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Founders Of The School Of Evolutionary Herbalism. Herbalist Podcasts

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The Plant Path

with Sajah & Whitney Popham, founders of The School of Evolutionary Herbalism. Herbalist, Spagyricist, Medical Astrologer

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The Plant Path is a window into the world of the herbal medicine. With perspectives gleaned from traditional western herbalism, Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine, Alchemy, Medical Astrology, and traditional cultures from around the world, The Plant Path provides unique insights, skills and strategies for the practice of true holistic herbalism. From clinical to spiritual perspectives, we don't just focus on what herbs are "good for," but rather who they are as intelligent beings, and how we can wor ...
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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 v…
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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…
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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 re…
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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 ex…
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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…
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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.…
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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 ori…
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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 episo…
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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 f…
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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…
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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 t…
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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. Whet…
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In this episode, we take a high-level look at what happens when you combine two of the most contrasting—and complementary—herbs in North American herbalism: Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) and Lobelia (Lobelia inflata). One stimulates, one relaxes—and together they create a powerful synergy that supports circulation, respiration, and neuromuscular functi…
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In this episode, we dive into one of the most powerful herb pairs in North American herbalism—Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) and Lobelia (Lobelia inflata). These two plants represent the archetypal stimulant and relaxant, and when used together, they reveal deep patterns in how herbal energetics function. You’ll also discover how this triad—stimulant, r…
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Welcome to the second installment in our Anatomy of a Formula series. In this post, we’ll examine a classic North American herbal duo: the archetypal stimulant, Cayenne (Capsicum annuum), and the archetypal relaxant, Lobelia (Lobelia inflata). If you missed the introductory post, which explored a brief history of formulation in Western herbalism an…
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Have you been studying herbs for a while, but you still feel unsure about how to combine them into an effective formula? Or maybe you’re newer to herbalism and ready to dive into the art and science of formulation? Formulation is one of my favorite parts of herbal medicine, so I’m excited to kick off a new series called The Anatomy of a Formula. I …
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Welcome to Part 2 of the Allergy Strategy. In this episode, we'll explore the two key approaches to working with allergies and intolerances: prevention and acute care. Whether it's you, your loved ones, or your clients dealing with seasonal allergies, you'll find plenty of tools here to support the process—and many of these strategies can also be a…
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Spring has officially sprung. The birds are chirping, the plants are waking up, and the earth is on the move again. It's a beautiful time of year—and here in the Pacific Northwest, we welcome the lifting of the cold, the retreat of the rain, and the chance to head back outside to enjoy nature's splendor and get our gardens growing. But spring's ret…
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Have you ever wondered how to understand plants on a deeper level, beyond “This herb is good for that thing?” If so, you won’t want to skip this post! I am excited to be joined today by my colleague, friend, and teacher, Pam Montgomery. Pam is an herbalist, author, international teacher, earth elder, and new paradigm thinker who passionately embrac…
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Have you ever felt overwhelmed trying to learn herbal medicine and astrology? This is one of the biggest challenges I hear from people studying herbalism on its own… throw astrology on top of it, and it just seems like too much. They say, “I was already overwhelmed trying to learn how to become a great herbalist. And now, to practice this way, I ha…
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Spring is the season of renewal—and the perfect time to support your body with cleansing and nourishing herbs. Last week, we covered the overall concept of the spring cleanse and whether it's a good thing for us to do in our modern culture. We got a birds-eye view of the qualities and characteristics of herbs that would fit into this category. Read…
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The premise of cleansing is popular in alternative medicine circles, seen as one of the most important ways to get and stay healthy. But is it really? Is our modern take on cleansing the same as it was traditionally? And most importantly, is cleansing really appropriate for anyone and everyone? We’ll cover all that and more in our exploration of th…
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Have you ever wondered how science views medical astrology or whether it has been proven "true?" Should we consider astrology a valid tool for understanding health, or is it just pseudoscience? Astrological medicine is a central part of our approach to herbal medicine here at The School of Evolutionary Herbalism, so it's a topic we discuss regularl…
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Most traditions of herbal medicine across the world use the fundamental principle of antipathetic medicine in their approach to therapeutics. But in the practice of alchemical medicine—based on Paracelsianism— and in astro-herbalism, another approach is commonly used: sympathetic medicine. In this episode, we’ll explore some of the principles of sy…
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In medical astrology, astral polarities offer profound insights into the body’s interconnected systems, revealing hidden relationships between organ functions and celestial archetypes. By studying opposing zodiac signs, we gain a deeper understanding of how the various parts of the body interact. This perspective aligns with holistic traditions lik…
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