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4/10/2024

Happy Herbal Wednesday, Reader!

This has been such a great spring so far, hasn't it? At least if life is a bit rough, this season is still such a joy. Flowers, medicinal spring weeds (dandelion, chickweed, pineapple weed, nettle, and more), and more daylight! What a great feeling it is every year to be part of the world waking up here in the Northern hemisphere.

I was talking with a great friend of mine this morning, and she was asking about our school, the School of Botanical Arts & Sciences. I was telling her about the Confident Herbalist Tribe, which is our herbal membership. It's amazing!

When she asked me why, I gave the answer some thought because it's more than the best herbal membership out there.....

It contains......

• in-depth, fully researched herbal masterclasses with remedies and projects---over 55+ and growing
• herbal foundations courses
• intermediate herbalism lessons
• additional herbal workshops
• nearly 70 total text books!
• searchable videos with transcripts
• access to me each week in a live chat on zoom, dedicated to Tribe members
• the experienced, vibrant, and engaged student community---filled with people who care about you and your progress
• new content or updated content every month
• help with clients, family members, and other questions you have
• aromatherapy AND medicinal herb information and help

And more.....

Plus, it's fun!

One of my Confident Herbalist Tribe students wrote in recently asking to be added back to the student community group (the village). She left it because she was in there too much and was asking to be let back in because she loves the people so much. I had to laugh. But seriously.

Oh! And did I mention our student community is OFF social media on a private platform?

THAT's how amazing our student community is.

So in the Confident Herbalist Tribe you have full masterclasses, a student community who cares about you, videos, texts, and access to me each week. Wow.

I gave this some thought. It's a LOT.

My friend asked me why I was offering it for such a low price at $47 a month?

I honestly couldn't come up with an answer because I know of other memberships in the traditional and natural living spaces that cost way more than the Confident Herbalist Tribe.

​You can join us here. If you're serious about learning herbalism, then the Confident Herbalist Tribe is the place to be!

PSST.....and we're nearly finished moving all the content to our beautiful new school platform within the next couple of weeks. You're grandfathered in at the current rate you join at, and our team is discussing a price hike---not sure about this, yet, but it's a discussion.

Get into the Confident Herbalist Tribe and make herbalism a joyful part of your life!

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When to Harvest Herbal Plant Parts for the Most Potent Medicine

This question comes up every spring and summer (and fall) as medicinal plants begin to mature. Perennials sprout back up, those that drop seeds flourish, and those we plant as annuals we eagerly await.

But....

When do we harvest them? When's the best time to harvest roots versus barks? Fruits versus flowers?

It all matters if you want the best plant medicine.

Check out this article for the answers:

​When to Harvest Herbal Plant Parts for the Most Potent Herbal Medicine​

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Another question beginners and early intermediate herbalists ask about is: "Does the liquid you use to macerate the herbs matter to the final product?"

The answer is:

YES.

For example, I was in the store the other day, in the tea aisle, just checking things out. I couldn't believe my eyes!

They about popped out of my head!

There, in front of my face was an attractive box of herbal tea bags (which aren't good for you as most of these contain PVC--essentially plastic). Inside these herbal tea bags was Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), which contains compounds that are clinically studied to very strongly support the health of your liver.

BUT....

The caveat here is that the most powerful of these chemicals, silymarin, is NOT soluble in water.

Ummmm...... Hello?

Here this tea company was making claims on the label that their herbal milk thistle tea would support the health of the liver with directions of course to steep (for a short time, LOL), in WATER.

This really burns me up because either the company is taking advantage of the common person knowing that milk thistle is "good for the liver," OR they're not knowledgeable about medicinal herbs.

Wow.

Both of these are pretty bad, aren't they?

It's a classic case of "buyer beware."

Here's an article that will help you know which liquids are the best to use for which main compounds:

​What is the BEST Liquid to Use for Your Herbal Macerations (Tinctures, Acetums, Teas, Oxymels, and more)​

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I hope you enjoyed this quick Wednesday herbal note, and I'll see you in your inbox again for Scentsational Sunday with more botanical medicine, skincare, cleaning, and other natural living tips!

Hugs, Health, and Herbs,

Heidi

P.S. Thank you for being here, and please do send this along to a friend if you think they'd like some herbal and aromatic information!

"This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24