The Herbalist's Journal

Meander into the wild margins and roadside ditches on The Herbalist’s Journal to meet one of nature's toughest survivalists: Brown Knapweed (Centaurea jacea). Often dismissed as a stubborn weed, this tough-stemmed perennial carries a rich history as a medieval wound-weaver and bitter digestive tonic.

Named after Chiron the Centaur, Centaurea jacea is rich in astringent tannins and prebiotic inulin. We explore how to identify its distinct brown, armor-like bracts, its ancient applications as a vulnerary for cuts and sores, and how modern herbalists use its bitter roots to stimulate digestion and liver function.

Key Topics Covered:

• Identifying Centaurea jacea by its papery "knop" bracts and fringed blooms

• The mythology of Chiron and the history of knapweed as a vulnerary

• Using astringent herbs for wound healing and skin washes

• Bitter glycosides and inulin: How knapweed root wakes up digestion

Dill isn't just for pickles! On this episode of The Herbalist’s Journal, we unlock the 5,000-year medicinal history of Anethum graveolens. From ancient Egyptian papyri to traditional European "Gripe Water," dill has long been cherished as a master digestive ally.

Learn how this sun-loving member of the Apiaceae family works as a carminative to soothe stomach cramps, relieve gas, and calm colic in infants. We cover the distinct medicinal differences between delicate dill weed leaves and volatile oil-rich dill seeds, plus its historical role as a galactagogue for nursing mothers.

Key Topics Covered:

• Botanical traits of the Apiaceae (umbrella) family

• The carminative action of carvone and limonene in dill seeds

• How traditional Gripe Water calms infant colic and gut spasms

• Dill as a natural galactagogue to support lactation

• How to brew a medicinal dill seed infusion at home

Step into the summer brambles on The Herbalist’s Journal as we explore the deep medicinal power of the native Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis). Far more than a delicious wild forage, this dark jewel of the hedgerow is packed with powerful antioxidants making waves in modern oncology research.

Discover how to accurately identify black raspberries and distinguish them from red raspberries and blackberries. We break down the clinical science behind its high anthocyanin content and anti-cancer potential, alongside traditional uses for astringent black raspberry leaves and roots to tone the gut and ease digestive distress.

Key Topics Covered:

• Botanical tricks to identify Rubus occidentalis vs. red raspberries and blackberries

• The high-anthocyanin chemistry driving cancer research at Ohio State University

• Toning the digestive and reproductive systems with tannin-rich leaves

• Traditional Native American uses for black raspberry root bark

In this episode of The Herbalist’s Journal, we untangle the complex history and chemistry of Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea). Known historically as "Life Root" or "Squaw Weed," this striking yellow spring flower was once a staple uterine tonic for 19th-century Eclectic physicians. But why is it treated with so much caution in modern herbalism?

Join us as we explore the botany of Packera aurea, its traditional uses for female reproductive health, and the science behind its pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) and cumulative liver toxicity. Learn how to safely work with this native plant today through topical applications, homeopathy, flower essences, and land stewardship.

Key Topics Covered:

• ​ Botanical identification of Packera aurea and its heterophyllous leaf pattern
• ​ Historical uses of "Life Root" by Native Americans and Eclectic physicians
• ​ The science of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PAs) and liver safety
• ​ Modern safe applications: Topicals, flower essences, and native garden ecology

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In this episode of The Herbalist’s Journal, Celine explores Sweet Fern (Comptonia peregrina), a resilient shrub of sandy soils and open woodlands. Known for its aromatic leaves and astringent qualities, Sweet Fern has been used traditionally to support digestion, calm inflammation, and restore balance during times of excess. Join Celine as she examines its cultural history, ecological resilience, and the lessons it offers from harsh landscapes.

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In this episode of The Herbalist’s Journal, Celine explores Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata), a plant of edges, waterways, and quiet release. Long used to support the nervous system during times of stress and emotional strain, Blue Vervain offers medicine for tension held in the body and mind. Join Celine as she reflects on its traditional uses, ecological role, and the subtle power of letting go.

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In this episode of The Herbalist’s Journal, Celine explores Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), a powerful forest tree known for its deep medicinal history and unmistakable presence. From Indigenous uses of the hulls and bark to its ecological influence through allelopathy, Black Walnut offers lessons in boundaries, discernment, and intentional healing. Join Celine as she reflects on this tree’s cultural significance and the role of strong medicine in both forests and human traditions.

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In this episode of The Herbalist’s Journal, Celine explores Sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis), a modest woodland plant whose roots have supported Indigenous medicine and early settler remedies for centuries. From gentle blood and digestive tonics to its ecological role feeding pollinators and wildlife, Sarsaparilla demonstrates the quiet generosity of the forest. Join Celine as she traces its cultural history, practical uses, and lessons in patience and subtlety.

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In this episode of The Herbalist’s Journal, Celine explores Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea), a bright yellow perennial that thrives at forest edges and meadows. Celebrated for its delicate umbels, edible shoots, and medicinal roots, this plant has long supported Indigenous communities and early herbalists alike. Join Celine as she reflects on its ecological role, cultural significance, and the quiet generosity that makes Golden Alexanders a true woodland and meadow treasure.

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In this episode of The Herbalist’s Journal, Celine explores Solomon’s Plume (Maianthemum racemosum), a delicate woodland plant whose arching plumes and red berries mark the forest floor in late spring and early summer. Traditionally used as a gentle tonic for digestion, reproductive health, and overall vitality, this plant also supports pollinators and wildlife. Join Celine as she reflects on its subtle medicine, cultural significance, and the quiet wisdom it offers in the forest.

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In this episode of The Herbalist’s Journal, Celine explores Wild Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), a small, low-growing shrub that carpets forest edges and sunny understory patches. Celebrated for its sweet, nutritious berries and medicinal leaves, Wild Blueberry has supported Indigenous diets, traditional remedies, and wildlife for centuries. Join Celine as she reflects on its ecological role, cultural history, and the quiet resilience that makes this plant a true jewel of North American forests.

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In this episode of The Herbalist’s Journal, Celine explores American Ginseng — the forest’s golden root. From its slow-growing, shade-loving habitat to its centuries-long history in Indigenous medicine and international trade, American Ginseng offers lessons in patience, respect, and ecological stewardship. Join Celine as she traces its traditional uses as a restorative tonic and reflects on the careful balance between human use and forest conservation.

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In this thoughtful and ecological dive, Celine explores Goldenseal—a quiet forest plant whose golden root has been both revered and over-harvested. From Indigenous traditional uses to its rise as a commercially coveted remedy, this episode examines how cultural significance, scarcity, and ecological responsibility intersect. Goldenseal becomes a reminder that admiration and extraction are not the same, and that some plants are best honored by leaving them in place.

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In this episode of The Herbalist’s Journal, Celine explores Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), a modest woodland herb with a long history of calming and restorative uses. Known for supporting the nervous system, easing tension, and promoting gentle relaxation, Skullcap is a plant of quiet strength. Join Celine as she traces its traditional applications, ecological role, and the subtle ways this plant teaches patience and nervous system care.

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In this episode of The Herbalist’s Journal, Celine explores the gentle, fragrant presence of Anise Hyssop—a plant beloved by pollinators and long valued in both Indigenous and settler traditions. With its soft licorice aroma, calming properties, and history as a tea plant, Anise Hyssop bridges the practical and the poetic. Join Celine as she traces its cultural significance, its role in supporting wellness, and the quiet resilience that makes it a favorite across gardens and wild spaces alike.

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In this episode of The Herbalist’s Journal, Celine explores Self-heal—also known as heal-all—a small but remarkable woodland and meadow herb with a long history of use in Indigenous and European folk medicine. From its purple, tiered flower spikes to its reputation as a remedy for wounds, inflammation, and general wellness, Self-heal reveals how some of the most unassuming plants often carry the deepest stories.

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Celine explores Violet (Viola spp.), a soft-spoken woodland plant known for emotional, lymphatic, and respiratory support. This episode highlights violet’s cultural uses, early spring ecology, and symbolic connection to grief and tenderness, offering insight into a medicine that heals through compassion and quiet strength.This show exists ad free, if you would like to show support, I gratefully except tips here: https://buymeacoffee.com/celinecolbert

Celine journeys underground with Burdock (Arctium spp.), a deep-rooted plant of long-term healing and resilience. This episode explores burdock’s role in liver and lymphatic support, skin health, and soil restoration, revealing how true cleansing happens slowly, deeply, and with patience.This show exists ad free, if you would like to show support, I gratefully except tips here:
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In this episode of The Herbalist’s Journal, Celine meets Chickweed (Stellaria media), a tender plant that arrives in cool seasons to soothe heat and irritation. From skin and digestive support to its role as nourishing early greens, discover how chickweed teaches healing through gentleness and quiet abundance.This show exists ad free, if you would like to show support, I gratefully except tips here:
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In this episode of The Herbalist’s Journal, Celine explores Calendula (Calendula officinalis), a bright and generous plant long valued for skin healing and gentle lymphatic support. From household remedies to garden ecology, discover how calendula offers warmth, renewal, and care through consistent, radiant medicine. This show exists ad free, if you would like to show support, I gratefully except tips here: https://buymeacoffee.com/celinecolbert