The Plant Path

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 uniqu...

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 through what's ...

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 taking it in ...

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 function. 

You’ll also hear insights on how their energetic and c...

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, relaxant, and tonic—connects to core principles found in Ay...

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 and the strategic thinking behind herbal pairs and triplets,...

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 love the synergy that emerges when herbs are ...

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 applied to other types of allergies.

If you...

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 return comes at a high cost for many due to s...

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 embraces her role as a spokesperson for the gre...

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 have to learn the massive system of astrology too. I'm bus...

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.

Ready to learn more about spring cleansing and w...

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 the spring cleanse. 

Here’s what I’ll cover:

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