Nocturnal Herbalist

Dec 12 2023 19 ep. 47 mins 7

Nocturnal Herbalist Podcast artwork

Herbalism, traditional astrology, Cacao, pharmacology, and evidence-based medicine: an eclectic brew for your aural pleasure.

Health & Fitness

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Inner Insulation (livestream #12)

Dec 12 2023 30 mins

Wild swimming in winter (or cold showers) as popularised by Wim Hof and others seem to help poor circulation, inflammatory disorders, depression and many other issues. In this Livestream I discuss my thoughts on these practices and show and tell some of the little herbal hacks I use to help recover from cold exposure! LINKS: Cold water swimming benefits – detailed research pape

Winter Blues (livestream #11)

Dec 02 2023 28 mins

Many people experience low mood and motivation in the colder, darker months of the year. In this Livestream I talk about Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD from a herbalist's perspective, and riff on a few plant-based and practical remedies. LINKS: The most extreme form of “winter blues”: seasonal depression aka SAD general info: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications

DIET EVANGELISM (livestream #10)

Nov 22 2023 18 mins

Many people espouse dietary beliefs which are perceived as rigid or extreme. In this livestream I mull over some thoughts on diet dogma, where it comes from, and some of the positives and negatives of food-focused beliefs. LINKS: The "Rawlicious" video which got me thinking about these topics this week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw4lP6UK4-U My favourite YT nutr

Angry Guts (livestream #6)

Nov 15 2023 28 mins

IBS, IBD and endometriosis are common ailments with very different causes, frequently associated with suffering and loss of quality of life. In this livestream I discuss some approaches that may be beneficial for dealing with these issues. LINKS: IBS: need for simultaneous mind + gut treatment (full paper) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10496425/ IBS overview https:

Side Effects - Part 2 (livestream #9)

Nov 15 2023 20 mins

All medicines (including herbal medicines) can cause "side effects" to varying degrees. In this Livestream I discuss a recent personal Adverse Drug Reaction to the generally wonderful Reishi mushroom(Ganoderma lucidum), and some protocols I follow as a medical herbalist for minimizing unwanted drug interactions when using herbal medicines alongside prescription drugs. L

"Digest & Purge" (livestream #8)

Nov 08 2023 20 mins

In ancient times it was common to use herbs in conjunction with astrology or other forms of divination to treat illness. This was often done by first using gentler internal medicine for a few days or weeks to adjust the perceived imbalance (known as “digesting the peccant humour”), before administering a more drastic treatment in an attempt to jump-start the body back to health

Side Effects (livestream #7)

Nov 02 2023 32 mins

“Side effects” are common with many prescription medicines, and may also occur with plant medicines. But “side effects” are just unwanted drug effects, and not all side effects are the same: some are dangerous, some are uncomfortable, and some may even be necessary. In this livestream I talk about medication sensitivity, what it means, and what can be done about it. LINKS:

How to be happy when everything's cack (Livestream #5)

Oct 21 2023 18 mins

Life is sometimes Not Fun. But there are things we can do to make it better: perspective shifts, simple actions, and of course medicinal plants. In this fifth livestream I talk about some of the simple approaches I take with clients (and myself) to help stay afloat when you've barely got the energy to bail the water out of the boat anymore. LINKS: Positive effects of gratitud

Sex Vs. Time (Livestream #4)

Oct 13 2023 20 mins

Aging causes significant hormonal changes in both sexes, leading to physical, emotional and mental changes, and sometimes significant health issues. In this livestream I discuss some of the ways this can show up, and some herbal strategies and approaches to facilitate positive changes. Links: Book - Graeme Tobyn, "Culpeper's Medicine" https://www.goodreads.com/book/

SELF-SABOTAGE (Livestream #3)

Oct 04 2023 25 mins

We all self-sabotage - some more than others. In this Livestream I think out loud about why we do it, and discuss some of the plant allies that may be useful in helping to address it. LINKS: Marisa Peer's interview with Lewis Howes: https://lewishowes.com/podcast/your-thoughts-will-heal-or-kill-you-with-marisa-peer/ Anna Runkle's daily practice: https://courses.crappychil