the alchemy of transforming living medicinal plants into healing remedies — is one of the most empowering parts of the plant path. In this post, I'll share my thoughts on The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook by James Green, a classic and comprehensive guide to the art and craft of herbal pharmacy. Whether you're new to medicine-making or refining your technique, this book...

Is all herbal research trustworthy? If you've ever Googled an herb to learn more and saw lots of research papers about it, can you trust them? Herbal research is tricky since there are a lot of things that can go wrong and right with them that make the results tricky to decipher.    Even though understanding herbal research isn't 100% necessary as a clinical herbalist, it can introduce novel uses...

Elecampane has become one of my personal favorite respiratory remedies over the years, not just for its medicinal benefits for many of the common respiratory woes people face today, but as a choice restorative agent. Whether you make it into a tincture or enjoy the syrup, Elecampane is a remedy every herbalist should know.    In today's episode, you'll learn:   Elecampane's pungent and aromatic ta...

Hyssop is an ancient herb with biblical references and spiritual indications. This herb is also an important part of the Western Materia Medica. This combination of information from ancient sources and the modern scientific model lends a unique perspective on this plant and how you can use it in your herbalism practice.   In today's episode, you'll learn:   Hyssop's ancient and biblical roots The...

Sweet and grounding, Burdock is an Earthy plant with its wide leaves, deep taproots, and ability to both nourish weakness and cleanse excesses from the body. Just as it loves to grow near waste grounds, Burdock clears metabolic waste products and toxins from the fluids in your body to keep your skin glowing and healthy.   Since the health of the skin is merely a reflection of the health of your li...

Agrimony is the herb of paradox. On the one hand, it's described as a relaxant,and on the other hand, as an astringent. How does it contract and relax a tissue at the same time?! What do you do when you find conflicting information surrounding the herb you're studying?   Although these two aspects of Agrimony may seem contradictory at first, there's a way that you can study the herb that connects...

Learn more and enroll in The Vitalist Herbalist Practitioner Program: https://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com/vitalist-herbalism-mini-course/program-details/?gw=live Enrollment closes tomorrow, October 3rd at 12am PT.   Nutritive tonics hold a unique place in herbal therapeutics, situated at the intersection of food and medicine. They're not meant for acute conditions so much as for the long game: d...

Diving into the world of herbal medicine and the traditions that have carried it for a long time oftentimes introduces us to new concepts, principles, practices, and ways of seeing the world around us that aren't often taught to us in our modern world. And sometimes there's something there that changes your life forever.  For me, the principles of vitalism were one of the biggest revolutionary mom...

I want to talk about a mysterious, often nebulous word that pervades the halls of herbal medicine … "tonic." What does "tonic" mean anyway? This is a question that has come up for me over and over throughout my years of studying herbal medicine. I took some time to think it through and make sense of the many possible meanings for myself, and I want to share my findings with you.   Here's what you'...

What do you do when you have a sinus infection? It's painful, it's tough to breathe, and frankly, it can feel a little scary. Many people would quickly ask for an antibiotic for this situation. This isn't wrong, but it is possible to treat sinusitis herbally in many cases.    As I discussed in a previous episdoe, I had a sinus infection that wasn't responding to systemic herbal treatment. I opted...

When we think of topical applications, skin poultices and salves might come to mind. But herbs can also be applied topically to the respiratory tract—particularly the sinuses—using a simple neti pot. For sinusitis, this approach allows herbs to act exactly where they're needed, offering both relief and support for healing. In this article, we'll explore how to work with herbal nasal rinses in prac...

What do you think of when you hear "topical herbs"? Chances are, you think about putting herbs on your skin, perhaps in the form of creams, salves, or poultices.  But this is only one type of topical application.  In herbal medicine, topical use is much broader than applying medicine to the skin (though this is also a critical treatment). Any time an herb comes into direct contact with the tissue...

Marshmallow's Latin name is Althea , and its family name is Malvaceae . While Althea derives from the Greek altho and means to cure, Malvaceae is from the Greek word malake , which means soft. With these two simple words, you know almost everything about Marshmallow's key signature and how its softening and moistening effects impact the body and mind.  In today's episode, you'll learn:   What Mars...

Today, I am excited to share with you my interview with Kathleen Maier. She's a fantastic herbalist who's been at it for quite some time, and I was honored to be able to speak with her.   Here's what you can look forward to in this interview: We discuss Kat's book, Energetic Herbalism, which covers energetics from a wide range of perspectives and orientations. We talk about Kat's inspirations for...

Motherwort, the "lion-hearted herb," fills your heart with courage and soothes its inner wounds. This herb tends to the physical and emotional heart and is an indispensable part of the Materia medica. With its many uses and simple administration techniques, this herb is sure to become a favorite herb to support a healthy heart.    In this week's episode, you'll learn:   What Motherwort tastes like...

In this post, I'm delving into a concept that has been on my mind for the past few months. I call this concept "diagnosis identity," and it's about the nature of the human condition, the role of suffering in our lives, and how we navigate it. It's about what we choose to do with suffering and illness, and a call to rise above our suffering, learn from it, and ultimately not allow it to take over o...

Holy basil is a sacred plant in the Indian and Ayurvedic traditions. There is a wide range of conditions for which it is used, both physically and psychologically. Holy Basil is one of nature's panaceas, making it a powerful plant to grow in your garden and stock in your home.   In today's plant profile, you'll discover: Holy Basil's unique taste and how it supports your nervous, digestive, immune...

I'm excited to bring you the second book in our review series, David Hoffman's indispensable tome Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. This was one of my first serious herb books and also served as my university textbook.   If I had to make one herb book recommendation to you, this would be in the top five, if not the top three. In this post, I'm going to walk you throug...

Lemon Balm, the "happiest plant on Earth," enchants with its vibrant lemony aroma and taste. Beloved for its calming effects, this aromatic herb brings a sense of peace and serenity, along with an uplifted feeling to the spirit.   Loved for its calming and relaxing properties, this aromatic herb soothes tense digestion and eases an anxious mind. Whether sipping it as a delicious cup of tea or taki...