…Herbal Medicine. Her focus with the school is to increase efforts, internally and externally, that co-create policies, cultures, and programs of equity and social justice for the school, staff, students, and communities served. She loves building power in the South, playing with her puppy, Willow, and making herbal tea blends and treats for Aflorar Herb Collective. Interested in becoming a…
…an immune tonic and an immunomodulator. By and large, most practitioners use herbal immune tonics just the same as herbal immunomodulators. Immune tonics simply don’t have the scientific “stamp of approval” to be classified as immunomodulators, but they very well may have the same degree of regulating, or balancing, effects on the immune system. Calendula flowers (Calendula officinalis) Herbal Antimicrobials…
…nettle, violet, dandelion, chickweed, and mint. Follow the guidelines in our article on Herbal Infusions and Decoctions for making medicinal-strength teas. 4) Infuse Herbal Vinegars. Vinegar is a classic solvent for extracting minerals from herbs, and is a traditional preparation for capturing the vitality and nutritional blessings of spring greens. Herbal vinegars can be taken by the spoonful with meals,…
…can trap moisture, potentially worsening infections by creating an environment where microbes thrive. If you want to learn more about preparing potent and effective herbal medicines, check out our Online Herbal Medicine Making Course. It’s typically helpful to combine herbal antimicrobials with herbal immunostimulants, which are used on a short-term basis to boost immunity during the initial stages of an…
…Contributors MEGHAN GEMMA is one of Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine’s primary instructors through her written lessons, sharing herbal and wild foods wisdom from the flowery heart of the school to an ever-wider field of herbalists, gardeners, healers, and plant lovers. She began her journey with the Chestnut School in 2010—as an intern and manager at the Chestnut Herb Nursery…
… Dice the nopales into ½ inch cubes, bring three cups of water to a boil, boil the diced pads for two minutes, strain and put aside to cool. Pit the cherries. Dice the tomatoes, onions, cherries, and cilantro. Place in the serving bowl. Add the salt, chipotle powder, and the juice of one and half lemons. Slice the remaining…
…taking pharmaceutical blood thinners (the evidence for meadowsweet’s effect on coagulation is inconclusive). Marshmallow has no known adverse effects. Licorice is contraindicated in pregnancy, water retention (edema), heart conditions, and high blood pressure. If licorice is not advisable, omit the licorice from the tea blend, and use a DGL licorice (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) preparation instead. Use the same proportions for the…
…Meet Our Contributors MEGHAN GEMMA is one of Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine’s primary instructors through her written lessons, sharing herbal and wild foods wisdom from the flowery heart of the school to an ever-wider field of herbalists, gardeners, healers, and plant lovers. She began her journey with the Chestnut School in 2010—as an intern and manager at the Chestnut…
…matchmaker and bonafide plant geek, with a degree in botany and over 30 years of experience teaching and writing about herbalism, medicine making, and organic herb cultivation. Juliet’s lifelong captivation with medicinal weeds and herb gardening has birthed many botanical enterprises over the decades, including an herbal nursery and a farm-to-apothecary herbal products business. These days, she channels her botanical…
…After preparing an herbal-infused oil, you may then use it as a stand-alone oil or transform it into an herbal salve by adding beeswax or carnauba wax (a vegan alternative), and other optional amendments like essential oils and vitamin E. In general, herbal salves are beneficial for soothing skin irritations, dryness, and inflammation. We share our recipe for Calendula Salve…
