Herbcast

"I see herbs as the bridge between foods and medicine."Joanna Webber is a fully qualified Ayurvedic Practitioner with a BSc in Ayurveda as well as a Hatha Yoga teacher. She loves to weave the two sister sciences together to support a more integrated approach to health. She lives in Somerset and spends all her spare time growing, foraging, and cooking local, sustainable food and herbs. She is the founder of the Ayurvedic Yogi clinic and co-founder of The Ayurveda Academy, offering practical and engaging courses combining Ayurveda’s ancient wisdom with modern insights on how to live well. Jo’s passion for Ayurveda practices and teaching shines through as she discusses her Ayurvedic journey. As a yoga teacher battling personal health issues, she became enlightened following a profound pulse-reading experience that lead her down the herbalism path. With a post-graduate Certificate in Education, she feels strongly about making diet, lifestyle, and herbal advice more readily available, so people of all ages can make informed and empowered choices for themselves. Now Jo shares her passion via teachings to make learning Ayurvedic practice simple, accessible, and powerful.Jo talks on:Discovering and studying Ayurveda and the doshas. Teaching techniques and learning methods - the importance of application and practice.The beauty of Sanskrit -  why language is crucial.Studying Western Herbalism as a modern interpretation of the traditional text.Ayurveda and health promotion - its powerful theory for preventative medicine.Ayurveda’s nutritional view on health- how our diet can lead to powerful change.Striving for balance - the attraction of Ayurveda.Don’t eat dirty socks - top tips to help your digestive system flourish.Follow Jo’s daily exploits on how to live an Ayurvedic lifestyle on Instagram @joannawebber.ayurvedaFind out more about Herbal Reality on Instagram @herbal.reality or visit www.herbalreality.com Herbcast is produced by Decibelle Creative: @decibelle_creative / www.decibellecreative.com 

Having completed a Permaculture Design course in 1997 and her diploma in 2000, Helen Kearney went on to teach Permaculture courses and helped establish LEEP (Langford Environmental Education Project). She completed her herbal medicine training in 2012 whilst working as a Forest School Practitioner. She lives at Elder Farm, a 5-acre organic off-grid herb farm, and currently helps to run The Betonica School of Herbal medicine, a community interest company founded in 2016.Reminiscing on the moments in her life that connected and drew her to herbalism, Helen discusses the beginnings of Betonica and how it aimed to make the studying of herbalism more accessible. She lifts the lid to explain what’s involved in the rigorous training of Herbalism, how the learning can awaken the senses, and why servicing the community plays an integral part.Helen talks on:What is involved in studying Herbal Medicine.Acute treatments and Herbal First Aid.The progressions of Herbal Medicine training.The relevance of conversation - seeking opportunities to speak about herbs.Servicing the community with herbalism.Integration and understanding all medical modalities.Cooperation, not competition - the importance of learning together as educators.Discover more about The Betonica School of Herbal medicine and book in with its community clinic on the website at https://www.betonica.co.uk/Find out more about Herbal Reality on Instagram @herbal.reality or visit www.herbalreality.com Herbcast is produced by Decibelle Creative: @decibelle_creative / www.decibellecreative.com 

Andrew Flower has been practicing acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) since 1992. In 2009 Andrew completed his Ph.D. at The University of Southampton exploring the role of CHM in the treatment of endometriosis. He has published a number of peer-reviewed papers relating to Chinese medicine research, including two Cochrane systematic reviews. In 2011 he was awarded a 5-year NIHR post-doctoral Fellowship to investigate Chinese herbs for the treatment of recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTIs) resulting in the RUTI trial. In 2017 he helped set up the recently accredited White Crane Academy of CHM. He is a founder member of the Jade Screen Project.In this episode, Andrew introduces us to the world of Chinese medicine,  his learning and passion for teaching it, and the techniques he uses to do so alongside its strengths and weaknesses. He touches on the joy of its diagnostic and prescribing process as well as how to overcome the barriers of acceptance as a credible treatment in conventional systems. Andrew talks on:What makes a good herbalist - common student qualities. Teaching methods and connecting UK students with Chinese plants.The difference between Western & Chinese herbs.The diagnostic framework and artistry of formulating Chinese herbs.The Jade Screen Project - treating COVID-19 with frontline key workers.The future of herbalism and working together to overcome acceptance barriers.Discover more about the White Crane Academy on its website at https://www.whitecrane.academy/Find out more about Herbal Reality on Instagram @herbal.reality or visit www.herbalreality.com Herbcast is produced by Decibelle Creative: @decibelle_creative / www.decibellecreative.com 

"There is this incredible philosophy around healing and wholeness and working with plants yet most people only experience it through products on a shelf."Ann Ambrecht is a writer and anthropologist (PhD, Harvard 1995) whose work explores the relationships between humans and the earth, most recently through her work with plants, herbal medicine, and the botanical industry. She is the director of the Sustainable Herbs Program, a program of the American Botanical Council, which she began in 2016 to help bridge the gaps between the values of herbal medicine and the reality of sourcing and producing herbs on a global scale. She is the co-producer of the documentary Numen: the Nature of Plants, and author of the award-winning ethnographic memoir, Thin Places: A Pilgrimage Home, based on her research in Nepal. She is a student of herbal medicine and was a 2017 Fulbright-Nehru Scholar documenting the supply chain of medicinal plants in India. Her book, The Business of Botanicals: Exploring the Healing Promise of Plant Medicines in a Global Industry was published in February 2021.In this episode, Ann discusses how the Sustainable Herbs Program wants to inspire a movement that supports high-quality herbal products, sustainable and ethical sourcing, and greater overall transparency in how herbs reach end-users.Ann talks on:An introduction to herbalism - being exposed to the aliveness of the world and experiencing plants as living entities.Telling the story of herbalism to reach different audiences.What is currently happening in the herb industry – the negatives and positives. What the industry can do to help bring about positive change. What individuals can do to help – being conscious of brands and their values.Value of certifications and raising the bar for continued improvement in best practice.Building and supporting healthy communities - looking beyond the price of the botanical.Value chains and herb quality.Sustainable Herbs Program in the future.Discover more from the Sustainable Herbs Program on the website at http://www.sustainableherbsprogram.com/Find out more about Herbal Reality on Instagram @herbal.reality or visit www.herbalreality.com Herbcast is produced by Decibelle Creative: @decibelle_creative / www.decibellecreative.com 

"Integrated medicine encourages patient empowerment and responsibility, engendering the motivation and will within patients and the knowledge to help them get better themselves."Dr. Edward Thomson is a General Practitioner with expertise in Integrated Medicine. He believes in approaching all types of medicine, healing, and treatment with compassion and an open mindset, placing the patient and their symptoms firmly in the center. He graduated from Leicester Medical School (MB ChB) in 2007 and completed his GP training in 2012. He is a Member of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP). He originally graduated from St Andrews University with an Arts Degree (MA) in 1990 and then studied Homeopathy at the College of Homeopathy (LCH) from 1990 -1993. He studied Herbal Medicine completing the East West Course in Herbal Medicine (EWCH) in 1994. He also completed the Ayurvedic Medicine Studies Program at the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque USA in 1994. He’s studied Chinese Herbal Medicine with the Renshu College of Chinese Medicine (Dip CHM) qualifying in 2000, as well as Acupuncture at The Southwest College of Oriental Medicine (Dip. Ac.) qualifying in 1998.Edward talks on:The snowball effect of curiosity led him on a path to studying different forms of medicine.The NHS terrain and limitations in offering an integrated approach.Opportunities where herbalism could help serve society Safety and side-effects of herbal and conventional medicines.Avoiding over medicalisation with a balanced approach.The fundamental difference between Western and herbal medicine - strengths and limitations.The principles and complexities of vitalism.How therapeutic healing works in clinic. His hopes for the future of integrated medicine.Find out more about Herbal Reality on Instagram @herbal.reality or visit www.herbalreality.com Herbcast is produced by Decibelle Creative: @decibelle_creative / www.decibellecreative.com 

"Herbs nudge the body to better physiological activity"Simon is the Self Care Lead at the College of Medicine and Herbal Strategist at Pukka Herbs. He has been a herbal practitioner in Exeter for 45 years. He has led the leading professional and trade organisations for herbal medicine in the UK and served on Government and House of Lords Committees. He has authored standard textbooks used by herbal practitioners worldwide, including with Professor Kerry Bone from Australia. He co-founded the University of Exeter's pioneering Centre for Complementary Health Studies in 1987 (building complementary research and postgraduate teaching programme from scratch), then at Peninsula the first integrated health course at a UK medical school, and the first Masters degree in herbal medicine in the USA, at the Maryland University of Integrative Health.He is fascinated by the insights distilled from the millions of intelligent people who over many centuries needed plants to survive. Mostly he wants to learn and share the old skills, to experience healing plants as characters that can help us fend off ill health. His passion for offering people tools to look after themselves and their families has led to working with the founders of the College of Medicine on pioneering national self-care and social prescribing projects.Simon talks on:Shaping a neglected profession into a real health care option.His fundamental love of physiology and pharmacology – how herbs can contribute to the needs of today.The loss of human autonomy – returning health ownership and empowerment with self-care.A crucial turning point in the awareness and need for herbalism in our society today.Fundamental day-to-day health skills – food, sleep, and a connection to nature.The language of health - recognising symptoms as signposts, not threats.The role of the herbal practitioner today and connecting with communities.An intuitive goat called EmilyComplex systems, the microbiome, and the wisdom of herbalism.Making herbalism accessible to all.Find out more about Herbal Reality on Instagram @herbal.reality or visit www.herbalreality.com We are fundraising to continue our work!These funds will allow us to produce our next season of the Herbcast and commission our 2026 publications. We are asking for a contribution of £3 or whatever you feel able to offer, to sustain our website and content creation in the years ahead.Donate: https://www.herbalreality.com/donate/Herbcast is produced by Decibelle Creative: @decibelle_creative / www.decibellecreative.com Mentioned in this episode:Support our cause - Donate to Herbal RealityWe are fundraising to continue our work! These funds will allow us to produce our next season of the Herbcast and commission our 2026 publications. We are asking for a contribution of £3 or whatever you feel able to offer, to sustain our website and content creation in the years ahead. Donate: https://www.herbalreality.com/donate/

"I discovered there was another language for describing our health and another way to feel empowered to look after it."Simon Mills (our Herbcast host) interviews Sebastian Pole (our other Herbcast host!) as a welcome and introduction to the inspiration behind Herbal Reality.Sebastian is a registered member of the Ayurvedic Professionals Association, Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine, and a Fellow of the Unified Register of Herbal Practitioners. He qualified as a herbalist, using the principles of Ayurveda (the ancient art of living wisely) and, the Herbal tradition to help transform health. He co-founded Pukka Herbs in 2001; he's an author; a qualified Yoga therapist, fluent in Hindi and lives in a forest garden farm growing over 100 species of medicinal plants and treesIn this episode, Simon talks to Sebastian about starting Herbal Reality to support his mission of bringing the incredible power of plants into people's lives. Sebastian talks on:His inspiration and love of nature and people. Discovering Ayurveda and herbalism - an awakening to the wonder of nature.Historical continuum – anthropological and ethnobotanical links between herbal traditions around the world.The organic herb movement and organic farming.Starting Pukka, its value-chain, and the drive for quality.The Fair Wild Movement – sustainable and equitable herbalism.The Herbal Alliance, addressing the future of herbalism and the climate crisis.Find out more about Herbal Reality on Instagram @herbal.reality or visit www.herbalreality.com Herbcast is produced by Decibelle Creative: @decibelle_creative / www.decibellecreative.com 

Welcome along to Herbcast!Do you know your Echinacea from your Eleutherococcus? Or your lavender from your lemonbalm? Whether you’re a budding herbalist or a botanical beginner, Herbcast is here to inform and inspire you to explore the integration of herbs in our every day lives.Meet Sebastian, your host and founder of Herbal Reality, for a taste of what to expect from Herbcast; the podcast from Herbal reality, delving into the plant-powered world of herbalism.