Herb Mentor Radio

Chatting with Lucretia VanDyke for the first time ever immediately felt like catching up with a dear friend — we were totally transported and never wanted the conversation to end.

Lucretia is a phenomenal storyteller who weaves her tales with reverence, humor, and thorough research. As one of the foremost experts on Southern folk healing arts, she integrate rituals, plant spirit meditation, holistic food and herbal medicine, and ancestor reverence into people's practices. She is the author of African American Herbalism: A Practical Guide to Healing Plants and Folk Traditions.

In this episode, Lucretia shares...

• How to make your kitchen a sacred space for creativity
• Practical tips for for connecting with your ancestors
• Why poke changed her life and led her to New Orleans
• The important legacy of herbalist Emma Dupree and so much more!

Rosemary is most popularly known as a tasty culinary herb. Indeed, rosemary’s aromatic leaves have a special place in many beloved dishes — adding a distinct, pungent taste. Herbalists know, though, that rosemary’s beneficial properties extend far beyond its flavor: this fragrant herb boasts many healing gifts.

Want to learn more about the many gifts of rosemary? Let's dive into three key health benefits of rosemary…

Follow along with herbalist Tara Ruth to learn about 3 benefits of rosemary.

And after learning these 3 benefits of rosemary, you might be wondering how you can learn more about other common herbs.

Here’s the easy way to learn more about our favorite common herbs: download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes. You’ll learn all about popular herbs like rosemary, catnip, aloe, elderberry, and more.

Have you ever had one of those moments in life when suddenly everything change? There's a before this moment and an after this moment — and nothing will ever be the same. That's how Tara and I felt after meeting Asia Suler.

Asia Suler is an herbalist and earth intuitive. She began her journey after began her journey after early years of chronic pain and illness. The experience— which pushed her into a deep search for healing, both within and without— led her to the altar of the green world. Chatting with Asia on HerbMentor Radio was deeply moving and opened our hearts to the power sensitivity and plant communication. I have a feeling you might have one of those life changing moments too when you listen to our conversation with Asia.

In this episode, Asia shares...

• How to communicate with the plants that grow around you
• How to embrace the power of your sensitivity
• Grounding practices for sensitive souls in a chaotic world
• How motherhood has transformed her relationship to work and healing and so much more!

I saw mullein (Verbascum spp.) growing all around me for years before I knew its name, let alone its many healing gifts. Now when I see mullein growing upwards of 7 feet tall by sidewalks and trailsides alike, I smile and say hi to this nourishing plant ally.

Follow along with herbalist Tara Ruth to learn about 3 benefits of mullein.

And after learning the benefits of mullein, you might be wondering how you can learn more about other common herbs... Well, here’s the easy way to learn more about our favorite common herbs: download a FREE deck of our top 12 Herb Notes. You’ll learn all about popular herbs like catnip, aloe, elderberry, and more.

I have been waiting for years to get to dive deep into the Five Elements on HerbMentor Radio, so it was a special treat when Jiling Lin stopped by to chat with us about the principles of Five Elements.

Jiling Lin is a Licensed Acupuncturist, herbalist, and artist. Her integrative medical practice in Ventura, CA and holistic workshops, retreats, and writings empower thriving health and environmental stewardship in our bodies, communities, and world.

In our conversation with Jiling, she drew on her years of experience as an acupuncturist and herbalist to break down the Five Elements into simple terms. Her poetic approach left us feeling inspired and excited to learn more about the elements.  

On the episode, Jiling shares...

• The fundamentals of the Five Elements
• How to live in harmony with the seasons
• How understanding the elements can make us better herbalists
• Herbs for summertime and so much more!