Anatomy of a Formula
The Plant Path
Have you been studying herbs for a while, but you still feel unsure about how to combine them into an effective formula? Or maybe you’re newer to herbalism and ready to dive into the art and science of formulation? Formulation is one of my favorite parts of herbal medicine, so I’m excited to kick off a new series called The Anatomy of a Formula. I love the synergy that emerges when herbs are combined in intelligent, intentional ways—and the specificity you can achieve when formulating for a particular person. It’s both powerful and fun. However, for budding herbalists,...
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The Seasonal Allergy Strategy Part 2
The Plant Path
Welcome to Part 2 of the Allergy Strategy. In this episode, we'll explore the two key approaches to working with allergies and intolerances: prevention and acute care. Whether it's you, your loved ones, or your clients dealing with seasonal allergies, you'll find plenty of tools here to support the process—and many of these strategies can also be applied to other types of allergies. If you haven't had a chance to read Part One yet, I recommend starting there: as it covers the foundational concepts we'll be building upon. Here's what you'll find in this episode: How to...
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The Seasonal Allergy Strategy Part 1
The Plant Path
Spring has officially sprung. The birds are chirping, the plants are waking up, and the earth is on the move again. It's a beautiful time of year—and here in the Pacific Northwest, we welcome the lifting of the cold, the retreat of the rain, and the chance to head back outside to enjoy nature's splendor and get our gardens growing. But spring's return comes at a high cost for many due to seasonal allergies. If you’re one of the millions of people who suffer from seasonal allergies, stepping outside can bring so much discomfort and suffering that it hardly seems worth...
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Interview with Pam Montgomery
The Plant Path
Have you ever wondered how to understand plants on a deeper level, beyond “This herb is good for that thing?” If so, you won’t want to skip this post! I am excited to be joined today by my colleague, friend, and teacher, Pam Montgomery. Pam is an herbalist, author, international teacher, earth elder, and new paradigm thinker who passionately embraces her role as a spokesperson for the green beings. She has investigated plants and their intelligent spiritual nature for over three decades. Pam is the author of Co-Creating with Nature: Healing the Wound of Separation and the...
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The Zodiacal Study Strategy
The Plant Path
Have you ever felt overwhelmed trying to learn herbal medicine and astrology? This is one of the biggest challenges I hear from people studying herbalism on its own… throw astrology on top of it, and it just seems like too much. They say, “I was already overwhelmed trying to learn how to become a great herbalist. And now, to practice this way, I have to learn the massive system of astrology too. I'm busy with my day job, family, home, and garden, and it's too much.” But it doesn’t have to be that way! There is a strategic approach that allows you to study herbal...
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Top 3 Spring Tonics
The Plant Path
Spring is the season of renewal—and the perfect time to support your body with cleansing and nourishing herbs. Last week, we covered the overall concept of the spring cleanse and whether it's a good thing for us to do in our modern culture. We got a birds-eye view of the qualities and characteristics of herbs that would fit into this category. Ready to learn more about spring cleansing and which herbs to prioritize? In this episode, I’m spotlighting my three favorite spring tonic herbs. I’ll tell you why these are so fantastic for this purpose and how to prepare these herbs...
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The Spring Cleanse
The Plant Path
The premise of cleansing is popular in alternative medicine circles, seen as one of the most important ways to get and stay healthy. But is it really? Is our modern take on cleansing the same as it was traditionally? And most importantly, is cleansing really appropriate for anyone and everyone? We’ll cover all that and more in our exploration of the spring cleanse. Here’s what I’ll cover: What happens in the spring transition that necessitates a cleanse? The qualities that predominate in winter and what that means for you The equinox transitions and how patterns in nature...
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Astrological Medicine: Scientific vs. Pragmatic Truth
The Plant Path
Have you ever wondered how science views medical astrology or whether it has been proven "true?" Should we consider astrology a valid tool for understanding health, or is it just pseudoscience? Astrological medicine is a central part of our approach to herbal medicine here at The School of Evolutionary Herbalism, so it's a topic we discuss regularly. Today, we're breaking down medical astrology's relationship to scientific and pragmatic truth and proof, and what really matters. Here's what you'll find in this episode: The goal of the tools we use—what matters most? What is...
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Planetary Sympathy and Astrotherapeutics
The Plant Path
Most traditions of herbal medicine across the world use the fundamental principle of antipathetic medicine in their approach to therapeutics. But in the practice of alchemical medicine—based on Paracelsianism— and in astro-herbalism, another approach is commonly used: sympathetic medicine. In this episode, we’ll explore some of the principles of sympathetic medicine, how it differs from the antipathetic approach, and how we can work with it to deepen our understanding of plant to planet correspondences. Here’s an overview of what you’ll learn: The key differences between...
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Astral Polarities & Organ Systems
The Plant Path
In medical astrology, astral polarities offer profound insights into the body’s interconnected systems, revealing hidden relationships between organ functions and celestial archetypes. By studying opposing zodiac signs, we gain a deeper understanding of how the various parts of the body interact. This perspective aligns with holistic traditions like Ayurveda, which recognize the dynamic interplay between organs, emotions, and physiological processes. Each axis in astrology represents a functional system within the body rather than isolated structures. These polarities provide a...
info_outlineIn this week’s podcast, Sajah speaks with Jesse Wolfe Hardin, an herbalist and environmental renaissance man. The author of over 25 books, Jesse Wolf has taught anima life practices for decades and was the first to coin the term rewilding. Jesse is the co-founder of the International Good Medicine Confluence Gathering, the digital magazine for herbalist healers and folklorists, Plant Healer Quarterly, and the co-creator of the Revealing Hedge Guild Oracle Guide. Today’s conversation takes place with Jesse in a remote river canyon, deeply nestled in the wild lands of New Mexico.
In this heart-to-heart conversation, Jesse talks about how the Earth is intelligent, living, sentient, and is constantly evolving, adapting, and healing itself. In that process, it offers us a model for our own healing and evolution. When we connect with the Earth and work with its plants and rhythms, we tap into that deep intelligence and allow it to guide us on our path to wholeness.
What’s so powerful about herbal medicine is that it’s not just about fixing a symptom or addressing a single ailment. It's about engaging in a relationship with the plants, with the land, and with ourselves. It's about recognizing that our health is interconnected with the health of the Earth and that by healing ourselves, we also contribute to the healing of the planet.
As we explore and deepen our understanding of herbal medicine, we need to remember that it's not just about the plants themselves, but about the relationships we cultivate with them and how they help us to reconnect with the living Earth. It's about fostering a sense of reverence and gratitude for the natural world and allowing that to inspire us to live more harmoniously with it. In this way, herbal medicine becomes a spiritual practice, a way of life that fosters a deeper connection to the natural world and a greater sense of belonging. It reminds us that we are not separate from nature, but an integral part of it. In that recognition, we find a sense of purpose and a path to true wellness.
In today’s episode you’ll learn:
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The importance of creating roots in life, and how grounding in a physical location opens your world to forming deeper connections to your local environment
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Everyone has a gift and a calling in the world, and advice for how you can find yours
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How approaching nature with curiosity, wonder, and an open mind rather than an agenda helps you to better learn from it
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Why it’s so important to heed your personal calling and life mission in the context of herbalism
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The satisfaction that comes from being a heart-driven herbalist and how each herbalist forges their own unique path unlike anyone else’s
Learn more about Jesse Wolf Hardin here:
https://planthealerbookstore.com/about
https://www.goodmedicineconfluence.com/
https://www.instagram.com/planthealer/
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CONNECT WITH SAJAH AND WHITNEY
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To get free in depth mini-courses and videos, visit our blog at:
http://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com
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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyP63opAmcpIAQg1M9ShNSQ
Get a free 5-week course when you buy a copy of the book, Evolutionary Herbalism:
https://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com/evolutionary-herbalism-book/
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ABOUT THE PLANT PATH
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The Plant Path is a window into the world of herbal medicine. With perspectives gleaned from traditional Western herbalism, Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine, Alchemy, Medical Astrology, and traditional cultures from around the world, The Plant Path provides unique insights, skills and strategies for the practice of true holistic herbalism. From clinical to spiritual perspectives, we don't just focus on what herbs are "good for," but rather who they are as intelligent beings, and how we can work with them to heal us physically and consciously evolve.
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ABOUT SAJAH
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Sajah Popham is the author of Evolutionary Herbalism and the founder of the School of Evolutionary Herbalism, where he trains herbalists in a holistic system of plant medicine that encompasses clinical Western herbalism, medical astrology, Ayurveda, and spagyric alchemy.
His mission is to develop a comprehensive approach that balances the science and spirituality of plant medicine, focusing on using plants to heal and rejuvenate the body, clarify the mind, open the heart, and support the development of the soul. This is only achieved through understanding and working with the chemical, energetic, and spiritual properties of the plants. His teachings embody a heartfelt respect, honor and reverence for the vast intelligence of plants in a way that empowers us to look deeper into the nature of our medicines and ourselves.
He lives on a homestead in the foothills of Mt. Baker Washington with his wife Whitney where he teaches, consults clients, and prepares spagyric herbal medicines.
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If you’d like to interview Sajah or Whitney to be on your podcast, click here to fill out an interview request form.