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Ashwagandha is an ancient Ayurvedic herb with a fascinating reputation: its name roughly translates to “smell of a horse,” while a companion saying promises that it gives you the strength of a stallion. Ashwagandha, or Withania somnifera, has been used medicinally for thousands of years, and Ayurveda has long valued it as a rejuvenating rasayana — an herb that nourishes, strengthens, and promotes longevity. Let's explore three medicinal uses of ashwagandha with herbalist Sorrel Hartford. And after learning these 3 benefits of ashwagandha you might be wondering how you can learn more about other common herbs. Here’s the easy way to learn more about our favorite common herbs: download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes. You’ll learn all about popular herbs like catnip, aloe, elderberry, and more. Get your FREE Herb Notes printable flashcards here: https://www.learningherbs.com/herb-notes-flashcards/

In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, Mimi Prunella welcomes Kimberly Gallagher and Lauren Morgan to explore Rhythms & Relationships, a new LearningHerbs course that invites us into a slower, more relational way of practicing herbalism. Kimberly Gallagher is co-founder of LearningHerbs and HerbMentor, where she has spent years helping thousands of people cultivate joyful, practical relationships with medicinal plants through education, community, and everyday herbalism. Lauren Morgan is a community herbalist, dreamworker, author of Seasonal Herbalism, host of the Herbs and Dreams podcast, and founder of Herbs & Dreams. Her work weaves together herbalism, dreams, Earth-based spirituality, and deep relationship with the living world. Together, Kimberly and Lauren invite us to consider the plants not simply as remedies to be studied but as living beings with whom we can cultivate meaningful relationships. While many of us begin herbalism by learning constituents, actions, preparations, and botanical names, this conversation explores another way of knowing the plants through presence, listening, and lived experience. They discuss how slowing down allows us to reconnect with the rhythms that have always guided herbal traditions. From the changing seasons and lunar cycles to our own bodies, dreams, and intuition, herbalism becomes less about accumulating information and more about participating in a living relationship with the world around us. The conversation also explores the role of dreams in herbal practice, the wisdom that emerges through the senses, and the importance of creating space for stillness in a culture that often celebrates speed and productivity. Kimberly and Lauren also reflect on the beautiful experience of creating this course together, sharing how their friendship, time on the land, and deep reverence for the plants shaped both the course and their work together. In this episode, we explore: Dreams, intuition, and the many ways plants speak to us Living in rhythm with the seasons, moon, and the natural world The importance of slowing down and cultivating presence Herbalism through relationship with plants as beings Bringing herbalism into family and community life Learn more about Lauren Morgan and her work at: Herbs & Dreams Learn more about Rhythms & Relationships and the LearningHerbs community at: LearningHerbs Are you ready to take your herbal learning to the next level? Sounds like it’s time to check out HerbMentor! HerbMentor offers a wide variety of rich herbal content — including an in-depth course on food as medicine — that gives you the opportunity to choose your own herbal adventure, take your time, and connect with other herbal learners and experts whenever you login. Get a special offer on HerbMentor at https://HerbMentorRadio.com Are you just starting to make herbal remedies? Build your natural first aid kid with our free Herbal Preparation Cards: https://Herbal.Cards

Lavender is one of herbalism's most recognized and beloved plants: familiar enough to live in a garden bed or a scented lotion, yet grounded in a body of clinical studies that most people never get to see. Lavender, or Lavandula angustifolia, has been used medicinally for centuries across Europe and the Mediterranean, and it continues to impress modern scientific research. The Botanical Safety Handbook gives it its highest safety rating, making it one of the most accessible herbs you can add to your home practice. Let's explore three medicinal uses of lavender... Follow along with herbalist Sorrel Hartford to learn about 3 benefits and key contraindications of lavender. And after learning these 3 benefits of lavender you might be wondering how you can learn more about other common herbs. Here’s the easy way to learn more about our favorite common herbs: download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes. You’ll learn all about popular herbs like catnip, aloe, elderberry, and more. Get your FREE Herb Notes printable flashcards here: https://www.learningherbs.com/herb-notes-flashcards/

This month on HerbMentor Radio, Kimberly Gallagher and Mimi Prunella welcome Appalachian herbalist, storyteller, and educator Heather Wood Buzzard for a delightful conversation celebrating the remarkable plants many people overlook. Together, they explore the world of weedy herbalism, where common plants become nourishing foods, trusted medicines, and lifelong teachers. Heather shares the story of her unconventional introduction to herbalism, digging dandelion roots for dollars as a young wildcrafter, and reflects on the lessons those humble weeds taught her about perseverance, humility, and the value hidden in ordinary places. Her love of storytelling shines throughout the episode as she weaves together childhood memories, Appalachian traditions, and the healing power of narrative herbalism. The conversation also celebrates Heather and Mimi's collaboration on National Geographic Backyard Guide to Edible Wild Plants, exploring why learning the abundant plants growing close to home is one of the best ways to begin a relationship with wild foods and medicines. Together they share favorite edible plants, laugh about organizing a field guide around plant parts, and reflect on how much they learned from one another during the writing process. Listeners will also hear Heather's unforgettable childhood memory of discovering a sprawling patch of wild passionfruit, learn why daylilies deserve a place at the table, and discover the surprising appeal of a hearty bowl of cream of weeds soup. Along the way, Heather offers thoughtful reflections on how wildcrafting teaches mindfulness, observation, and restraint, reminding us that gathering plants is as much about relationship as it is about harvest. In this episode, we explore: Digging dandelions for dollars and the lessons they teach Why common weeds often become an herbalist's greatest teachers Beginning wildcrafting with abundant backyard plants The making of National Geographic Backyard Guide to Edible Wild Plants Daylilies as an abundant and delicious edible plant Childhood memories of discovering wild passionfruit Narrative herbalism and the healing power of stories Heather's upcoming books on wildcrafting and narrative herbal medicine   Discover More Follow Heather: @plantsandstory Website: https://www.heatherwoodbuzzard.com National Geographic Backyard Guide to Edible Wild Plants:https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/770136/national-geographic-backyard-guide-to-edible-wild-plants-by-mimi-prunella-hernandez-and-heather-wood-buzzard/ Are you ready to take your herbal learning to the next level? Sounds like it’s time to check out HerbMentor! HerbMentor offers a wide variety of rich herbal content — including an in-depth course on food as medicine — that gives you the opportunity to choose your own herbal adventure, take your time, and connect with other herbal learners and experts whenever you login. Get a special offer on HerbMentor at https://HerbMentorRadio.com Are you just starting to make herbal remedies? Build your natural first aid kid with our free Herbal Preparation Cards: https://Herbal.Cards

If you've ever sipped a cold IPA on a warm summer evening, you've already had a brush with one of herbalism's most interesting relaxing herbs. Hops (Humulus lupulus) is most famous as the plant behind craft beer's signature bitter flavor. Long before artisan breweries started putting together tasting notes about citrus undertones and fruity finishes, herbalists were treasuring hops for its ability to help people unwind, sleep, and digest. Want to learn about the healing gifts of hops? Follow along with herbalist Sorrel Hartford to learn about 3 benefits and key contraindications of hops as a medicine plant. And after learning these 3 benefits of hops you might be wondering how you can learn more about other common herbs. Here’s the easy way to learn more about our favorite common herbs: download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes. You’ll learn all about popular herbs like catnip, aloe, elderberry, and more. Get your FREE Herb Notes printable flashcards here: https://www.learningherbs.com/herb-notes-flashcards/

Joining us is Brandon Ruiz, a community herbalist, educator, urban farmer, and author whose work beautifully weaves together gardening, foraging, culture, and community. Brandon shares how gardens become places where relationships grow, not only between people and plants, but between generations, neighborhoods, and cultural traditions. Brandon takes us on a heartfelt journey to his grandparents' land in Puerto Rico, where the sights, scents, and medicinal plants of his childhood first inspired his love of herbalism. Today, he returns to that same land not only to reconnect with his roots, but to inspire the generations who first nurtured his curiosity. The conversation also explores Brandon's transition to Philadelphia and his work with the Norris Square Neighborhood Project, where gardens serve as living classrooms that bring together children, elders, food traditions, public art, and Puerto Rican culture. Through community gardening, Brandon demonstrates how cultivating plants can also cultivate belonging, memory, and connection. Tulsi takes center stage as this month's anchor herb, becoming a beautiful example of how one fragrant plant can invite curiosity and open the door to deeper relationships with herbalism. Brandon shares why tulsi so often becomes a gateway plant, drawing people into the garden through its aroma before leading them toward the broader enchantment of medicinal plants. We also celebrate Brandon's new book, How to Forage for Medicinal Plants Without Dying, and discuss how confidence, intention, and responsible stewardship can help transform fear into meaningful relationships with the plants growing all around us. In this episode, we explore: Garden herbalism as a practice of relationship, stewardship, and community Childhood memories and ancestral plant traditions from Puerto Rico How gardens preserve culture, identity, and belonging across generations Brandon's work with the Norris Square Neighborhood Project in Philadelphia Tulsi as an inviting gateway into herbalism and the magic of the garden Bridging gardening and foraging through thoughtful cultivation and stewardship Setting intention before harvesting medicinal plants Building confidence for beginning foragers Brandon's new book, How to Forage for Medicinal Plants Without Dying You can find Brandon @yucayekefarms. For info on the Puerto Rican Herbalism Gathering, visit https://prherbalism.podia.com/   Are you ready to take your herbal learning to the next level? Sounds like it’s time to check out HerbMentor! HerbMentor offers a wide variety of rich herbal content — including an in-depth course on food as medicine — that gives you the opportunity to choose your own herbal adventure, take your time, and connect with other herbal learners and experts whenever you login. Get a special offer on HerbMentor at https://HerbMentorRadio.com Are you just starting to make herbal remedies? Build your natural first aid kid with our free Herbal Preparation Cards: https://Herbal.Cards

Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum or Ocimum sanctum) has been revered in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years, but its health benefits are uniquely relevant to the demands of modern life. Want to learn about the healing gifts of Holy Basil? Follow along with herbalist Sorrel Hartford to learn about 3 benefits and key contraindications of Holy Basil. And after learning these 3 benefits of Holy Basil you might be wondering how you can learn more about other common herbs. Here’s the easy way to learn more about our favorite common herbs: download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes. You’ll learn all about popular herbs like catnip, aloe, elderberry, and more. Get your FREE Herb Notes printable flashcards here: https://www.learningherbs.com/herb-notes-flashcards/

In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, we continue our journey through National Geographic Herbal with Chapter Four: Topical Herbalism.To guide us into this deeply sensory and ancestral world, we are joined by herbalist Shereel Washington, founder of Ixalted Natural Body Care & Botanicals. Shereel brings a rich perspective rooted in folk herbalism, body care traditions, ancestral knowledge, and relationship with the plants that nourish and protect the skin.Together, we explore how topical herbalism lives far beyond modern skincare trends. Shereel shares vivid childhood memories of being lovingly coated from head to toe in warm cocoa butter, opening a conversation about touch, care, scent, and the ways herbal body traditions become woven into everyday life and memory.We also explore how herbs work through the skin to influence the body more deeply, supporting comfort, inflammation, restoration, immunity, and relationship with ourselves. From herbal baths and foot soaks to infused oils and body butters, the conversation highlights topical herbalism as both practical and deeply nourishing.Shereel also shares beautiful insights into traditional herbal craft, including working with infused animal fats as deeply nourishing carriers for topical remedies. The conversation explores how herbal oils, salves, and body butters made with tallow and other traditional fats carry both practicality and ancestral memory, connecting modern herbalists back to longstanding traditions of skin nourishment and whole body care. In this episode, we explore: Topical herbalism as both ancestral care and practical everyday medicine Childhood sensory memories connected to herbal body care Herbal baths, foot soaks, infused oils, and body butters How herbs work through the skin to support the body Folk herbalism, bioregional traditions, and relationship with plants Infusing herbs into oils and traditional animal fats for deeply nourishing topical remedies Shereel’s Folk Herbalism course on HerbMentor Learn more about Shereel Washington and her work at Ixalted Natural Body Care & Botanicals and at Berkeley Herbal Center.   Are you ready to take your herbal learning to the next level? Sounds like it’s time to check out HerbMentor! HerbMentor offers a wide variety of rich herbal content — including an in-depth course on food as medicine — that gives you the opportunity to choose your own herbal adventure, take your time, and connect with other herbal learners and experts whenever you login. Get a special offer on HerbMentor at https://HerbMentorRadio.com Are you just starting to make herbal remedies? Build your natural first aid kid with our free Herbal Preparation Cards: https://Herbal.Cards

In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, we continue our journey through National Geographic Herbal with Chapter Three: Apothecary Herbalism.To guide us into this hands-on and deeply personal aspect of herbal practice, we are joined by clinical herbalist and educator Mary Colvin, founder of Ancestral Herbology and author of The Herbalist’s Guide: How to Build and Use Your Own Apothecary. Mary Colvin is a Registered Herbalist, Mentor, Formulator, and herbal educator with over 17 years of experience in the herbal community.Mary invites us into her apothecary, a space that feels alive with the scent of lavender and fresh flowers. Throughout the conversation, we explore the process of building an apothecary in a way that feels grounded and personal rather than overwhelming.Mary gently shifts our perspective. Rather than using herbs, Mary speaks of working alongside them. It is not about how many herbs we collect, but how deeply we know them. She shares how journaling, observation, and working with plants across their many forms help build true relationship. And she brings us to violet, a plant of remarkable versatility and quiet beauty. Violet offers a wide range of preparations, from flower essences to syrups to nourishing infusions. Mary describes the simple act of opening a jar of dried violets and being met with their soft, sweet aroma, an experience that immediately brings beauty to her herbal apothecary. In this episode, we explore: Practical ways to begin building an apothecary without overwhelm How an apothecary evolves over time through use and experience Learning herbs through observation, journaling, and preparation Designing your herbal path through mentorship and hands-on practice Developing discernment in a world of abundant information Engaging with the apothecary as a living, active system Violet as a versatile and gentle apothecary ally Learn more about Mary Colvin and her work at www.ancestralherbology.com Are you ready to take your herbal learning to the next level? Sounds like it’s time to check out HerbMentor! HerbMentor offers a wide variety of rich herbal content — including an in-depth course on food as medicine — that gives you the opportunity to choose your own herbal adventure, take your time, and connect with other herbal learners and experts whenever you login. Get a special offer on HerbMentor at https://HerbMentorRadio.com Are you just starting to make herbal remedies? Build your natural first aid kid with our free Herbal Preparation Cards: https://Herbal.Cards

Dill (Anethum graveolens) is a quiet yet powerful medicinal ally in gardens and kitchens around the world. Want to learn more about the healing gifts of dill? Follow along with herbalist Sorrel Hartford to learn about 3 benefits and key contraindications of dill. And after learning these 3 benefits of dill you might be wondering how you can learn more about other common herbs. Here’s the easy way to learn more about our favorite common herbs: download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes. You’ll learn all about popular herbs like catnip, aloe, elderberry, and more. Get your FREE Herb Notes printable flashcards here: https://herbnotes.cards/

In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, we continue our journey through National Geographic Herbal with Chapter Two: Kitchen Herbalism.To guide us into this aromatic world, we are joined by Appalachian herbalist Patricia Kyritsi Howell, director of the BotanoLogos School of Herbal Studies and co-owner of Wild Crete Travel. Patricia brings a beautiful perspective shaped by both the mountains of Southern Appalachia and the herbal food traditions of Crete, Greece.Together, we explore what it means to live in a culture where herbs are woven directly into daily meals. Patricia takes us on a sensory journey to Crete, where oregano, thyme, and rosemary grow wild across the hillsides and nearly every home carries its own living herbal traditions.We also explore the tradition of horta, the gathering of wild greens that become the centerpiece of family meals, simply dressed with olive oil and lemon.Throughout the episode, we return to our anchor herb: oregano. In Greece, oregano is not simply a dried spice in a jar, it is a vibrant wild plant deeply woven into food, medicine, and cultural identity.The conversation then bridges back to Appalachia through another shared plant tradition, sumac, whose bright red berries appear both in Mediterranean cuisine and Appalachian kitchens. In this episode, we explore: The herbal heart of the traditional Greek kitchen Aromatic herbs as a foundation of Mediterranean foodways Oregano growing wild across the hillsides of Crete The cultural tradition of gathering wild greens known as horta Sumac as a bridge between Greek and Appalachian plant traditions Patricia’s updated book Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians Learn more about Patricia Kyritsi Howell and her work at patriciakyritsihowell.com Are you ready to take your herbal learning to the next level? Sounds like it’s time to check out HerbMentor! HerbMentor offers a wide variety of rich herbal content — including an in-depth course on food as medicine — that gives you the opportunity to choose your own herbal adventure, take your time, and connect with other herbal learners and experts whenever you login. Get a special offer on HerbMentor at https://HerbMentorRadio.com Are you just starting to make herbal remedies? Build your natural first aid kid with our free Herbal Preparation Cards: https://Herbal.Cards

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a beloved culinary staple around the world, and an ancient herbal ally for common modern ailments. Want to learn more about the healing gifts of fennel? Follow along with herbalist Sorrel Hartford to learn about 3 medicinal benefits of fennel. And after learning these 3 benefits of fennel you might be wondering how you can learn more about other common herbs. Here’s the easy way to learn more about our favorite common herbs: download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes. You’ll learn all about popular herbs like catnip, aloe, elderberry, and more. Get your FREE Herb Notes printable flashcards here: https://herbnotes.cards/

In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, we begin our journey through National Geographic Herbal with the chapter that opens the entire path: Sensory Herbalism.To guide us into this deeply relational way of knowing plants, we are joined by Kat Maier, author of Energetic Herbalism and founder of Sacred Plant Traditions. Kat has spent decades helping students and practitioners understand the energetic language of plants, not just through theory, but through direct sensory experience.Together, we explore what it truly means to be in relationship with plants through the senses. Kat helps us understand that energetic herbalism is, at its heart, the study of patterns. This awareness allows us to more skillfully match people and plants in clinical and everyday practice.We also spend time with marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis) as a sensory teacher. Through taste and direct experience, marshmallow reveals its signature moistening softness and quiet strength, offering a clear example of how energetic qualities can be felt in the body, not just studied in books.Throughout the episode, we return to a central theme: sensory herbalism is relational herbalism. Every culture has cultivated ways of knowing plants through the senses. When we slow down enough to listen, the plants are already speaking. In this episode, we explore: What energetic herbalism really means in practice How the senses guide us into deeper plant relationship Using plant and human patterns to make better herbal matches Kat’s vision of a botanical sanctuary and land stewardship The practice of soft gaze and peripheral awareness in the forest Marshmallow root as a powerful sensory teacher Learn more about Kat Maier and her work here. Are you ready to take your herbal learning to the next level? Sounds like it’s time to check out HerbMentor! HerbMentor offers a wide variety of rich herbal content — including an in-depth course on food as medicine — that gives you the opportunity to choose your own herbal adventure, take your time, and connect with other herbal learners and experts whenever you login. Get a special offer on HerbMentor at https://HerbMentorRadio.com Are you just starting to make herbal remedies? Build your natural first aid kid with our free Herbal Preparation Cards: https://Herbal.Cards

Sage (Salvia officinalis) is a familiar garden plant with a long history as both a culinary staple and a revered herbal ally. Want to learn more about the healing gifts of sage? Follow along with herbalist Tara Ruth to learn about 3 benefits and key contraindications of sage. And after learning these 3 benefits of sage you might be wondering how you can learn more about other common herbs. Here’s the easy way to learn more about our favorite common herbs: download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes. You’ll learn all about popular herbs like catnip, aloe, elderberry, and more. Get your FREE Herb Notes printable flashcards here: https://herbnotes.cards/

Big news at HerbMentor Radio! We open this episode with an exciting announcement that Mimi Prunella Hernandez is joining HerbMentor Radio as a co-host alongside Kimberly Gallagher. From there, we take time to get to know Mimi a bit better, her journey as a lifelong herbalist, author, and mentor, and what has shaped her herbal path. Mimi shares her excitement and joy about what she calls her new herbal playground, and what it means to step into a deeper role within the HerbMentor community. As a new co-host, Mimi will be popping into the HerbMentor forums, participating in community meetups, and offering her guidance as a true herb mentor, curious, generous, and grounded in science, tradition, and into the kitchen. We also take a peek inside Mimi’s books, beginning with sensory experience and moving outward through weeds and forests to the global landscape of herbalism. We highlight the velvet soft cues of peach leaf, the tart brightness of hibiscus, and other beloved herbs featured in National Geographic Herbal and Backyard Guide to Edible Wild Plants. In this episode, we explore Mimi’s journey as an herbalist, author, and educator What excites her most about joining HerbMentor Radio as co-host The role of mentorship and community in modern herbalism How herbalism lives in everyday life, from the home to the wider world And what’s ahead for HerbMentor Radio with Mimi on board Learn more about Mimi and her work at www.herbalandhome.com, and follow her on Instagram @herbalandhome. Are you ready to take your herbal learning to the next level? Sounds like it’s time to check out HerbMentor! HerbMentor offers a wide variety of rich herbal content — including an in-depth course on food as medicine — that gives you the opportunity to choose your own herbal adventure, take your time, and connect with other herbal learners and experts whenever you login. Get a special offer on HerbMentor at https://HerbMentorRadio.com Are you just starting to make herbal remedies? Build your natural first aid kid with our free Herbal Preparation Cards: https://Herbal.Cards