Herbalism Roots

As men age, prostate and urinary function, stress, libido, and cardiovascular health can become increasingly important areas of focus. Martin shares three herbs traditionally used to support these changing needs.

Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) is well known in traditional herbalism for prostate and urinary health. It is used both preventatively and therapeutically to support healthy prostate function and address changes in urinary flow and frequency that can occur with age.

Oatstraw (Avena sativa) is a deeply nourishing nervine traditionally used to support the nervous system. Herbalists often turn to oatstraw during periods of prolonged stress, nervous tension, anxiety, exhaustion, and low vitality or libido.

Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) has a long history as a cardiovascular herb. The berries, leaves, and flowers are traditionally used to support the heart, circulation, and overall cardiovascular function, both preventatively and therapeutically.

Herbalism is about understanding the whole person and how our needs change throughout different stages of life. These are just three examples of herbs that have a long history of use in supporting men’s health as they age.

Interested in exploring the art of natural perfume making? 🌿✨

Kim and Martin are sharing two book recommendations for anyone interested in perfume making, especially when working with essential oils.

📖 Perfume Making by Mindy Green
📖 Scents & Sensibilities by Mandy Aftel

Both of these books are older and can be a little harder to find, but they’re well worth the hunt!

Working with essential oils is about so much more than choosing scents you enjoy. Learning how different aromas blend, develop, and complement one another can help you better understand the art behind creating natural fragrances.

If natural perfumery is something you’d like to explore, these are two great additions to your herbalism bookshelf. 🌹🌿

🌳 Herbalism outside the classroom! 🌿

Our Herbalism Roots students headed to Cheesman Park with Martin for a tree tour focused on the folklore, mythology, traditional uses, and medicine of trees.

There’s something special about learning about plants while actually standing beneath them. Students had the chance to slow down, observe, identify different trees, and explore the stories and traditional knowledge connected to them.

And yes… our inner tree huggers definitely came out. 😂🌳💚

Experiences like this are such an important part of herbalism. Learning to recognize the plants around us, spending time with them, and building a deeper relationship with the natural world.

A beautiful day of trees, stories, plant medicine, and community. 🌿✨

🌿Plant Spotlight: Osha 🌿

Martin is sharing about a plant that is especially near and dear to his heart, Osha, also known as Bear Medicine. 🐻🌱

Found in the Rocky Mountains, Osha has a long history of traditional use, but it’s also a plant that needs our care and protection. Martin talks about what makes Osha so special, some of its traditional uses, and why mindful harvesting and conservation are so important.

One of the beautiful parts of being an herbalist in the Rocky Mountain region is having the opportunity to experience plants like Osha in their natural environment. Spending time observing, connecting, and even meditating with the plants can offer a completely different way of learning, one that goes beyond what you can find in a book.

Take a few minutes to learn about Osha and why this Rocky Mountain plant is so special. 🌿💚

Some books don’t just teach you something. They change the way you look at the relationship between people, plants, and the natural world. 🌿📖

Kim is sharing a book that is especially meaningful to her, Sastun: My Apprenticeship with a Maya Healer by Rosita Arvigo. Her copy is even signed by the author!

The book follows Arvigo’s journey in Belize as she apprentices with Don Elijio Panti, a highly respected traditional Maya healer who lived to be over 100 years old. Through their time together, she learns about medicinal plants, traditional healing practices, spirituality, and knowledge that had been passed down through generations.

Even the title has significance. A sastun is a sacred stone traditionally used by a Maya healer as part of spiritual healing and diagnosis.

Sprinkled throughout the story are remedies and recipes, but what makes the book so special is the bigger message woven through it: humans and nature are deeply interconnected. It’s also a story about preserving traditional plant knowledge and protecting the rainforest that makes that knowledge possible. 🌱

We love when our instructors share the books and teachers that have shaped their own paths in herbalism.

One of our most beloved Herbalism Roots traditions, going strong for 12 years, is our Final Project Night! 🌿✨

Think science fair meets herbalism magic. 🔬🌱

After 7 months of studying, learning, creating, and connecting with the plants, each student develops an herbal product to share with their classmates. They present the inspiration behind their creation, explain the details of their product, and share what they’ve learned along the way.

Then comes what feels a little like Herbalism Christmas 🎁🌿 Everyone gets to take home a product created by each student!

We finish the evening with a potluck dinner, celebrating together and admiring all of our new handmade herbal goodies.

It’s always incredible to see the creativity, knowledge, and intention each student brings to their final project.

Great job, January cohort! You amazed us! 💚🌿

🌿 A little love for the heart, straight from the herbal kitchen. ❤️

Kim is blending a heart healthy tea with herbs traditionally used to support both the heart and nervous system.

❤️ Hawthorn berry, leaf & flower are traditionally used to support cardiovascular health and healthy circulation.

🌿 Linden is known for its calming properties and has a long history of use for relaxation and cardiovascular support.

🌹 Rose brings more than a beautiful flavor and aroma. It’s rich in plant compounds and traditionally associated with soothing and uplifting the heart and spirit.

🌿 Lemon balm is a gentle calming herb traditionally used to ease tension, support relaxation, and promote a sense of wellbeing.

Together, these herbs create a beautiful blend for supporting the heart while bringing a little calm to the nervous system. 🌿✨