Herb Mentor Radio

Dr. Ryan Drum joins us from his remote location on Waldon Island, WA, where he lives in a cabin he built 30 years ago. We are lucky to have him since he is one of the few of the island's 40 inhabitants who get cell reception (there are no electric or phone lines on the island). It is on that island where he gathers, processes, and sells some of the very best sea veggies money can buy. Ryan is a practicing community-supported medical herbalist, herbal educator, and professional medicinal herb wildcrafter. He taught botany and other subjects for years at the university level, has written many scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals, and now teaches at major conferences and herb schools. Ryan specializes in seaweed therapies, thyroid issues, and men’s health. You can visit Ryan at http://RyanDrum.com. He has many wonderful articles on sea vegetables, other herbs, and much more. If you get to the Northwest this summer, make sure you catch one of his many seaweed walks. In this interview, we get a rare glimpse into Ryan’s lifestyle, and mostly discuss many aspects of gathering and using kelp and other seaweeds. Enjoy!

Paul Bergner is a medical herbalist and founder/director of the North American Institute of Medical Herbalism in Boulder, Colorado. The North American Institute of Medical Herbalism teaches in the vitalist tradition. He has been practicing and teaching natural medicine since 1973. Paul has edited the Medical Herbalism Journal since its founding in 1989 and has written many books on medical herbalism, nutrition, Chinese medicine, ethnobotany, and naturopathic medicine. He has also edited periodicals on clinical nutrition and naturopathic medicine. Paul has taught at the Rocky Mountain Center for Botanical Studies, is on the adjunct faculty for Naropa University and the Tai Sophia Institute, and speaks at all the major herbal conferences. In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, Paul lays a wonderful foundation for learning about herbs as he gets to the heart of herbal medicine…nature. With wonderful stories and insights, Paul will teach you what needs to be at the core of all herbalists and healers. Visit: North American Institute of Medical Herbalism http://www.naimh.com Paul’s MedHerb.com http://www.medherb.com

Raylene Ha`alelea Kawaiae`a is a long-time teacher of the Hawaiian way of life, has been a Kumu (teacher) hula for over 30 years. She teaches hula and Hawaiian culture as a way of life to people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. Her lineage has brought her an understanding of the traditions of her heritage. A practitioner and Haku (master) of Ho`oponopono, a spiritual practice to restore and maintain good relationships between the Divine, humankind, and nature, she comes forth to assist and to be of service to those in need of her skills. Raylene combines her gentle nature with a deep connection to the land and the Spirit of Hawaii to offer deep insight into the mysteries of life. I met Raylene after a class she taught at the International Herb Symposium. Her insights and culture have much to offer the herbal community. She was also featured in the film, Numen: The Nature of Plants.

Robert Rogers has been a student of native plants and fungi from the Canadian prairies for over 40 years. He teaches plant medicine at Grant McEwan University and the Northern Start College of Mystical Studies in Edmonton, Canada. Robert is a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild, and chair of the medicinal mushroom committee of the North American Mycological Association. He is also on the editorial board of the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms. Robert is the author of 14 books, including his latest, The Fungal Pharmacy, The Complete Guide to Medicinal Mushrooms & Lichens of North America. You can see Robert teach this July at the Montana Herb Gathering as well as the North American Mycological Association in December. You can visit Robert at http://www.selfhealdistributing.com In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, Robert gives us a wonderful introduction to medicinal mushrooms, their ecological and human health importance, and shares the medicinal qualities of some of his favorites. He also shares an excellent tip on how to tincture reishi for your fungal pharmacy.

Sean Donahue is a traditional herbalist and poet. He has also worked as a freelance journalist, a political organizer, and a nonviolence trainer. He is proud to be a regular contributor to Plant Healer Magazine. While he has been blessed to receive amazing support and guidance from other herbalists, Sean’s primary teachers have been the wild and feral plants growing in the forests, fields, and swamps around him. He has trusted his own health completely to the plants since they first began helping him begin to heal asthma he struggled with since childhood. As a practitioner, he looks to plants as allies in helping people remember their own beauty, strength, and power and in guiding them to health. As a teacher, he encourages students to build their own deep, personal relationships with the plants around them grounded in the experience of their own senses and their own hearts. He identifies deeply with the traditions of the edge dwellers – those who live in the places where the human and wild meet, bridging the worlds. For Sean, magic, medicine, and poetry are all expressions of a deep connection to the living Earth, and personal, cultural, and ecological healing are inextricably linked. He is currently working on his first book, a guide to plants for the underworld journey. In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, Sean discusses herbs, magic and goes deep into two herbs… Hawthorne and ghost pipe. Visit Sean at http://MedicineAndMagic.com

Bevin Clare, M.S., LDN, CNS, RH(AHG), is a clinical herbalist and nutritionist with a deep love of plants. Bevin holds a M.S. in Infectious Disease from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, with her thesis research conducted at the NIA (National Institute on Aging) at the National Institutes of Health, and a B.S. in ethnobotany from Lesley University. Bevin has studied herbal medicine around the world and blends her knowledge of traditional uses of plants with modern science and contemporary healthcare strategies. She is the Clinical Division Chair of the Masters of Science in Herbal Medicine Program at Tai Sophia Institute in Laurel, MD, a 2.5-year clinical training program in Herbal Medicine. She also serves on the faculty of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, is on the board of directors of United Plant Savers, is co-director of the Herbal Clinic for All, and lectures nationally. Bevin is a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild, where she serves as vice-president. In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, Bevin answers over a dozen HerbMentor member-submitted questions. Topics include her favorite herbs, tinctures, herbs for recovering from surgery, herbs for aging, adrenal herbs, and MUCH more. Visit Bevin at http://www.bevinclare.com

Nome McBride is an herbalist, farmer, wildcrafter and medicine maker from Eugene, Oregon. He grew up farming in Indiana and was making tinctures in his parents garage before he could drive. Nome founded Pharmacopia Herbals in 2004, whose original name was Under the Yew Botanicals. You can find Nome’s book, the Herbal Preparations Books, along with hundreds of products Pharmacopia Herbals creates at PharmacopiaHerbals.com Nome tells his story, from growing up on an Indiana farm to his extreme wildcrafting missions that make Pharmacopia Herbals remedies some of the best available. Nome also covers a couple of his favorite herbs, including pedicularis. Learning how Nome gathers, grows and processes herbs in addition to his vision of “people, plants and place” are truly inspirational.

Dr. James Duke is an ethnobotanist with a Ph.D. in botany from UNC, served with Missouri Botanical Garden in his earlier years, and for over 3 decades in several posts with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was chief of the Medicinal Plant Resources Laboratory and chief of the USDA’s Economic Botany Lab. One of the most frequented parts of the USDA website is the ethnobotanical and phytochemical database he created before retiring. Dr. Duke has written more than 30 books including the best selling Green Pharmacy, Dr. Duke’s Essential Herbs, Herbs of the Bible, Handbook of Edible Weeds, Duke’s Handbook of Medicinal Plants of Latin America, and Peterson’s Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs: Of Eastern and Central North America. He’s also spent years exploring the ecology and culture of the Amazon Rain Forest. Dr. Duke is currently updating the third edition of Peterson’s guide. He mainly cares takes the Green Farmacy Garden with his wife Peggy and volunteers. In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, Jim covers herbs of the Bible in the midst of other fun stuff, such as a few bluegrass songs Jim wrote for his cd, Herbalbum. Jim’s books are available at your favorite online and real-life book stores. At this time, Jim’s music cd is not available, but as he said in the interview, he wants to re-release it. You can visit Jim in person and on the web at https://thegreenfarmacygarden.com

Paul Bergner and Tania Neubauer, N.D. join me at the Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference for a special live edition of HerbMentor Radio. Paul has been practicing natural medicine since 1973, is the author of 7 books, and is the founder of the North American Institute of Medical Herbalism. Dr. Neubauer is a naturopathic physician, was a medical coordinator at the Berkeley Free Clinic, has worked extensively with Natural Doctors International, and has studied with Karen Sanders, Michael Moore, and Adam Seller. A “calling,” according to Paul, is something that “when you’re doing it, the universe conspires to make you succeed.” Paul and Tania, along with herbalist 7Song (Northeast School of Botanical Medicine), are leading a delegation to the island of Ometepe in Nicaragua. This trip is open to anyone, no matter what your herbal or language background. It is an amazing opportunity for those who want herbal clinical experience. Paul and Tania discuss this opportunity in great detail, however, this interview will be of interest to everyone, as Paul discusses what a calling is, and some tips for those who might be interested in being a clinical herbalist. It’s a fascinating look at the state of herbalism from someone who has been doing this for nearly 40 years. I wanted to get this interview out for 2 reasons… 1) To share what I learned from Paul about finding one’s calling and 2) to spread the word about this trip, which will help a lot of people get quality, natural medical help. To find out more about Paul, Tania, and 7Song’s clinical training in Nicaragua, visit http://medherb.com/nicaragua.html

In the early 1970s, disgruntled with straight medicine and an educational system where soldiers with big guns were posted on campus, Cascade Anderson Geller channeled her political activism into healing and started three food cooperatives across the U.S. Taking advantage of her love of the outdoors and her Appalachian family heritage of wildcrafting herbs and foods, she decided to pursue becoming an herbalist as a way to gather up her passions into one basket. In 1979, she was a founding member of the Everett House Healing Center in Portland, Oregon, where she saw clients and taught classes. She served on the faculty of the National College of Naturopathic Medicine, Bastyr College, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, and the California School of Herbal Studies and taught at many other institutions and conferences. She was trained by a host of people who walk their talk, including the late Ella Birzneck, Norma Myers, and Juliette di Bairacli Levy, as well as many others living in remote regions across the Earth. This interview covers Cascade’s origins as an herbalist and answers HerbMentor member questions.