An Ode to the Original Herbalists: Honeybees and Medicine from the Hive

We’re in the slow quiet days of winter when the snow is deep and the plants are resting in the earth, the bees are clustered together staying warm in their hive, fed by the nectar and pollen that was gathered in the bright days of blooming flowers. As we’re celebrating the longest night of the year and the returning light, this Winter Solstice we’re gathering around the hearth sharing stories, myths and lore about the honeybee and the magical work she does to sustain life and make the world continually more beautiful. Honeybees are truly the first herbalists and alchemists, gathering sunlight in the form of golden sweet nectar and bright pollen from flowering plants and resins from trees to create some of the most healing, nourishing foods/medicines that exist in the world. Come and listen to this special podcast episode with beekeeper, herbalist, and medicinal mead-maker Benjamin Pixie to follow the life of the honeybee and to unwrap the gifts she shares.   In this episode, you’ll hear:   The long history of relationship between humans and honeybees The medicinal benefits of beeswax, honey, pollen, propolis, mead and royal jelly The historical and traditional uses of honey  What we have to learn from bees specifically as herbalists Traditional myths, stories and poetry from around the world about honey, mead and honeybees Lessons from the bees on how to create a culture in harmony with the Earth How to be an ally to the bees, supporting flourishing hives and ecosystems during a time of environmental distress cause by extractive culture   ———————————— CONNECT WITH SAJAH AND WHITNEY ———————————— To get free in depth mini-courses and videos, visit our blog at:  http://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com   Get daily inspiration and plant wisdom on our Facebook and Instagram channels: http://www.facebook.com/EvolutionaryHerbalism https://www.instagram.com/evolutionary_herbalism/   Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyP63opAmcpIAQg1M9ShNSQ   Get a free 5-week course when you buy a copy of the book, Evolutionary Herbalism:https://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com/evolutionary-herbalism-book/   ———————————— ABOUT THE PLANT PATH ———————————— The Plant Path is a window into the world of herbal medicine. With perspectives gleaned from traditional Western herbalism, Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine, Alchemy, Medical Astrology, and traditional cultures from around the world, The Plant Path provides unique insights, skills and strategies for the practice of true holistic herbalism. From clinical to spiritual perspectives, we don't just focus on what herbs are "good for," but rather who they are as intelligent beings, and how we can work with them to heal us physically and consciously evolve.   Original theme music by Christopher Nunn Website: www.Christopher-nunn.com    ———————————— ABOUT WHITNEY ———————————— Whitney Popham is an herbal practitioner and the co-founder of The School of Evolutionary Herbalism and Organic Unity. Her calling to plant medicine began from a deep passion for activism and a vision for creating healing and positive change in the world. She has devoted her life to that vision by being a humble vessel for the plants to touch people's lives and bring more healing and beauty into the world.   Through her own health challenges and struggles, she experienced the profound healing gifts of plant medicines and then committed her life to helping others reach vibrant levels of health. She specializes in digestive health in her clinical practice through working with herbal medicine, nutrition and lifestyle coaching. Her true gift is in listening to the plants through intuition and vision, which she uses to help her clients with healing on the emotional, psychological, spiritual, as well as physical levels of health.   ———————————— ABOUT BENJAMIN ———————————— Benjamin caught his first swarm of bees in 2006, and that was the beginning of a lifelong marriage to those ladies who do the love work of the plants.  In 2007, he began the Pixie Honey Company, the same year Colony Collapse Disorder was first recognized in the United States.  Since then, he has developed beyond organic, treatment free, bee centered methods of tending bees that have enriched the health of the hives, and the medicines harvested from them. Benjamin has taken his background in botanical medicine and years of experience in potion crafting to offer truly unique and potent botanical meads that celebrate the plants and the bees, while returning reverence, magic, and medicine to the imbibing of alcohol.  Benjamin is kindly offering a discount code for first time orders at www.spiritofthehive.buzz with the coupon code: evolution  Learn more about Benjamin below: https://www.pixiemead.com/ https://spiritofthehive.buzz/ https://www.instagram.com/benjaminpixie/   ———————————— WANT TO FEATURE US ON YOUR PODCAST? ———————————— If you’d like to interview Sajah or Whitney to be on your podcast, click here to fill out an interview request form.