Herb Mentor Radio

Rosemary Gladstar is the author of several books, including the bestseller Herbal Healing for Women and A Family Herbal. She has taught herbs extensively throughout the U.S. and has led travel adventures worldwide. Rosemary has founded the California School of Herbal Studies, United Plant Savers, co-founded Sage Mountain Herbs and is a founding member of the Northeast Herb Association. Her experience includes over 30 years in the herbal community as a healer, teacher, visionary, and organizer of herbal events. Visit Rosemary at http://www.sagemountain.com

A well-known and respected member of the Meso-American Zapotecan people located in Oaxaca, Dona Enriqueta Contreras is a descendant of a long line of Zapoteca shamans that date back to 500 B.C. Dona Enriqueta owns and operates a health clinic for her community, as well as for international visitors, in the small town of San Francisco Tutla. Her history as a practicing midwife of more than fifty years has yielded her a flawless career with no mother or child ever lost during the birth process… an extraordinary feat, even by western standards. She travels the world disseminating her wisdom and knowledge. While her address does not talk about herbs directly, Dona Enriqueta shares very important wisdom from an ancient people. Such wisdom is essential for having a strong foundation for herbal studies. Dona Enriqueta first performs a simple ritual from the Zapotecan people and then reminds us of how important it is to live with the rhythms of nature, work with each other, and give us tips for a healthier world. Wintertime is traditionally the time when we as humans would gather around the fires and hear the stories of our elders. This is the perfect time to dim the lights, light a candle, make a cup of tea, and hear timeless words from this wise woman. Wonderful words for the new year.

David Hoffmann, B.Sc., F.N.I.M.H. has traveled the world, run for Parliament on a Green Party ticket, and has been an activist in the Green and Peace movements for longer than he cares to remember. He is the author of 17 books, his latest is a textbook on science and clinical skills for phytotherapists entitled Medical Herbalism, published by Inner Traditions. These accomplishments aside, David, a Fellow of Britain’s National Institute of Medical Herbalists, has been a phytotherapist (that’s a practitioner of herbal medicine) for over 30 years. David promotes herbal medicine around the world, teaches at the California School of Herbal Studies, Bastyr University, and the California Institute of Integral Studies, and, as previously mentioned, has authored many books about plants and plant medicine. Books include The Holistic Herbal: A Safe and Practical Guide to Making and Using Herbal Remedies and The Herbal Handbook: A User’s Guide to Medical Herbalism. David is on the advisory board of the American Botanical Council, and a founding member and past president of the American Herbalist Guild. He is also a medical herbalist for Traditional Medicinals. You can read some of David’s articles at http://Heathy.net (Just search for Hoffmann to find his articles.)

Lesley Tierra, L.AC., AHG is a California State and nationally certified acupuncturist and herbalist. In her practice, she combines acupuncture, herb, and food therapies along with lifestyle and inner growth counseling. She is a founding professional member of the American Herbalists Guild. Lesley is the author of Healing with the Herbs of Life and Healing with Chinese Herbs. She collaborated with Michael Tierra to produce the East West Herb Course and is its dean. She also co-authored Chinese-Planetary Herbal Diagnosis with Michael and Chinese Herbal Medicine. She has also co-authored with Michael a two-volume text on Chinese Herbal Medicine, published by Lotus Press. In addition, she has written a special herbal for young children called A Kid’s Herb Book (for children of all ages). Lesley and Michael Tierra run the East-West School of Herbology. You can visit them at http://PlanetHerbs.com

Will Endres is an herbalist, wildcrafter, and outdoor guide with more than 40 years of experience. Originally from West Virginia, Will studied 28 years with herb doctor and healer CF “Catfish” Gray. He has had many herbal elders and has been deeply influenced by the traditional Cherokee approach to plants and medicine. Will runs “Will’s Wild Herbs” in North Carolina, and has been in business for 37 years. Living and working in the woods has given him a uniquely intimate knowledge of the natural world. He offers year-round walks, talks, classes, and apprenticeships. In this episode, we hear about the unique way Will was mentored, and how this affected his relationship with plants. There is a lot of wisdom to be gained by listening to our herbal elders, including Will’s mentor Catfish Gray. Will is one of these elders, and his story is incredible. This HerbMentor Radio is sure to give you a new perspective on the way you learn about herbs. You’ll learn about some plants close to Will along the way. You can learn about Will’s classes and private consultations at http://WillsWildHerbs.org

Sandor Katz returns to HerbMentor Radio in celebration of his new book, The Art of Fermentation: An In-Depth Exploration of Essential Concepts and Processes from Around the World. This nearly 500-page volume gives practical information on fermenting vegetables, fruits, grains, milk, beans, meats, and more. It has a forward by Michael Pollan and is published by Chelsea Green. Sandor is also the author of Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods and The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved: Inside America’s Underground Food Movement. Starting with sauerkraut, Sandor has been fermenting foods for years. As an avid cook, gardener, herbalist, and nutritional enthusiast, his interests have led to a life of spreading “culture” wherever he travels. He refers to himself as a "fermentation revivalist."

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.

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.

Chanchal Cabrera, MSc, FNIMH, (RH)AHG is 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 book Fibromyalgia – 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, wherein 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.

Gail Faith Edwards is an herbal educator with more than 30 years of experience as a community herbalist. She runs Blessed Maine Herb Farm, where she runs many herbal programs, a correspondence course, tours, and handcrafts beautiful herbal goods. Gail is the 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.