Herb of the Month | The Practical Herbalist

Balm of Gilead Tree: Finding and Using Cottonwood and Poplar Tree Medicine

Posted by Candace Hunter | Herb of the Month, Herbal Encyclopedia, Herbal Nerd Society, Learn |

Herbal Nerd Society Exclusive Article…Balm of Gilead is made from the sweet, sticky, resinous spring buds from the Cottonwood or Poplar tree in North America and many other temperate to colder climates. The resinous sap is filled with anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and warming constituents or energy that feeds the young leaves as they develop, protecting them from disease and giving them the nutrition and energy they need to become the tree’s powerhouse through summer.

Spilanthes: Toothache Plant with Buzz Buttons

Posted by Candace Hunter | Herb of the Month, Herbal Nerd Society, Learn |

Spilanthes, aka Toothache Plant or Buzz Button Plant, has long-documented painkilling or analgesic properties that often take center stage in modern herbal remedies for not just tooth, mouth, and gum ailments. Spilanthes is antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal), too.

Apple Cider Vinegar or ACV as Food and Herbal Remedy

Posted by Candace Hunter | Herb of the Month, Herbal Encyclopedia, Herbal Nerd Society, Learn |

Herbal Nerd Society Exclusive Article. Apple Cider Vinegar, aka ACV, is one of the powerful Herbal Foods that rises and falls in popularity among Herbalists, Nutritionists, Health Coaches, and Health Gurus of all sorts. It’s touted as being an anti-aging, anti-cancer, detoxification tool, and digestion-supporting wonder. Folks use it…

Medicinal Uses of Garlic and Growing Garlic

Posted by Candace Hunter | Gardening and Harvesting, Herb of the Month, Herbal Nerd Society, Learn |

Herbal Nerd Society Exclusive. “Let thy Food be thy Medicine.” Hippocrates was spot-on when it comes to choosing the best herbal medicines. He was all about preventing illness from the get-go. Garlic is one Medicinal Foods you don’t want to do without.

Cinnamon: Cassia and Ceylon Cinnamon Introduction

Posted by Candace Hunter | Herb of the Month, Herbal Encyclopedia, Herbal Nerd Society, Learn |

Herbal Nerd Society Exclusive Article: Whether you wildcraft cinnamon from your local forest or grow it in a pot, you can gain the anti-microbial, warming, medicinal properties of cinnamon

Intro to Motherwort, Leonurus Cardiaca

Posted by Candace Hunter | Herb of the Month, Herbal Nerd Society, Learn |

https://youtu.be/vOFfB_WSMMg Herbal Nerd Society Exclusive Article Motherwort, aka Leonurus Cardiaca, is one of our culture's most essential herbs. Why, amid […] Read this article and all of our other Herbal Nerd Society...

Verbena Hastata, Blue Vervain Plant ID and Intro

Posted by Candace Hunter | Herb of the Month, Herbal Nerd Society, Learn |

HERBAL NERD SOCIETY EXCLUSIVE: Blue Vervain is an often overlooked yet beloved North American wetlands herb. It’s European cousin, Verbena officinalis, has enjoyed a place in Traditional Western Herbalism as a nervine and neuro trophorestorative occasionally used to treat gallbladder and liver dysfunction as well as the early stages of fever.

Reishi: Intro to Ganoderma lucidum and G. tsugae

Posted by Candace Hunter | Herb of the Month, Herbal Encyclopedia, Herbal Nerd Society, Learn |

Kings, Gods, and Immortaility in the Fungal World...what connects them? A little, woody tree-dwelling fungi commonly known as Reishi. Reishi, […] Read this article and all of our other Herbal Nerd Society Content. Become...

Quick Facts: Burdock

Posted by Candace Hunter | Gardening and Harvesting, Herb of the Month, Herbal Nerd Society, Herbalism for the Zombie Apocalypse, Learn |

Herbal Nerd Society Exclusive Article Editor's Note: The text and still photos in this article are from Herbalism for the […] Read this article and all of our other Herbal Nerd Society Content. Become a Member Today. Join...

Passionflower, P. incarnata, Quick Facts

Posted by Candace Hunter | Herb of the Month, Herbal Encyclopedia, Herbal Nerd Society, Learn |

Herbal Nerd Society Exclusive Article Passion Flower is the general name for a variety of Passiflora species. Passiflora incarnata is […] Read this article and all of our other Herbal Nerd Society Content. Become a Member...

Quick Plant ID: Lobelia Inflata

Posted by Candace Hunter | Gardening and Harvesting, Herb of the Month, Herbal Nerd Society, Learn |

Herbal Nerd Society Exclusive Article There are many species of Lobelia, in the neighborhood of 300, to be more precise. […] Read this article and all of our other Herbal Nerd Society Content. Become a Member Today. Join...

Quick Plant ID: Spearmint

Posted by Candace Hunter | Herb of the Month, Herbal Encyclopedia, Herbal Nerd Society, Learn |

Herbal Nerd Society Exclusive Article

Too often, herbalists refer to Spearmint and her close relations as “Mint.” It’s sad, in my opinion, because the mint family is wide and varied, like the variety you get at a grand family reunion. There’s subtle differences between each of them, which gives experts a leg-up when formulating with them.

Ancient Healer for Digestion, Auto-immune, Respiratory, and More: Licorice

Posted by Candace Hunter | Herb of the Month, Herbal Encyclopedia, Herbal Nerd Society, Learn |

Herbal Nerd Society Exclusive ArticleFor centuries, we humans have had a love-it or hate-it relationship with Licorice. Have you met anyone who doesn’t have a strong opinion on the taste of black licorice candy or, for that matter, Jaegermeister?

If you’ve sided with the supporters of this sweet, slightly spicy and oh-so distinctly flavored root, you’re not alone…

Best Collection of St. John’s Wort Resources

Posted by Candace Hunter | Herb of the Month, Learn |

Saint John’s Wort pops up in the spring, just in time to start absorbing the growing solar rays. At Mid-summer, just when the Sun’s rays are the strongest, herbalists across the Western world harvest the flowering tops from this weedy herb.

Benefits of Dandelion: Resource Guide

Posted by Candace Hunter | Herb of the Month, Learn |

This month’s herb is Dandelion, one of our favorites. It is versatile, abundant, powerful, and good for what ails us. Thi article features our herb of the month video and a curated list of articles, Herbal Nerd Society content, podcasts, and recipes. We hope you enjoy.