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Archive for the News Category

Understanding the Roots of Oppression in Health Care

By JJ Bloomfield on May 2, 2019   /   Blog, News  

Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine has invited Olatokunboh Obasi, an African herbalist living in Puerto Rico, to teach in Asheville in early June. Olatokunboh offers a unique perspective often lacking in many herbal programs – an indigenous voice speaking to the parallels of colonialism of land

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Recent Posts

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  • Herbs of the Coastal Plain
  • Herbal Remedies for Poison Ivy
  • Digestive Herbal Candy recipe
  • Wildcrafting Do’s and Don’ts – or How to be a Leaver, not a Taker

blueridgeschoolherbalmedicine

Blending Western herbalism and Chinese medicine with a focus on local plants
Check out our extracts @pinesherbals

We’re excited to bring you into the kitchen with u We’re excited to bring you into the kitchen with us. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing the projects I am crafting as an herbalist in the kitchen. Next week I will be sharing my delicious herbal bone broth - mineral‑rich, slow‑simmered, infused with supportive herbs that nourish the immune system, gut, and overall vitality. ⠀
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What herbal kitchen projects are you working on right now? Share them with us — we love swapping ideas in this series. 👇👇⠀
😆www.blueridgeschool.org 😆www.blueridgeschool.org
This is Marc Williams, ethnobiologist and beloved This is Marc Williams, ethnobiologist and beloved teacher here at the Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine teaching our 2025 Holistic Herbalism students how to make meads, wines, and other ferments at his house in Swannanoa.Link in bio for information on our 2026 programs starting this Spring.
On the final day of class each year, the Essential On the final day of class each year, the Essentials of Herbalism students have a Medicine Show. Each student uses what they’ve learned in class to make a medicinal preparation that they share with the class. They do a short presentation about the product that they made and one of the herbs they used, then pass out a sample to everyone in class. For both @aurum.apotheca  and me, it is one of our favorite days of class because we get to see how each student has taken in what they’ve learned, how they’ve personalized it, and how they will use this knowledge in their lives going forward.The photo of the box of stuff is my box at the end of the day with all the products from the students…. Which, now that I’m thinking… I should do a better shot showing what all the products are!!For more information about our programs, follow link in bio or go to blueridgeschool.org
Since my home (and therefore the school) are locat Since my home (and therefore the school) are located in such a beautiful and remote area of the Blue Ridge mountains, sometimes wild animals like to pop in for a visit.In late October, a young buck jumped the small fence and hung out in my garden for a few hours - eating valerian and hibiscus leaves, and taking a nap next to the rosemary plant. 💤🦌
TEACHER FEATURE!👩‍🏫🍎Meet Katie Vie who teaches TEACHER FEATURE!👩‍🏫🍎Meet Katie Vie who teaches Aromatherapy for our In-Person Holistic Herbalism Program that occurs every April-October at The Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine.Katie is a practitioner and teacher of Intuitive Aromatherapy.When Katie teaches Aromatherapy for our students, she brings decades worth of experience blending essential oils, a deep respect for the plants and materials used in class, and a unique perspective about creating aromatic blends.Katie is the visionary and blender at river island apothecary, a line of archetype anointing oils that correspond with the seasons of the Wheel of the Year. She’s also the content creator for The Darkwood School, and a massage therapist.You can also follow Katie on Instagram @riverislandapothecaryCheck out her IG profile link for free classes, registration for the Darkwood Beat and the Intuitive Aromatherapy course, brick & mortar retailers, and her online shop. There you can also subscribe to Katie's newsletter: The ArchetelegramOr feel free to go directly to her website for more information: riverislandapothecary.com
Throwback to November when I taught a class on “Ch Throwback to November when I taught a class on “Chinese Medicine, Western Herbs” at the Southeast North Carolina Herb Conference (SENC) @senc_herbal_conference  near Wilmington, NC. This is an annual event where herbalists and herbal curious come together for education and connection. ⠀
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Arriving a few days early to botanize with 7Song @7songsevensong  and Marc Williams made the experience even more plant-astic. 🌿
Our post may be a little late, but it’s no less sp Our post may be a little late, but it’s no less special. Congratulations to our 2025 Essentials of Herbalism students. These brilliant learners now know how to identify and ethically harvest wild plants, cook with them, craft a wide range of herbal preparations, and support many common ailments with confidence.Each weekend was filled with engaging lectures, hands‑on medicine making and food preparation, and plant walks through herb gardens and the richly diverse forests of our region.We’re so proud of the dedication, curiosity, and heart each student brought to this journey. 🌿
🪶🐿️ Unexpected Visitor Alert! 🐿️🪶Look who decide 🪶🐿️ Unexpected Visitor Alert! 🐿️🪶Look who decided to drop in — a flying squirrel!One photo of them on my computer bag in the closet, and one the next morning trying to hide in my pantry with the jars of bulk grains. Alas, as cute as they are, they are also nocturnal and can be noisy at night - not to mention their waste. I saved this one and brought them outside before my cat could get it...
🌟NEW YEAR, NEW YOU🌟If you’ve been thinking about 🌟NEW YEAR, NEW YOU🌟If you’ve been thinking about deepening your knowledge… this is your sign.At the Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine, we offer immersive programs that connect you with the healing power of plants, the traditions of Appalachia, and the skills to bring herbal medicine into your daily life or professional practice.✨ Whether you're just beginning your herbal journey or ready to deepen your clinical practice, we’ve got a class for you:Essentials of Herbalism — foundational knowledge for everyday healingHolistic Herbalist Program — a comprehensive path to clinical herbalismWild Medicine Internship — hands-on learning in the forest and field🌲 All classes are held outdoors, surrounded by trees and flowing water — because healing starts with connection.🔗 Registration for 2026 is open now — come learn, grow, and transform with us.www.blueridgeschool.org
Fun Fact: This was our most popular post of the 20 Fun Fact: This was our most popular post of the 2025 year😅We always teach our students how to properly label their jars because chances are, you won't remember😅Registration for our 2026 programs are open! Join a lineage of herbalist and apply today.
While most of us know cocoa for its beans and the While most of us know cocoa for its beans and the comfort it brings this time of year, it all begins with this—its delicate, otherworldly flower.⠀
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Native to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, the Cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao) grows small, star-like blossoms directly from its trunk and older branches—a rare phenomenon known as cauliflory. From these flowers come the colorful pods that hold the seeds we know as cocoa beans.⠀
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The name Theobroma translates to “food of the gods,” a reminder of how long this plant has been honored for both nourishment and ritual.⠀
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As light returns and the year prepares to turn, may we hold close the quiet beauty that begins in bloom. 🌟⠀
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Come join us for a hands-on learning experience! W Come join us for a hands-on learning experience! We are excited to continue to offer IN-PERSON classes. ⠀
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Apply and pay before January 1st and receive our early bird discount. 🐤⠀
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www.blueridgeschool.org⠀
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For those of you who take part in the gift-giving For those of you who take part in the gift-giving portion of this season, we invite you to keep our small apothecary @pinesherbals  in mind. ⠀
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At Pine’s Herbals, everything we create is made with intention. From our small-batch tinctures and herbal formulas to our thoughtfully designed t-shirts as well as my published works, each offering reflects our dedication to plant wisdom and holistic living.⠀
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We currently have a wide selection of herbal goodies on sale, plus 20% off my book Southeast Medicinal Plants.⠀
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www.pinesherbals.com⠀
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@pinesherbals
Have you read my book: Southeast Medicinal Plants: Have you read my book: Southeast Medicinal Plants: Identify, Harvest, and Use 106 Wild Herbs for Health and Wellness?I am happy to say that this book has a 4.8 star rating on almost 900 reviews on Amazon (currently available on the Pines Herbals website for 20% off in December)- and support your local bookstores too!This book is meant to be your trusted guide to finding, identifying, harvesting, and using over one hundred of the region’s most powerful wild plants. Readers will learn how to safely and ethically forage, and how to use wild plants in herbal medicines, including teas, tinctures, and salves. 🌿
Join me in the garden as I harvest fresh Tulsi (Oc Join me in the garden as I harvest fresh Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) for our @pinesherbals  Tuls‑Ease Elixir.Tulsi is one of my favorite adaptogens. Stress relieving, uplifting, heart centering, and enhances feelings of devotion.This elixir is one of our most popular blends at Pine's Herbals Apothecary.www.pinesherbals.com
Holistic Herbalism Program (Begins in April 2026) Holistic Herbalism Program (Begins in April 2026)
Essentials of Herbalism Program (Begins in April 2026)
Wild Medicine Internship (Spring and Fall Series Available 2026)blueridgeschool.org 🌿
We’re excited to support ethnobiologist Marc Willi We’re excited to support ethnobiologist Marc Williams, who is also a longtime teacher with the Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine, as he hosts a powerful class on Afrobotany this Sunday, December 7th.If you’ve studied with Marc before, you already know: this class will be worth your time. 🌿
For those of you who take part in the gift-giving For those of you who take part in the gift-giving portion of this season, we invite you to keep our small apothecary @pinesherbals in mind.Each item in our apothecary is crafted with care. From our small-batch tinctures and herbal formulas, each offering reflects our commitment to plant wisdom and holistic living.ON SALE NOW
- Cardamom & Citrus Bitters
- Blood Cleanse
- DeStress
- Strong Lungs
- Kava Chillixir* AND enjoy 15% off on ALL single herbswww.pinesherbals.com
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