Tariq Sawandi Yorubic medicine is indigenous to and widely practiced on the African continent. Yorubic medicine has its roots in the Ifa Corpus, a religious text revealed by the mystic prophet, Orunm …
DetailsThe Su Wen, in chapter 8, states: The Liver holds the office of General of the armed forces. Assessment of circumstances and conception of plans springs from it. The General is for the defence of lif …
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Anyone know this wonderful little song, great for both healing and when you feel like celebrating? It’s great to have running in our mental backgrounds rather than the obsessive thoughts our monkey mi …
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Yes, you read that right! I wish you a do-be-do-be-do-be year! Now what in the heck is that? In today’s world, most people are action oriented, or “do”-oriented. We make plans, cross off completed it …
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We have definitely entered the most crucial time of year ‘” winter. Whether you live in tropical Hawaii or frosty Minnesota, the energy of winter is the same: storage. Conserve and preserve your reso …
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In the cold of winter, a great herb to consider is the walnut. It is a rich source of fat that keeps the body warm and as a healthy snack, stifles hunger. But walnuts are more than a food; they have many valuable medicinal uses, too. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), walnuts gently tonify Kidney…
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In Fall we harvest the fruits and labors of Spring’s planting and planning. Shorter days and cooler nights send the surface fires into the body. Just as many people harvest bounty from their gardens t …
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The cold and flu season is still upon us. Michael wrote about treating flu last fall, especially the swine flu, but I want to address a different approach here. Cold/flu treatment usually falls into t …
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by Garcia et al. published by North Atlantic Books, $20.00. More evidence for my hypothetical thesis of Planetary Herbalism, that the ancient healing wisdom of the planet emanated from one source and …
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Resident Scholar, Department of Acupuncture, Clinic Supervisor PhD, California Institute of Integral Studies, 2009 DAOM, Traditional Oriental Medicine, Emperor’s College, 2006 MSEd, Medical Education, …
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Michael Tierra in the Sierra, August 2012…”I’m gathering pulsatilla which is all around me. There are also stands of mule’s ears (Wyethia species) at my feet and scattered around is California os …
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Wild cherry bark (Prunus serotina, P. virginiana) also known as choke cherry, is one of several herbal remedies that contain amygdalin, also called prunasin, a toxic glycoside found in the seeds of ma …
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Recently Michael and I witnessed the incredible scene of cherry blossom season in Japan. It is truly a remarkable sight. Clouds of pinkish-white flowers adorn dark branches that hang over green parks. blue waters, or frame distant structures. Crowds of locals stream through such areas, picnicking or strolling beneath their ancient glories, day and night.…
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Have you ever talked with someone who thought that herbs didn’t work because they did little for them despite all their commercial hype? Or have you ever taken (or given) an herb and you (or the perso …
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Dr. Michael Tierra L.AC., O.M.D. A shortened and more carefully edited form of this article is published in two parts in the February and March, 1999 issue of Natural Foods Merchandiser. This is an e …
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In its February-April 2012 issue, HerbalGram, one of the most reputable and distinguished journals in the world on all things herbal, published a definitive article: “The Regulated Dietary Supplement …
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Planetary Herbology is Michael and Lesley Tierra’s unique, global approach to botanical medicine. It unites a solid study of herbs, scientific research, medicine-making, and diagnostic systems from
Despite the overwhelming evidence of the added health benefits of fiber, vitamins and minerals of whole grains, most traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic doctors recommend eating white rather than whole …
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When I began to study herbs, my first class discussed the difference between the many ginsengs. It was information overload at that stage of my learning, but since then I’ve used them all. If the prospect of selecting the right ginseng for a specific set of symptoms seems overwhelming, this blog is for you. Why…
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“Northwest Passage” The amazing music of composer, Alex Shapiro Featuring the world premiere of ARCANA: SUITE FOR PIANO commissioned by and dedicated to and performed by Michael Tierra, pianist. Peac …
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Students and clients often ask me, “When the best time is to take my herbs?” This is a very good question, and there are several different answers. (However, in truth, the best time to take herbs is…
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My first Chinese herb teacher Foon Lee Wong once cryptically remarked: “It’s not good to be too healthy.” Since then I’ve often thought of native peoples throughout the world described by early explor …
DetailsWhile most people dream of their projects and ideas going viral, there is one area in which we definitely want to avoid this — our health. And we are just at the most vulnerable time of year for “goi …
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“Tonic” in TCM specifically refers to herbs that: increase Qi, usually through enhanced absorption and mitochondrial replication nourish Blood, usually by regulating red and white blood cell re …
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As I mentioned in last week’s blog, exercise and wise dieting principles aren’t enough to help you reach your optimal weight. Portion control is essential. Just how important is portion control? In on …
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When I first learned about herbs in the late ’70s, they were usually taken as capsules, with food, or smoked! As I began to study Chinese herbs I learned that they were typically prepared as teas. The …
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A.J. Collins, M.D. Introduction by Dr. Michael Tierra This is a piece of medical history. American Eclecticism was an officially recognized branch of North American medicine that predominantly used …
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Gao Jelly is a black, jelly-like substance made from Chinese herbs. Sometimes called Gui Ling Gao Herbal Jelly, it was traditionally comprised of 30-50 herbs. Today it is a popular chilled dessert, ob …
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If one were to look up the term bacteriocins or fermented media in PUBMED, one would find over 5000 citations indicating the wide range of actions by these compounds that are, essentially, a by-produc …
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Herbs should be processed before using or making into various forms. Because most Chinese herbs are used unprepared, besides general handling, quite a few should be specifically processed to meet dema …
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After writing about the various types of citrus and their uses I thought about using other fruits as medicine. My mind turned to quince, since our wild lemon tree looks very similar to it. However, qu …
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Wendy Knoebel, TCM Clinical Herbalist, RH (AHG) Blue Wingg Herbs 358 Baily Road Northfield, VT, 05663, US (802) 485-9234 “Years ago I watched both parents suffer through debilitating illnesses with few options available in Alternative Medicine. In an effort to help them, I started researching the field of Alternative Medicine and eventually found Rosemary Gladstar.…
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In honor of the near end of Liver/Gallbladder time of year, here’s another favorite formula of mine: Wen Dan Tang. It has many uses, especially as a sedative and expectorant, but it is specifically sa …
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Welcome to the East West School of Herbology’s Knowledge Center. We are the nation’s premier training center for professional herbalists. As well our goal is to educate the world on the healing and he …
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I know spring is here to stay when our honeysuckle blooms. I remember in my early childhood plucking the flowers and sucking out their yummy nectar. Little did I know then that this lovely flower has many medicinal uses, too. First of all, honeysuckle is effective for colds, flu, and viruses with fever, headaches, and…
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Behold, our new website! Many of you — especially my own students — will notice that it looks considerably different. Our goal has been to give it the emphasis, look and feel befitting one of the f …
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Radiance Energy Medicine for a healthy body, mind and soul In the past I separated out my sessions of acupuncture, herbs, food therapy and shamanic practices. Now I have incorporated them all togethe …
DetailsWelcome and thank you for signing up. Our school administrator is processing your course information. She will send you access within a day. Questions? Contact Jill at herbcourse@planetherbs.com.
A close member of my family recently went on a weight loss diet and happily dropped 25 pounds within two or three months. Suddenly encouragement changed to despair as she found that try as hard as she …
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Michael Tierra L.Ac, OMD, AHG founder It is everyone’s birthright to learn how to use the common wayside weeds that may be indigenous or naturalized in their immediate vicinity because t …
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My journey with plants began in grade school after learning about the importance of trees. As a result I planted a tree annually on Arbor Day. By the time I left home in my early 20’s, to move to Boston, we had a small orchard on our suburban plot in northern Ohio. I started college…
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Sweet is the flavor of the Spleen time of year, including this month of August. In July, I discussed the herb, jujube date, which is sweet but not the sweet flavor most of us think of as in sugar or candy. So what about a true sweet-sweet herb such as a fruit? (Yes, fruits can…
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Recently I reviewed some of the wonderful DVDs that David LaLuzerne of Green Earth Herbs’ HerbTV made of several teachers at our 2008 East West Herb Course seminar. On one of these videos, I was the f …
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Guest blog by Anne de Courtenay It finally happened. After 45 years of being spared, they got me. It was Tuesday, midday. I had just emerged from a Target in downtown Evanston where I’d stopped to pick up some very important foodstuffs: taco shells and Junior Mints. I was in my head, which is where…
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I always think it’s a good idea to learn to derive your special nutrients from foods rather than pills and nutritional supplements. Certain foods, like garlic and onions for example, are so potent tha …
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In 1974 I bought a copy of the Barefoot Doctor’s Manual and it changed my life. After graduating I built an Investment Consulting Practice in Atlanta and the TCM diagnostic process became the foundati …
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This herb is the whole plant (including root) of the perennial herb, Viola yedoensis Mak. (Family Violaceae). It is collected in spring when the fruit is ripe, washed and dried in sunlight, cut into s …
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Vicki Pitman, M.Phil., Complementary Health Studies (Exeter, UK), Master Herbalist, Iridology (School of Natural Medicine), East West Clinical Herbalist (EWCH) 18 Greenland Mills, Bradford-on-Avon, Wilts, BA15 !BL, UK My work is grounded in traditional healing wisdom and sound science. I have been practising holistic, complementary
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The flu is now widely in circulation and quickly going into people’s lungs. This is not only inconvenient and uncomfortable but can also cause dangerous prolonged and harsh coughing spells that can el …
DetailsMichael Tierra L.Ac., O.M.D. LUNGS The Lungs rule Qi, have a dispersing and descending function and are directly connected to the exterior environment. This makes them vulnerable to external invasion …
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As we continue this blog series on Yin Deficiency (with Heat), I want to make clear that the description of Heat hereby discussed is confined to the organic pattern of Heat and not the description of …
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Have you noticed the lack of health care in your area? I have, in Santa Cruz. So many GPs have retired because of the astronomical price of liability insurance they must pay to stay in practice, along …
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This Dec. 1, 2009, article at the BBC website entitled “Prince Charles: ‘Herbal medicine must be regulated'” points to a potential crisis for the practice of herbal medicine in the UK. Under threat of …
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We are in the depth of Kidney time now and will be for about another three weeks. This is when Kidney energy is supposed to flourish. However, if there’s any kidney imbalance now, then those symptoms …
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Summers seem to be getting hotter and hotter so staying cool – and keeping your cool – can be more difficult. But don’t fret! There are many fabulous herbs, some even easy to find or grow foods, that can help you cool off during such hot summer days. These herbs also help with what Traditional…
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Acupressure applied to Gall Bladder 20. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) there are 361 charted acupuncture points on the body. Acupuncturists generally recognize any active point on th …
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Turmeric has become increasingly popular over the last decade, first for blood purification and then for joint pain. As it’s hit the mainstream, its uses have narrowed at the same time. While turmeric …
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Turmeric has become increasingly popular over the last decade, first for blood purification and then for joint pain. As it’s hit the mainstream, its uses have narrowed at the same time. While turmeric is a fabulous herb with many beneficial applications, it’s also quite powerful and can strongly imbalance the body if over-used or misused.…
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Anyone who knows me knows that I believe the traditional Ayurvedic formula called Triphala is the greatest single herbal formula the world has ever known. That’s quite a statement, coming from an herb …
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During the 1970s on one of my trips to Bangalore in southern India, I made it a point to seek teachers, schools and hospitals that were exponents of Ayurvedic medicine, which at that time was still ba …
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Ulcerative colitis affects approximately 100 out of 100,000 people in the United States. Genetic disposition and food sensitivities are common causes. The disease can lead to colon cancer and related …
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Triphala consists of three phytonutrient-rich fruits Emblica officinalis (Amla, or Amalaki) also known as Phyllanthus emblica; Terminalia bellerica (Vibhitaki); and Terminalia chebula (Haritaki). Each of these eliminates all types of excess from the body. Amla clears the liver, Vibhitaki the excess of mucus, lymph, fluids, including excess cholesterol, and Haritaki treats the nervous system. All three fruits…
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The three fruits of Triphala. My clinical experience using the Ayurvedic formula Triphala is extensive, based on literally thousands of cases over the course or 25 years. It is only within the last th …
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The school’s teachers and students traveled to China where we learned Traditional Chinese Medicine and professional herbalist methods first-hand. …
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The needles used in acupuncture at the East West Clinic are absolutely sterile, strictly disposable and extremely smooth and fine. This makes for the least amount of sensation upon insertion. In fact, …
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By Herbalist Alan Tillotson……Protocol for using Planetary Formula’s CNS Myelin Sheath Repair…(for 130-160 pound person)…1. Myelin Sheath Support 2 pills three times per day….2 …
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TREATMENT OF A PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT CASE OF PSORIASIS Michael Tierra EWCH, OMD, AHG… … A man, age 65, arrived at my East West Clinic with the worst case of psoriasis I’ve ever seen in the …
DetailsDr. Michael Tierra L.AC., O.M.D. Contents Treating the Common Cold What do I do for a cold? A Holistic Approach A Home Herbal Herbal Immune Stimulant Boosting the Immune system Diaphoretics Ch …
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by Michael Tierra R.H., L.Ac, O.M.D., A.H.G….PurposeTo determine the efficacy based on a three day trial period for the use of Echinacea Full Spectrum Herb Extract, manufactured and distributed b …
Details(Notes sent to Michael from herbalist, Alan Tillotson, AHG) IntroductionI have had 100% success in relieving elevated liver enzymes associated with hepatitis C and even advanced cirrhosis by using Pla …
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Unfortunately, too many people think about their teeth only in crisis stage. A common pre-crisis symptom is receding gums. This is a widespread condition when the gums pull away from the teeth, forming gaps and eventually exposing the bone structures that support the teeth. Over time, this will lead to the formation of pockets of…
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As we are well into the season of late Summer, more cases are presenting at my clinic with Spleen and Stomach issues. One of my latest was a GERD client, whom I will call Bob. In his late 40s, Bob has …
DetailsMichael Tierra L.Ac., O.M.D., AHGThis is a condition where the palmar fascia which is the fibrous tissue beneath the skin of the palm and fingers thickens. This in turn forms a abnormal thickening of …
DetailsDr. Michael Tierra L.AC., O.M.D. Remember Woody Allen’s film Annie Hall? The name was changed from the original Anne Hedonia (or ‘anhedonia’ from an meaning “not” and hedonia from hedonist meaning “p …
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Chinese medicine divides diseases into two broad categories: 1. Diseases of “external contraction” (Wei Guan), which are relatively simple conditions that are acute in nature. 2. Diseases of “internal …
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In this book, Dr. Tierra provides a complete, systematic approach to treating cancer from a holistic perspective, while detailing the entire range of herbs and herbal medicines available to the practi …
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Arthritis, joint and back pain is so prevalent throughout the world that there really is no point to describe how many sufferers there are. It is safe to say that if you are around the age of 55 or ol …
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Recently I had an experience with someone that reminded me again about the major tenet of TCM ‘treat the person and not the condition.’ While to our students and TCM practitioners this may seem obviou …
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Dr. Michael Tierra L.AC., O.M.D. Traditional Western Herbal Medicine evolved from the Greeks who were strongly influenced by the Egyptians and Middle Eastern civilizations. In fact, with …
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If you suffer from hypertension, several avenues of treatment are available to you. How do you choose what is best for your unique condition? In this blog, I’ll explore the approaches to hypertension …
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Tracy Richardson, CMQ, MIM 415-233-3691 2630 Monticello Ave., Oakland, CA, 94619, US Tracy Richardson is a licensed acupuncturist, who uses the full scope of Chinese and Japanese Medicine techniques and modalities.
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Since a young child I’ve been a traveler, and one of my favorite places to visit are gardens. There are many incredible gardens that people flock to from around the world including the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, near London in the United Kingdom; Buchart Gardens in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada, located near Victoria on…
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Cannabis is considered under Federal law as a class I Controlled Substance, although in many states it is legal under medical marijuana laws. This monograph will concentrate on cannabis’s topical ef …
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by Candis Cantin Kiriajes, AHG In Eastern systems of healing, rejuvenation and regeneration have a prominent place in the herbal philosophy and pharmacopoeia. In Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine regen …
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by Beverly Jennings, RH (AHG), MT, East West School of Planetary Herbology Graduate East West students were fortunate to have the opportunity to spend an entire day with renowned herbalist Ron Teeguar …
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Hummingbird Holistic Healing Tobi Jane Panter, AHG, R.Ac (604) 732-9179 , Vancouver, BC, Canada
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What’s that sound? Why won’t it go away? Tinnitus, commonly known as “ringing in the ears” and the perception of sound where no external source of sound is present, is a surprisingly common affliction …
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I find it extremely annoying that the west has gone sweet, that is, sickly sweet. This occurs not just in mainstream food products, but in health food as well. Until recently, it was easy to find suga …
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As we enter the summer traveling season, many of you may be going on holiday adventures in the next few months. As you do so, be sure to take herbs along with you. I always travel with an herbal first aid kit and inevitably it comes in very handy. I often end up sharing herbs…
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Michael Tierra On a recent visit to the Dalmatian coast, including the beautiful coastline cities of Split and Dubrovnik, I encountered at the local market bazaars venders of the finest grade selling …
DetailsAugust 30, 2005 Michael Tierra While I tend to agree that local surgery and cauterization of basal cell carcinomas (BCC) is often preferable to the use of escharotic salves, this is especially true be …
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I am a clinical herbalist and holistic health consultant and have been part of the Goldthread team for the past four years. I started as a student of William Siff’s and transitioned to Goldthread’s op …
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Thomas Avery Garran, PhD, is an herbalist, author, translator, and scholar who has been studying botanical medicine for over 30 years.
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HERBS – FOUR FAVORITES! While I’ve had many favorite herbs over the years with which I’ve experienced many wonderful healings, these four are my current favorites. Teasel (Dipsacus) I’ve long used …
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I decided it was high time again to introduce you to a few of my favorite things (I can’t believe it’s been five years since the last time I did this!). As I tend to focus on healing and not just herb …
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