The Virtue Every Herbalist Needs | jim mcdonald

Today on the Herbalist Hour I'm joined by author, illustrator, and Appalachian folk magic practitioner Rebecca Beyer, along with my special co-host Rosalee de la Forêt. We dive deep into Rebecca's newest book, The Complete Folk Herbal, exploring everything from ethical wildcrafting to plant history, folk medicine-making, and the lived stories that shape her work. Rebecca shares her thoughts on learning from many teachers, cultivating authentic plant relationships, avoiding "guru-ism," and keeping humility at the center of herbal practice. We talk about sustainable foraging, the realities of plant lust, and how she hand-illustrated every page of this beautiful book. This episode is full of history, heart, humor, and grounded wisdom — a rich conversation for anyone who loves herbalism. RESOURCES & LINKS BOOK: The Complete Folk Herbal | BUY THE BOOK Rebecca's Website | BloodAndSpicebush.com Rebecca's Substack | BloodAndSpicebush.Substack.com Rebecca on Instagram | @bloodandspicebush Rosalee's Website | HerbsWithRosalee.com WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with a fellow plant person. 🌿Grab FREE Herbal Resources Sign up for the HerbRally newsletter and get instant access to a 91-page Botanical Anthology sampler—plus a bundle of herbal freebies. 👉 Get the freebies | HerbalFreebies.com Want to join us live for future interviews?  Become a HerbRally Schoolhouse member: HerbRally Schoolhouse | HerbRally.com/Schoolhouse Use coupon code SCHOOLHOUSE30 for your first 30 days free! ⚠️ DISCLAIMER This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.

In this clip from Herbalists After Hours, jim mcdonald shares one virtue he believes is essential for herbalists: kindness. Drawing on Octavia Butler's line, "Kindness eases change," jim reflects on how change — whether personal, cultural, or relational — is rarely easy. But kindness can soften the process. We talk about kindness toward others, kindness toward ourselves, and the deeper roots of the word "kind" — connected to kin and nature — reminding us that we are not separate from each other or the living world. In a culture where unkindness is often normalized, this is a gentle but powerful reminder: kindness matters. Rosalee and I are sharing clips from this conversation across our channels — but the full, in-person interview is where the whole story unfolds. FULL INTERVIEW | Watch on YouTube Folk Methodology is a collaboration between Mason Hutchison and Rosalee de la Forêt, dedicated to celebrating the living culture of herbalism. Get full episodes, behind-the-scenes updates, and future projects delivered straight to your inbox | FolkMethodology.com  

🌿 Enroll in Medical Botany: Foundations in Ancient Plant Medicine Enrollment is now open for April Punsalan's 13-week apprenticeship focused on wild plant medicine, plant evolution, botany, Ayurveda, and the 6 tastes. Enroll by Monday night and receive the Wild Apothecary medicine-making course FREE (tinctures, oils, salves, extractions with primarily wild plants). 👉 ENROLL HERE 🌲 Episode Description In this episode of the Wild Herbs Podcast, April dives deeply into the medicine, botany, and spirit of Pine — an ancient evergreen ally that shows up when we need resilience the most. Pine has survived ice ages, climate shifts, and mass extinctions, and in the heart of winter it continues to offer powerful medicine for the lungs, immune system, and spirit. In this episode, April weaves together botany, herbal medicine, Ayurveda, and intuitive plant wisdom to explore why Pine is such a profound teacher for 2026. In this episode, you'll learn: Why Pine is one of the most ancient and resilient trees on Earth How Pine's xylem and spiral water movement reflect rhythmic growth How to identify pines using needles, fascicles, sheaths, and cones Why Pine is especially important medicine in winter Pine's medicinal actions (expectorant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory) How Pine supports colds, mucus, immunity, and inflammation Why fresh Pine is preferred over dried The spiritual symbolism of Pine, spirals, and Fibonacci patterns What Pine teaches about receiving, presence, and sustainable growth Why building a relationship with plants comes before turning to books ⚠️ DISCLAIMER This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.

Medical Botany | A 13-Week Journey Into the Living Language of Plants LEARN MORE & REGISTER If the free preview lit a spark… the full Medical Botany program is where that spark becomes a lifelong relationship with the plant world. This course isn't about memorizing what an herb "does." It's about learning to see like a botanist, feel like an herbalist, and move through the landscape with a deeper sense of belonging. Created by botanist and herbalist April Punsalan, with guest teachings from ethnobotanist Nishanth Gurav, Medical Botany is a complete 13-week training that blends ancestral wisdom, plant morphology, Ayurveda, and intuitive herbalism into one transformative path. What You'll Experience Inside Medical Botany Learn the visual language of leaves, roots, flowers, and plant patterns Recognize wild medicinal plants with confidence Understand your body and herbal actions through Ayurveda Explore ancient medicinal plant families and their shared energetics Make wild medicine from ethically harvested plants Build intuition, ecological awareness, and a deeper connection to the Earth Access April's private library, botanical diagrams, plant ranges, and study tools Receive personal guidance — a rare offering in modern herbal courses Medical Botany is designed to shift how you see the natural world forever. Students walk away more rooted, more confident, and more capable of caring for themselves, their families, and their communities. If you're ready to learn the true language of medicinal plants… Join the full Medical Botany program and step into a deeper relationship with the plant kingdom. Begins soon! LEARN MORE & REGISTER

🌿 $7.77 eBook Sale (Feb 1–7) — Don't Miss It KhadiYah Preciado is hosting her annual eBook sale in honor of Black History Month! Grab her featured books — including The Biblical Herbalist, Everyday Herbs, Recipes From the Earth, Good Smells, and Kiddie Kitchen Apothecary — all for $7.77 through February 7. GET THE BOOKS This episode is a replay of my wonderful conversation with herbalist and author KhadiYah Preciado, host of the beloved YouTube channel Her Healthy Home. We talk about: • Herbal gardening • African herbalism • Her evolving writing + books • The importance of rest • Involving children with herbs • And a whole lot more! Thanks for listening, ~Mason 🌿 Grab KhadiYah's $7.77 eBook Sale Before Feb 7 It's only available for one week, and it supports KhadiYah's incredible work. SHOP THE SALE

Medical Botany Preview with Wild Herb Academy LEARN MORE & REGISTER FOR FREE In this short solo segment, I share an exciting opportunity from our friends at Wild Herb Academy — free access to six lessons from Medical Botany: Foundations in Ancient Plant Medicine. This free preview goes far deeper than basic plant ID. April Punsalan and ethnobotanist Nishanth Gurav teach you how to see plants the way botanists and traditional healers do: through patterns, form, environment, and structure. Inside the free lessons, you'll explore: • How to recognize plant patterns in the field • How leaf shapes and growth habits reveal medicinal qualities • How plant families help you understand unfamiliar herbs • Practical observation skills that deepen your relationship with the land I also share why this kind of plant-pattern literacy is a cornerstone of herbalism — the kind of knowledge that makes every future lesson, formula, and field walk make more sense. A great opportunity to sample the work before the full program opens. Mason Hutchison, HerbRally PS: Jump in soon so you have time to explore all six lessons while they're available. Medical Botany Preview with Wild Herb Academy LEARN MORE & REGISTER FOR FREE

FREE Virtual Herbalism Conference presented Herbal Academy February 15 - 20, 2026 LEARN MORE & REGISTER In this episode of The Herbalist Hour, I sit down with herbalist and educator Lindsey Feldpausch for a rich conversation about what a wholistic approach to herbal education truly means. Early in the episode, Rosalee de la Forêt pops in unexpectedly and joins the discussion, adding even more insight and warmth to the conversation. Lindsey shares her early plant story from Detroit and explores why wholeness in herbalism includes everything from botany and phytochemistry to formulation, energetics, clinical thinking, and direct plant experience. We talk niche vs. generalist paths, information overload, imposter feelings, and why curiosity is one of the herbalist's most valuable tools. We also get behind-the-scenes insights into the upcoming Virtual Herbalism Conference from the Herbal Academy — featuring Rosemary Gladstar, Guido Masé, Sajah Popham, Kat Maier, and more. A warm, energizing episode for herbalists at any point on their plant path 🌿 LINKS & RESOURCES 2026 Virtual Herbalism Conference | LEARN MORE & REGISTER FOR FREE Herbal Academy | LEARN MORE Herbalism Conferences on Instagram | @herbalismconferences Herbal Academy on Instagram | @herbalacademy Lindsey's Website | PlantMatters.org Lindsey on Instagram | @plant.matters Herbs with Rosalee | HerbalRemediesAdvice.org BOOK: Herbs for Fertility | BUY THE BOOK 🌿Grab FREE Herbal Resources Sign up for the HerbRally newsletter and get instant access to a 91-page Botanical Anthology sampler—plus a bundle of herbal freebies. 👉 Get the freebies | HerbalFreebies.com Want to join us live for future interviews?  Become a HerbRally Schoolhouse member: HerbRally Schoolhouse | HerbRally.com/Schoolhouse Use coupon code SCHOOLHOUSE30 for your first 30 days free! ⚠️ DISCLAIMER This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.

The 2025 Rooted Medicine Circle FREE Mini-Course is now LIVE! Learn how to make herbal remedies that you can confidently rely on. LEARN MORE & REGISTER In honor of the reopening of the Rooted Medicine Circle, we're replaying our Herbalist Hour episode with Rosalee de la Forêt & Emily Han. For full shownotes, and to get the Mandarin and Evergreen Shrub PDF recipe, CLICK HERE.  In the free Rooted Medicine Circle Mini Course, you'll find out how to:  Avoid 7 common herbal pitfalls so that you can make powerful remedies that heal Make high-quality herbal teas and know when to use them Connect with other herb lovers in the mini course forum And more!  The Rooted Medicine FREE Mini-Course is only available for a limited time.  LEARN MORE & REGISTER

Welcome back to The Plant Healer's Path — Episode 24. In this lyrical and deeply reflective episode, Jesse Wolf Hardin offers a meditation on beauty — not as surface aesthetics, but as a lived, relational experience at the heart of healing work. Wolf explores how beauty arises through attention, praise, and personal affection — and why naming what moves us is not exclusionary, but an act of generosity. Drawing on vivid imagery from flowers, music, birds, lovers, landscapes, and community healers, he reminds us that beauty is subjective, contextual, and inseparable from our histories, cultures, wounds, and joys. Rather than treating beauty as something fleeting or rare, this episode frames it as ever-present — revealed through perspective, care, and willingness to be moved. Wolf also acknowledges the reality of ugliness and harm in the world, while affirming that choosing to notice and serve what is lovely is a meaningful, healing act in itself. This episode is an invitation to speak our admiration out loud, to let praise inspire others, and to recognize beauty as a reciprocal gift — between people, plants, place, and time. This audio was extracted from the video version available on the HerbRally YouTube channel. This episode is brought to you by The Good Medicine Confluence October 12–15, 2026 Ghost Ranch, New Mexico Join herbalists, healers, wildcrafters, visionaries, misfits, and medicine makers for four unforgettable days of learning, celebration, connection, ritual, and more than 100 classes from over 40 teachers. You're warmly invited to gather, study, celebrate, and dance under the stars in the Land of Enchantment. 👉 Learn more & register | GoodMedicineConfluence.com 🌼 WANT MORE HERBAL GOODNESS? Sign up for the HerbRally newsletter and receive THIRTEEN herbal freebies! 👉 CLAIM YOUR FREEBIES! 🌿 WANT EVEN MORE HERBAL GOODNESS? Become an HerbRally Schoolhouse member! You'll get access to a TON of herbalism classes, monographs, webinars, and more — plus discounts to herbal companies, a private Facebook group, and ongoing education. Use coupon code PODCAST to get your first 30 days FREE. 👉 Learn more & register | HerbRally.com/Schoolhouse Herbalism in your neck of the woods. HerbRally HerbRally.com DISCLAIMER The information in this episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for advice provided by your physician or other medical professionals. Always consult a health care practitioner before using any herbal remedy or food, especially if you are nursing, pregnant, or have any medical condition.

In this clip from The Herbalist Hour Episode 145, jim mcdonald breaks down one of his most foundational teachings: stress isn't one thing — and the herbs you choose should reflect how a person is stressed, not just the intensity of it. Jim explores different stress patterns (sluggish, foggy, irritable, angry, overwhelmed) and how they point toward different herbal qualities — aromatics, bitters, nervines, and combinations. He digs into skullcap, vervain, chamomile, humoral temperaments, and the "frustrated / petulant child" pattern often described in older herbal writings. This clip is classic jim: practical, deeply rooted in traditional herbal energetics, and focused on helping people think clearly about patterns rather than memorizing lists. 🎧 Watch or listen to the full episode of The Herbalist Hour wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about jim and his work  | HerbCraft.org FULL EPISODE | WATCH ON YOUTUBE 🌿 Grab 13 FREE Herbal Resources Sign up for the HerbRally newsletter and get instant access to a beautiful 91-page Botanical Anthology sampler — full of seasonal recipes, remedies & plant magic.  Plus, unlock 12 more herbal freebies! 👉 Get the goods at HerbalFreebies.com 🌿WANT EVEN MORE HERBAL GOODNESS? Become an HerbRally Schoolhouse member!  You'll get access to a TON of herbalism classes, monographs, webinars and more.  There's also discounts to cool herbal companies, a private Facebook group and more! You can get your first 30 days FREE with coupon code PODCAST LEARN MORE AND REGISTER | HerbRally.com/Schoolhouse Herbalism in your neck of the woods.  HerbRally www.herbrally.com DISCLAIMER The information in this episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for advice provided by your physician or other medical professionals. Always consult a health care practitioner before using any herbal remedy or food, especially if you are nursing, pregnant, or have any medical condition.