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How to Make Potent Herbal Oil Infusions

My very first projects as a new herbalist involved several attempts at oil infusions. I remember I poured olive oil over a jar of dried hibiscus petals and crossed my fingers, hoping that whatever I used it in would be potent and medicinal. I left it for weeks with absolutely no colour change, no scent extraction, and no signs that the oil had extracted anything at all. I felt defeated, but later that month I made a heated oil infusion… Read More »How to Make Potent Herbal Oil Infusions

Beginner Herbalist Study Plan: Month Three

Welcome back to my beginner herbalist study plan! This is month three, and will be the last month where we focus on learning the basics. After this, we will begin exploring individual herbs more deeply and learn how they work individually! This month involves foraging, seed saving, herb storage and preservation, and a deep dive into the digestive system! If you haven’t already completed months one and two, feel free to do so at your own pace! I hope these… Read More »Beginner Herbalist Study Plan: Month Three

How to Make Soap for Sensitized Skin | Cold Process Soap Recipe

Skin can be sensitized by numerous things, ranging from diet or contact with an allergen to autoimmune diseases like eczema. It is an extremely common condition to be in, and many of us have or will experience sensitivity to some degree. It doesn’t have to be a permanent state, but can become chronic if symptom’s and the root cause are left unchecked. This is a soothing soap recipe designed to repair the moisture barrier of compromised skin, help prevent trans… Read More »How to Make Soap for Sensitized Skin | Cold Process Soap Recipe

How to Make a Soothing Bath Soak

Attention: If your skin can be described as red, itchy, irritated, chapped, or dry, you should give this soak a go. It’s cheap, extremely easy to throw together, and it feels great on angry skin. It’s inspired by a remedy my mother used on me when I was a kid; a simple oatmeal bath for my annually enraged eczema. Every winter, my elbows, knees, and arms would flare up with itchy red splotches, and this quick bath soak made it… Read More »How to Make a Soothing Bath Soak

Herbal Spotlight: Urtica dioica (Stinging Nettle)

In a clearing, you find a small patch of green; stems of lush leaves stand regally among the remains of many other herbs, delicious snacks for the fauna of the forest. The clearing has been gleaned of its ground-level leaves, and yet here sits a full stem, untouched, uneaten, and unremarkably common to the area. You brush your fingers against the serrated leaves; they’re soft to the touch, but you notice a soft tingle. You pull in the plant by… Read More »Herbal Spotlight: Urtica dioica (Stinging Nettle)

Beginner Herbalist Study Plan: Month Two

Welcome back to my beginner herbalist study plan! If you haven’t completed month one, you can do so by visiting the link here! This is month two, and contains subjects such as managing and documenting chronic conditions using herbs, identifying plants and mushrooms using the taxonomy system, and herbal dosage standards. You can continue using the resources I mentioned in this post for further study success! Quick note: For extra tips and resources regarding self-led study, visit this article, which is… Read More »Beginner Herbalist Study Plan: Month Two

Beginner Herbalist: Sourcing Your Supplies | Where to Buy Herbs and Tools

When I first began my journey into herbalism, I would often try to find my herbs in whole food stores and in the tea aisle of my local target. While these first steps were in the right direction, they often provided very little material and were expensive. Aside from the economical value I was getting, I was unsure how medicinally viable my supplies were, and questioned whether or not I was making the right choice when buying my ingredients. Luckily,… Read More »Beginner Herbalist: Sourcing Your Supplies | Where to Buy Herbs and Tools

Tools and Supplies for Beginner Herbalists | Part One

So, you’ve started your journey into herbalism and are ready to begin making medicine at home; you’ve read up on how herbs work and the basics of formulation, but you’re not sure what exactly you need to get started. Welcome to the wonderful world of the home apothecary! Knowing what is necessary and what is just extra can be a hassle, especially when you want to do everything as well as you can. This guide is designed for anyone wanting… Read More »Tools and Supplies for Beginner Herbalists | Part One

Beginner Herbalist Study Plan: Month One

Starting out on any learning journey can feel daunting, especially when it comes to niche fields like herbalism. I’ve come up with a monthly learning plan for beginner herbalists to use based on the American Herbalists Guild’s guidelines for becoming a registered herbalist (which isn’t a certification or license, but we’ll get to that soon). By following this plan and documenting your hours of study, you can work towards applying to the AHG to become a registered herbalist. If that’s… Read More »Beginner Herbalist Study Plan: Month One

Beginner Herbalist: Resources for Self-led Learning

As a self-taught herbalist, I know the struggles that come along with learning without guidance. It’s slow going, often stalling at trivial roadblocks that wouldn’t exist if you had a real teacher. These are my tips and tricks for learning alone, along with some great resources I recommend to anyone starting their journey into herbalism. I hope my experiences will help you in your own journey. Maybe you’ll even find it easier to hurdle over those pesky roadblocks! Feel free… Read More »Beginner Herbalist: Resources for Self-led Learning