Do you find yourself confused about the safety and effectiveness of herbal medicine when so many providers warn you against them? Are you curious about the differences between herbs and pharmaceuticals?

Join Kelsey Conger and Jennifer Cann on PLANET SPOONIE, the podcast for lymies and spoonies healing themselves and the world.

On this week's episode I am honored to welcome Jennifer, a brilliant Veterinary Pathologist and Clinical Herbalist! She takes us on an inspiring journey from her childhood in Appalachia, where she cultivated a deep curiosity for plant medicine, to veterinary school and a distinguished career in biopharmaceutical research.

Jennifer brings a unique and much-needed perspective to the worlds of modern herbal and pharmaceutical medicine, highlighting some of the differences between them and why BOTH are essential to healthcare. She is passionate about how pathology works broadly across species, and is particularly interested in exploring how botanicals can serve to increase the efficacy of pharmaceuticals for improved clinical outcomes.

From debunking myths about plant safety, to explaining the differences between whole plant medicines and isolated over-the-counter supplements, to highlighting the evolutionary relationship between humans and plants, this conversation will reshape your understanding of personal and planetary health.

As always, remember, our bodies are a direct reflection of the ecosystems we inhabit, and just like this earth, our bodies know how to heal.

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Jennifer Cann (she/her) is a board-certified Veterinary Pathologist with a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Pathobiology and 18+ years of experience in academic and biopharmaceutical settings. She specializes in drug development, focusing on various therapeutic areas including oncology, cardiovascular, respiratory, neurodegenerative, autoimmune, and infectious diseases. She has expertise in tissue-based analysis and biomarker identification using advanced imaging software. She is also a Clinical Herbalist passionate about using medicinal plants alongside modern medicine to improve patient outcomes for complex conditions.

Find Jennifer on:
Website
Linked In

This episode is meant to be empowering and educational, but it is not medical advice. Please seek the support of your primary care provider or a qualified healthcare practitioner before making any changes.

As you navigate life with chronic health conditions, my goal is always to provide you with foundational tools to support you and help you feel your best. In addition to these educational episodes, working with clients 1:1 is one of the most powerful ways to initiate change - ensuring that you receive deeply personalized, compassionate, and inclusive care.

If you’re living with lyme disease or complex chronic illness and you feel ready to take your power back, begin healing, reconnect to yourself + nature, and find your *SHINE* again…

Book a FREE Q+A call with me to learn about working with me in 1:1 herbal consultations! And to stay tuned with upcoming offers, sign up for my newsletter and find me @kelseytheherbalist 🌼

Thanks for tuning into the PLANET SPOONIE podcast 🌎

Acknowledging that this podcast was recorded on the unceded land of the Kumeyaay (Iipai-Tipai-Diegueño) people, who have called this land home for 600 generations. This is now commonly called San Diego County in Southern California.

Do you wonder what the hype is about detox and all those fancy protocols and products you see in your social feed? Are you struggling to find an effective approach for chronic lyme and coinfections? Dealing with herx after herx and desperate for a better way?

Join your friendly neighborhood herbalist, nutritionist, and lymie, Kelsey Conger, on PLANET SPOONIE!

Today we're digging into the nitty gritty of detoxification in the body. This process of biotransformation and elimination has three phases. The first two occur in the liver and are the most frequently talked about, but without phase three the entire process is compromised. Basically, the liver needs a clear exit route to get rid of all the junk.

There's lots of information out there on this topic, and no shortage of products and programs promising to detox you, so let's dig into the science and break down exactly what this means so you are equipped with the knowledge to take empowered action!

Prioritizing detoxification, especially phase three, is the first and most important step to addressing chronic lyme and coinfections.

Even if you don't have chronic lyme, this episode is worth listening to. Modern life unfortunately has led to an increased toxic burden among all of us. Whether you are simply looking to optimize health, prepare for pregnancy, or are dealing with persistent chronic health issues from acne to allergies to autoimmune disease, tune in!

You'll walk away with an entirely new understanding of the physiology + science of detoxification, as well as key nutrients, herbs, and practices to improve your detox pathways.

This episode is meant to be empowering and educational, but it is not medical advice. Please seek the support of your primary care provider or a qualified healthcare practitioner before making any changes.

As you navigate life with chronic health conditions, my goal is always to provide you with foundational tools to support you and help you feel your best. In addition to these educational episodes, working with clients 1:1 is one of the most powerful ways to initiate change - ensuring that you receive deeply personalized, compassionate, and inclusive care.

If you’re living with lyme disease or complex chronic illness and you feel ready to take your power back, begin healing, reconnect to yourself + nature, and find your *SHINE* again…

Book a FREE Q+A call with me to learn about working with me in 1:1 herbal consultations! And to stay tuned with upcoming offers, sign up for my newsletter and find me @kelseytheherbalist 🌼

Thanks for tuning into the PLANET SPOONIE podcast 🌎

Acknowledging that this podcast was recorded on the unceded land of the Kumeyaay (Iipai-Tipai-Diegueño) people, who have called this land home for 600 generations. This is now commonly called San Diego County in Southern California.

Have you ever wondered about the raw dairy hype and what the controversy is all about? Are you wondering what the difference between raw and pasteurized dairy is, or if it really matters?

Join your host Kelsey Conger, a Clinical Herbalist + Holistic Nutritionist on PLANET SPOONIE, the podcast for lymies and spoonies healing themselves and the world.

On today's episode, I share the four main reasons why I consume raw dairy. This is a personal choice that everyone must make for themselves, so let's talk about what raw dairy is and why it matters!

When we consume raw milk and cultured dairy products like yogurt, kefir, and sour cream, we're getting loads of beneficial microbes (aka probiotics) and enzymes that help support digestion. Raw milk and cream must be purchased from local farms that follow stringent rules about caring for their animals. In my experience, small local farms have quality standards that go above and beyond any in industrial agriculture. This enables us to support and get to know local farmers, while also seeing firsthand that the animals are living happy and healthy lives. We might even meet the mama and baby who are generously sharing their milk!

Ultimately, safety and wellbeing of both the animal and the people consuming raw dairy is paramount. It goes without saying that if an animal is potentially sick, or there’s a sickness going around, we wouldn’t want to consume their milk. And while dairy products are highly nutritious foods that many people enjoy and benefit from, there are those who it isn’t a great fit for. Always listen to your gut, and seek out a qualified functional or holistic nutrition professional if you are in need of more support.

This is a big topic and I have much more to share on it, from quality sourcing to culturing at home, so keep an eye out for an upcoming hands-on workshop on cultured dairy! Follow us on instagram below to be the first to sign up.

This episode is meant to be empowering and educational, but it is not medical advice. Please seek the support of your primary care provider or a qualified healthcare practitioner before making any changes.

As you navigate life with chronic health conditions, my goal is always to provide you with foundational tools to support you and help you feel your best. In addition to these educational episodes, working with clients 1:1 is one of the most powerful ways to initiate change - ensuring that you receive deeply personalized, compassionate, and inclusive care.

If you’re living with lyme disease or complex chronic illness and you feel ready to take your power back, begin healing, reconnect to yourself + nature, and find your *SHINE* again…

Book a FREE Q+A call with me to learn about working with me in 1:1 herbal consultations! And to stay tuned with upcoming offers, sign up for my newsletter and find me @kelseytheherbalist 🌼

Thanks for tuning into the PLANET SPOONIE podcast 🌎

Acknowledging that this podcast was recorded on the unceded land of the Kumeyaay (Iipai-Tipai-Diegueño) people, who have called this land home for 600 generations. This is now commonly called San Diego County in Southern California.

Do you feel caught up in the endless cycle of hustle culture, but crave a deeper connection to nature and the earth? Are you curious about herbal medicine, but feel clueless about where to start? Do you want to learn more about powerful plant medicines like cacao?

Join Kelsey Conger and Camille Edwards on PLANET SPOONIE, the podcast for lymies and spoonies healing themselves and the world.

On this week's episode, I am honored to welcome Camille, an attorney turned earth ceremonialist and herbalist! She shares how her journey at Harvard Law School led her into deeper connection with her heart and the plants in the process of envisioning a better, more just, + reciprocal world.

Camille believes that we don't have to change our lives entirely to foster a relationship with our local ecosystems, but that we can learn to weave together our full-time careers with mindful nature-based practices. She shares what it was like meeting cacao for the first time and the role this powerful plant ally can play on our own healing paths, while also emphasizing the medicine we can receive in a simple cup of tea made with local weeds like Nettle, Oatstraw, and Chickweed.

Now she leads group cacao ceremonies, plant walks, and works with individuals looking for one-on-one support to develop a sense of heart-centered connection to themselves and nature, even while living high-paced, busy lives!

As always, remember, our bodies are a direct reflection of the ecosystems we inhabit, and just like this earth, our bodies know how to heal.

________________________________

As a facilitator, Camille Edwards (she/her) creates integrative experiences through one-on-one sessions and group ceremonies with the medicines of cacao, meditation, herbs, movement, and song. As a full-time practicing lawyer representing musicians, artists, photographers, filmmakers, and writers, Camille has learned how to balance the sharpness of the mind with the softness of the heart. When she is not drafting and negotiating contracts, you can find her talking to plants, hiking with her cat in Topanga where she lives, or meditating by a fresh-water stream.

Find Camille on:
Website
Instagram

This episode is meant to be empowering and educational, but it is not medical advice. Please seek the support of your primary care provider or a qualified healthcare practitioner before making any changes.

As you navigate life with chronic health conditions, my goal is always to provide you with foundational tools to support you and help you feel your best. In addition to these educational episodes, working with clients 1:1 is one of the most powerful ways to initiate change - ensuring that you receive deeply personalized, compassionate, and inclusive care.

If you’re living with lyme disease or complex chronic illness and you feel ready to take your power back, begin healing, reconnect to yourself + nature, and find your *SHINE* again…

Book a FREE Q+A call with me to learn about working with me in 1:1 herbal consultations! And to stay tuned with upcoming offers, sign up for my newsletter and find me @kelseytheherbalist 🌼

Thanks for tuning into the PLANET SPOONIE podcast 🌎

Acknowledging that this podcast was recorded on the unceded land of the Kumeyaay (Iipai-Tipai-Diegueño) people, who have called this land home for 600 generations. This is now commonly called San Diego County in Southern California.

Have you ever considered freezing your eggs? Are you curious about cycle tracking, but feel clueless about how to start? Do you want to optimize your hormone health, regardless of where you're at in life?

Join herbalists Kelsey Conger, MS and Veronica Ricksen, RH on PLANET SPOONIE, the podcast for lymies and spoonies healing themselves and the world.

On this week's episode, I am honored to welcome Veronica, an herbalist, fertility awareness educator, and author! She shares about how her own health struggles led her to herbalism and eventually supervising an herb clinic in Berkeley. She also discusses how she discovered fertility awareness methods, after becoming frustrated by years of feeling uninformed about her contraceptive options. Now she has a private herbal practice where she helps other women learn to chart their fertility signs to develop a deeper connection with themselves and nature, while also preventing pregnancy or encouraging conception!

Ultimately, we explore why informed consent and access to CHOICES that suit your needs are the most important at the end of the day. You know what's best for yourself, your body, and your life, and learning how to track your cycle is an incredible tool to empower you with greater self-knowledge, body literacy, and autonomy.

As always, remember, our bodies are a direct reflection of the ecosystems we inhabit, and just like this earth, our bodies know how to heal.

________________________________

Veronica Ricksen, certified Fertility Awareness Educator and Registered Herbalist, is a mentor who teaches women to chart their fertility signs for natural contraception, conception, and more! Veronica has a private practice named Kapu, LLC, and her 2nd edition of Menstrual Calendar Journal: Go with the Flow is scheduled to release Spring 2024.

Get your copy of the journal here!

Find Veronica on:
Website
Instagram

This episode is meant to be empowering and educational, but it is not medical advice. Please seek the support of your primary care provider or a qualified healthcare practitioner before making any changes.

As you navigate life with chronic health conditions, my goal is always to provide you with foundational tools to support you and help you feel your best. In addition to these educational episodes, working with clients 1:1 is one of the most powerful ways to initiate change - ensuring that you receive deeply personalized, compassionate, and inclusive care.

If you’re living with lyme disease or complex chronic illness and you feel ready to take your power back, begin healing, reconnect to yourself + nature, and find your *SHINE* again…

Book a FREE Q+A call with me to learn about working with me in 1:1 herbal consultations! And to stay tuned with upcoming offers, sign up for my newsletter and find me @kelseytheherbalist 🌼

Thanks for tuning into the PLANET SPOONIE podcast 🌎

Acknowledging that this podcast was recorded on the unceded land of the Kumeyaay (Iipai-Tipai-Diegueño) people, who have called this land home for 600 generations. This is now commonly called San Diego County in Southern California.

Since being diagnosed with lyme or watching a loved one struggle with this difficult disease, have you developed a fear of going outside? Do ticks scare you into staying indoors when you'd rather be soaking up some sunshine?

Join herbalist Kelsey Conger and marine scientist Alayna Bellquist on PLANET SPOONIE, the podcast for lymies and spoonies healing themselves and the world.

On this week's episode, I am so honored to welcome Alayna, a marine scientist turned lyme thriver and author! She shares her own experiences of growing up on Vancouver Island, spending plenty of time outdoors and eventually turning her love of nature into a career. When she was diagnosed with lyme disease (after contracting it here in Southern California), she applied her scientific background to the process of healing and found that her connection to nature was both an anchor and guide throughout her recovery.

We talk about the important role ticks play in our ecosystems and why they're NOT the enemy. We also explore how you can shift from feeling disempowered about chronic illness to reclaiming your life and autonomy, even when it feels impossible. Today Alayna is sharing pearls of wisdom she's learned along the way, and discusses her book that will be coming out next year. If you're looking to feel inspired about heading outdoors as we move from late spring into summer, then tune in!

Remember, our bodies are a direct reflection of the ecosystems we inhabit, and just like this earth, our bodies know how to heal.

________________________________

Alayna Bellquist is a marine scientist, lyme thriver, speaker, and author. She is a fact-driven, nature-based scientist, who guides people back to the natural world as a means to reclaim their innate health and to solve the environmental crisis.

Find Alayna on:
Website
Instagram

This episode is meant to be empowering and educational, but it is not medical advice. Please seek the support of your primary care provider or a qualified healthcare practitioner before making any changes.

As you navigate life with chronic health conditions, my goal is always to provide you with foundational tools to support you and help you feel your best. In addition to these educational episodes, working with clients 1:1 is one of the most powerful ways to initiate change - ensuring that you receive deeply personalized, compassionate, and inclusive care.

If you’re living with lyme disease or complex chronic illness and you feel ready to take your power back, begin healing, reconnect to yourself + nature, and find your *SHINE* again…

Book a FREE Q+A call with me to learn about working with me in 1:1 herbal consultations! And to stay tuned with upcoming offers, sign up for my newsletter and find me @kelseytheherbalist 🌼

Thanks for tuning into the PLANET SPOONIE podcast 🌎

Acknowledging that this podcast was recorded on the unceded land of the Kumeyaay (Iipai-Tipai-Diegueño) people, who have called this land home for 600 generations. This is now commonly called San Diego County in Southern California.

Are you familiar with the deeply uncomfortable experience of having a herx reaction when treating lyme? Are you herxing right now? Desperate for tools you can try at home to relieve the pain and other unpleasant symptoms?

Join your host Kelsey Conger, a clinical herbalist, holistic nutritionist, and lymie, on PLANET SPOONIE, the podcast for lymies and spoonies healing themselves and the world.

Today's episode is a breakdown of my top 12 tools to help you survive a herx reaction! These are almost entirely things that you can do at home and for free, or with very little financial investment. And the best part is....they work!! I've personally used each & every one of these in my own recovery, and I incorporate them with my clients as well.

This episode is meant to be empowering and educational, but it is not medical advice. Please seek the support of your primary care provider or a qualified healthcare practitioner before making any changes.

As you navigate life with chronic health conditions, my goal is always to provide you with foundational tools to support you and help you feel your best. In addition to these educational episodes, working with clients 1:1 is one of the most powerful ways to initiate change - ensuring that you receive deeply personalized, compassionate, and inclusive care.

If you’re living with lyme disease or complex chronic illness and you feel ready to take your power back, begin healing, reconnect to yourself + nature, and find your *SHINE* again…

Book a FREE Q+A call with me to learn about working with me in 1:1 herbal consultations! And to stay tuned with upcoming offers, sign up for my newsletter and find me @kelseytheherbalist 🌼

Thanks for tuning into the PLANET SPOONIE podcast 🌎

Acknowledging that this podcast was recorded on the unceded land of the Kumeyaay (Iipai-Tipai-Diegueño) people, who have called this land home for 600 generations. This is now commonly called San Diego County in Southern California.

Are you curious what it's like working with me or another clinical herbalist?? Do you feel confused about what herbal medicine is and what it's like to be a client?

Today's episode is a basic breakdown of what the process is like becoming my client, going through an herbal consultation, and receiving personalized, holistic care!

Join your host Kelsey Conger, an herbalist, nutritionist, and lymie on PLANET SPOONIE - the podcast for lymies and spoonies healing themselves and the world.

In this episode, we'll learn the basics of what an herbal consultation looks like and how a protocol is layered together to support you on your journey. We'll review the client onboarding process, the initial and follow-up consultation flow, and what recommendations you might walk away with after each session.

As you navigate life with chronic illness, my goal is always to provide you with foundational tools to support you and help you feel your best. Working with clients 1:1 is one of the most powerful ways we can begin to initiate change, ensuring that you receive deeply personalized, compassionate, and inclusive care.

This episode is meant to be empowering and educational, but it is not medical advice. Please seek the support of your primary care provider or a qualified healthcare practitioner before making any changes.

As you navigate life with chronic health conditions, my goal is always to provide you with foundational tools to support you and help you feel your best. In addition to these educational episodes, working with clients 1:1 is one of the most powerful ways to initiate change - ensuring that you receive deeply personalized, compassionate, and inclusive care.

If you’re living with lyme disease or complex chronic illness and you feel ready to take your power back, begin healing, reconnect to yourself + nature, and find your *SHINE* again…

Book a FREE Q+A call with me to learn about working with me in 1:1 herbal consultations! And to stay tuned with upcoming offers, sign up for my newsletter and find me @kelseytheherbalist 🌼

Thanks for tuning into the PLANET SPOONIE podcast 🌎

Acknowledging that this podcast was recorded on the unceded land of the Kumeyaay (Iipai-Tipai-Diegueño) people, who have called this land home for 600 generations. This is now commonly called San Diego County in Southern California.