The Herbalist's Path

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 19:22:00 +0000

Herb Fairies are back! An herbal learning system for kids! Ever make Candied Violets or REAL marshmallows? These and 12 other herbal kids recipes in free cookbook!!! Get It HERE!!!!

~ I am proudly affiliated with Learning Herbs~

Gain the confidence to choose the right herb for the right situation!

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 13:22:00 +0000

Ever feel overwhelmed when deciding which herb to use? Click here to Check out this blueprint to understanding herbs

Instantly download your FREE Taste of Herbs Flavor Wheel!

I am so excited to be affiliated with Learning herbs! This is an awesome resource to use to gain the confidence to use the right herb in the right situation.

Also, Create lots of herbal recipes from herbal formulas, to delicious foods to yummy treats!
And...Connect to herbs deeply (using your senses helps you to really “get it”)

Click here to Instantly download your FREE Taste of Herbs Flavor Wheel today!

New Free Video Just Added!!!

This great digestive remedy is also a delicious recipe that you can use every day...
An amazing 5 spice blend. I’ll bet you never imagined using these herbs on savory dishes!

Click Here to watch the free Video!

Connect with the plants through medicinal teas! H

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 01:48:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

Hello everyone! I am offering a new free email mini course:

Medicinal Teas!

~Connecting, rejuvenating and nourishing with medicinal plants~

The course is over at my authentic mama blog- email interaction with me is included!

I can't wait to connect with you and the plants!

Check it out!

*** herbs are not included but we will talk about how to use the weeds that may be included in your backyard!

Authentic Mama is back! Huge discounts on Herbalist 101 plus free gifts!

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 23:51:00 +0000

Hello everyone, I brought back the Authentic Mama blog... if you sign up for the newsletter you will get some awesome discounts on my online classes (the best price I have EVER offered!) and some free gifts (to be announced).

Go to Authentic Mama and check it out!

Rosemary in Autumn

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 18:24:00 +0000

Hello everyone! The above picture is of a rosemary plant that we planted this year. The fallen leaves that surround it are from one of our favorite trees. This year the leaves remained green during the entire summer (normally they are red for most of the summer). Just when we wondered if the leaves would turn color, they did, and the kids and I marveled at the beauty of the brilliant array of reds the tree displayed. That night a hail storm came and the tree began to drop all of its beautiful red leaves, not only were we grateful we got to enjoy the beauty of its display before they fell to the ground, but we were also reminded to stop and take time to notice the amazing lessons that nature has to teach us. Ella (my 3 year old) asked "why can't the leaves stay?" We spent the day talking about the tree, seasons, beauty, gratitude, time, and gifts.... and we collected some leaves.

This year has been a beautiful year of lessons, learning, and reflection. There is no doubt that I have faced some major life challenges this year. When this happens, I have found that daily quiet reflection along with learning from the best teachers in my life (my children) has been the medicine that I needed to get back on track.

We have been enjoying the rhythms of everyday life. Going for long walks and playing outdoors for hours, enjoying the harvest from the farmers market stand, experimenting with new recipes made from local produce and herbs, telling and listening to fairy tales and myths, working with crafts and painting, and making our house a home. Along with some major projects we have been doing around the yard, we also built a chicken coop out of our old dog house, we have been enjoying fresh eggs from our two chickens daily.

We had a very short summer this year. I was told by my friends at the farmers stand that it was the worst harvest they have had from their garden in 40 years. I hear whispers around the neighborhood that the winter is going to be unusually harsh. When I observe the crisp morning air and the early snow storms further up the mountain, I am starting to believe that my neighbors may be on to something.

Now that the days are getting shorter, and my urge to write is getting even stronger, I am considering writing some posts here that involve myth, fairy tales, and herbs for the younger audience (my hope is that you will share them with your children).
I decided to shut down the blog Authentic Mama for now, so you may see some posts that involve kids and family (and of course herbs and health) here in the future.

Enjoy the holidays!

Herbal Energetics with Kiva Rose- Guest Post Chamomile

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 14:49:00 +0000

I am excited to have guest herbal columnist Kiva Rose on my blog today. Kiva Rose is a well-known herbal blogger, and co-founder of the Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference.

Kiva is finally coming out with her secrets of how she learns so much about plants without using books. Her plant monographs, like the one below, are famous for their deep exploration into herbs that you will not find in other places.

Click here to learn just HOW she does it.

Earth Apple: The Bittersweet Medicine of Chamomile By Kiva Rose

I am excited to finally be able to go deeper into explaining herbal energetics in my upcoming course, Herb Energetics

Let’s begin with an herb we all know and love, chamomile.

However, do you REALLY know Chamomile?

Chamomile means “earth apple” which is easy to understand when we accidentally trample the flowers and underfoot and suddenly smell the welcome fragrance of apples rising from the earth. In the same way, Spanish speaking peoples often use the name Manzanilla, literally meaning “little apple”.

Even for those largely unfamiliar with herbs, the distinctive sweet scent of Chamomile is often both familiar and comforting. This plant is many people’s first and perhaps only introduction to herbalism, often from a cup of honey-sweetened and belly-calming tea from their grandmother.

Many children enjoy eating the buds or just opened flowers, savoring the sweet aromatic taste of the plant, and rarely seeming to mind the slightly bitter aftertaste. Some patches of Chamomile, depending on phase of flowering and availability of moisture, are much more bitter than others but the fragrant sweetness persists even in the most bitter batches.

Far from irrelevant, these signature sensory characteristics of Chamomile that make the plant memorable in our minds are also the primary keys to understanding how to work with Matricaria as a medicine.

As with almost any herb, the taste and scent of Matricaria tells us a great deal about its properties, allowing us to use our senses to listen to the plant and understand its essence as a medicine. That blissfully apple-like scent that children so love to breathe in from the flowers tends to bring relaxed smiles to their faces and anyone who’s ever drank a cup of the tea can testify to the relaxing, tension alleviating effects of the plant.

That aromatic component, stemming from the plant’s high volatile oil content, is predictably nervine, meaning that it has a discernible effect on the nervous system. In this case, a specific relaxing, calming effect. Additionally, that same volatile oil content is responsible for Chamomile’s actions as a carminative, relieving digestive stagnation in the form of gas, gut cramping and mild constipation. A traditional remedy by several North American indigenous tribes for the uterine cramps of girls just beginning their menstrual cycles, Chamomile is a mild relaxant for the smooth muscles of the gut, uterus, bladder and respiratory tract with a specific affinity for the gut.

Matricaria is not just aromatic, even in the sweetest Chamomile flowers we find a notably bitter aftertaste. Rather than ruining the flavor of an otherwise tasty herb, that bitter element enhances and expands the medicinal properties of the plant. The bitter flavor tells us that it has a distinct effect on the digestive system, even beyond the aromatic/carminative qualities.

The bitterness increases the secretion of digestive juices and enzymes in the gut, thereby improving digestion wherever there is a lack of secretions, which is a common cause of heartburn and many cases of general gut discomfort. This combined with its obvious nervine properties; Matricaria excels at treating what is commonly known as a “nervous stomach”, which generally implies digestive upset concurrent with anxiety and nervous tension.

Volatile oils and bitter principles together make for a powerful ability to reduce inflammation and promote healing, especially in the gut. I rarely create a formula for those with leaky gut, irritable bowel syndrome or even Crohn’s disease that doesn’t contain some proportion of Chamomile. Even as a simple, this pleasant tasting plant can very effectively reduce gut inflammation, pain and cramping while promoting healing of the mucosa and improving overall digestion. And of course, reducing any anxiety that may be aggravating or triggering the gut issues in the first place.

Just as it soothes and heals internally, Matricaria is also a first-rate external application for almost any case of inflammation, irritation, swelling and even potential infection. It finds its way into many of my compress formulas for eczema, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and other common inflammatory skin conditions.

Steams, baths and infused oil are other effective ways of utilizing the calming, decongestive and healing properties of the herb. It’s also the first plant I think of in addressing the discomfort, irritability, insomnia, belly upset and fever of teething in small children.

Chamomile is one of my favorite remedies for all sorts of eye inflammations and infections. It can be used as a warm compress or saline eyewash to reduce inflammation, possible infection and pain in the treatment of styes, conjunctivitis, pink eye and similar maladies.

It teams up especially well with any Rosa spp. petals where there is a great deal of redness, irritation and swelling in the eye and the surrounding area. Just be sure to strain all those tiny (and potentially irritating) bits of Chamomile flower before using as an eyewash.

Chamomile has a well-deserved reputation as an archetypal remedy for children (or as Matthew Wood says “children of any age”), especially where there is fussiness, restlessness, frequent digestive upset and a tendency to react strongly to any irritant or discomfort. If one were to read the first dozen monograph on Matricaria they came across, the word “soothing” would be likely to show up in nearly every one. While now a somewhat clichéd representation of this common herb, it is nonetheless very accurate.

There’s a tendency by some of us to be less interested in the classic gentle herbs whose effects seem obvious, mild and less than profound. And yet, Chamomile has retained it’s popularity and reputation over the years for a very a specific reason. It works. It’s an effective, widely applicable, safe medicine well-loved by countless generations of mothers, herbalists and more recently, even medical doctors. This small but fragrant apple of the earth remains an invaluable medicine for all of us. Through both sweet and the bitter tastes, Chamomile provides us with a simple yet essential remedy.

Considerations: People with sensitivities to plants in the Aster family may have similar problems with Matricaria. Also note that Pineapple Weed (M. discoidea) often has a stronger bitter component and overall action than the common garden grown M. recutita.

The low down…

Common Name: Chamomile, Manzanilla, Pineapple Weed

Botanical Name: Matricaria recutita (as well as M. discoidea)

Botanical Family: Asteraceae

Taste: Aromatic, sweet, bitter

Vital Actions: relaxant nervine, relaxant diaphoretic, aromatic bitter/carminative, vulnerary,

Specific Indications: Irritability, tension, heat, hypersensitivity to pain

Energetics: sl. Cool, dry

So, exactly how does Kiva learn about plants by using her senses?

Just click here

Little Acorn Learning Giveaway! FREE May 5 Day childcare guide

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:07:00 +0000

To Celebrate Earthday win a FREE May 5 Day childcare guide from Little Acorn Learning! Visit their blog HERE for details!

Get Home Apothecary with Angie Goodloe MP3 course Free!

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 02:43:00 +0000

I am in the process of moving my 2 blogs to one website. I don't want anyone to miss out. In the meantime I want to post all of my herbal events (herb walks, articles, news) on my facebook fan page. There is only one problem. For some reason I have an easier time getting people on my personal page and no one knows about my fan page! To inspire people to move over to the fan page I wanted to offer a free gift! If you are already a fan- you will be receiving access to the course as well on April 26th:)

Become a fan on my facebook page (via the 'like' button) between now and April 25th and I will hook you up with the Home Apothecary course on April 26th! http://www.facebook.com/AngieGoodloe

The Home Apothecary MP3 audio is nearly 3 hours of instruction! All you need to do if you are interested in the Home Apothecary lesson is sign up at my fan page before the deadline of April 25th- and on April 26th I will send everyone on my fan page information on how to access the course.

If you missed it the first time, you can check out the entire course HERE I am not sure if John will ever offer this course again, so grab this portion while you can!

Join my fan page and get the course on April 26th!

Here is a summary of the Home Apothecary lesson:

Tips for integrating herbal medicine into the home

Administering herbs to kids

Great "kid herbs" to have in your apothecary

The best books and resources

Contraindications

Suggested dosage for children

Tips for the busy parent

Remedies covered include....

Tinctures

Freezing fresh herbs in ice cube trays

Herbal pops

Honey

Syrups and elixirs

Powders and making "candy" or "tablets"

Puddings and thick drinks

Tea blends

Infusions

Decoctions

Herbal Baths

Vapors and steams

Poultices

Compresses

Salves and infused oils

A 2 part lesson nearly 3 hours long!

Herbalist 101 course - SALE!

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 04:32:00 +0000

Hello everyone- we are counting our blessings in these tough economic times!

Use the code BLESSINGS for a limited time and sign up for herbalist 101 for only $35.00-

regular price 65.00!!!!

Hope to see you there!

Easy Bath herbs

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:02:00 +0000

I love baths! Ever since I can remember, if things were not going my way I would escape into the bathtub, I would stay there until I was a complete raisin! My mom used to call me a 'water baby' because I loved the water so much. Some of my best insights have 'came to me' while I was having a nice soak in the tub. Many times too, I would leave the tub with my problems going down the drain... literally.

When a friend or client is stressed I ask them if they can work in a bath (preferably with herbs!) I often tell moms with older kids, tell your kids "no interruptions unless it is an emergency" (a real one, like someone is bleeding or there is a fire) ignore all the door pounding, the 'mom can you ____" and the occasional screams- we are talking 40 minutes tops- what could happen (wink). As far as moms with babies- jump in as soon as the nap starts- if you are lucky you can get a 20 minute bath in!

You are actually bathing in a giant cup of tea- it is divine!

Just one more way to learn about and connect to the plants.

I am a little sore lately. I am not sure if I discussed this before, but topical herbal remedies can be just as effective as internal - or even better use them together!

Throw some herbs in a sock, tie the top to the faucet and let the bath water run through, when the bath is done running, let the herbs float in the tub (make sure the top is tied, you don't want a lot of loose herbs clogging the drain), or use the herb filled sock as a bath scrub!

I love, love, love to drink herbal tea (like chamomile- or other relaxing herbs ) and simultaneously use them in my bath!

It is especially nice this time of year when it is chilly- and muscles ache from either inactivity or jumping into a new exercise routine (I am talking to you New Years resolution folks!)

You can use the same herbs you would use for teas.. or even better, if you are clearing out your shelves getting ready for the spring harvest, you can use those herbs that are not quite as strong as you would like for your bath instead of composting them!

I like relaxing herbs most of the time, but you can also use stimulating herbs in the morning (Rosemary is nice for this). This is a great jump start to the day!

I just started practicing yoga, and I found a rosemary bath right after is an awesome way to move forward with my day!

So try it!

Get creative!

I like mints, comfrey, Valerian, hops, lavender, calendula, oats- just off the top of my head.

Let me know what you think:)

Amazing Art By Jesse Wolf Hardin! Updates

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:11:00 +0000

Notice the beautiful new header! Thank you so much Wolf for the awesome portrait of me, my daughter Ella; Strong, Fiery, Deliberate, Wild pony! and my son Wyatt; Gentle, Smart, Happy, Spunky cub!

Now would also be the perfect time to mention that Anima is offering some great new correspondence courses- check out their offerings here!

In other news, look for more blog posts, updates on the herbal list, and a new course especially for Moms after the first of the year! The new course I am working on will be all about mothering; balance in the home, self care, inner work and setting the example (and herbal remedies!).

In the meantime Ella's 3rd Birthday is coming up on the 21st! We will be having a small celebration at our home. I have been working on needle felting some handmade gifts of some of Ella's favorite animals, and Tony is working on a wood handmade play kitchen and play stand!

Then the holidays are right around the corner!

Blessings everyone!

Kids and Herbs a naturally simple class for parents

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:39:00 +0000

Kids and Herbs is Live!

This is what I have been working on for the past few months! This is why the blog has been so slow! Only so much time with 2 little ones!
There is tons of info and over 7 hours of instruction!

This was so much fun!

Kids and Herbs- a naturally simple course for parents herbalist Angie Goodloe

The coolest part of this is for one week only, Kimberly and John Gallagher the creators of Wildcraft are giving away a FREE Wildcraft game with the course! The launch is at 9 am PST this morning!

We had so much fun creating this course. I have to thank John Gallagher, L.Ac., CCH from herbmentor and learning herbs for all of the work he put into this, as well as putting up with my TOTAL ignorance when it comes to technology!

If you are not a member of the learning herbs email list, and you have not heard about this course, you can check out the details HERE (plus learn how to make Elderberry syrup just in time for flu season!). If you love herbs you should definitely sign up for the learning herbs list, the offer free recepies and videos, all about herbs and health- it is an awesome resource!

ACHS 4th Annual Herb Day Celebration

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:42:00 +0000

I want to invite you to the ACHS 4th Annual Herb Day Celebration this Friday, October 9. Come join us from 11 am to 3 pm to learn more about using herbs with children, antioxidants and herbs for the immune system, and an introduction to traditional Chinese medicine.

To RSVP, please call 503-244-0726

The ACHS Campus is located in John's Landing at:5940 SW Hood AvenuePortland, OR 97239

You'll hear from Master Herbalist Angela Goodloe, Herbalist and Aromatherapist Amanda Lattin, and ACHS & Acupuncturist Scott Stuart.

Schedule for the day: 11:00-12:00: Introduction & Welcome and Overview of ACHS Holistic Health Programs with ACHS Dean of Admissions Tracey Miller and Senior Admissions Advisor Chris Fierro.

12:00-1:00: Herbs and Children with Angela Goodloe, MH Angie will be discussing creative ways for parents to incorporate herbal remedies into their everyday lives at home. Examples of safe and effective herbal remedies to include in your home apothecary, how to prepare them, and their uses will be discussed. Fun and creative ways to include your child in the process as well as approaches to holistic healing in the home will also be discussed.

1:00-2:00: Basic Concepts in Traditional Chinese Medicine:

Qi, Yin & Yang and the Five Elements with ACHS Instructor Scott Stuart, L.Ac.Scott will provide an overview of basic concepts in traditional Chinese medicine as well as present information about a few herbs from the traditional Chinese medicine perspective.

2:00-3:00: Herbs and Antioxidants with Herbalist and Amanda Lattin, BA, MA, Dip.Aroma, MH

Herbs and antioxidants - what are antioxidants and what do they do for and against the body. This lecture will include herbal sources of antioxidants and how their actions can help aid the immune system. Amanda will also discuss why these herbs are important at this time of the year.

Meet Angie Goodloe at the ACHS Health Fair August 29th!

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:48:00 +0000

Come join me at the ACHS Health Fair! At the ACHS campus in Portland Oregon I will be speaking at 1 pm on Saturday August 29th!

Paul Bergner Vit D cold and flu, vitamins and herbs

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:29:00 +0000

Wanted to share these great videos from Paul as well...

How to Become a Master Herbalist in Thirty Years or More -- Part II.

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:53:00 +0000

Here is the continuations of Paul Bergner's article- 
If you missed it here is part 1
Please feel free to comment!

How to become a master herbalist in Thirty Years or more part 2


Mastery of any topic is attained after years to decades of becoming
fully engaged not only in the field, but being constantly engaged with
a level of rigor and practice that steadily expands and also deepens
understanding of the facts and principles of that field or topic. The
master brings the subject completely alive in their own being and
experience. Ultimately their career is characterized by various
“threshhold events” of understanding and insight which contribute new
understanding for the current generation and a legacy for future
generations. Those thresholds are made possible by an intuitive
synthesis of many facts and observations during the career leading up
to them. This process among the teachers and leaders and innovators in
a field is how that field stays current and alive throughout
generations.

The 10,000 hour rule

A study of classical musicians at a Berlin academy of classical music
investigated students in three tracks in the school: The Star track,
headed for world fame in classical music; the middle track, headed for
the St Louis Philharmonic; and the teacher track, less skilled and
headed to teach music in high school. Researchers asked the simple
question: How much weekly practice time have you put in year by year
since your started playing your instrument? The results: star track
musicians had put in at least 10,000 hours of practice. The middle
track had put in 8,000 hours but none had put in 10,000 hours; and the
teacher track had put in 4,000 hours, but none had put in 8,000 hours.
This is now being called The Ten Thousand Hour Rule in popular
culture, and people are claiming mastery for having showed up for work
for 10,000 hours (about 20 hours a week for ten years.) There is a big
problem with this kind of thinking, however. Musicians put in practice
time with rigor such as scales, mastering all keys,  and chords within
them, as well as developing progressively more difficult techniques
and progressively more sophisticated pieces for performance, while at
the same time keeping well practiced in the basics. They don't just
play what they already know, they grow constantly, in addition to
constantly honing the basics. Just punching the clock is not enough. I
am sure the a Rotor Rooter Man can claim 10,000 hours of snaking
toilets, but this is not progressive development of ability and
insight. Or to put it another way, one stand-up comic criticized a
rival saying: “He says he's been doing stand-up for twenty years; I
say he only did it for 1 year and then repeated that year nineteen
times.” In the herbal field, we have herbalists lecturing at
conferences who are giving essentially the same lectures they were 20
years ago; herbalist-physicians practicing by rote administration of
set formulas; herbalists writing books full of information they read
in other books and which they have never demonstrated to be true in
their own experience. So our questions for mastering herbalism are:

1) What kinds of activities or study count toward the 10,000 hours and
progressively develop skill and insight in the practitioner?

2) How can we avoid becoming comedians who repeat their same jokes for
twenty years without growing or developing new repertoire.

In this series of articles, I am not calling for standards for
licensing or approval by any regulatory body or accrediting agency.  I
am an educator, with 36 years of clinical experience, 20 years
teaching, and 15 years running a teaching clinic, supervising
thousands of cases over that time in addition to my own clients.  I'm
now in my elder years, eligible for social security, and at this stage
I could care a fig whether the government or anyone else approves of
me. And I am very much focused on how to train a younger generation of
herbalists in the routines and practices and attitudes that will lead
to mastery instead of decades of bad jokes. I believe the future of
Western herbalism will depend on this kind of work to a much greater
extent than reframing what and who we are for the sake of acceptance
by authority, however necessary or valuable that may seem in the short
term.

I've thought about the above questions deeply, and will give my
thoughts in the third and final part of this article. Meanwhile I
thought I would put this out on the lists for discussion. Every
herbalist, and especially every master of herbalism is not on the same
track, in fact mastery implies to some extent uniqueness and being
out-of-the-box. So there is not one answer to the above. A master of
wildcrafting and medicine making is on a different track that a master
of clinical herbalism, a clinical herbalist practicing in the
physician-model will have a different set of “scales” to practice than
a clinical herbalist practicing in the hygienist/nutritionist model.
Teachers will have routines of practice and preparation that are
unique to teachers. True mastery of botany is essential for a master
of wildcrafting, it is not for a clinical herbalist, and so on.

So I put the question for discussion: What are some of the routines,
practices, disciplines, and attitudes that can lead to progressive
development of an herbal career and lead to mastery in the field?

Please feel free to reprint or circulate this article freely.
--
Paul Bergner
North American Institute of Medical Herbalism http://naimh.com
Medical Herbalism Journal http://medherb.com

Devil's Club, Mountain Berries, Baneberry and a chipmonk

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 22:10:00 +0000

Top 3- Pic 1 Thimble berry (rubus sp) 2 Red Huckleberry Vaccinium parvifolium (today they were a bit tart, but I like this flavor) they are at their peek of ripeness right now. The leaves are alternate along the stem (pic 3), snow berry is white and the leaves of that plant and the bush itself look similar but they are opposite (across from each other) along the stem, keep this in mind when you are trying to ID the plant if there are no berries on it (clearly if they are white berries they are snowberry).

Next 3 are Devil's Club I wrote about this a few years back here
The leaves are huge! The pic does not do it justice, there are even spines under the leaves (so I found when I went to look under one to snap the shot of the stem) Really amazing plant! You really have to be in it's presence to know what I mean, it literally stopped me in my tracks as I was walking by (and it did not reach out to grab me with those thorns either), very powerful, and if you break a stem, the smell is very penetrating as well, it made me sneeze and my eyes water a bit. See how by the picture the leaves sort of resemble the thimble berry? But, if you are mindful and really look at plants as you are walking this stands out because the leaves are just huge in the full grown plant, they do kind of cover the whole plant (as you can see in the photo) , so I did not immediately see the spiny stems- they are hidden under those leaves. I was done for the day and heading back to the car, so this was the last plant I got to see before my drive home.

Next Baneberry (with the red berry cluster) Actacea rubra - sometimes confused with sweetroot, an edible member of the umbel family (I saw some of these near by as well, the do not have the red cluster on top) In herbalism Tilford from Edible and medicinal plants of the west states it should be handled with extreme care, that it is useful as a strong antispasmodic. I have not used this plant, this is the only one I found in the local area where I was walking today. I am sure there are more if I keep my eyes peeled:)

Creeping Raspberry rubus
I also enjoyed these wild raspberries on my walk, and noticed the salal arn't quite ripe yet, but I found so many I will be checking back.

I think the chipmunk was hoping for me to toss him some food (I was pretty close to camp sites) unfortunately, I had none with me. He hung out for quite a while on that rock, until of course I tried to zoom in for a closer shot.

Hanging out with the bees and other plant musings

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:20:00 +0000

The bees just love this oregano! I was marveling at how many bees were actually on the plant when suddenly one flies literally about 5 inches from my face and stayed there in mid air... as if to say 'what the heck are you doing here?' I was grateful that after he got a good look at me he flew away- then they all seemed OK with me hanging out... I was able to get this pic of the bee that said 'hello'.

The lemon balm seems to be doing pretty well to spite the heat...

Further up the mountain there are plenty of shady spots to get a little break from the heat... beneath this tree is a nice place to sit...

Simple, Easy, Effective- Getting started as a home herbalist

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:26:00 +0000

When I was in my Taekwondo class in college (1991)- I will never forget Grandmaster Tae Hong Choi saying "simple, easy, effective". He said this several times throughout class. He would heatedly remind us of this when we tried to make the simple complicated. When everyone first enters class their thoughts are Taekwondo must be fancy and magical- or it takes someone with special powers or abilities to have 'the gift'. They have all seen the movies with the fancy moves that look almost magical- they believe the hype. The first instinct is to try and copy these advanced 'moves' without learning the basics first (this could get you kicked in the face, is what a lot of students learned very quickly in class) Really it is starting out with, and mastering the basic 'moves' that leads to what looks to be very complex forms of fighting when it comes to advancing in competition - but you get there by practicing the simple basic moves FIRST. *I should add here that the magical part is connecting with the energy, this comes with patience and long term practice... this could be compared to plants too, but this is for another post:).

Master Choi was a champion, he was famous at my college for the picture of him breaking several concrete slabs with his head (far from the thought of simple, easy, effective- kinda intimidating as a new student thumbing through your class book before class begins) So everyone was quite shocked to know that there were about 10 'moves' that we practiced over and over again for the entire term. No 'magic' moves- no big secret. He assured us that these were the core of the class- and would get us far. All it took was commitment, knowledge and practice- he himself was over 60 years old and there were plenty of other students who were older there as well- he assured us anything was possilbe. There were students of all shapes, ages and skill levels, and we all learned something.

And you know what, Master Choi was right! By the end of the year, I was able to break a board with my fist, compete in competition, recieve my colored belt, and to this day I still feel confident that I have the basic tools for self defence. What does this have to do with herbs (you may ask?)

Being an herbalist is not reserved for the 'gifted healer' you can be your own herbalist for yourself and your family!

It reminds me of the common mindset that there is some kind of complicated secret to practicing with herbs, that someone else has to do it for us, that it is extremely dangerous or complicated.
I was at the store the other day looking at some herbal teas. I turned over the box to marvel at the 15 plus ingredients- "no wonder people are intimidated", I thought to myself!
There is a reason why chamomile and green tea are the top selling teas- that's right, simple, easy, effective!

I am not a 'healer', rather, I try to empower others to learn about herbs so they can use them to benefit their own health and well-being. Really, my goal is not so much to have someone depend on me forever, I would rather have them learn the 'magic' of working with herbs themselves! SHOCKING, I know.... and not a very good sales pitch, but it is the truth. Admitting that someone will eventually not 'need' me... huh- and I have no special powers- dang!

Don't get me wrong, I am not against herbal formulas (a very enjoyable process ) - but when you have 15 or 20 herbs in one tea bag or on the back of a pill bottle, I have to ask myself, is this just making a lot of herbal 'noise' in the body? This just adds to the 'placebo' theory of herbs, and adds to the skeptics saying 'herbs don't work'.
Really, can you explain how 20 herbs in one little tea bag are synergistic with one another and necessary for a stomach ache? Do you really need that specific 'blend' or will other herbs that are easily accessible (and less expensive I might add) do the trick?

I would rather see someone experiment with chamomile for example (has many uses for this 1 herb, nervousness, stomach ache, anti inflammatory just to name a few) If you had this ONE herb in your house, grew it yourself, made some tinctures, dried some for tea, used some in an herbal bath, made an oil, now you would be on your way to learning about how to take care of yourself and your family with herbal medicine!

OK, just to add- I am in no way bad-mouthing the big time corporations making the 20 ingredient teas. I am sure they may be great for some, for whatever reason.

But consider when you get started with herbs the "simple, easy, effective" mindset. Really get to know one plant and then move on to others. Get to know the spices in your drawer in a new way, is that ginger good for other things besides cooking- or how do you feel when you eat it? How about adding some to tea or making your first fresh plant tincture? How strong is it? What kind of sensations do you feel?

You see, taking charge of you and your family's health is as close as your kitchen cupboard or backyard- not necissarily some far away land or exotic miricle blend. Simple, easy, effective....

Grandmaster Choi passed on March 8, 2009.... his lifes work and teaching changed my life (this is not to be stated lightly, I don't think I would be the person I am today without the lessons I learned during class for those 2 years) and the life of many others, he will be missed.

Growing plants that attract wildlife

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:44:00 +0000

Check out my article in the July issue of American College Of Health Science newsletter!

Find it on page 4 How to help children discover the wonders of nature: Growing plants that attract wildlife

Recent photos~ growing like weeds!

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Sun, 17 May 2009 19:24:00 +0000

Herbal Medicine Chest for busy moms- Happy Mother's day!

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:29:00 +0000

Check out my post over at the American College Of Herbal Studies!
It was a pleasure being a guest blogger! Enjoy Herbal Medicine Chest for Busy Moms

Rabbits like catnip~ Happy 2 yr anniversary to The Herbalist's Path!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:32:00 +0000

Above: Catnip before Rabbit got to it.

On Easter we noticed a rabbit was living under our deck (ahhh, how cute look at the Easter Bunny!). He has now made himself right at home, the kids and I watch him in the morning- we tap on the window and he just looks at us gingerly. I was just out in my yard this morning and noticed my Catnip plant is chewed to a nub. Bummer! I was looking forward to tincturing some soon!
I am kinda surprised he doesn't touch the lemon balm (right next to the catnip) He does also enjoy red clover.
If he lets me snap a picture of him I will add it to the blog (of course when I go to get the camera he is gone).
Our dog Koa has made friends with the rabbit (who I will now affectionately call Catnip), kinda funny he picks and chooses his friends, he chases away the blue jay that gets so territorial (he has dive bombed me a few times).
I guess I will be out to get some more Catnip, and this time it will be in a pot near the house.

More posts on Catnip, here, here, and here.

By the way, Happy 2 yr anniversary to The Herbalist's Path -OK one day late:)! Hard to believe it has already been 2 years since I first started blogging~ Still lovin' it! I have also started another blog Authentic Mama if you are interested in following your authentic path come on over!

If anyone is interested in reading my first post EVER on a blog you can find it HERE.

My home on earth day-

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:23:00 +0000

zig zag road

The Sandy River
The park we often walk to from our house
My home on Earth Day. Me and the kids at my favorite coffee shop Mountain Moka

The kids and I just got back from our morning outing - thought I would share some pictures.

Huge Saving on my most popular online course Herbalist 101! | Authentic Mama

noreply@blogger.com (Angie Goodloe LMT, Herbalist) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 16:52:00 +0000

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Easter! To celebrate I am giving a huge discount on my most popular online course Herbalist 101!

I have had students tell me what a bargain the course is at $65.00- unbelievably for a limited time I am offering the course for $37.00!

You receive one on one email support from me throughout the entire course. The course is packed full of information (it takes most students about 6 months to complete). Now is a great time to join especially if you live in the US because many plants are ready to harvest now!

Empower yourself by learning how to make ‘common weeds’ and kitchen spices into remedies for yourself and your family (and many yummy wild food recipes as well). The course also covers balance, nourishment and overall wellness.

I hope to see you there!

Here is what one student had to say about her experience.

You should enroll in this class if your goal is to become an herbalist for fun or profit. The best way to start on the path to becoming an herbalist is to become intimate with a few plants and learn the basics of herbal preparation.

This course will cover 25 herbs that you can find in your kitchen or backyard! They include Dandelion, Mullien, Yarrow, Nettle, Plantain, Calendula, Cleavers, Burdock, Yellow dock, Marshmallow, Red clover, Comfrey, Catnip, Chamomile, Alfalfa, Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Flax, Fennel, Ginger, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Tumeric, and Garlic. Detailed descriptions with scientific names, constituents, associated aliments and recipes will be included. This class will also cover herbal consulting, herbal preparation, wildcrafting. This course will also cover how to make herbal remedies for friends and family, basic herbal pharmacognosy, the spiritual aspect of healing, different types of herbal tradition such as Native American, Western herbalism, Folk medicine, and much more!

You will learn how to make infusions, decoctions, tinctures, fluid extracts, elixirs, essences and many other recipes. This class will also cover the healing philosophy of balance and the role and responsibilities of the community herbalist. Begin your herbal journey with me today!

Disclaimer: This course is for education only and has not been evaluated by the FDA, it is not intended to treat or diagnose disease. Please consult your Doctor before taking herbal medicines.