Most people think of St. John's Wort, and instantly think, "hey, that's the depression herb." But like most herbs, it has so much more to offer.

In this episode we go deep on one of herbalism's most underestimated plants, tracing it from ancient Greek medicine and medieval folklore through the Eclectic physicians and all the way to modern clinical use. St. John's Wort was used for centuries for wound healing, nerve pain, sciatica, antiviral actions, and so much more before anyone started knowing it as "the depression herb." This episode is to help open your eyes to the many uses of this powerful plant.

What's in this episode:

• The wild mythology of St. John's Wort: evil spirits, devil's needle perforations, and a medieval English folk rhyme
• Two thousand years of historical use from Dioscorides to Culpeper to the Eclectic physicians, and why depression barely came up until the 1980s
• St. John's Wort's historical uses for nerve pain, sciatica, shingles, cold sores, and wound healing: how and why it works
• Its antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties and the research behind them
• Photosensitivity and other contraindications
• Why freshness matters so much with this herb, and how to tell if your St. John's Wort is going to be effective
• The Klamath beetle, sunburned New Zealand sheep, and the unintended consequences of biological control

For full show notes and transcript: eclecticherb.com/blogs/news/st-johns-wort-beyond-the-depression-herb

Get freeze-dried St. John's Wort capsules and fresh-plant extracts at eclecticherb.com. Follow @eclecticherb on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Text Us & Let Us Know How You Liked The Show!

You deserve nothing but the best, like herbs as fresh as nature intended. And, that's exactly what we do here at Eclectic Herb. Use the code Podcast20, to get 20% off your next order at eclecticherb.com

At Eclectic Herb we're passionate about bringing you herbs as fresh as plants in the wild!

That's why we take the time to gently freeze dry our herbs, right after they've been harvested at the peak of their medicinal potency.

We know you'll feel the freeze dried difference in every capsule, every powder, and every bit of herbal love you get at Eclectic Herb!

At Eclectic Herb we're proud to stay rooted in tradition, balanced with science, and committed to sustainable herbal products that are better for you and better for the planet since 1982.

Over 95% of our freeze dried herbs are grown right here in the US, by small family farmers, and wild crafters that we've cultivated relationships with for over 30 years. They're tending to the plants and the land, ensuring they come back for future generations, and we're getting you the best herbal products out there.

You deserve herbs as fresh as nature intended! Get them at eclecticherb.com

Follow @eclecticherb on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube

Dr. Kimberly Spair was told she would never conceive again. She went on to have four more children. In this episode we talk about what holistic fertility support can look like.

Dr. Kimberly shares the healing story behind her motherhood miracles: years of neurological Lyme disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the night she wrote a will, and the Medical Medium protocols that turned everything around.

What's in this episode:

• Why the liver, nervous system, and adrenal glands are the real foundation of fertility support, and the simple daily habits that steady them
• Physiological birth and VBAC, including how Dr. Kimberly's last two home births lasted just two hours
• The herbs she keeps on hand for her family year round, including nettles, red raspberry leaf, and mullein ear oil for kids

Who in your life needs to hear this story? Share this episode with them and come tell us your own healing story on Instagram @eclecticherb.

For full show notes and transcript:
https://eclecticherb.com/blogs/news/healing-fertility-motherhood-dr-kimberly-Spair

Try our freeze-dried nettles. Get mullein ear oil Try the Elderberry Red Root Throat spray. And try all our fresh freeze-dried herbal products at eclecticherb.com.

Follow @eclecticherb on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Text Us & Let Us Know How You Liked The Show!

You deserve nothing but the best, like herbs as fresh as nature intended. And, that's exactly what we do here at Eclectic Herb. Use the code Podcast20, to get 20% off your next order at eclecticherb.com

At Eclectic Herb we're passionate about bringing you herbs as fresh as plants in the wild!

That's why we take the time to gently freeze dry our herbs, right after they've been harvested at the peak of their medicinal potency.

We know you'll feel the freeze dried difference in every capsule, every powder, and every bit of herbal love you get at Eclectic Herb!

At Eclectic Herb we're proud to stay rooted in tradition, balanced with science, and committed to sustainable herbal products that are better for you and better for the planet since 1982.

Over 95% of our freeze dried herbs are grown right here in the US, by small family farmers, and wild crafters that we've cultivated relationships with for over 30 years. They're tending to the plants and the land, ensuring they come back for future generations, and we're getting you the best herbal products out there.

You deserve herbs as fresh as nature intended! Get them at eclecticherb.com

Follow @eclecticherb on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube

Most people know calendula as a soothing herb for the skin, but its story goes far beyond salves and creams. This bright, golden flower has been used to support the lymphatic system, promote gut healing, offer antiviral support for shingles and chicken pox, and ease tired, overworked eyes.

We also shared some of Calendula's history, from ancient physicians to traditional herbalists who revered it as one of nature's great healers.

What's in this episode:

• Why calendula is so much more than a skin herb: gut healing, lymphatic support, and antiviral action
• How calendula supports the lymphatic system and why that’s helpful for breast tissue and post-mastectomy care
• The foot funk fix: calendula as an antifungal for athlete's foot
• Calendula versus marigold: How to know which one to use
• Dioscorides, Culpeper, and the history of calendula across the centuries
• The Lloyd Extractor and how the Eclectic physicians preserved calendula's potency without heat
• Why calendula is best when fresh, and how freeze-drying keeps that fre3shness intact
• Calendula in the garden: how to grow it, harvest it, and keep it blooming all season
• Favorite recipes: calendula ice cubes, foot baths, gut-healing applesauce, and more

For full show notes and transcript: https://eclecticherb.com/blogs/news/calendula-skin-herb

Get fresh freeze-dried Calendula here: https://eclecticherb.com/products/calendula

Or give your tired eyes some love with our Eye Food here: https://eclecticherb.com/products/eye-food

Get Eclectic Herb's freeze-dried supplements at eclecticherb.com Follow @eclecticherb on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

Text Us & Let Us Know How You Liked The Show!

You deserve nothing but the best, like herbs as fresh as nature intended. And, that's exactly what we do here at Eclectic Herb. Use the code Podcast20, to get 20% off your next order at eclecticherb.com

At Eclectic Herb we're passionate about bringing you herbs as fresh as plants in the wild!

That's why we take the time to gently freeze dry our herbs, right after they've been harvested at the peak of their medicinal potency.

We know you'll feel the freeze dried difference in every capsule, every powder, and every bit of herbal love you get at Eclectic Herb!

At Eclectic Herb we're proud to stay rooted in tradition, balanced with science, and committed to sustainable herbal products that are better for you and better for the planet since 1982.

Over 95% of our freeze dried herbs are grown right here in the US, by small family farmers, and wild crafters that we've cultivated relationships with for over 30 years. They're tending to the plants and the land, ensuring they come back for future generations, and we're getting you the best herbal products out there.

You deserve herbs as fresh as nature intended! Get them at eclecticherb.com

Follow @eclecticherb on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube

Some healers change the course of your life in a single session. For Chris, that healer was Dr. Cole Magbanua, the acupuncturist who got her back on her feet after a serious car accident left her unable to walk. In this episode, Dr. Cole explores the world of Chinese medicine from the inside out: how distal acupuncture works and why it produces such immediate and sometimes miraculous results, the ancient art of pulse diagnosis and what it can detect before symptoms even appear, how Chinese nutritional wisdom aligns with modern plant-based science, and the herbs that Dr. Cole reaches for again and again in his nearly 30 years of clinical practice. This is one of those conversations that makes you want to book an appointment and rethink everything you thought you knew about pain, healing, and the intelligence of the body.

What's in this episode:

• The car accident that sent Chris to Dr. Cole, and the one treatment that changed everything
• How distal acupuncture works: why needles in the ankle can fix a frozen shoulder, unless you miss the spot by a millimeter
• The Book: Body Mapping Acupuncture and how Dr. Cole developed his anatomical approach
• What happens in the body when a needle goes in: endorphins, enkephalins, fascia, and the mystery of distal response
• Pulse diagnosis: how Chinese medicine can detect a sinus infection before symptoms appear, and how to use herbs to stop it in its tracks
• The five-element system, tongue diagnosis, and the art of finding which organ is causing problems somewhere else
• Andrographis: the antiviral herb with off-the-chart research that Dr. Cole keeps reaching for
• Astragalus, the immune system, and when modern science proves ancient Chinese medicine right
• Blue zones, whole food plant-based nutrition, cooked versus raw, and the Chinese herbal medicine case for warming your food
• Why green tea and mushrooms together reduce breast cancer risk by 80%, and why that information is not on billboards
• The migraine patient who never came back because she never had another migraine
• The dachshund with paralyzed legs who got up and danced after three treatments
• Tips for finding a distal acupuncture practitioner near you

For full show notes and transcript: https://eclecticherb.com/blogs/news

Explore Eclectic Herb's freeze-dried supplements at eclecticherb.com. Follow @eclecticherb on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Text Us & Let Us Know How You Liked The Show!

You deserve nothing but the best, like herbs as fresh as nature intended. And, that's exactly what we do here at Eclectic Herb. Use the code Podcast20, to get 20% off your next order at eclecticherb.com

At Eclectic Herb we're passionate about bringing you herbs as fresh as plants in the wild!

That's why we take the time to gently freeze dry our herbs, right after they've been harvested at the peak of their medicinal potency.

We know you'll feel the freeze dried difference in every capsule, every powder, and every bit of herbal love you get at Eclectic Herb!

At Eclectic Herb we're proud to stay rooted in tradition, balanced with science, and committed to sustainable herbal products that are better for you and better for the planet since 1982.

Over 95% of our freeze dried herbs are grown right here in the US, by small family farmers, and wild crafters that we've cultivated relationships with for over 30 years. They're tending to the plants and the land, ensuring they come back for future generations, and we're getting you the best herbal products out there.

You deserve herbs as fresh as nature intended! Get them at eclecticherb.com

Follow @eclecticherb on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube

If there is one herb that holds the heart in every sense of the word, it is Hawthorn. In this episode we take a deep and loving look at one of herbalism's most celebrated cardiotonic plants. From rich mythology to traditional Chinese medicine, from the stressed nervous system to the grieving heart, hawthorn shows up for all of it. Whether you are drawn to it for circulation, blood pressure, cold hands on winter mornings, or simply because your heart needs a little more love, this episode is for you.

What's in this episode:

• Why hawthorn is considered one of herbalism's greatest cardiotonic herbs, and why it took so long for the herbal tradition to catch on
• The mythology of hawthorn: maypoles, the fae, infant cradles, and the Crown of Thorns
• The secret Irish remedy that changed cardiac herbalism forever, and the doctor who kept it hidden until his death
• What the Eclectic physicians finally had to say about hawthorn in the early 1900s, in their own words
• How traditional Chinese medicine has used Crataegus for centuries, and what the Shen has to do with it
• The herbs we love to combine with hawthorn, and why you want the flowers, leaves, and berries together
• How freeze-drying preserves hawthorn's delicate flowers and flavonoid-rich berries
• The HBP powder blend and how to use it as a warming herbal broth
• Harvesting tips, home preparation ideas, and why hawthorn jam might be your new favorite thing

For full show notes and transcript: https://eclecticherb.com/blogs/news/hawthorn-heart-herb

Try Eclectic Herb's freeze-dried hawthorn and HBP powder at eclecticherb.com. Follow @eclecticherb on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Text Us & Let Us Know How You Liked The Show!

You deserve nothing but the best, like herbs as fresh as nature intended. And, that's exactly what we do here at Eclectic Herb. Use the code Podcast20, to get 20% off your next order at eclecticherb.com

At Eclectic Herb we're passionate about bringing you herbs as fresh as plants in the wild!

That's why we take the time to gently freeze dry our herbs, right after they've been harvested at the peak of their medicinal potency.

We know you'll feel the freeze dried difference in every capsule, every powder, and every bit of herbal love you get at Eclectic Herb!

At Eclectic Herb we're proud to stay rooted in tradition, balanced with science, and committed to sustainable herbal products that are better for you and better for the planet since 1982.

Over 95% of our freeze dried herbs are grown right here in the US, by small family farmers, and wild crafters that we've cultivated relationships with for over 30 years. They're tending to the plants and the land, ensuring they come back for future generations, and we're getting you the best herbal products out there.

You deserve herbs as fresh as nature intended! Get them at eclecticherb.com

Follow @eclecticherb on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube

When it comes to women's health and herbal medicine, there may be no better pairing. In this episode we had the pleasure of chatting with naturopathic doctor and herbalist Dr. Judith Thompson, who shares decades of clinical wisdom from her work with women, from postpartum care to perimenopause, the everyday herbs she trusts most for nourishment and balance, and why the intention behind how we make and use herbal medicine matters more than we might think.

What's in this episode:

* How Judith's Paraguayan roots and her mother's kitchen medicine shaped her path into herbalism

* The near-fatal car accident that opened her eyes to the healing power of plants

* Herbalism and naturopathy: two lenses, one deep relationship with plants

* Clinical stories from birth to menopause: arnica for newborns, sitz baths, mugwort vaginal steams, maca, and evening primrose

* Supporting women through HPV naturally with green tea, vitamin E, and dietary shifts

* Safe everyday herbs for nourishment and balance: nettles, oats, parsley, celery, red raspberry leaf

* Why the intention behind making herbal medicine matters, and what one doctor's observation revealed

* Caring for plants as living beings and the Sustainable Herbs Initiative

For full show notes and transcript: eclecticherb.com/podcast/womens-health-dr.-judith

Get herbs as fresh as nature intended at eclecticherb.com Follow @eclecticherb on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

Text Us & Let Us Know How You Liked The Show!

You deserve nothing but the best, like herbs as fresh as nature intended. And, that's exactly what we do here at Eclectic Herb. Use the code Podcast20, to get 20% off your next order at eclecticherb.com

At Eclectic Herb we're passionate about bringing you herbs as fresh as plants in the wild!

That's why we take the time to gently freeze dry our herbs, right after they've been harvested at the peak of their medicinal potency.

We know you'll feel the freeze dried difference in every capsule, every powder, and every bit of herbal love you get at Eclectic Herb!

At Eclectic Herb we're proud to stay rooted in tradition, balanced with science, and committed to sustainable herbal products that are better for you and better for the planet since 1982.

Over 95% of our freeze dried herbs are grown right here in the US, by small family farmers, and wild crafters that we've cultivated relationships with for over 30 years. They're tending to the plants and the land, ensuring they come back for future generations, and we're getting you the best herbal products out there.

You deserve herbs as fresh as nature intended! Get them at eclecticherb.com

Follow @eclecticherb on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube

Dandelion might be the most beneficial plant in your yard, yet so many are trying to kill this abundant, generous plant. Discover why herbalists have turned to dandelion for centuries, from its bitter properties that get digestion moving, to its support for liver function, kidney health, and natural detoxification. You'll hear how the leaf and root each have different beneficial properties, and why fresh dandelion is the best when it comes to getting the most from this "weed”.

Dig into the history through a century-old Eli Lilly dandelion extract, Culpeper's writings, the Eclectic Physicians, and traditional cultures around the world who have relied on this bright spring plant for generations. Plus, how freeze-drying preserves dandelion's full potency year-round.

What's in this episode:

• Why dandelion is a spring tonic for digestion, liver, and kidney support
• The difference between dandelion leaf and root, and when to use each
• Culpeper, Eli Lilly, and the Eclectic Physicians on dandelion's traditional uses
• Dandelion as food: salads, pesto, flower fritters, roasted root coffee, and more
• Why fresh matters and how freeze-drying preserves what air drying destroys
• The energetics of dandelion: uplifting leaf energy and grounding root energy

Full show notes, resources, and transcript: eclecticherb.com/podcast/dandelion-herb-of-the-month

Get Eclectic Herb's freeze-dried dandelion here at eclecticherb.com

Text Us & Let Us Know How You Liked The Show!

You deserve nothing but the best, like herbs as fresh as nature intended. And, that's exactly what we do here at Eclectic Herb. Use the code Podcast20, to get 20% off your next order at eclecticherb.com

At Eclectic Herb we're passionate about bringing you herbs as fresh as plants in the wild!

That's why we take the time to gently freeze dry our herbs, right after they've been harvested at the peak of their medicinal potency.

We know you'll feel the freeze dried difference in every capsule, every powder, and every bit of herbal love you get at Eclectic Herb!

At Eclectic Herb we're proud to stay rooted in tradition, balanced with science, and committed to sustainable herbal products that are better for you and better for the planet since 1982.

Over 95% of our freeze dried herbs are grown right here in the US, by small family farmers, and wild crafters that we've cultivated relationships with for over 30 years. They're tending to the plants and the land, ensuring they come back for future generations, and we're getting you the best herbal products out there.

You deserve herbs as fresh as nature intended! Get them at eclecticherb.com

Follow @eclecticherb on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube

Meet Robert Dale Rogers, one of the most prolific herbalists alive today, with over 65 books and decades of clinical practice rooted in botany, indigenous plant wisdom, and a deep love of the overlooked medicines of the Earth. In this episode, Robert joins Chris and Mel to share the stories, the science, and the magic behind some of herbalism's most under-appreciated medicines: lichens, ferns, mosses, and fungi.

This one is rich with wisdom, wild stories, and a few things that might just change how you look at the forest floor.

What's in this episode:

• Robert's path into lichens, ferns, and overlooked plant medicine
• Usnea as a clinical tool for drug-resistant tuberculosis and antibiotic resistance
• Lungwort and the Doctrine of Signatures: why this lichen keeps showing up when you need it
• Learning from Cree healers and documenting a 10th-generation medicine bundle
• Flower essences in clinical practice, including Gorse for hope
• 26 years of developing mushroom essences and shadow work
• You can learn more about Robert and his coming events here, and get his latest books here.

Herbal Terms in This Episode:

• Doctrine of Signatures: A traditional concept suggesting a plant's appearance may offer clues about its potential uses
• Usnic Acid: A compound found in roughly 32 lichen species, studied for its unique ability to affect bacterial cell function

We'd love to hear from you!

Have you ever had a plant show up at exactly the right moment? Share your stories with us on Instagram or TikTok @eclecticherb

Full show notes and transcript: eclecticherb.com/ blogs/news/medicinal-lichen-robert-dale-rogers

Explore Eclectic Herb's freeze-dried supplements at eclecticherb.com Follow @eclecticherb on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

Text Us & Let Us Know How You Liked The Show!

You deserve nothing but the best, like herbs as fresh as nature intended. And, that's exactly what we do here at Eclectic Herb. Use the code Podcast20, to get 20% off your next order at eclecticherb.com

At Eclectic Herb we're passionate about bringing you herbs as fresh as plants in the wild!

That's why we take the time to gently freeze dry our herbs, right after they've been harvested at the peak of their medicinal potency.

We know you'll feel the freeze dried difference in every capsule, every powder, and every bit of herbal love you get at Eclectic Herb!

At Eclectic Herb we're proud to stay rooted in tradition, balanced with science, and committed to sustainable herbal products that are better for you and better for the planet since 1982.

Over 95% of our freeze dried herbs are grown right here in the US, by small family farmers, and wild crafters that we've cultivated relationships with for over 30 years. They're tending to the plants and the land, ensuring they come back for future generations, and we're getting you the best herbal products out there.

You deserve herbs as fresh as nature intended! Get them at eclecticherb.com

Follow @eclecticherb on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube