Wild Herbs with April

If you want to learn the medicinal and edible wild plants in season each month, and how to bring them into your kitchen, join the Wild Herb Academy Membership: https://www.wildherbacademy.com/learnwildherbs

What if you don’t have to lose yourself to enjoy motherhood? What if the anxious, depleted feeling so many moms carry isn’t a personal failing, but a sign that modern life is out of rhythm with our nature? In this episode, I’m joined by Hannah Chehab, herbalist and founder of Wild Synergy, an apothecary in Florida.

Hannah shares how being told “for the rest of your life” by doctors led her to study the science of the body. She also shares how a hard postpartum season led her to the daily rituals and nervine herbs that changed motherhood for her. We talk about the herbs in her Nervous Reset blend and why she works with saffron and moringa.

👉 Visit Hannah at Wild Synergy Apothecary: https://wildsynergyco.com

👉 Nervous Reset + Saffron Bundle: https://wildsynergyco.com/collections/healing-teas/products/saffron-nervous-system-reset-ritual-bundle-1

About the guest:
Hannah Chehab is an herbalist with a background in biochemistry and the founder of Wild Synergy, an apothecary in Florida that blends cellular science with traditional plant wisdom. She sources her herbs from local growers and ethical, regenerative farms and makes every formula fresh to order. Hannah offers custom formulations, masterclasses, and one-on-one mentorship. She shares her recipes freely on her blog, because she believes natural healing should be accessible to everyone.

Follow Hannah Chehab:

About the host:
Hi, I'm April Punsalan — a botanist, ethnobotanist, herbalist, and the founder of Wild Herb Academy, dedicated to teaching people how to heal with plants. I want you to heal yourself and your family with the wild herbs that grow beneath your feet.

Connect with April:

Disclaimer:
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Thank you for watching! Make sure to follow the Wild Herbs Podcast so you can keep deepening your connection with wild plants and nature, within and without. Stay wild and stay human!

If you want to learn the medicinal and edible wild plants in season each month, and how to bring them into your kitchen, join the Wild Herb Academy Membership: https://www.wildherbacademy.com/learnwildherbs

Every mushroom you see is only the fruit. Beneath it lives an entire underground network holding the forest together. In this episode, recorded live at the Good Medicine Confluence in Albuquerque, New Mexico, I’m joined by Michael Wilson, forager, mycologist, and founder of Harmony Acres.

Michael shares the day a Reishi mushroom led him to it, and how fungi support the body’s own immune system. He also walks through his step-by-step approach to identifying Amanita muscaria and its relatives, and explains why he calls Amanita a slow burn relationship. That relationship opens only when you come with reverence, patience, and knowledge. You can watch this episode on Youtube!

👉 Amanita tinctures and oil infusions
Use the code WILDHERBS10 for 10% off your first order: https://www.harmonyacres.love/wildherbs

About the guest:
Michael Wilson is a forager, mycologist, and the founder of Harmony Acres in Pennsylvania. He has been foraging wild mushrooms since 2016, after years as an organic farmer, landscaper, and lifelong meditator. In 2021, a series of synchronicities led him to Amanita muscaria, and the healing he experienced turned his part-time passion into his life’s work. Today, Michael makes small-batch mushroom extractions and teaches about Amanita across the country, including at the Good Medicine Confluence.

Follow Michael Wilson:

About the host:
Hi, I'm April Punsalan — a botanist, ethnobotanist, herbalist, and the founder of Wild Herb Academy, dedicated to teaching people how to heal with plants. I want you to heal yourself and your family with the wild herbs that grow beneath your feet.

Connect with April:

Disclaimer:
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Some of the links listed above are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Thank you for listening! Make sure to follow the Wild Herbs Podcast so you can keep deepening your connection with wild plants and nature, within and without. Stay wild and stay human!

Learn to see the plants around you through the eyes of a botanist and herbalist, and discover their names, their medicine, and your connection to the land, in the free Backyard Pharmacy webinar: https://www.wildherbacademy.com/backyard-pharmacy

Perimenopause is often viewed as a time of hormonal decline, but Ayurveda offers a different perspective.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Shivani Gupta, an Ayurvedic practitioner, researcher, and author of The Inflammation Code, with over 20 years of experience studying and teaching Ayurvedic medicine.

Dr. Shivani and I had a beautiful conversation about the transition from Pitta to Vata during midlife, how declining estrogen influences inflammation and gut health, and her beautiful encouragement for women to embrace this new season of life.

We also explored the medicinal properties of turmeric, Ayurvedic herbs and spices for women's health, digestive fire (Agni), and the importance of grounding, slowing down, and creating daily rituals that nourish the body.

As two Pitta women, we shared our own experiences of learning to release the constant drive to do more and instead honor what our bodies need.

"Midlife is not the end of your power, it's the beginning of your awakening." – Dr. Shivani Gupta

Key Things You'll Learn:

Discover your Ayurvedic Mind-Body Type (2-minute Quiz): https://shivanigreenliving.clickfunnels.com/elementaldesign

Use the code WILDHERBS for 15% off your first order: https://fusionaryformulas.com?sca_ref=12551077.GMbp5nuDRK3

Get Dr. Shivani's book, The Inflammation Code: https://www.amazon.com/dp/140199699X

Follow Dr. Shivani Gupta:

About the host:

Hi, I'm April Punsalan — a botanist, ethnobotanist, herbalist, and the founder of Wild Herb Academy, dedicated to teaching people how to heal with plants. I want you to heal yourself and your family with the wild herbs that grow beneath your feet.

Connect with April:

Disclaimer:
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Some of the links listed above are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Thank you for listening! Make sure to follow the Wild Herbs Podcast so you can keep deepening your connection with wild plants and nature, within and without. Stay wild and stay human!

Learn to see the plants around you through the eyes of a botanist and herbalist, and discover their names, their medicine, and your connection to the land, in the free Backyard Pharmacy webinar: https://www.wildherbacademy.com/backyard-pharmacy

Who may not be a good fit for psilocybin therapy?

Today's guest is Dr. JJ Pursell, a board-certified naturopathic physician, licensed psilocybin facilitator, and bestselling author of Psilocybin Therapy and The Medicine from the Trees. JJ and I had a heartfelt, wide-ranging conversation about her path from a flower farm childhood and an herb shop apprenticeship to more than 30 years of working with psilocybin, why fear and the need for control come up so often around this medicine, and how she thinks about the spirit of the mushroom. We also talked about the mycelial web of life, the womb and grounding, and more.

"My role is simply to make sure that you feel safe throughout the whole entire experience." – Dr. JJ Pursell

Key Things You'll Learn:

Disclaimer:

This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please speak with a qualified healthcare provider before making any decisions about your health.

Dr. JJ Pursell's Website: https://drjjpursell.com

Get Dr. JJ Pursell's book, Psilocybin Therapy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CDWK2BJ5

Follow Dr. JJ Pursell:

About the host:

Hi, I'm April Punsalan — a botanist, ethnobotanist, herbalist, and the founder of Wild Herb Academy, dedicated to teaching people how to heal with plants. I want you to heal yourself and your family with the wild herbs that grow beneath your feet.

Connect with April:

Thank you for listening! Make sure to follow the Wild Herbs Podcast so you can keep deepening your connection with wild plants and nature, within and without. Stay wild and stay human!

Why Herbalists Need Medical Botany

You've done the training. You know your calendula, chamomile, echinacea, and goldenrod.

But the aster family alone holds 34,000 species.

In this episode, April shares why medical botany is the missing framework for trained herbalists. It was once the backbone of American healthcare, and today almost no one has heard of it.

In this episode:

Plants mentioned:

Resources mentioned:

Ready to learn the plants beneath your feet?

Enrollment for Medical Botany: Mastery of the Flowering Plant Medicines is Open 

Enroll Now!

Know the land before the jar. 🌿

Follow and Subscribe to Be Notified When the Next Podcast Releases 

I'll be sharing the most important things I've learned over nearly 30 years of studying herbalism and botany. If you're ready to stop mail-ordering herbs from distant lands and start connecting deeply with the plant kingdom, especially the wild ones, this free training is for you. Register below, and I hope to see you there!

📅 September 16th, 2026, at 12PM ET
👉 https://www.wildherbacademy.com/masterclass

What role can herbal medicine play in helping us reduce our risk of cancer and support the body when a cancer diagnosis occurs?

In this episode, I sit down with medical herbalist and holistic oncology expert Chanchal Cabrera to explore what she has learned from more than 40 years in clinical practice.

We talk about:

Chanchal also shares the research that changed her perspective on herbal medicine and cancer after studying women living well with breast cancer for more than 10 years, and why she believes the best path forward is collaborative care that brings herbal medicine and conventional oncology together.

About the guest:

Chanchal Cabrera is a medical herbalist, in clinical practice since 1987 with a specialty in holistic oncology since 2004. Chanchal is also a certified Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing) practitioner, a certified Master Gardener and a certified Horticulture Therapist. Chanchal lives on Vancouver Island, British Columbia where she and her husband manage Innisfree Farm and Botanic Garden, a 7-acre internationally registered botanic garden specializing in food and medicine.

She is also the author of the book “Holistic Cancer Care: An Herbal Approach to Preventing Cancer, Helping Patients Thrive during Treatment, and Minimizing the Risk of Recurrence”. She held the faculty chair in Botanical Medicine at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in New Westminster 2004-2016, and she publishes widely in professional journals and lectures internationally on medical herbalism, nutrition and health.

Get Chanchal's books:

Connect with Chanchal:

About the host:
Hi, I'm April Punsalan — a botanist, ethnobotanist, herbalist, and the founder of Wild Herb Academy, dedicated to teaching people how to heal with plants. I want you to heal yourself and your family with the wild herbs that grow beneath your feet.

Connect with  April:

Rate, review, and subscribe:
Bring the wisdom of wild plants with you. Listen to Wild Herbs with April on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you loved this episode, please leave us a review and, most importantly, share it with someone who's walking this journey with cancer.

🌲 Stay WILD. Stay human. And remember—you are nature.

With love,
April Punsalan

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Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition, and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health routine, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or managing a medical condition.

Herbalists, want to learn the native plant medicine of your region? I’m teaching my framework for building regional plant knowledge in an upcoming LIVE class, From 20 Herbs to Infinite Medicine, on September 15, 16, and 18.

👉 Save your spot: https://www.wildherbacademy.com/masterclass

What if kidney disease doesn’t have to mean giving up hope? When kidney function begins to decline, it can feel like there are very few options beyond medication, dialysis, or transplant. But what role can herbs, nutrition, sleep, stress reduction, and other natural approaches play in supporting the kidneys and potentially preserving kidney function?

In this episode of the Wild Herbs Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Jenna Henderson, a naturopathic doctor, kidney patient, transplant recipient, and founder of Holistic Kidney.

After being diagnosed with a rare kidney disease at just 22 years old, Dr. Henderson eventually went through dialysis and a kidney transplant herself. That experience led her to dedicate her career to understanding how natural and conventional medicine can work together to support people living with kidney disease.

About the guest:
Dr. Jenna Henderson is a doctor of naturopathic medicine and the founder of Holistic Kidney, specializing in helping people with kidney disease through safe, effective, and holistic remedies. After experiencing rare kidney disease, dialysis, and a kidney transplant herself, she dedicated her career to supporting others on the same journey. Today, she works with kidney patients around the world, helping people at every stage of kidney disease preserve their kidney function naturally.

Connect with Dr. Jenna:

About the host:
Hi, I'm April Punsalan — a botanist, ethnobotanist, herbalist, and the founder of Wild Herb Academy, dedicated to teaching people how to heal with plants. I want you to heal yourself and your family with the wild herbs that grow beneath your feet.

Connect with  April:

Rate, review, and subscribe:
Bring the wisdom of wild plants with you. Listen to Wild Herbs with April on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you loved this episode, please leave us a review and, most importantly, share it with someone who's walking this journey with kidney disease.

🌲 Stay WILD. Stay human. And remember—you are nature.

With love,
April Punsalan

-----------------

Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition, and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health routine, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or managing a medical condition.

Herbalists, want to go beyond knowing 20 common herbs and learn how to understand the plants growing around you? Learn how to embody the medicine of the land where you live. I’m teaching my framework for building regional plant knowledge in my LIVE class, From 20 Herbs to Infinite Medicine, on September 15, 16, and 18.

👉 Save your spot: https://www.wildherbacademy.com/masterclass

South African botanist Finn Rautenbach shares how growing up on the edge of the Knysna Forest shaped his intimate connection with plants, then takes us into his work with wild-harvest Pelargonium sidoides (African geranium) and its traceable, sustainable supply network, plus his focus on cultivating Sceletium tortuosum (kanna) to reduce poaching while maintaining quality through careful post-harvest processing.

About the guest:
Finn Rautenbach is a South African botanist, Supply Chain Manager at Afrigetics, and Co-founder at Klein Karoo Medicinals, whose passion for rekindling an intimate link between humans and their natural environment has led him to dedicate his life to the study and conservation of Southern African medicinal plants.

Connect with Finn:

About the host:
Hi, I'm April Punsalan — a botanist, ethnobotanist, herbalist, and the founder of Wild Herb Academy, dedicated to teaching people how to heal with plants. I want you to heal yourself and your family with the wild herbs that grow beneath your feet.

Connect with me:

Rate, review, and subscribe:
Bring the wisdom of wild plants with you. Listen to Wild Herbs with April on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you loved this episode, please leave us a review and, most importantly, share it with someone who wants to learn more about the medicinal plants of South Africa.

🌲 Stay WILD. Stay human. And remember—you are nature.

With love,
April Punsalan

-----------------

Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition, and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health routine, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or managing a medical condition.

If you want to learn the language of plants and learn how to identify and make medicine with 100+ flowering plants, join the waitlist for the Medical Botany: https://www.wildherbacademy.com/medical-botany-1-waitlist-1

If you need an alarm to wake up, you’re not sleeping enough. But what does sleep have to do with your hormones? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Nancy Beliveau, a functional medicine practitioner and founder of the Holistic Wholeness Institute, to talk about what may be driving hormonal imbalance in modern women. We talk about sleep, stress, and healthy fats for hormonal health support. Dr. Nancy also shares her own journey and years of working with women, her favorite herbal and nutritional supports and simple ways to begin making changes without overwhelming yourself. Click here to watch this episode on YouTube!

👉 Sign up for Dr. Nancy’s free webinar: https://holisticwholenessinstitute.com 

About the guest:
Dr. Nancy Beliveau is a Functional Medicine Practitioner who helps high-achieving women uncover what's really driving their chronic health conditions and restore their vitality. Through a root cause approach that addresses gut health, hormone optimization, and detoxification, she helps clients heal from the inside out — treating the whole person rather than just their symptoms. As the Founder of the Holistic Wholeness Institute, her mission is to educate, empower, and help people achieve lasting wellness naturally.

Connect with Dr. Nancy:

About the host:
Hi, I'm April Punsalan — a botanist, ethnobotanist, herbalist, and the founder of Wild Herb Academy, dedicated to teaching people how to heal with plants. I want you to heal yourself and your family with the wild herbs that grow beneath your feet. Learn more about me at https://www.wildherbacademy.com/about

Connect with me:

Rate, review, and subscribe:
Bring the wisdom of wild plants with you. Listen to Wild Herbs with April on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you loved this episode, please leave us a review and, most importantly, share it with someone who could use a little more support on their journey toward hormonal balance and natural wellness.

🌲 Stay WILD. Stay human. And remember—you are nature.

With love,
April Punsalan

-----------------

Disclaimer:
The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition, and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health routine, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or managing a medical condition.

What if every plant invites you into a deeper relationship, not only with its medicine, but with the ecosystem it calls home?

In this episode, I sit down with forager and permaculturist Bryan Bramlett to explore the remarkable medicinal potential of Japanese knotweed, why it's treasured in herbal traditions, and how it can support healthy aging, circulation, and cardiovascular function. We also dive into ecological stewardship, ethical foraging, and how building a relationship with the plants around us can deepen both our health and our connection to the natural world. I hope this conversation inspires you to see invasive plants in a whole new way.

Resources:

👉 Japanese Knotweed Research: https://www.healingecosystems.com/knotweed-research

👉 Million Milkweeds Project: https://www.healingecosystems.com/milkweed-project

👉 Join our inner circle: https://www.wildherbacademy.com/

👉 What if the plants around you could help you heal? Discover how in our free masterclass: https://www.wildherbacademy.com/become-the-ecosystem

👉 Get a copy of my book: Foraging Wild Herbs: 30 Healing Plants of the Coastal Carolinas

About the guest:

Bryan Bramlett is an avid forager, permaculturist, and educator who specializes in foraging and tending wild plants. For more than a decade, he has studied and practiced foraging with respected teachers across the country, taught thousands of enthusiastic students, and led workshops on wild food foraging, land stewardship, ecotherapy, and citizen science. Through his work, Bryan helps people deepen their connection with the living world through wild food while empowering them to steward their local ecosystems. His mission is to support both ecological and community health by inspiring responsible stewardship of the landscapes we call home.

Connect with Bryan Bramlett:

About the host:

Hi, I'm April Punsalan — a botanist, ethnobotanist, herbalist, and the founder of Wild Herb Academy, dedicated to teaching people how to heal with plants. I want you to heal yourself and your family with the wild herbs that grow beneath your feet. Click here to learn more about me.

Connect with me:

Rate, review, and subscribe:

Bring the wisdom of wild plants with you. Listen to Wild Herbs with April on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you loved this episode, please leave us a review and most importantly, share it with someone who's curious about Japanese knotweed as food and medicine.

🌲 Stay WILD. Stay human. And remember—you are nature.

With love,
April Punsalan

----------------- 

Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition, and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health routine, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or managing a medical condition.