289: Using Herbs To Support Chronic Skin Conditions w/ Cassandra Quave, PhD

I'm going to say it. You CAN have reactions to all natural herbs. That's just how it goes. Natural does not mean safe and that you could NEVER react to it. To go into all the science behind herbals, I brought in a medical ethnobotanist, and she gives it to us straight!

Today's guest is Cassandra Quave, Ph.D. She is a disabled writer, speaker, podcast host, professor, mother, explorer, and ethnobotanist. She works as the herbarium curator and associate professor of dermatology and human health at Emory University, where she leads anti-infective drug discovery research initiatives and teaches courses on medicinal plants, food, and health. Dr. Quave is a Fellow of the Explorer’s Club and recipient of the National Academies Award for Excellence in Science Communication. Her award-winning science memoir, The Plant Hunter: A Scientist’s Quest for Nature’s Next Medicines, was published in 2021.

Have you had a reaction to an "all natural" herbal or cream? On the flip side, is there something that you feel really helped you? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!

In this episode:

• Differences between herbs, essential oils + extracts
• Why you should be REALLY careful what you apply to a broken skin barrier
• What about herbs during pregnancy?
• Wound healing herbs like calendula + St. John's wort
• Thoughts on psychedelics + kratom
• How herbs can impact the liver's detox systems NEGATIVELY
• Dosing with antimicrobial herbs to fight off viruses + colds

Quotes

"I think that calendula is really great for wound healing. There's been a lot of research to support this too by various groups showing that it has, you know, good barrier restorative activities." [15:47]

"These are powerful, powerful medicines, and the things that are sold on the market right now, there are a lot of challenges, especially with kratom, about identity. Do you have the right plant and do you have the right chemotype because you may have the correct species of kratom, but not all kratom produce the same group of molecules at the same levels." [23:53]

Links

Find and Follow Dr. Quave on her website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube

Buy your copy of Dr. Quave's book: The Plant Hunter: A Scien

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