HerbMentor Radio

Leslie Alexander, Ph.D., RH (AHG) is a medical herbalist and co-author of the new book Dental Herbalism, Natural Therapies for the Mouth. Leslie is a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild and co-owner of Restoration Herbs in Pennsylvania. She is a member of the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health and the American Botanical Council. In this interview, Leslie discusses the ecology of the mouth, how the mouth is a microcosm of the body, how stress effects our dental health, natural oral hygiene, and some of her favorite dental herbal recipes such as tooth powder and herbal rinses. In addition, she discusses the most important herbs to know for excellent oral health, including thyme, cinnamon, turmeric and many others.

Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa, Yogaraj (Ayurveda), DN-C, RH, LMT, NCTMB, CC, NAMAPM, has over 40 years of experience in holistic medicine, and is one of the foremost natural healing experts in North America. He is the president of the American Herbalists Guild, and is a respected teacher, writer and lecturer. As the author of over 3,000 published health articles, K.P. has written or edited 30 books and on a variety of health topics including major works on massage, Ayurveda, Chinese medicine and physiology. His latest book, The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs, co-authored with Michael Tierra, brings to life Ayurveda in an understandable and practical way. K.P. is also a frequent contributor to mainstream and professional publications in the natural healing field, including The Herb Quarterly K.P. is a professor at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, and a founding faculty in the Ayurvedic Sciences program at Bastyr University. For 30 years Khalsa served as Senior Research Scientist and Chief Medical Formulator for Yogi Tea. In this interview, K.P. answers HerbMentor member questions, including advice for beginners, K.P.’s personal daily herbal routine, supplements, and how to address chronic health conditions with herbs. This episode is jam packed with incredible information. Please do not miss it.

HerbMentor Radio by LearningHerbs explores the simplicity and accessibility of edible and medicinal plants in peoples lives. Interviews with herbalists explore herbs, herbal home remedies, herb gardening and more. Hosted by John Gallagher.

Henriette Kress is a clinical herbalist and author from Helsinki, Finland. She is author of two herbal books, Practical Herbs 1 and Practical Herbs 2. Henriette has been publishing herbal content since the early days of the internet, now runs an amazing website called Henriette’s Herbal Homepage, and has wide respect across the herbal community. Her books are available in English, Finnish and Swedish. In this interview, Henriette shares her fascinating story and brings us on a practical herb walk, where she covers horse chestnut, juniper, willow, ground ivy, elecampane, and thyme. She mentions a few herbal tips from Finland I’m quite sure you’ve never heard before. Her new book picks up where her last one left off, with more hands-on remedies and nuts and bolts information about even more amazing herbs.

Dina Falconi returns to HerbMentor Radio to give us a great foundation in harvesting wild edibles and preparing them into delicious dishes. Dina is author of the new book, Foraging and Feasting: A Field Guide and Wild Food Cookbook. We start the interview with the fascinating way Dina self-published this book under her own publishing company. This is informative to anyone who might have an herbal product idea. Then, Dina gets into the basics of wild foods foraging, such as plant ID, where and when to harvest, safety, how you can get started. Then Dina shares some amazing tips for turning your wild foods bounty into amazing meals, appetizers and beverages. Dandelion root bisque soup sound good? How about garlic mustard horseradish? Looking for more creative ways of using all that lemon balm? Learn how to be a “plant detective” and turn any recipe into a wild foods delight.

Guido Masé is a clinical herbalist, educator and garden steward specializing in holistic Western herbalism. He is a founding co-director of the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism in Montpelier, VT and a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild, the American Botanical Council and United Plant Savers. He has worked extensively in the herbal products industry, with focuses on local and sustainable growing, harvesting and production. Guido is author of the new book, The Wild Medicine Solution: Healing with Aromatic, Bitter and Tonic Plants, published by Healing Arts Press. In this interview, Guido discusses how the Wild Medicine Solution is the antidote to “Plant Deficiency Syndrome.” As modern culture moved further from nature, humans lost their cultural links to the plants and the health they brought us. Guido makes it super simple to reconnect to the herbs by exploring three classes of plants… aromatics, bitters and tonics. Learn how to connect to herbs and easily enhance your health. Guido also shares how his unique upbringing led to this unique way of approaching herbalism.

David Winston RH (AHG), is an herbalist and ethnobotanist with over 40 years of training in Cherokee, Chinese and Western herbal traditions. He has had a clinical practice for over 30 years and is an herbal consultant to physicians throughout North America. David founded an herbal manufacturing company called Herbalist & Alchemist as well as David WInston’s Center for Herbal Studies. David is author of many books including Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina and Stress Relief. He is also a founding member of the American Herbalist Guild and a founding advisory board member of United Plant Savers. In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, David explores adaptogens and their importance in this day and age. Adaptogens help the body adapt to stress and increase health. David also answers questions on adaptogens submitted by HerbMentor members. David will be speaking at the 2013 American Herbalist Guild Symposium.

Christophe Bernard is a clinical herbalist from France who was born and raised in Provence. He spent 15 years of his life in the U.S., studying medicinal plants and running his first clinic in San Diego. While mostly self-taught, Christophe found great inspiration in the writings and teachings of Matthew Wood and the late Michael Moore. Upon returning to France in 2010, he opened a clinic in a small village located in the hills of Provence, where he spends his time consulting, teaching, picking and growing plants from around the world. After exploring how Christophe learned about herbs, he takes us on an herb walk in Provence. Christophe shares some unique ways herbs are used in France, while exploring linden, fumatory, lavender and rosemary. He even shares an “off the beaten path” herb for men that will also blow out your tire should you bike off the path in Provence. Christophe and HerbMentor’s Rosalee are running a wonderful herbal experience in Provence May, 2014. Christophe shares what was behind the design of this amazing opportunity. Visit Christophe at AltheaProvence.comVisit the trip he and Rosalee are running at PlantsInFrance.com. There is a free recipe eBook on this site.

Gail Faith Edwards is an herbal educator with more than 30 years experience as a community herbalist. She runs Blessed Maine Herb Farm, where she runs many herbal programs, a correspondence course, tours, and hand crafts beautiful herbal goods. Gail is author of Traversing the Wild Terrain of Menopause; Herbal Allies for Midlife Women and Men. Gail’s Opening Our Wild Hearts to the Healing Herbs is one of our absolute favorites. Her forthcoming book Through the Wild Heart of Mary; Teachings of the 20 Mysteries of the Rosary and the Herbs and Foods Associated with Them comes out mid-November, 2009. In this engaging interview, we discuss Gail’s unique way of learning about herbs, what important lessons the plants taught her, details on a few key herbs, and she answers HerbMentor member questions.

Chanchal Cabrera,MSc, FNIMH, (RH)AHGis a medical herbalist whose clinical specialty is helping people manage cancer and chronic disease. Chanchal has held the faculty chair in Botanical Medicine at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in New Westminster since 2004. She serves on the board of advisors of Dominion Herbal College in Burnaby, on the editorial board of Medical Herbalism clinical newsletter and she publishes widely in professional journals and lectures internationally on medical herbalism, nutrition and health. Chanchal is the author of the bookFibromyalgia – A Journey Toward Healing. published by Contemporary Books. Chanchal is a certified Master Gardener and a certified Horticulture Therapist. Chanchal has been a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists in the UK since 1987, where in 2009 she was honored with a Fellowship for service to the profession for over 25 years. She lives on Vancouver Island in BC where she and her husband farm 7 acres. This interview mostly focuses on HerbMentor member submitted questions, which focus on using herbs for chronic illness. Chanchal reviewed the questions before the interview and answered them in a way that could help as many people as possible as to how to approach their health conditions with natural medicine.

Dr. Patrick Jones is a veterinarian with a passion for herbs. He grew up close to the land, and his interest in herbs eventually led to him treating animals with herbal remedies. He has a private practice, and is also does formulation, support and training for Silver Lining Herbs. Patrick's wife LoriAnn is also an herbalist, and together they have raised 15 children. Patrick practices veterinary medicine in Twin Falls, ID. Patrick is also a long time HerbMentor member and a regular presence in the forum. In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, Dr. Jones answers many questions that HerbMentor members posted about herbs for dogs and cats. We cover basic herbal nutrition, delivery methods, common pet issues, what not to give your pets, and the truth about catnip.

Rosemary Gladstar covers the importance of wild greens, both nutritionally and energetically. Dandelions, plantain, nettle, chickweed and many more favorites will be covered. In addition to her favorite ways to prepare wild greens, Rosemary will also cover ethical wild harvesting. It’s time to clean out the closets and leave the winter blues behind! Rosemary Gladstar is the author of many books, including Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide, Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health and Herbal Healing for Women.  Rosemary has been inspiring herbalists for nearly 40 years with the herbal schools, conferences, organizations and companies she has founded, which include the California School of Herbal Studies, Traditional Medicinals, the International Herb Symposium, and United Plant Savers.

Susun Weed returns to HerbMentor Radio. For those who want to use herbal remedies, it can be confusing as to exactly how to incorporate them into our lives. It’s really not as simple as “take this herb for that ailment.” Herbalism is an art and science that enhances not just your health, but way of life. Herbalist and author Susun Weed specializes in keeping it simple for folks. This engaging class will cover at least 7 ways we can easily incorporate herbs and remedies into our lives. Which herbs should you take every day? What sort of herbal preparations should you avoid? What foods are antioxidants and will help prevent chronic illnesses? Which herbal remedies are simple to make in ANY kitchen?  Already make herbal remedies like tinctures and infusions? Susun will share BRAND new ways to get more out of these tried and true remedies. This class is for all experience levels. Susun Weed has been practicing and teaching herbalism for over 40 years, and has written several books. Susun founded the Wise Woman Center in Woodstock, NY. She speaks at conferences worldwide and often appears on television and radio shows.

The microphone is turned as John Gallagher, host of HerbMentor Radio, is interviewed by Rosalee de la Forêt. HerbMentor members asked for it, and John was happy to sit down and reveal the string of random events that lead to the creation HerbMentor.com five years ago. How did spraying weeds with herbicide begin John on his herbal journey? Why is a dandelion in the LearningHerbs logo? How is Bruce Springsteen responsible for how John creates and markets products? How and why did he start LearningHerbs? What is in LearningHerbs’ future? It’s all here in this fun filled, action packed, chocolate covered, death defying act of thrilling audio goodness…

David Bruce Leonard is a practitioner and teacher of all five branches of Chinese medicine: acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, food medicine and martial arts. Besides studying traditional medicines with healers in Asia, North and South America, David also studied Hawaiian native plants for over 20 years, and is author of Medicine at Your Feet: Healing Plants of the Hawaiian Kingdom and Wild Wisdom: Listening to the Heart of Nature. David is Dean of Oriental Medicine at the Hawaii College of Oriental Medicine, and founder of Earth Medicine Institute. In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, David explores Hawaiian herbalism, including a few things the elders taught him about herbal learning, gathering protocols, and teachings that cross cultural boundaries. Also, learn what Hawaiian herbalism can teach you about learning the plants of your own bioregion. David will be teaching at the upcoming International Herb Symposium, June 28th -30th, 2013 near Boston.