Hello! I would like to incorporate herbalism with my kids. Prevention, home remedies (such as seasonal allergy relief!) and would love any books / resources. And also about dosing. I think I heard generally starting at age 12 kids you can follow adult dosing (generally speaking). Thanks!
Hi, i hope this is the right place to add this as I didn't see open questions for July. Anyway, here's the question. I just stepped out to grab some mail (about a 2 min walk outside and the air is smokey today from wildfire smoke). It was only 124 (sensitive for certain groups, so I figured I was okay with out a mask). That was a mistake as my lungs feel ache now and i'm coughing. I know that I should wear a mask next time. However, is there anything that can be done. Are there teas or herbs that can help expell the particles that I speculate I just breathed in?
Oof gosh, I'm sorry to hear this! The AQI readings are really bad lately, and such a saddening part of our future it appears. I'll add lung health to our queue for an asap next episode, and meanwhile would direct you to mullein as THE plant for lung health. Since you mentioned expelling, expectorant herbs include thyme, licorice, peppermint (and many more). More soon, and meanwhile hoping you can breathe safely!
Hi there! I'm working on formulating some tinctures, but I'm interested in adding vegetable glycerin to make them a little tastier. What is a good ratio of alcohol to glycerin? & Should I continue to use a 1:3 ratio (dried herbs to menstruum), or adjust the ratio because I'll be adding glycerin? Thank you in advance for your help! I am very inspired by your work.
Hi! I love that you're making medicine! So, in terms of menstruums and ratios, it gets complicated quickly. Do you have a good book you're relying on? VG is way weaker than alcohol, and it extracts water soluble compounds specifically, which is the opposite of alcohol, so you're going to get a different effect. If it's just for flavor, I'd make an alcohol extract and then mix it into VG (or honey or anything tasty) later on, rather than dilute it during the extraction process. Hope that helps! I'll talk more about this in tomorrow's episode too.
Thank you! This was very helpful, and I went straight to Thomas Easley’s book after you mentioned it in the podcast, which is also quite helpful. It actually has a section that discusses using alcohol with other solvents such as glycerin, which is exactly what I was looking for.
I have a decent herbal book collection going, but I’d be very interested to hear your go-to books or book recommendations for formulating & dosing!
So glad it helped! I'll look into a list of medicine making books to share here. I make less at home now that we're so large and working with a manufacturer for our products, though the urge arises every so often. Back with recos soon!
Also! I know you are an affiliate with mudwtr which we used to drink years ago but stoped when I learned more about functional mushrooms and mycelium vs fruiting body. The herbalist I used to work with told me the mycelium is a waste of money and that you should only go for mushroom powders/extractions made from the fruiting body or BOTH. Mudwtr is made from the mycelium only-can you speak to this? Do you disagree? Thanks!
Hi! Good question, common question! Re: MUD: "All of our organic mushroom powders (except for chaga) contain both mycelium and fruiting bodies." So, there's that. In terms of mycellium, Paul Stamets loves it and it's hard to believe he's wrong about anything mushroom related. MUD has a good note here about the quality of mycellium v fruiting body and how either can be done well, or wrong (cheaply): https://mudwtr.com/pages/our-mushrooms
I'll chat a bit more about this in the next episode but overall, I am looking for great sourcing (or sustainable growing practices) with attention to quality, processing, and dosage. MUD is checking the boxes for me as well as Four Sigmatic and Rasa (and Paul Stamets). Hope that helps!
Energy in 3rd trimester, herbs to support labor (NOT induce it), herbs to support immediately following labor/healing/breast milk (maybe that’s something that can start end of third tri?). Thanks!
I was wondering if you could share some herbs for grief. I know this is an important topic for you and I thought you had touched on it before but I couldn’t fully remember or find anything scrolling through so I figured I would ask. I’ve been feeling very uneasy after losing my grandfather. Lots of high stress moments, heart beating fast, feeling sad, the whole thing. I’ve been making tea blends of oat straw, roses, lavender, chamomile, hibiscus to name a few but was wondering if I was missing out of a major player. Thanks 💚
Replying to myself lol - I’m in the catch up process with episodes and just hit play on March 23rd episode! It’s almost like it was meant to be. I’ve already clicked on the link you shared and going to dig in.
Hi Rachelle, I wanted to see what your thoughts are on phytoestrogens during perimenopause. As someone with estrogen dominance I take DIM and try to focus on phytoestrogens. I’d also love your thoughts on whether Maca is good during perimenopause when estrogen is on a crazy rollercoaster.
Sincerely,
Daniela
P.S. my gyn also put me on low bio-identical hormone replacement progesterone.
This is fantastic! Thank you so much, Rachelle! I'll be checking this out! I appreciate it very much. I'm excited as I'm currently taking DIM also and curious!
I’d love more info on parasite cleansing. It seems to be talked about a lot in the wellness world and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you do parasite cleanses? I know there are specific herbs that can assist but have also heard you need to take a binder. Any info is greatly appreciated 🙏🏼
Hello! I would like to incorporate herbalism with my kids. Prevention, home remedies (such as seasonal allergy relief!) and would love any books / resources. And also about dosing. I think I heard generally starting at age 12 kids you can follow adult dosing (generally speaking). Thanks!
Hi Esther! You're the first to ask about herbalism for kids (broadly/generally) here! I'm happy to dive in and have added it to our queue.
Yay! I hope there are others interested in this topic!
I grew up on Chinese herbs so really believe it can be a great tool for kids as well!
Hi, i hope this is the right place to add this as I didn't see open questions for July. Anyway, here's the question. I just stepped out to grab some mail (about a 2 min walk outside and the air is smokey today from wildfire smoke). It was only 124 (sensitive for certain groups, so I figured I was okay with out a mask). That was a mistake as my lungs feel ache now and i'm coughing. I know that I should wear a mask next time. However, is there anything that can be done. Are there teas or herbs that can help expell the particles that I speculate I just breathed in?
Oof gosh, I'm sorry to hear this! The AQI readings are really bad lately, and such a saddening part of our future it appears. I'll add lung health to our queue for an asap next episode, and meanwhile would direct you to mullein as THE plant for lung health. Since you mentioned expelling, expectorant herbs include thyme, licorice, peppermint (and many more). More soon, and meanwhile hoping you can breathe safely!
Hi there! I'm working on formulating some tinctures, but I'm interested in adding vegetable glycerin to make them a little tastier. What is a good ratio of alcohol to glycerin? & Should I continue to use a 1:3 ratio (dried herbs to menstruum), or adjust the ratio because I'll be adding glycerin? Thank you in advance for your help! I am very inspired by your work.
Hi! I love that you're making medicine! So, in terms of menstruums and ratios, it gets complicated quickly. Do you have a good book you're relying on? VG is way weaker than alcohol, and it extracts water soluble compounds specifically, which is the opposite of alcohol, so you're going to get a different effect. If it's just for flavor, I'd make an alcohol extract and then mix it into VG (or honey or anything tasty) later on, rather than dilute it during the extraction process. Hope that helps! I'll talk more about this in tomorrow's episode too.
Thank you! This was very helpful, and I went straight to Thomas Easley’s book after you mentioned it in the podcast, which is also quite helpful. It actually has a section that discusses using alcohol with other solvents such as glycerin, which is exactly what I was looking for.
I have a decent herbal book collection going, but I’d be very interested to hear your go-to books or book recommendations for formulating & dosing!
So glad it helped! I'll look into a list of medicine making books to share here. I make less at home now that we're so large and working with a manufacturer for our products, though the urge arises every so often. Back with recos soon!
Can you speak to overcoming Candida overgrowth with herbs and a plant-based diet? What’s the protocol?
Good one! I'll add to our queue now!
Also! I know you are an affiliate with mudwtr which we used to drink years ago but stoped when I learned more about functional mushrooms and mycelium vs fruiting body. The herbalist I used to work with told me the mycelium is a waste of money and that you should only go for mushroom powders/extractions made from the fruiting body or BOTH. Mudwtr is made from the mycelium only-can you speak to this? Do you disagree? Thanks!
Hi! Good question, common question! Re: MUD: "All of our organic mushroom powders (except for chaga) contain both mycelium and fruiting bodies." So, there's that. In terms of mycellium, Paul Stamets loves it and it's hard to believe he's wrong about anything mushroom related. MUD has a good note here about the quality of mycellium v fruiting body and how either can be done well, or wrong (cheaply): https://mudwtr.com/pages/our-mushrooms
I'll chat a bit more about this in the next episode but overall, I am looking for great sourcing (or sustainable growing practices) with attention to quality, processing, and dosage. MUD is checking the boxes for me as well as Four Sigmatic and Rasa (and Paul Stamets). Hope that helps!
Favorites herbs you recommend for pregnancy/postpartum?
Big topic! I can add it to our queue. What needs / symptoms are we looking to support specifically?
Energy in 3rd trimester, herbs to support labor (NOT induce it), herbs to support immediately following labor/healing/breast milk (maybe that’s something that can start end of third tri?). Thanks!
Got it! I would also strongly recommend working with a midwife!
I am :) but midwives are not trained in herbalism (unless of course they are) even if they have more herbal knowledge than an MD.
Awesome. I'm glad you have that resource!
Hello Rachelle!
I was wondering if you could share some herbs for grief. I know this is an important topic for you and I thought you had touched on it before but I couldn’t fully remember or find anything scrolling through so I figured I would ask. I’ve been feeling very uneasy after losing my grandfather. Lots of high stress moments, heart beating fast, feeling sad, the whole thing. I’ve been making tea blends of oat straw, roses, lavender, chamomile, hibiscus to name a few but was wondering if I was missing out of a major player. Thanks 💚
Replying to myself lol - I’m in the catch up process with episodes and just hit play on March 23rd episode! It’s almost like it was meant to be. I’ve already clicked on the link you shared and going to dig in.
So glad you found what you needed. And so it's here for anyone else scrolling through: https://www.ursupernatural.com/topics/death-awareness-grief-and-grieving-resources?rq=grief
Hi Rachelle, I wanted to see what your thoughts are on phytoestrogens during perimenopause. As someone with estrogen dominance I take DIM and try to focus on phytoestrogens. I’d also love your thoughts on whether Maca is good during perimenopause when estrogen is on a crazy rollercoaster.
Sincerely,
Daniela
P.S. my gyn also put me on low bio-identical hormone replacement progesterone.
Hi Daniela! Happy to talk about this, yes. I love phytoestrogens—most herbalists do. (Did you see this old post about DIM? https://open.substack.com/pub/ursupernatural/p/diindolylmethane-dim-information?r=ogesz&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web) Thanks for asking!
This is fantastic! Thank you so much, Rachelle! I'll be checking this out! I appreciate it very much. I'm excited as I'm currently taking DIM also and curious!
- Daniela
Hi Rachelle,
I’d love more info on parasite cleansing. It seems to be talked about a lot in the wellness world and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you do parasite cleanses? I know there are specific herbs that can assist but have also heard you need to take a binder. Any info is greatly appreciated 🙏🏼
Hi Heather! Thanks for asking. This isn't something I do, but I'll share the notes I have on it!