The Herbalist's Path

By Mel MutterspaughAlternative Health Health & Fitness Education Parenting Kids & Family How To

The Herbalist's Path episodes

August 13Herbs for Wildfire Smoke: Supporting Your Whole Body, Lungs, Liver, Nerves and Heart
Seems like wildfires are everywhere these days. And, the most common thing people will ask an herbalist is, “what herbs do I need for the inhalation of wildfire smoke?” And, they’re thinking it’s always something to do with the lungs and respiratory health.
Which, yes, that’s a great start. But, these fires, and their smoke affect so much more than that in our bodies. And, that’s what we’re digging into with this episode.
We’re talking about things like:
Why thinking of the body as a whole, instead of just one system at a time is important.
Using herbs for nervous system support
Supporting the liver, so it can help detoxify our systems
And yes, supporting the lungs too.
Herbs you’ll hear about in this episode are: Hawthorn, Mullein, Licorice, Fennel, Anise Seed, Linden, Milk Thistle, and probably a few more, you’ll just have to listen to find out.

The thing that a skilled herbalist will do in almost all situations is look beyond the initial issue most folks think you’re facing. Because we are beautiful, intricate, complex, and whole beings. And, what may affect one body system, is surely to be having an impact on other systems as well. And, when you learn to think of using herbs in ways like this, you’re thinking like an herbalist, and you will have much greater success with herbal remedies.

Want to start thinking more like an herbalist, instead of a band-aid fixer? Check out the Community Herbalist Mentorship here!
https://www.theherbalistspath.com/community-herbalist-certification

Like the show? Got a Q? Shoot us a Text!
Wondering how you can use your herbal skills to help people when times are tough?
Grab Medicine For The People - An Herbalist's Guide To Showing Up For Your Community In Times of Need
It's loaded with ideas and resources to help you help others!💚 Click here to ge
Support the show
Ready to deepen your herbal skills and knowledge?
Whether you're stocking your family's medicine cabinet, building your formulation skills, or stepping into the role of community herbalist, we have a program for you.
Learn more here
If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean so much if you left us a review and shared it with a friend. It helps more herbalists find their way here, and helps make herbalism #SpreadLikeWildFlowers 🌸
Join me on: TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube
Disclaimer:
*The information shared on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment. Please consult your medical care provider before using herbs.
27 min
July 16Yarrow, Burdock, and Building an Herbal Business From Scratch With Monica Pastrana of Bellebrook Botanicals
What happens when someone who spent years fixing broken healthcare systems realizes plants might be part of the solution? You get Monica Pastrana of Bellebrook Botanicals.
Monica is a community herbalist, healthcare professional, and homesteader in rural Wisconsin who built her herbal product line from three simple, food-like remedies and a clear mission: get effective, approachable plant medicine into people's hands.
What's in this episode:
How a healthcare career led Monica straight to herbalism
The morning she cut the tip of her finger off processing yarrow, and how that plant helped
Burdock root and the stubborn skin issues it cleared
Talking herbs with medical professionals without losing the relationship
The bonfire analogy for inflammation every herbalist should be using
Monica's seasonal herbal making classes on her Wisconsin property
For full show notes, resources, and links visit: theherbalistspath.com/blog/yarrow-burdock-herbal-business-monica-pastrana
Learn more about the Community Herbalist Certification and Mentorship Program at theherbalistspath.com/community-herbalist-certification

Like the show? Got a Q? Shoot us a Text!
Wondering how you can use your herbal skills to help people when times are tough?
Grab Medicine For The People - An Herbalist's Guide To Showing Up For Your Community In Times of Need
It's loaded with ideas and resources to help you help others!💚 Click here to ge
Support the show
Ready to deepen your herbal skills and knowledge?
Whether you're stocking your family's medicine cabinet, building your formulation skills, or stepping into the role of community herbalist, we have a program for you.
Learn more here
If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean so much if you left us a review and shared it with a friend. It helps more herbalists find their way here, and helps make herbalism #SpreadLikeWildFlowers 🌸
Join me on: TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube
Disclaimer:
*The information shared on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment. Please consult your medical care provider before using herbs.
1 hr 4 min
July 03When the FDA Questions Elderberry Safety With Google AI - What Every Herbalist and Herbal Business Owner Needs to Know
When an FDA inspector showed up to inspect my student's herbal product business, he flagged her elderberry echinacea tincture as dangerous, and cited Google AI as his research source. That's where this episode starts, and it gets crazier from there.
This herbalist has done the work, and played by all the rules. She documented everything from seed to final sale. Her SOPs in place, labels compliant. She’s even been working in healthcare for years. She was doing everything right. And still, an FDA inspector who couldn't explain cyanogenic glycosides without consulting an AI chatbot tried to bring her down.
What's in this episode:
What happened when an FDA inspector flagged elderberry using Google AI as his only source
The truth about cyanogenic glycosides in elderberries and why the inspector was wrong
What the American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook says about elderberry
Why AI-driven research on plant medicine is dangerous and what to do instead
The bigger picture: how plant medicine has been systematically erased from mainstream knowledge
What you need to have in place if you run an herbal product line
How to find support and resources if this happens to you

For full show notes, resources, and links visit: theherbalistspath.com/blog/fda-inspects-herbal-business-elderberry-safety
Want support and mentorship as you build your herbal business, or gain more skills to become an herbalist? That's what we do inside the Community Herbalist Certification and Mentorship. Learn more at theherbalistspath.com/community-herbalist-certification

Like the show? Got a Q? Shoot us a Text!
Wondering how you can use your herbal skills to help people when times are tough?
Grab Medicine For The People - An Herbalist's Guide To Showing Up For Your Community In Times of Need
It's loaded with ideas and resources to help you help others!💚 Click here to ge
Support the show
Ready to deepen your herbal skills and knowledge?
Whether you're stocking your family's medicine cabinet, building your formulation skills, or stepping into the role of community herbalist, we have a program for you.
Learn more here
If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean so much if you left us a review and shared it with a friend. It helps more herbalists find their way here, and helps make herbalism #SpreadLikeWildFlowers 🌸
Join me on: TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube
Disclaimer:
*The information shared on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment. Please consult your medical care provider before using herbs.
27 min
June 19Wildcrafting Ethics, Botany, and Trailblazing Herbalism with Howie Brounstein
Wildcrafting has gotten trendy, and that's not always a good thing. Misidentified plants, sketchy sourcing claims, and a whole lot of misinformation are floating around social media right now, and it's worth slowing down to talk about why that matters.
Howie Brounstein, founder of Columbine School of Botanical Studies and an herbalist who has been teaching for over 40 years, talks about why botany matters, what real wildcrafting ethics actually look like, and why he’s scared by a lot of what he sees online.
What's in this episode:
The real risks of misidentification and why positive plant ID is non-negotiable
Why botany matters, and when it doesn't need to be your focus as an herbalist
How to evaluate herb books and spot information that isn't coming from real experience
Why Howie teaches a long-term apprenticeship instead of one-day wildcrafting classes
Why Howie believes you should taste every herb you give to someone else
What it was like building an herbal career in the late 1970s when nobody believed it was possible
How AI and social media are accelerating herbal misinformation
For full show notes, resources, and links visit: theherbalistspath.com/blog/herbal-wildcrafting-ethics-howie-Brounstein
Learn more about Howie's apprenticeship and classes at botanicalstudies.net
Like the show? Got a Q? Shoot us a Text!
Wondering how you can use your herbal skills to help people when times are tough?
Grab Medicine For The People - An Herbalist's Guide To Showing Up For Your Community In Times of Need
It's loaded with ideas and resources to help you help others!💚 Click here to ge
Support the show
Ready to deepen your herbal skills and knowledge?
Whether you're stocking your family's medicine cabinet, building your formulation skills, or stepping into the role of community herbalist, we have a program for you.
Learn more here
If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean so much if you left us a review and shared it with a friend. It helps more herbalists find their way here, and helps make herbalism #SpreadLikeWildFlowers 🌸
Join me on: TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube
Disclaimer:
*The information shared on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment. Please consult your medical care provider before using herbs.
59 min
June 05You'll Be a Better Herbalist Knowing 1 Herb 40 Different Ways Than Knowing 100s of Herbs
Knowing how to use one herb 40 ways will make you a better herbalist.
Have you ever found yourself buying herb after herb, learning a little about each one, and somehow still feeling like you don't really know what you're doing? If so, you're not alone.
This episode will encourage you to slow down, go deeper, and build the kind of intimate plant relationship that turns into real herbal wisdom. The kind that grows your intuition and skills, saves you money, and keeps your apothecary from turning into a very overwhelming collection of herbs you barely know.
What's in this episode:
Why going deep with one herb beats collecting herbs you barely know
Echinacea beyond immune support: wound healing, lymphatics, toothaches, and more
Chamomile beyond sleepy time: digestion, anxiety, skin inflammation, and antispasmodic action
The power of slowing down and actually tasting, smelling, and sitting with a plant
Mel's top 5 essential herbs for her apothecary
Herbal monographs, the new shop, and the herb of the month deep dive on Substack
For full show notes, resources, and links visit: theherbalistspath.com/blog/know-one-herb-40-ways
Learn more in our herb workshops, herbal monographs, and deep dive herbalism programs on our new shop page coming soon! Stay tuned for our 30% off grand opening!
Like the show? Got a Q? Shoot us a Text!
Support the show
Ready to deepen your herbal skills and knowledge?
Whether you're stocking your family's medicine cabinet, building your formulation skills, or stepping into the role of community herbalist, we have a program for you.
Learn more here
If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean so much if you left us a review and shared it with a friend. It helps more herbalists find their way here, and helps make herbalism #SpreadLikeWildFlowers 🌸
Join me on: TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube
Disclaimer:
*The information shared on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment. Please consult your medical care provider before using herbs.
18 min
May 14Herbal Gut Health with Maria Noel Groves: Bitters, Mucilaginous Herbs, and Healing Your Digestion
Your gut has been trying to tell you something. The question is whether you know how to listen.
In this episode I sit down with Maria Noel Groves, clinical herbalist and author of Herbal Gut Health, and we go deep on bitters, mucilaginous herbs, lemon balm, and how to listen to what your digestive system is telling you.
What's in this episode:
Why lemon balm is one of the most underrated digestive herbs we have
How bitter herbs work and why they're not right for everyone
The difference between stimulating digestion and healing the gut
Marshmallow, linden, meadowsweet, and other soothing allies for gut repair
How to read your body's signals and choose the right herbs for your situation
When to reach for herbs and when to call the doctor
Why tea is often the best delivery method for gut healing herbs
For full show notes, resources, and links visit: theherbalistspath.com/blog/herbal-gut-health-maria-noel-groves
Ready to go deeper into herbal education? Join us inside the Community Herbalist Certification and Mentorship Program here.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Wintergreen Botanicals : https://wintergreenbotanicals.com/ Maria’s site
Herbal Gut Health, her book on our bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/16080/9781635869101
Like the show? Got a Q? Shoot us a Text!
Wondering how you can use your herbal skills to help people when times are tough?
Grab Medicine For The People - An Herbalist's Guide To Showing Up For Your Community In Times of Need
It's loaded with ideas and resources to help you help others!💚 Click here to ge
Support the show
Ready to deepen your herbal skills and knowledge?
Whether you're stocking your family's medicine cabinet, building your formulation skills, or stepping into the role of community herbalist, we have a program for you.
Learn more here
If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean so much if you left us a review and shared it with a friend. It helps more herbalists find their way here, and helps make herbalism #SpreadLikeWildFlowers 🌸
Join me on: TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube
Disclaimer:
*The information shared on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment. Please consult your medical care provider before using herbs.
1 hr 8 min
April 30Herbal First Aid Kit Essentials: Natural Remedies for Cuts, Stings, Burns & More
It only takes one accident to regret not being prepared.
So let's talk herbal first aid and the essential plants to keep in your kit. From cuts and scrapes to burns, bites, and unexpected whoopsy daisies, these herbs can help you be ready before you need them, using simple, natural remedies that have been doing this work for a long time.
These are the plants that can keep you calm, prepared, and out of the ER more often than you might think.
What's in this episode:
The most important herbs to include in your herbal first aid kit
How to use plantain for bites, stings, and drawing out toxins
Yarrow for stopping bleeding quickly and effectively
Comfrey for sprains, strains, and tissue repair
Echinacea for infection support and wound care
Chamomile, ginger, and peppermint for digestive upset and stress
Why lavender essential oil belongs in every first aid kit
Simple ways to stay calm and think clearly when things get a little wild out there
For full show notes, resources, and links visit: theherbalistspath.com/blog/herbal-first-aid-kit-essentials
Wanna go deeper? Use code FIRST-AID-PODCAST for 50% off the Herbal First Aid Skills workshop, plus loads of recipes I've used for years. Or click here for the discount.
Like the show? Got a Q? Shoot us a Text!
Wondering how you can use your herbal skills to help people when times are tough?
Grab Medicine For The People - An Herbalist's Guide To Showing Up For Your Community In Times of Need
It's loaded with ideas and resources to help you help others!💚 Click here to ge
Support the show
Ready to deepen your herbal skills and knowledge?
Whether you're stocking your family's medicine cabinet, building your formulation skills, or stepping into the role of community herbalist, we have a program for you.
Learn more here
If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean so much if you left us a review and shared it with a friend. It helps more herbalists find their way here, and helps make herbalism #SpreadLikeWildFlowers 🌸
Join me on: TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube
Disclaimer:
*The information shared on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment. Please consult your medical care provider before using herbs.
27 min
April 16Herbalism for Resilience: Ethical Wildcrafting and Connection with Elaine Sheff
What if the way we’re learning herbalism is actually harming the plants we depend on?
In this episode, I sit down with herbalist Elaine Shefff from Green Path Herb School to explore ethical wildcrafting, plant stewardship, and what it really means to be in relationship with the land. As herbalism becomes more popular, it is more important than ever to slow down, observe, and rethink how we harvest and work with plants.
If you want to harvest herbs in a way that protects ecosystems and supports future generations, this episode is for you.
In this episode:
Why ethical wildcrafting matters now more than ever
How overharvesting is impacting medicinal plants
What sustainable foraging really looks like
Why starting with weeds can change everything
How to build a relationship with plants over time
Bioregional herbalism and working with local medicine
Herbalism as a path back to connection and belonging
Simple ways to support your community with herbal medicine
For full show notes, resources, and links visit:
theherbalistspath.com/blog/ethical-resilient-herbalism-elaine-sheff
Like the show? Got a Q? Shoot us a Text!
Wondering how you can use your herbal skills to help people when times are tough?
Grab Medicine For The People - An Herbalist's Guide To Showing Up For Your Community In Times of Need
It's loaded with ideas and resources to help you help others!💚 Click here to ge
Support the show
Ready to deepen your herbal skills and knowledge?
Whether you're stocking your family's medicine cabinet, building your formulation skills, or stepping into the role of community herbalist, we have a program for you.
Learn more here
If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean so much if you left us a review and shared it with a friend. It helps more herbalists find their way here, and helps make herbalism #SpreadLikeWildFlowers 🌸
Join me on: TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube
Disclaimer:
*The information shared on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment. Please consult your medical care provider before using herbs.
1 hr 25 min
April 03Free Medicine in Your Yard: 4 Medicinal Weeds Popping Up Right Now
Spring is here, and that means some of the most powerful medicinal plants on the planet are popping up in your yard, your garden edges, and along your favorite walking paths. And most people are either pulling them out or walking right past them.
In this episode, you'll meet four spring weeds that can have amazing benefits to your health: dandelion root and leaf, nettles, cleavers, and chickweed. You'll learn what they do, why they matter this time of year, and how to actually prepare them so you get the real medicine out.
Free, potent, accessible plant medicine. Growing right outside your door.
What's in this episode:
Why spring weeds show up exactly when our bodies need them most
Dandelion leaf and root: two different medicines from one plant
Nettles for depletion, allergies, and deep nourishment
Cleavers for lymphatic support and why fresh preparation matters
Chickweed as a cooling, anti-inflammatory ally inside and out
Ethical harvesting tips and how to prepare each plant effectively
For full show notes, resources, and links: theherbalistspath.com/blog/theherbalistspath-com/blog/free-medicinal-weeds-in-your-yard
Learn to make potent tasty medicine with us inside Medicine Makin' Mommas here.
Come to the Nourishing Nettles Conference with Susun Weed in May.
Like the show? Got a Q? Shoot us a Text!
Wondering how you can use your herbal skills to help people when times are tough?
Grab Medicine For The People - An Herbalist's Guide To Showing Up For Your Community In Times of Need
It's loaded with ideas and resources to help you help others!💚 Click here to ge
Support the show
Ready to deepen your herbal skills and knowledge?
Whether you're stocking your family's medicine cabinet, building your formulation skills, or stepping into the role of community herbalist, we have a program for you.
Learn more here
If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean so much if you left us a review and shared it with a friend. It helps more herbalists find their way here, and helps make herbalism #SpreadLikeWildFlowers 🌸
Join me on: TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube
Disclaimer:
*The information shared on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment. Please consult your medical care provider before using herbs.
29 min
March 20Grassroots Herbalism: Mutual Aid, Community Care, and Plant Medicine with Ashley Elenbaas
What does herbalism look like when your community actually needs you?
In this episode I sit down with clinical herbalist Ashley Elenbaas of Sky House Herbs, who has been doing boots-on-the-ground mutual aid work in Minneapolis. We talk about how she organized local herbalists, partnered with existing mutual aid networks, and got herbal care kits into the hands of homebound immigrant families. And how she did it without burning herself out in the process.
This is community herbalism in action. Real, replicable, and deeply needed right now.
In this episode:
What grassroots herbal mutual aid actually looks like
How to find your role without duplicating efforts already being done
The power of pausing and orienting before you act
Involving your kids in the medicine making
Knowing when to slow down so you can keep showing up
For full show notes, resources, and transcript visit: theherbalistspath.com/blog/grassroots-herbalism-ashley-elenbaas
Ready to go deeper into community herbalism? Ashley will be joining us as a guest teacher inside the Community Herbalist Certification and Mentorship program. Learn more at here.
Like the show? Got a Q? Shoot us a Text!
Wondering how you can use your herbal skills to help people when times are tough?
Grab Medicine For The People - An Herbalist's Guide To Showing Up For Your Community In Times of Need
It's loaded with ideas and resources to help you help others!💚 Click here to ge
Support the show
Ready to deepen your herbal skills and knowledge?
Whether you're stocking your family's medicine cabinet, building your formulation skills, or stepping into the role of community herbalist, we have a program for you.
Learn more here
If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean so much if you left us a review and shared it with a friend. It helps more herbalists find their way here, and helps make herbalism #SpreadLikeWildFlowers 🌸
Join me on: TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube
Disclaimer:
*The information shared on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment. Please consult your medical care provider before using herbs.
1 hr 5 min