Summer is on its way! And that means bug bites, sunburns, poison ivy, and garden dermatitis (it’s a real thing!). That’s what you were thinking about, right?! As fun as summer is, it can come with unwanted experiences like rashes that leave you feeling sore, itchy, and otherwise uncomfortable. In today’s episode, I share my favorite herbs for skin care and some ways I use these herbs for my family. This episode is included in the Family Herbalist Program offered by Herba Remedium. Herba Remedium is an online, Christian herbalist school. Enrollment for the next FHP year will begin in June 2024 ..read more

Now described on a continuum between risk-avoiding compulsion and risk-seeking impulsiveness, OCD is a facet of many neurological conditions, as well as an experience all on its own. Antidepressants and anxiolytics are sometimes prescribed, but why? What do we know about this disorder of the brain and what can that teach us about what we need, to experience order and comfort in our day-to-day life? In this episode I share what we currently know about the underlying root causes of this disorder and offer a holistic approach to creating balance and relief. This episode is included in the Family ..read more

We’ve all heard that food should be our medicine, and medicine our food, but water is equally important! In today’s episode, I make the case for proper hydration, mineral balance, using water as part of our herbal remedies and as a standalone treatment, and present some of the best sources of drinking water. This may seem like a simple subject not worth talking about, but water is a complex, biologically active substance that does way more than keep our skin soft! Listen to this episode to learn more. Be sure to share with a friend and leave a review! Thanks for listening! This episode is incl ..read more

It sounds like an unscientific name, but it’s what doctors use to refer to bile when it no longer resembles bile. I see this scenario a surprising amount, and it’s one are herbalism can really shine, because the standard approach is to wait until it causes pain and then just remove the whole gallbladder! But functional nutritionists and clinical herbalists know there is SO much you can do to correct this problem. Think you are in the clear? I encourage you to listen anyway - most cases are found by accident because many people don’t experience symptoms for a long time. Consider this a part of ..read more

So many of my clients have come into my office thinking that the constipation they grew up with was an inconvenience they just learned to live with, as if it was a variation of normal. But chronic constipation can have serious consequences, and throwing more fiber or laxatives at it isn’t necessarily going to fix it. In today’s episode, I break down the most common reasons why people experience difficulty with their bowel movements, and practical steps we can take to correct them. If you found this episode helpful, please share with a loved one and leave a review! Thank you for listening! This ..read more

With the number of children getting sick with chronic illnesses in our country, it has become ever more crucial that we as parents take steps to protect our children’s health. We know that we cannot change their genetic weaknesses, but we can impact how they turn on and off. In today’s episode, I offer my top tips for raising healthy children in this crazy world, based on my experience as a mother of four (nearly all teens). I invite you to continue this conversation on my instagram page and via email. Find me @laureltreewellness or email me at laureltreewellness@gmail.com. Thank you for liste ..read more

Using four characteristics to blend essential oils for their therapeutic value, today I share how to create a custom blend with essential oils that will help to continue the healing process after an injury. Note: If you do get essential oils in your eyes or on sensitive skin, apply additional carrier oil without essential oils, or wash the area in milk. The fat will absorb the essential oil and reduce the pain. This episode is included in the Family Herbalist Program offered by Herba Remedium. Herba Remedium is an online, Christian herbalist school. Enrollment for the next FHP year will begin ..read more

For all of us home herbalists, one of the common themes of our remedy making is first aid. Today we’re talking specifically about wild-harvesting first aid supplies specifically. Knowing how to pick out a weed on a hiking path or by the family cabin, or out in your back yard might actually come in handy! Being able to go outside your back door and pick out a little flower or leaf amongst a sea of green and find a use for it is another aspect of traditional home herbalism that we get to embrace! Herbs mentioned include yarrow, cinquefoil, plantain, dandelion, mullein, rose, blackberry, wood sor ..read more

The idea of planning a kitchen garden with abundant herbs brings up idyllic images of curling up in a cozy chair with a cup of tea, a seed catalog, and a notebook. And while kitchen gardens are all unique, and may not reflect the cottage garden image we easily conjure up, today we get to explore the idea of creating a kitchen garden for nutritional and medicinal use as a home herbalist. This episode is included in the Family Herbalist Program offered by Herba Remedium. Herba Remedium is an online, Christian herbalist school. Enrollment for the next FHP year will begin in June 2024. For more in ..read more

We are covering some hot button topics in today’s episode! Informed decision making, self-autonomy, co-dependence, interdependence, parental rights, authority to make healthcare decisions… all this and more when it comes to being your own herbalist and working with herbs to support your family’s needs. When starting out, it’s normal (as our culturally ingrained beliefs go) to question whether you have the right to practice herbalism, so let me help you out and share what I’ve learned about self-care herbalism and family herbalism in my 20+ years in the field of health. This episode is included ..read more