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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

  • Circles of Care for Optimal Wellness
  • 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

I harvested wild persimmons in September. I presse I harvested wild persimmons in September. I pressed them through a colander to separate the pulp from the seeds and skins. The seeds and skins still had a lot of pulp on them, so I put them in a 2‑gallon crock and covered them with a sugar‑water solution.I harvested more fruit to bulk it up and mashed some whole persimmons into the crock. I heated about a gallon of water with roughly 4 cups of organic sugar until dissolved, then poured it over the mash. Once it cooled to body temperature, I added half a packet of wine yeast.I covered the crock with cheesecloth and let it sit on the counter for a week, stirring a couple of times a day. After a week, I strained it into a gallon jug, added an airlock, and let it ferment for six weeks. Then I decanted, bottled, and labeled it — and voilà, you have persimmon wine!
Wanna see what your classroom looks like under a b Wanna see what your classroom looks like under a blanket of snow? ❄️😀Even with snow on the ground, we are still preparing for next year's school year! Like a gardener preparing their seeds in the winter. ✨Our programs run from April through October, giving you the chance to experience the mountains in their full Spring, Summer, and early Fall beauty.Link in bio or visit www.blueridgeschool.org for more information.
Herbal Bone Broth — Part 2 🌿🍲The Herbalist Kitchen Herbal Bone Broth — Part 2 🌿🍲The Herbalist Kitchen Series.⠀
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This batch of bone broth is both flavorful and nourishing.⠀
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In this pot I used Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), a classic immune and qi tonic in Chinese medicine; Reishi (Ganoderma tsugae), a hemlock reishi I harvested locally, sliced thin and dried — used sparingly, as it can turn bitter; Job’s Tears (Coix lacryma-jobi), grown in my garden and added as a gentle digestive and grounding tonic; and a generous handful of Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) for deep mineral nourishment.⠀
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I also added Chaga (Inonotus obliquus), one of the first fungi I gathered this season, along with a few Goji berries (Lycium barbarum) for gentle blood and immune support.⠀
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This broth isn’t just nourishing on a nutritional level — it’s designed to support the qi, nourish the blood, and strengthen the immune system over time. It’s something I’ll sip on and cook with over the next couple of weeks as part of my everyday food.⠀
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More from my herbalist kitchen coming next week.⠀
Teacher Feature!! 👩‍🏫🍎📗 Meet Rebecca Vann.🌿 Whe Teacher Feature!! 👩‍🏫🍎📗 Meet Rebecca Vann.🌿 When you join one of our programs at The Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine, you don’t just learn about herbalism — you learn how to make medicine with your own hands.
During Rebecca Vann’s medicine‑making classes, students step into the heart of the craft. Her grounded, generous teaching style guides our students through the art of transforming plants into oils, salves, extracts, teas, syrups, elixirs and more. Every lesson with Rebecca becomes an invitation to understand plants not just intellectually, but through intuitive wisdom.Rebecca Vann is a seasoned herbalist, educator, and distiller with over 25 years of experience in medicinal plant work. As a teacher at the Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine, she brings students into direct relationship with the plants, her oldest and dearest friends, by weaving ancient and modern traditions into every lesson. From Ayurveda and Biodynamics to flower essences and alchemical science, Rebecca offers living examples of integration while grounding her classes in both lived practice and intuitive wisdom.Her teaching philosophy centers on reciprocity, between the land, the plants, and the learners. Whether she is guiding students through garden walks or medicine-making sessions, her goal is to awaken each person’s unique connection to the plants and cultivate confidence through experience. Through mentorship at the Veterans Healing Farm and beyond, she offers students hands-on opportunities to engage in the full cycle of plant medicine, from seed to service.Rebecca believes herbalism is a lifelong path and encourages students to listen closely: first to the plants, then to themselves, and lastly to the science that supports what both already know.You can learn more about Rebecca and the products she offer through her botanical distillery called Aurum Apotheca by following her on Instagram @aurum.apotheca or by visiting her website www.aurumapotheca.com
February is a BIG month for the Wild Medicine Conf February is a BIG month for the Wild Medicine Conference 🌿
@wildmedicineconferenceFor this month only, you can receive $50 OFF any registration with code PINE.✨ Use code PINE at checkout
✨ Valid through February 28th
✨ Not applicable to existing registrationsIf you’ve been feeling the call to gather, learn, and connect with a vibrant herbal community this May, now is the time register.Tag someone you’d love to attend with! 👇👇www.wildmedicineconference.com@pinesherbals
Herbal Bone Broth 101 🍲🌿This is how I make herba Herbal Bone Broth 101 🍲🌿This is how I make herbal bone broth using what I already have — no waste, very nourishing.I save all my veggie scraps and keep them in the freezer: onion peels and ends, carrot peels and tops, potato peels, leeks, garlic skins, ginger peels, herb stalks — basically anything that would normally get tossed. I also save bones (like chicken bones or just go get a whole rotisserie chicken at the store and keep the carcass after eating the meat). Mushrooms go great in this too!When I’m ready, everything goes into a crock pot, covered with water, and I add a few splashes of vinegar. This helps draw minerals and other good constituents out of the bones and vegetables/herbs as it simmers. Then I let it cook low and slow for about 24–36 hours. I don’t go past 48 hours or it can turn bitter.I also add herbs (I’ll share which ones next week 👀).One important note: don’t add anything from the brassica family (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, etc.) unless you want your broth to taste and smell… like farts.💨😂Once it’s done, I strain it and use it for everything: soups, gravies, cooking rice, braising greens like collards or kale, or sipping on its own — especially when you’re sick. I freeze it in mason jars so it’s always ready to go.More on the herbs I use in this coming soon.What do you put in your bone broth? This series is all about learning from each other.👇
Teacher Feature!! 👩‍🏫🍎📗 Meet Dr. Sarah Nuñez.Dr. Teacher Feature!! 👩‍🏫🍎📗 Meet Dr. Sarah Nuñez.Dr. Sarah Nuñez (she/her/ella) was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and raised in North Carolina. She is a cultural worker, weaving storytelling and testimonios, art, herbs, and movement-building throughout her work, teaching, and organizing. She is one of three founders of Aflorar Herb Collective which grows herbs and distributes herbal community care kits, plants, and seeds to organizers, activists, and nurturers across the country. With over two decades of experience in nonprofits, grassroots organizing, higher education, and the private sector, she brings a passion for social justice and the nurturing of networks to her work, relationships, and community. Her current projects include growing herbs and flowers on a 1/2 acre farm in West Asheville, teaching, writing, consulting, and bringing healing practices, art, and organizing modalities as tools for transformation to groups across the country.Her classes for the school will focus on herbs and flowers used in remedies across Latin America and organizing modalities for herbalists through community care and mutual aid networks.You can learn more about Dr. Sarah Nuñez and the work she does outside of the school by following the links below.Links:
Saritashealinghub
https://bit.ly/4joVzMohttps://bit.ly/49kkqMUAflorar Herb Collective- website coming soon and in the meantime our link tree is here:
https://bit.ly/4jtMD8tFor information on our programs 👉 www.blueridgeschool.org
⠀ I’m heading to the Florida Earthskills Gathering ⠀
I’m heading to the Florida Earthskills Gathering @florida_earthskills  next week, February 10–15 in O’Brien, FL, where I’ll be teaching throughout the week. I believe there are still spots available for anyone who wants to learn ancestral skills in a collaborative environment. ⠀
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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