Best CommonWealth Center for Holistic Herbalism Podcasts (2025)

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Elderberry Syrup Isn't Everything 24:43

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8d ago24:43

24:43

Elderberry syrup isn’t everything an herbalist has to offer to someone suffering from a cold, the flu, COVID, RSV, or any of the other respiratory ailments to which we humans are susceptible. Despite being the first to come to many minds when asked if they’re prepared for winter illnesses, we encourage you to broaden your view both of what elder do…

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Our Model for Clinical Herbalism Mentorship 38:58

18d ago38:58

38:58

We’ve been running a clinical herbalism mentorship program of one kind or another for more than fifteen years. We have some thoughts! Today’s episode is all about our model for a clinical herbalist mentorship, what we think it needs to include, and how it’s structured to benefit our students and clients most fully. For context, we do have prerequis…

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Herbal Care Kits for Fall, for All! 38:22

29d ago38:22

38:22

By CommonWealth Holistic Herbalism

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Herbalists' Views on the Top-Selling Herbs (Part 9): Aloe & Flax + New Market Data! 36:25

1M ago36:25

36:25

This week we continue our investigation into the best-selling herbal supplements in the US. First, an update: the 2024 Herbal Market Report data is here! The overall picture is very similar to the 2023 data, with most items on the lists simply changing position. The overall market had a 5.4% increase, topping out above $13.2 billion for the highest…

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Aging Is OK, Don't Freak Out 30:59

2M ago30:59

30:59

When Ryn first met Katja, she was in the habit of inflating her age a bit. Why? Because as an herbalist – at that time – it was preferable to present as older, even as an ‘elder’, if possible. Times have changed, and now “influencerbalists” dominate the social media world’s public face, for herbalism as for so many things. Staying young forever loo…

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Herbalists' Views on the Top-Selling Herbs (Part 8): Milk Thistle & Black Cohosh 40:20

2M ago40:20

40:20

Herbs #22 and 23 on the top-selling herbs list for 2023 were milk thistle and black cohosh. Today we continue our series on commercially popular herbs, and share our views as herbalists on the actions, benefits, and applications of these. Milk thistle is widely known as an excellent herb for the liver, and this is a case where the common wisdom is …

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Support the Resistance - An Herbalism Clinical Skill 36:53

2M ago36:53

36:53

When you’re using your herbal skills to help others – whether you’re doing that as a Clinical Herbalist in private practice, volunteering in your community, or even just caring for your own family – it becomes obvious pretty fast that your herbal knowledge is only part of the skillset you need. You also need to creatively adapt what you know, so th…

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Herbalists' Views on the Top-Selling Herbs (Part 7): Tribulus, Pycnogenol, Garlic 48:39

3M ago48:39

48:39

On the top-selling herbs list for 2023 (the most recent data), the herbs in places #19-21 were Tribulus terrestris, Pycnogenol (an extract of Pinus pinaster), and garlic. Today we continue our series on commercially popular herbs, and share our views as herbalists on the actions, benefits, and applications of these ones. The pine extract is an inte…

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Mutual Aid Startup Guide 42:47

3M ago42:47

42:47

Mutual aid projects are a natural place for herbalists to gravitate, and setting one up in your community is easier than you think! Our mutual aid startup guide is a free resource we offer you to help with this. You can download it right here: Mutual Aid Startup Guide In today’s episode we want to emphasize two key things about this: First, it does…

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Thinking Through Herb-Drug Interactions 33:14

4M ago33:14

33:14

Our semi-annual 20% off Sale is active now! For the entire month of July, use code hawthorn at checkout to take 20% off all our online courses! Sussing out herb-drug interactions is complicated! In this episode we take the example of Celexa + skullcap, and demonstrate the process of investigation we’d use to sort out whether a proposed risk is real…

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Herbalists' Views on the Top-Selling Herbs (Part 6): Saw Palmetto, Cinnamon, Echinacea 47:21

4M ago47:21

47:21

Our semi-annual 20% off Sale is active now! For the entire month of July, use code hawthorn at checkout to take 20% off all our online courses! On the top-selling herbs list for 2023 (the most recent data), the herbs in places #16-18 were saw palmetto, cinnamon, and echinacea. In today’s installment of our best-sellers series, we share our views as…

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Bandaging Basics & Mummy Parties 51:04

4M ago51:04

51:04

Bandaids are undeniably handy, and there are plenty of situations where they do the job that needs doing. But there are also lots of times when a wound is too big, too irregular, or too sensitive for a bandaid to be the best choice. That’s where bespoke bandaging comes into play! You can learn bandaging basics really quickly – yes, even through pod…

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Bug-Out Bags & Stay-In Stashes, The Herbalist's Way 1:17:38

5M ago1:17:38

1:17:38

When putting together a bug-out bag in case of emergencies, don’t forget your herbs! Just like a first aid kit, a go bag is best when you construct it according to your specific needs, and the needs of people you’ll be with. This isn’t a “one size fits all” situation! The same goes for circumstances when you need to shelter in place. A ‘stay-in sta…

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Herbal First Aid Kit Maintenance 55:56

5M ago55:56

55:56

Just like checking your stock of remedies in the apothecary, herbal first aid kit maintenance is one of those things you need to carve out time for – at least once a year! It’s June, which is the kick-off to summer adventure and here on the east coast, also hurricane season. In other regions, wildfire season is already started, and even without a d…

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Disaster-Proofing Herbal Business Part 2: Offerings & Audience 29:12

5M ago29:12

29:12

This is the second half of the Disaster-Proofing your Herbal Business theme. Economic uncertainty is part of business – but there’s so much you can do to make sure your business stays strong throughout the ups and downs. In the previous episode, we covered the first three steps in the work of diversifying your revenue streams and your product/servi…

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Disaster-Proofing Your Herbal Business 35:14

5M ago35:14

35:14

Economic uncertainty is part of business – but there’s so much you can do to disaster-proof your herbal business and make sure it stays strong throughout the ups and downs. This episode is the first three steps in the work of diversifying your revenue streams and also your product/service offerings to make sure that your herbal business keeps growi…

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Herbalists' Views on the Top-Selling Herbs (Part 5): Ginkgo, Guarana, Maca 46:38

6M ago46:38

46:38

In our fifth installment in this series, we address the facts & fictions about ginkgo, guarana, and maca supplements in commerce! These were #13, 14, and 15 on the top-selling herbs list for 2023 (the most recent data). This series is all about sharing an herbalist’s understanding of herbs very popular as commercial supplements and other mass-marke…

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Can Herbs "Heal"? 18:50

6M ago18:50

18:50

What does it mean to heal? When are we “healed”? Are there some wounds that can’t be healed? If we can’t heal – in the sense of achieving “perfect health” – are we failures, as people or as herbalists? In this episode, Katja shares her thoughts on the words and ideas “healing” carries in our culture, offering a critique of their common (and commerc…

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Herbalists' Views on the Top-Selling Herbs (Part 4): Green Tea, Fenugreek, Ivy Leaf 56:39

7M ago56:39

56:39

We discuss green tea, fenugreek, and ivy leaf in this, the fourth part of an episodic sequence about the best-selling herbs in the US. Our primary purpose for creating this series of episodes is to share an understanding of these herbs from the perspectives of traditional and contemporary herbal practice. Frequently, the high-volume sales of these …

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Herbalists' Views on the Top-Selling Herbs (Part 3): Wheatgrass, Beet Root, & Ginger 31:31

8M ago31:31

31:31

In part three of our series on the top-selling herbs in the United States, we cover wheatgrass, beet root, and ginger supplements. As we share our opinions about these popular herbal supplements, our primary goal is to help you understand these herbs in their breadth and depth. They’re too often pigeon-holed into limited ranges of application – the…

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Adaptogens, or A Nap To Gen…erate Recovery? 1:24:53

8M ago1:24:53

1:24:53

If you’re trying to decide whether you need adaptogens or a nap, well, the answer just might be both! But you can learn how to combine your adaptogens with other holistic interventions for better effects. In this episode we’re talking about choosing the best adaptogens to work with when what you really need is rest – a super common situation we all…

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Herbalists’ Views on the Top-Selling Herbs (Part 2): Apple Cider Vinegar, Cranberry 40:28

8M ago40:28

40:28

This episode continues our series covering the top-selling herbs in the United States. As we give you our thoughts about these popular herbal supplements, we’re hoping to help you break out of the box. These herbs are frequently pigeon-holed into very narrow ranges of application – the answers to the question “what is it good for?” are usually very…

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Can I Be A Plus-Sized Herbalist? 20:52

8M ago20:52

20:52

Katja writes… Today a student sent me a question and it was so important, i asked her if i could (anonymously) share it, because i know other people are wondering this too. She wrote: "I wanted to ask for any advice or your thoughts on how to handle being a plus size herbalist. I am plus sized. Though I am currently in working on a healthier life s…

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Herbal Detox? Heed the Don’t Ox! ❌🐂 1:00:55

9M ago1:00:55

1:00:55

Talk of herbal detox comes up every spring – some years, earlier than others. We field a lot of questions from people asking our opinions on detox protocols, bowel cleanses, liver flushes, you name it. So, in this episode, we’re giving you our fundamental thoughts on the topic. Ryn wrote you a poem that sums up our perspective. Here it is: The Don’…

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Two Herbal UTI Formulae - Moving Beyond Uva Ursi and Cranberry 30:11

9M ago30:11

30:11

When you think of UTI and herbs, you probably think of cranberry and uva ursi first. You’re not wrong to do so! They’re reliable and effective remedies. But if you stop there, though, you’ll be missing out on some herbs who can also do the job, and do it well. In this episode we outline two herbal UTI formulae we work with ourselves, and explain wh…

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Herbalists' Views on the Top-Selling Herbs (Part 1): Psyllium, Elderberry, Turmeric, Ashwagandha 1:14:41

10M ago1:14:41

1:14:41

This episode begins an intermittent series we’ll be doing this year, covering the top-selling herbs in the United States and giving you our thoughts about them. From the perspective of a practicing herbalist, these herbs are frequently pigeon-holed into very narrow ranges of application – the “what is it good for” answers are quite limited! The Her…

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A Definitive Guide to Bitters 2:23:56

10M ago2:23:56

2:23:56

Welcome to 2025, everyone! Let’s give the year a bitter start – that’s better than a bitter end, right? If you don’t think so yet, listen to this episode and by the end, we’re sure you’ll agree! Bitters are a truly indispensable piece of an herbal toolkit. They – like demulcents, adaptogens, and alteratives – can achieve things in the body which ph…

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Herbal Holiday Gifts for YOU! 🎁 10:45

11M ago10:45

10:45

A brief update this time, to let you know about some herbal holiday gifts we’ve put together for you & yours! Herbal Activities Calendar The best way to learn herbalism is to do a little bit every day – so we’ve built you a whole activities calendar that will feed itself automagically right into your own calendar of choice (Google, Yahoo, Outlook, …

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Just Press Play 35:34

12M ago35:34

35:34

We’re still making the podcast! We have not abandoned you, dear listeners. 💚 We’ve been busy producing material for our online courses – especially the Accessible Herbalism and Clinical Skills courses. We’ve also been enhancing our student experience and building up our student community, so that learning with us is more enjoyable and cooperative. …

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Interview with Ashley Bissonnette-Murphy 54:20

1y ago54:20

54:20

This week we’d like you to meet Ashley Bissonnette-Murphy, who is one of our Clinical Mentorship students. Ashley is advanced in her mentorship, and she’s been seeing her own clients in our Student Clinic and Free Clinic for a year. She does great work! You can find Ashley at hwapothicaire.com and on social media at @hwapothicaire. Definitely jump …

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Starting A Compounding Herbal "Apothecary" 35:51

1y ago35:51

35:51

This is the fourth in a series about herbal businesses. These videos cover what each kind of herbal business is and what kind of work you’d be doing, what kinds of education and experience you’ll need to get it started, and a few tips to help you along the way. This video focuses on building a Compounding Herbal Apothecary – but as you’ll hear righ…

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On Discomfort, Evasion, & Challenge 42:26

1+ y ago42:26

42:26

Discomfort and evasion are natural responses to our world. Our ancestors, from a single-celled organism up to Mitochondrial Eve, all survived only because they had strong drives to avoid uncomfortable and dangerous situations. But in our modern world, avoiding all discomforts can stunt our growth, or make us seem more fragile than we really are. Th…

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[REPLAY] What You Should Know About Choosing An Online Herb School 1:09:35

1+ y ago1:09:35

1:09:35

IF YOU'RE SEEING THIS IN JULY 2024, USE CODE "LAVENDER" AT CHECKOUT TO GET 20% OFF ANY OF OUR COURSES OR PROGRAMS! This originally aired as Episode 188 of the Holistic Herbalism Podcast. All herb schools are different, in their focus and their style. When you’re choosing an online herb school, whether for a short course or a long program, here are …

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[REPLAY] Six Herbs for Cognitive Decline Prevention 1:00:34

1+ y ago1:00:34

1:00:34

IF YOU'RE SEEING THIS IN JULY 2024, USE CODE "LAVENDER" AT CHECKOUT TO GET 20% OFF ANY OF OUR COURSES OR PROGRAMS! This originally aired as Episode 139 of the Holistic Herbalism Podcast. We're replaying it in June 2024 because of the increase in interest in cognitive troubles associated with COVID. Don't despair - you can take steps to protect your…

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Emergency Readiness Needs A Meal Plan 1:04:56

1+ y ago1:04:56

1:04:56

With heat waves hitting heavy, and hurricane season on the move, we’re thinking about disaster preparedness – again! In this episode, we’re covering an aspect of disaster preparedness we haven’t discussed on the pod before: food. Whether you’re putting together a bug-out bag, or building up a bug-in bag (or box, or cabinet, or whatever), you’ve got…

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Time Management & Productivity for Herbal Business People 28:53

1+ y ago28:53

28:53

The single most important factor in the success of your business is your ability to manage your time and be productive. Great – cause that’s not hard at all, right? 😑 Trouble is, this is not something you’re just born knowing how to do. It’s a skill you have to develop – but you can do it, and this course will help! Enroll for free and over the nex…

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Starting A Clinical Herbalism Business 1:03:22

1+ y ago1:03:22

1:03:22

We continue this week with Katja’s series: Starting Your Herbal Business! Today the focus is on the practice of clinical herbalism. Building and running a practice as a clinical herbalist isn’t only about your interview skills, your ability to formulate a personalized remedy, or your capacity to build a holistic health plan in collaboration with yo…

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Acknowledging Complexity Is Not Gatekeeping 51:40

1+ y ago51:40

51:40

When you’re an herbalist, it’s normal to get questions from people about herbs. Usually they’re thinking that it’s a simple question, and expecting a simple response: “What’s good for IBS?” “Chamomile.” But the truth is a lot more complex than that! When you learn about herbalism, you come to understand that there are no herbs “for” any disease sta…

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Starting An Herb Shop 37:11

1+ y ago37:11

37:11

We continue this week with Katja’s series: Starting Your Herbal Business! Today the focus is on an herb shop or herbal apothecary, with or without a tea bar for tastings and treats. Running an herb shop involves a fair amount of administrative work: ordering, stocking, inventory, payment processing, taxes, etc. Sharpen up your spreadsheets, folks! …

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Starting An Herbal Products Business 34:38

1+ y ago34:38

34:38

This week Katja brings you the first in a new series we’ve been wanting to produce for you: Starting Your Herbal Business! Today the focus is on herbal products – tinctures, salves, elixirs, tea blends, all that good stuff! Listen in for a simple explanation of what you’ll need to know if you want to build an herbal products business of your own. I…

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Herbs A-Z: Zingiber 🫚 41:46

2y ago41:46

41:46

Today we reach the end of our apothecary shelves! This series started way back with episode 170 on Achillea & Acorus, and today in episode 227 we’ve finally come to Zingiber. Today’s entire episode is all about ginger. (Yes, it deserves its own entire episode. If you don’t already believe it, we will convince you!) We discuss Katja’s evolving prefe…

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Herbs A-Z: Withania & Zanthoxylum 52:58

2y ago52:58

52:58

We’ve reached our penultimate Herbs A-Z episode this week, and we’re highlighting ashwagandha & prickly ash – it’s prickly ashwagandha! Withania somnifera, ashwagandha, is an herb Katja takes every single day. Usually, she gets it in the form of “notCoffee”, a formula of various roots and herbs blended to offer sustained energy and endocrine supppo…

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Herbs A-Z: Verbascum & Verbena 1:03:00

2y ago1:03:00

1:03:00

We have just three episodes remaining in our Herbs A-Z series! Today’s show features mullein and blue vervain. Verbascum thapsus, mullein, deserves its reputation as an effective remedy for dry respiratory conditions. Its leaf is a great ally when your home heating system dries out the air inside, or when your area is hit by wildfire smoke. But mul…

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Herbs A-Z: Urtica & Vaccinium 1:05:53

2y ago1:05:53

1:05:53

DECEMBER SALE: 20% off every course & program we offer, all month long! Use code KINDNESS at checkout! As we draw near the end of our tour of the home apothecary herbs, today we come to nettle and bilberry. Urtica dioica, nettle, is an herb who can help with a really vast array of health issues. Sometimes we half-jokingly refer to “nettle deficienc…

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Herbs A-Z: Ulmus & Uncaria 51:37

2y ago51:37

51:37

DECEMBER SALE: 20% off every course & program we offer, all month long! Use code KINDNESS at checkout! This week we return to our home herbal apothecary shelves and discuss two medicinal barks: slippery elm and cat’s claw. Ulmus rubra, slippery elm, is an at-risk plant. We don’t work with it frequently, for this reason – other demulcents will usual…

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Herbs A-Z: Trifolium & Turnera 53:55

2y ago53:55

53:55

Today our featured herbs are red clover & damiana – two complementary fluid-moving remedies. Red clover (Trifolium pratense) has a reputation as an herb that “cures breast cancer”. That’s not the way we talk or think about it, but it’s worth digging in to why people say that! What underlies the claim is an observable effect: the plant can diminish …

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Herbs A-Z: Thymus & Tilia 1:03:11

2y ago1:03:11

1:03:11

We’re on the final shelf of our home apothecary, and today we’re talking about thyme & linden! Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is our absolute favorite herb for a steam. Herbal steams are an amazing way to bring the plant’s medicinal actions into the lungs and sinuses – and the ear canal and eyes, too! Thyme’s a great steam herb because it’s so rich in vol…

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Herbs A-Z: Taraxacum & Thuja 48:32

2y ago48:32

48:32

Our herbs for this week are dandelion & cedar! Both are diuretic, but their similarities pretty much end there. We are big fans of gardening your weeds, and we took another opportunity here to advocate for it. It’s easy to do, and you don’t have to stress about upkeep. Plus, you get nutritious or medicinal plants ready to hand! Dandelion is a great…

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Herbs A-Z: Solidago & Stachys 51:43

2y ago51:43

51:43

Today we proceed futher along our shelves, looking at the herbs we keep in our home apothecary. In this episode we discuss goldenrod and wood betony. When using the botanical Latin name for goldenrod, we write Solidago spp. – that “spp.” means “species plural”; there are many varieties in the genus. It can hard to tell them apart! Fortunately, your…

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Herbs A-Z: Schisandra & Scutellaria 1:03:08

2+ y ago1:03:08

1:03:08

Today we’re continuing our “herbs on our shelf” from A to Z series! This week, our herbs are schisandra and skullcap. Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis) is SOUR. That flavor stands out most strongly when you taste the herb. But it’s also bitter, pungent, acrid, and a little bit sweet – that’s why it’s sometimes called five-flavor berry. Schisandra’s…

CommonWealth Center For Holistic Herbalism Podcasts