Dandelion might be the most beneficial plant in your yard, yet so many are trying to kill this abundant, generous plant. Discover why herbalists have turned to dandelion for centuries, from its bitter properties that get digestion moving, to its support for liver function, kidney health, and natural detoxification. You'll hear how the leaf and root each have different beneficial properties, and why fresh dandelion is the best when it comes to getting the most from this "weed”.

Dig into the history through a century-old Eli Lilly dandelion extract, Culpeper's writings, the Eclectic Physicians, and traditional cultures around the world who have relied on this bright spring plant for generations. Plus, how freeze-drying preserves dandelion's full potency year-round.

What's in this episode:

• Why dandelion is a spring tonic for digestion, liver, and kidney support
• The difference between dandelion leaf and root, and when to use each
• Culpeper, Eli Lilly, and the Eclectic Physicians on dandelion's traditional uses
• Dandelion as food: salads, pesto, flower fritters, roasted root coffee, and more
• Why fresh matters and how freeze-drying preserves what air drying destroys
• The energetics of dandelion: uplifting leaf energy and grounding root energy

Full show notes, resources, and transcript: eclecticherb.com/podcast/dandelion-herb-of-the-month

Get Eclectic Herb's freeze-dried dandelion here at eclecticherb.com

Text Us & Let Us Know How You Liked The Show!

Thanks so much for tuning into Eclectic Herbal Wisdom!

We'd love to show our gratitude by giving you a 20% discount on your whole order at eclecticherb.com.

Just use the code PODCAST20 at checkout for 20% Off all your herbal goods! 🌿

And, if you have time, be sure to reach out and let us know what you think of the show!

At Eclectic Herb we're passionate about bringing you herbs as fresh as plants in the wild!

That's why we take the time to gently freeze dry our herbs, right after they've been harvested at the peak of their medicinal potency.

We know you'll feel the freeze dried difference in every capsule, every powder, and every bit of herbal love you get at Eclectic Herb!

Follow @eclecticherb on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

Meet Robert Dale Rogers, one of the most prolific herbalists alive today, with over 65 books and decades of clinical practice rooted in botany, indigenous plant wisdom, and a deep love of the overlooked medicines of the Earth. In this episode, Robert joins Chris and Mel to share the stories, the science, and the magic behind some of herbalism's most under-appreciated medicines: lichens, ferns, mosses, and fungi.

This one is rich with wisdom, wild stories, and a few things that might just change how you look at the forest floor.

What's in this episode:

• Robert's path into lichens, ferns, and overlooked plant medicine
• Usnea as a clinical tool for drug-resistant tuberculosis and antibiotic resistance
• Lungwort and the Doctrine of Signatures: why this lichen keeps showing up when you need it
• Learning from Cree healers and documenting a 10th-generation medicine bundle
• Flower essences in clinical practice, including Gorse for hope
• 26 years of developing mushroom essences and shadow work
• You can learn more about Robert and his coming events here, and get his latest books here.

Herbal Terms in This Episode:

• Doctrine of Signatures: A traditional concept suggesting a plant's appearance may offer clues about its potential uses
• Usnic Acid: A compound found in roughly 32 lichen species, studied for its unique ability to affect bacterial cell function

We'd love to hear from you!

Have you ever had a plant show up at exactly the right moment? Share your stories with us on Instagram or TikTok @eclecticherb

Full show notes and transcript: eclecticherb.com/ blogs/news/medicinal-lichen-robert-dale-rogers

Explore Eclectic Herb's freeze-dried supplements at eclecticherb.com Follow @eclecticherb on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

Text Us & Let Us Know How You Liked The Show!

Thanks so much for tuning into Eclectic Herbal Wisdom!

We'd love to show our gratitude by giving you a 20% discount on your whole order at eclecticherb.com.

Just use the code PODCAST20 at checkout for 20% Off all your herbal goods! 🌿

And, if you have time, be sure to reach out and let us know what you think of the show!

At Eclectic Herb we're passionate about bringing you herbs as fresh as plants in the wild!

That's why we take the time to gently freeze dry our herbs, right after they've been harvested at the peak of their medicinal potency.

We know you'll feel the freeze dried difference in every capsule, every powder, and every bit of herbal love you get at Eclectic Herb!

Nettles might be the most nutrient-dense plant growing right outside your door right now, and most people walk past it every day without a second glance. In this episode, we're digging deep into one of herbalism's most beloved plants, sharing everything from its nutritional profile to why Dr. Ed Alstat's discovery of freeze-dried nettles for allergy relief changed the game for Eclectic Herb.

You'll hear readings from a 17th century Nicholas Culpeper text right from Chris' personal herbal library, travel through the global history of nettles from Japan to New Zealand to Russia, and learn why herbalists and the Eclectic Physicians have been turning to this plant for centuries. Whether you're managing seasonal allergies, looking to nourish your body after a long winter, or just curious about the weedy green that keeps popping up around you, this episode will make you want to go find some nettles.

What's in this episode:

• Why nettles is one of the most nutrient-dense plants on the planet
• Nettles for women's health: iron, heavy menses, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and perimenopause
• Dr. Ed Alstat's discovery of freeze-dried nettles for allergies and what makes Eclectic Herb's nettles different
• Nicholas Culpeper's 17th century uses, read straight from Chris's library
• The Eclectic Physicians and how they approached nettles as a pattern-based remedy
• Ed's origin story: the pharmacist who put on a wig and started asking the wrong questions
• Nettles World Tour with Chris: New Zealand's Onga Onga, Japan, Russia, and European urtication
• How to use nettles: tea, apple cider vinegar infusion, pesto, smoothies, and freshly freeze-dried capsules

Herbal Terms in This Episode:

Hemostatic: An herb that helps slow or stop bleeding, useful for heavy menses or wounds.

Astringent: An action that tones and tightens tissues and reduces excessive secretions, like a runny nose or weeping wounds.

Diuretic: Supports the kidneys in flushing excess fluid and waste from the body.

Galactagogue: An herb traditionally used to support and promote breast milk production.

Urtication: The practice of deliberately stinging the skin with fresh nettles, historically used in Europe for pain relief and circulation.

We'd love to hear from you!

Have you ever used nettles for allergies, as a food, or in some creative way we didn't mention?

Share your nettles stories with us on Instagram or TikTok @eclecticherb

Full show notes and transcript: eclecticherb.com/blogs/news/stinging-nettles

Shop freeze-dried Nettles and Nettles with Quercetin at eclecticherb.com

Follow @eclecticherb on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

Text Us & Let Us Know How You Liked The Show!

Thanks so much for tuning into Eclectic Herbal Wisdom!

We'd love to show our gratitude by giving you a 20% discount on your whole order at eclecticherb.com.

Just use the code PODCAST20 at checkout for 20% Off all your herbal goods! 🌿

And, if you have time, be sure to reach out and let us know what you think of the show!

At Eclectic Herb we're passionate about bringing you herbs as fresh as plants in the wild!

That's why we take the time to gently freeze dry our herbs, right after they've been harvested at the peak of their medicinal potency.

We know you'll feel the freeze dried difference in every capsule, every powder, and every bit of herbal love you get at Eclectic Herb!