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blueridgeschoolherbalmedicine

What are your plans for the long weekend?If you’re looking for a cooling herbal treat, check out these rosemary lemonade popsicles from @herb.friendsHerbs are versatile and can be prepared in so many different ways! Experiment with the herbs you already have in your kitchen or garden. Let us know what you come up with!.
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#herbalpopsicles #herbaltreats #herbalistlife #coolingherbs #mintfamily #kitchenherbs

Can anyone guess this mint family plant?It’s l

Can anyone guess this mint family plant?It’s lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)!This popular lemon scented herb makes a delicious tea, and is a great addition to formulas that contain less pleasant tasting herbs. Lemon balm is a cooling nervine that calms restlessness and irritability. Like other aromatic mint family plants, lemon balm can ease digestive issues, especially if due to stress or nervousness.Lemon balm has a mild thyroxine-inhibiting effect and is contraindicated for those with hypothyroidism..
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#lemonbalm #lemonbalmtea #mintfamily #melissaofficinalis #nervine

Want to learn about plants IRL?We still have a f

Want to learn about plants IRL?We still have a few spots open in our Wild Medicine Internship Summer/Fall series! This class starts at the end of August and meets for 4 consecutive Saturdays.Learn how to identify medicinal herbs and wild foods, make basic medicinal preparations, and connect with plants around you 💞Link in bio to register!.
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#wildmedicine #herbalmedicine #wncmountains #getoutsideasheville #plantcommunities #outdoored

A rose scented breeze is medicine! 🌹Rose has

A rose scented breeze is medicine! 🌹Rose has been widely valued for its aromatics for centuries. Oils, sprays, and perfumes made from rose have been used in skincare, rituals and love potions. Not only are aromas pleasant to the nose, they also affect our emotional bodies and nervous systems..
Katie Vie knows all about scents. An aromatherapist and teacher, Katie uses scent and symbolism to connect us to the sacred Self. She is also one of our incredible teachers at BRSHM. Check out Katie’s offerings @riverislandapothecary.
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#rosemedicine #aromatherapy #rosacea #getoutsidenc #herbschool

The summer solstice marks the longest day of the y

The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, and the first day of a new season. With the sun at its peak, many plants are in full bloom making this the perfect time to gather and enjoy the abundance that summer has to offer. Herbs that resemble the sun like calendula (pictured), St. John’s wort, and chamomile are often associated with the summer solstice.We like to use this time to make medicine and give thanks to all that Mother Nature has to offer!What are your summer solstice traditions?.
📷 @herb.friends.
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#summersolstice #happysummer #calendula #stjohnswort #chamomile #longestdayoftheyear

Linden flowers are a sweet and gentle remedy for r

Linden flowers are a sweet and gentle remedy for relaxing the nerves and calming the heart. Although several species of Tilia, all known as basswood, are native to North America, the cultivated European linden, or lime, is most commonly used in herbal medicine. Lindens are often planted in cities because they are tolerant of a variety of conditions. Harvest the flower with the bract from a clean area in mid June. Linden makes a tasty infusion, but can also be tinctured fresh.📷: @dancingsagewellness harvesting linden flowers in a grove planted around a little-used parking lot.
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#lindenflower #linden #herbaltea #treemedicine #flowerpower #herbalistlife

My Grandmother’s Hands is a required, foundation

My Grandmother’s Hands is a required, foundational book in our Holistic Herbalism curriculum. More and more as we do our own processing, we’ve seen white herbalists unable to offer recognition and empathy to the indigenous roots of herbalism, and herbalists of color. We don’t want to be a school that perpetuates that mindset. Our hope is that if we integrate racial justice into our school’s foundational work in becoming healers, we can help change the culture in herbalism, and help us all process our own internal racism. Our hope is to help heal our culture, which is seeped in unconscious and blatant racism.Have you read My Grandmother’s Hands?

Usnea (aka old man’s beard) is a lichen, a curio

Usnea (aka old man’s beard) is a lichen, a curious symbiosis between fungi and algae, with the fungal mycelium providing the structure and the algae wrapped around it photosynthesizing and providing sugars. Some lichens grow on the ground but usnea grows exclusively on trees, both alive and dead. The main indicator to identify usnea from other lichens is to look for a white thread in the middle of every tendril.Usnea is a powerful antimicrobial. Like many herbs used for infections, usnea is bitter, cold and dry. It has a long tradition of use for respiratory infections, especially ones with thick mucus. It also makes an excellent topical antiseptic, useful for wounds and staph infection. Best practice is to harvest usnea only from downed branches, where it won’t live long anyways, as opposed to taking it from standing trees..
For more information about usnea, check out CoreyPine’s Southeast Medicinal Plants. Link in bio!.
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#usnea #usnealichen #oldmansbeard #lichen #herbalmedicine #herbalistlife #antimicrobialherbs

Hey 👋 are you interested in learning about basi

Hey 👋 are you interested in learning about basic botany, sustainable wildcrafting techniques, and medicine making skills??Then you’re in luck! There are still a few spots left in our Wild Medicine Internship Summer/Fall series.This program meets for 4 consecutive Saturdays (beginning at the end of August) at different locations in the Asheville area. We’ll learn how to recognize plant communities and what individual plants have to offer. Click the link in bio to learn more/register 🍄.
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#wildmedicine #wncmountains #wildedibles #herbalmedicinemaking #blueridgeschoolofherbalmedicine #outdoorclassroom

There’s nothing like the smell of peonies. Oh, h

There’s nothing like the smell of peonies. Oh, how I love these giant blooms!Besides producing gorgeous flowers, peony has long been used in Chinese medicine. The root of white peony (Paeonia lactiflora) is considered a blood tonic that is both building and moving- these qualities make it especially useful for menstrual disorders which often arise from stagnant qi. White peony is often combined with other herbs in Chinese herbal formulas, like licorice for muscle spasms and pain.On an emotional level, peony helps us soften and open so our emotions can move more freely and we can accept things with grace..
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#peonyflower #peonyroot #paeonialactiflora #chinesemedicine #bloodtonic #herbalmedicine

A fun weekend of plant walks and plant talks at th

A fun weekend of plant walks and plant talks at the Medicines from the Earth Symposium in Black Mountain.Now it’s off to @fireflygatheringnc for more! You can find CoreyPine on June 11th teaching Breathe Deep, Herbs for the Respiratory System, or join him on Sunday for another plant walk 🌱.
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#herbalistlife #plantwalk #medicinesfromtheearth #plantmedicine #herbschool #outdooreducation #fireflygathering

Every year the Holistic Herbalism students visit J

Every year the Holistic Herbalism students visit Joyce Kilmer Forest*, an old growth forest in WNC. Many of the trees here are over 400 years old, and some more than 20 ft in circumference!This week long camping trip is spent learning about plants in the area, and of course hugging trees 😉.
*Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, named after poet, Joyce Kilmer, was established in 1936, but this forest has always been on Cherokee land.📷 @marlobertozzi
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#oldgrowthforest #wnc #cherokeeland #landback #holisticherbalism #treehugging #herbschool #brshm

Self heal (aka heal all) is a common plant of yard

Self heal (aka heal all) is a common plant of yards, meadows, fields and trails. Interestingly, it is considered both native and Eurasian; some botanical nomenclature recognizes two different varieties of the same species, though to be honest the differences are minute and hard to notice so we talk about self heal here as one species.Self heal is mostly used in the US as a simple first aid remedy or a flower essence, but it is actually a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant (it contains more rosmarinic acid than rosemary!) and is a generally cooling herb for the whole body.In Chinese medicine, self heal is a primary herb to “clear heat”. It is especially used for liver fire rising up to head- red, painful, swollen eyes or headaches with irritability and dizziness.Learn more about self heal in CoreyPine’s Southeast Medicinal Plants ✨.
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#prunellavulgaris #selfheal #healall #floweressence #antioxidant #rosmarinicacid #semedicinalplants

Anyone else struggling with allergies this season?

Anyone else struggling with allergies this season?Try nettle!*Nettle’s anti-inflammatory and antihistamine actions can benefit those suffering from seasonal allergies. Dried nettle tea creates stronger mucus membranes to prevent allergies, while fresh nettle tincture works more immediately as an antihistamine.You can find nettle tincture in @pinesherbals Season’s Re-Leaf formula (and it’s on sale!)*No allergies? Try nettle anyway! Nettle is a nourishing herbal tonic that offers support to the whole body 💚.
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#nettle #nettles #nettletea #stingingnettles #allergyseason #seasonsrelief #seasonalallergies

There are many wonderful, medicinal herbs that can

There are many wonderful, medicinal herbs that can support us, but with so many herbs to choose from, how do we choose the “right” one?When working with herbs it’s helpful to keep these questions in mind-1) What herbal action is needed? - how will this plant act on the body?2) How strong an herb is necessary? - do we need gentle herbs to balance and nourish, or stronger herbs for short-term issues?3) What body system needs support? - different herbs have affinities for different parts of the body4) What are the herbs energetics? - hot/cold, drying/moistening5) Are there special properties of the herb, or specific indications? - this is where knowing your materia medica comes in handy!Using these questions can help us narrow down our herb selection from hundreds of herbs available to hopefully just a few!.
📷: @jennperryphotography
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#herbalmedicine #herbs #herbalsupport #herbalistlife #herbalformulation #herbschool #brshm #outdoorclassroom

Cleavers (Galium aparine) is a common weed that fo

Cleavers (Galium aparine) is a common weed that forms small mats of short reclining vines in the springtime. Each stem is square and has many worls of 6-8 leaves, and both stem and leaves are full of tiny hooked barbs that make the plant stick (or cleave) to things.This plant works by clearing toxins throughout the body and then eliminating them through the urinary tract. This makes it a great herb for swollen lymph glands, chronic skin conditions, and kidney stones, as well as tonifying the urinary tract.Harvest cleavers when the plants are vibrant and green, either before flowering or when the flowers still look fresh. Because these plants grow in disturbed areas, it is important to make sure the environment where you’re harvesting is clean. Avoid harvesting near roads or in areas affected by runoff from farm fields or parking lots..
Learn more about cleavers in CoreyPines book, Southeast Medicinal Plants..
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#cleavers #alterativeherbs #alterative #galiumaparine #medicinalplants #springcleaningtips #junecleaver

The largest earthskills gathering in the US is bac

The largest earthskills gathering in the US is back! Through hundreds of hands-on classes, nature connection programs for youth, stories, songs, and more, the Firefly Gathering offers several days of practicing skills for living with the earth. The focused time together by day, alongside evening performances and camping under the stars, fuels joy, empowerment, and community in co-creating a sustainable future.Join us at this years gathering, June 7-12, at Deerfields in Mills River, NC ✨ CoreyPine will be leading plant walks on June 9th and 12th, and teaching Breathe Deep, Herbs for the Respiratory System on June 11th. Get your tickets now @fireflygatheringnc (all tickets will increase by $25 if purchased at the gate).
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#fireflygathering #earthskills #earthskillsgathering #fireflygatheringnc #plantwalk #herbsforlungsupport #lungherbs

Botanists and herbalists know that a diverse ecosy

Botanists and herbalists know that a diverse ecosystem is a healthy ecosystem. In that spirit we would like to share our school’s statement on diversity and inclusivity. The Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine honors diversity, and we do not discriminate based on race, sex, gender expression, religion, disability, sexual orientation, immigration status, military status, or anything else that divides us as people. We believe that everyone deserves access to health care and education, and we are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment to all students, staff, clients, customers, and vendors. We actively encourage our students to be aware of how others experience the world, to become conscious of their own privileges, and to empathize with all beings.💚📷: Reishi, our favorite medicinal mushroom. Nourishing to the heart, especially after emotional trauma. Helps to create peace and heart healing for all.

This common noxious weed from east Asia has spread

This common noxious weed from east Asia has spread across the mountains and Piedmont as far south as northern Georgia, and it continues to spread. It often grows next to waterways, and when flooding washes away some roots, it replants itself downstream. The roots are not easy to dig but it’s well worth it- both for the medicine it provides and to save a place from invasion.Japanese knotweed has so many medicinal uses, but is probably best known as an anti-inflammatory due in some part to its extremely high content of resveratrol. Resveratrol is an antioxidant that inhibits COX-2 (a pro-inflammatory chemical in our body) and restores glutathione levels (an important part of our liver’s detoxification pathways).Prepare Japanese knotweed as a fresh root tincture, 1:2 at 95% alc, or dry root tincture 1:5 at 60% alc.You can learn more about Japanese knotweed and other southeast medicinals in CoreyPine’s book, Southeast Medicinal Plants @timberpress.
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#japaneseknotweed #rootmedicine #invasiveplants #semedicinalplants #antiinflammatory #antioxidants

Plant walks are a big part of our curriculum at BR

Plant walks are a big part of our curriculum at BRSHM, but what is a plant walk?Plant walks are a chance to visit with plants IRL! They take place in a variety of settings like woods, meadows, parks or gardens- we are lucky to live in a place with access to nature and such plant diversity! We often meander slowly, taking time to talk about botany, plant habitats, medicinal uses and harvesting techniques. Plant walks are a great way to connect with the natural world around us 💚.There are still a few spots open in our Wild Medicine Internship summer/autumn program. Come learn with us!.
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#plantwalk #plantpath #wildmedicine #brshm #wncplants #wncmountains #herbschool.
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