These are film photos I took during my trip to Ireland's west coast, June 17 - 29, 2026 in Co. Clare, Co. Mayo and Co. Galway. The Atlantic Ocean, as seen from limestone cliffs in The Burren region of Co. Clare. A Burnet Rose (Rosa spinosissima) growing out of the limestone wall at Slieve Carran - Eagles Rock, Co. Clare. View of Fanore, Co. Clare from The Green Road. My cousin Tom's sheep grazing in Co. Mayo. The back field of wild flowers, and one hawthorn tree, at the famil

A late-summer hot-tip! Support your immune system today, for a healthier fall and winter. Wild oyster mushrooms growing on a log. Photo by Zdeněk Macháček on Unsplash One of the best things about herbal and traditional medicine, and what sets it apart in leaps and bounds from allopathic or western medicine is that there is A LOT you can do for your body/mind and spirit PREVENTIVELY. For example, when I worked at the herb-shop in SF this was a classic theme of late fall and ea

An energetic nudge from the early harvest. Dahlia flowers, photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash Something I've been thinking about a lot lately is the impact of subtleness. It's easy to resist to taking a deep breath, doubting that it will change anything. It's hard to imagine that slightly dimming the lights will make it easier to relax and wind down in the evening. It's wild how remembering to stay hydrated can help us feel better throughout the day, or creating no-phone zones

When the mundane becomes spiritual The green leaf of Italian Basil, Ocimum basilicum. (Want this post read to you? Copy and paste it here) Prequel: Where Bones Belong to the Earth Prologue: Everything Makes Sense Now Part 1: The Portal: An Introduction Plantcestor: My Friend Fennel Plantcestor: Queen Anne’s Lace Part 2: Never Felt Italian-American Enough Plantcestor: St. Basil (below) There are a number of herbs that have always felt quintessentially Italian. Oregano, Marjora

Or Croatian-American or Irish-American either. This post is part of a series called The Portal about the ways that my life and practice of herbal medicine has gotten more culturally grounded since traveling to Italy in 2024. Prequel: Where Bones Belong to the Earth Prologue: Everything Makes Sense Now Part 1: The Portal: An Introduction Plantcestor: My Friend Fennel Plantcestor: Queen Anne’s Lace Part 2: Never Felt Italian-American Enough (below) (Want this post read to you?

Struggling with sleep? Here are my quick tips. Insomnia is one of the main symptoms I see in the clinic for people who are navigating The Upgrade, also known as menopause or perimenopause. Below are the top eight things that are commonly overlooked, yet worth considering if you struggle with insomnia during these years (and even if you struggle with insomnia outside of these years!). Keep in mind, I recommend reviewing this checklist even before reaching for herbs. It’s incr

This quick list of reasons to work with an herbalist in fall and winter will support new clients learning about what to expect.

Reach for these plants for deep, gentle nourishment. Oats (Avena spp.), are often found in their milky stage in May or June in...

Herbs for before, during and after the revolution. Right now, people are pissed. Tensions have been rising since, well forever, but the...

The who, what, why and when of Water. Please drink water. Flowers are optional. Whether you are staying home or going somewhere HOT this...