The Petty Herbalist Podcast

Petty Herbalist
  • 4.6 (40)
  • ALTERNATIVE HEALTH

Two Black herbalists and Bougie Aunties help you discern the real shit from the b******t in food and herbs. Come share in the belovedness of Karina DesRoses and Asia Dorsey as they explore food science and medicine making at the intersection of ancestral reverence, ecology and cultures of healing justice.

  1. JAN 31

    i'm in love with the cocoa - sacred fats

    Peace & Blessings y’all!  We have another episode in our sacred fats series…  explore the cultural significance of cacao and cocoa butter, discussing their health benefits, indigenous trade practices, and the joy of community. They share personal anecdotes and insights on herbal medicine, the importance of gratitude, and the value of slowing down in life. The conversation highlights the connection between food, culture, and wellness, emphasizing the need for better treatment of producers in the chocolate industry. Sit tight, grab a chai, and enjoy this episode! As always, we want to thank you for all of your support, in all the ways!  Sources and what’s discussed in the pod: 00:00  Introduction and New Year GreetingsHarun Coffee Black Owned Coffee Shop in historic Leimert Park in LA02:54  Exploring Cacao and Its Cultural SignificanceMayan Wisdom Project Buy chocolate direct from Guatemala06:09  Health and Herbal Medicine InsightsTia Health 08:56  Indigenous Trade and Cultural Exchange11:54  The Joy of Community and Human Connection14:47  Cocoa Butter: A Deep Dive(article - NIH) The neuroprotective effects of cocoa flavanol and its influence on cognitive performance (article - NIH) Cocoa and Chocolate in Human Health and Disease Cocoa Asante Chocolate from Ghana21:53  Bougie Auntie Wisdom and Life LessonsSoul Food Genius Fish Fry Every N***a Deserves Media company and clothesFollow us on social: ⁠⁠@pettyherbalist⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@bonesbugsandbotany⁠⁠ Rate us to show your support! Thank You! #StayReady #BePetty ***if you read this far, send me a dm @pettyherbalist for a shoutout!***

    59 min

  2. JAN 19

    you got that DENDÊ (palm oil) - sacred fats

    Peace & Blessings y’all!  We're still in the tropical fats and we're getting into PALM OIL! One of our FAVE fats, one that is nutritious and culturally significant. Can't wait for you to join in this wonderful dialogue with us! As always, we want to thank you for all of your support, in all the ways!  Sources and what’s discussed in the pod: 00:00 Introduction and Land Acknowledgements 01:56 What's in Your Medicine Bag? - 09:31 The Power of Shirodara and Nourishment - 13:15 Spirituality and Community Healing - Ifa and community 25:31 Exploring Red Palm Oil and Its Significance - (docuseries) Street Food Latin America - Salvador, Bahia, Brazil - Candomblé - (nih/Ghana Medical Journey article) Coconut oil and palm oil's role in nutrition, health and national development: A review - (documentary) Red Palm Oil: A Ghanaian Tradition 55:31 Cultural Implications of Food and Health - Nigeria & the west 01:07:05 Bougie Auntie Word of Advice and Closing Thoughts Keywords Petty Herbalist, herbal medicine, red palm oil, Shirodara, African spirituality, Ayurvedic practices, community healing, ancestral wisdom, food as medicine, cultural identity

    1h 23m

  3. 12/24/2025

    go "coo coo" for coconut - tropical fats

    Happy Winter, bbs! Hope you are staying WARM! We sure are, and speaking of warm… we are moving into Tropical Fats/Oils. This week in particular, we are discussing Coconut Oil. It’s a long one, because we’ve got lots to say about the demonization of this oil and we help y’all get the science right! So hang on and ENJOY this amazing episode! As always, we want to thank you for all of your support, in all the ways! WE APPRECIATE YOU! Sources and what’s discussed in the pod: 00:00: Morning Vibes and Menstruation Talk 02:52: Winter Medicine and Kidney Health 05:44: New Beginnings: Karina's Coffee Collaboration 09:55: Coconut Oil Controversy and Health Myths (article) Is Coconut Oil Healthy - The Cleveland Clinic 21:41: Understanding Coconut Oil: Benefits and Misconceptions (book) The Coconut Oil Miracle by Bruce Fife 44:22: Coconut Oil and Its Effects on Health Butyric acid: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/butyric-acid Lauric Acid https://www.acs.org/molecule-of-the-week/archive/l/lauric-acid-myristic-acid.html 45:38: Traditional Diets and Metabolic Health 47:28: Impact of Colonial Diets on Indigenous Health (article) Coconut oil is not typically eaten in the Pacific ​​ 49:22: The Science of Oils and Nutritional Myths 52:00: Biocolonization and the Exploitation of Traditional Foods (scientific journal) Ghana Medical Journal: Coconut oil and palm oil's role in nutrition, health and national development 54:23: Spiritual Colonization and Its Effects on Health 58:37: The Importance of Diverse Perspectives in Healing 01:02:45: Weaving Traditional Knowledge and Modern Practices (article) The history of using agave fibers in the Yucatan 01:08:14: The Role of Ancestors in Health and Healing 01:12:36: Resurgence of Traditional Practices and Spirituality 01:17:20: Abundance vs. Scarcity Mindset in Indigenous Cultures 01:22:29: Community Building and Collective Healing Follow us on social: ⁠⁠@pettyherbalist⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@bonesbugsandbotany⁠⁠ Rate us to show your support! Thank You! #StayReady #BePetty ***if you read this far, send me a dm @pettyherbalist for a shoutout!***

    1h 30m

  4. 12/06/2025

    to really live, eat COD LIVER oil - sacred dietary fats

    Peace & Blessings y’all!  We have another episode in our sacred fats series… about Cod Liver Oil! Cod Liver Oils is something many of us haven’t heard of or discussed in YEARS… maybe even decades. But we are here to preach the gospel about why we should bring it back into our diets! Sit tight, grab a chai, and enjoy this episode! As always, we want to thank you for all of your support, in all the ways!  Sources and what’s discussed in the pod: 2:59 Exploring the Medicine Bag: Copper and Matcha05:50 The Power of Deities: Oya and Erzuli Dantor08:45 Embracing Disruption: Chaos as a Blessing11:20 Women’s Power: Life and Death in Reproductive Health14:46 The Importance of Cod Liver Oil17:39 Cultural Practices and Nutritional Wisdom(article) Cod Liver Oil Basics and Recommendations 20:26 Vitamin D and the Body: Myths and Realities29:34 Conclusion and Reflections31:56 Debunking Myths About Dark Skin and Vitamin D(article) How A Vitamin D Test Misdiagnosed African-Americans 34:59 The Power of Cod Liver Oil38:14 Understanding Omega-3s: Cod Liver Oil vs. Fish Oil42:47 Balancing Omega-3s and Omega-6s for Health46:00 Community and Spirituality: Finding God in Togetherness50:59 Cycles of Abundance and Erosion in Health55:56 Food Genius: Building a Community of KnowledgeExploratory Call with Asia Follow us on social: ⁠⁠@pettyherbalist⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@bonesbugsandbotany⁠⁠ Rate us to show your support! Thank You! #StayReady #BePetty ***if you read this far, send me a dm @pettyherbalist for a shoutout!***

    1h 2m

  5. 12/04/2025

    duck, duck goose! sacred animal fats

    Happy Happy December, HEY FAM HEYYYY! Let’s talk WATERFOUL in another episode in our sacred fats series!  Sit tight, grab a PSL or a hot cocoa, and enjoy this episode! As always, we want to thank you for all of your support, in all the ways!  Sources and what’s discussed in the pod: 1. The Power of Place and Community   Karina and Asia begin the episode by acknowledging the lands they inhabit. Karina shares her appreciation for the Tongva people, while Asia reflects on her roots in Cheyenne, Ute, and Arapaho lands. This practice of honoring indigenous peoples not only enriches their connection to the earth but also emphasizes the importance of community in healing and wellness. By recognizing the land, listeners are encouraged to consider their own relationships with the places they call home. 2. Reflections on Personal Growth   As the conversation progresses, Asia discusses her recent presentation on "meat as medicine" at the Colorado Ayurvedic Conference. To her surprise, many attendees admitted that their veganism was performative, revealing a hunger for authentic nourishment. This moment of vulnerability among participants highlights the ongoing journey of understanding what truly nourishes our bodies and souls. Asia emphasizes the importance of being open to new philosophies and letting go of rigid beliefs about food and wellness. 3. The Creativity of Cooking   Karina shares her recent culinary adventures, illustrating how creativity can flourish even in moments of exhaustion. During her menstrual cycle, she found herself inspired to cook late into the night, creating delicious dishes such as apple chips and blackberry mint limeade. This creativity not only serves as an expression of her femininity but also acts as a preventative measure against seasonal depression. Through her experiences, listeners are reminded of the power of food and creativity in nurturing both body and mind. 4. The Importance of Animal Fats   In a segment focused on animal fats, Asia introduces the medicinal properties of waterfowl fats, particularly goose and duck fat. She explains how these fats contain omega-3 fatty acids, which promote heart health and smooth blood flow. Moreover, Asia delves into the significance of vitamins A and K2 found in these animal fats, highlighting their roles in immunity and bone health. This discussion serves as a reminder to embrace traditional foods that have sustained cultures for generations. (homie shoutout) Justin Robinson - IG (homie shoutout) Suni Reid - IG(scholarly article) NIH - The Role of Matrix Gla Protein (MGP) in Vascular Calcification (scholarly article) NIH Racial Differences in Bone Strength (scholarly article) NIH Growing Evidence of a Proven Mechanism Shows Vitamin K2 Can Impact Health Follow us on social: ⁠⁠@pettyherbalist⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@bonesbugsandbotany⁠⁠ Rate us to show your support! Thank You! #StayReady #BePetty ***if you read this far, send me a dm @pettyherbalist for a shoutout!***

    50 min

  6. 10/06/2025

    YES, LARD! sacred fats series

    Fall greetings, We're happy to bring y’all another episode in our sacred fats series… talking about LARD! A fave for baking and frying, this animal fat has a lot of nutritional benefits, especially when coming from happy pigs. Sit tight, grab a PSL, and enjoy this episode! As always, we want to thank you for all of your support, in all the ways! we’re trying to build up this patreon, so that we can sustainably fund the work we already do with the podcast. so if you’re not yet a patreon, join today @ ⁠⁠patreon.com/pettyherbalist⁠⁠. Sources and what’s discussed in the pod: Stress: Re-MemberingFarmer’s MarketMo’Betta GreenDos CarasElephant heart plumsSuni Jade Reid(article) the liver in Chinese medicine fall (equinox)margarinesaturated fatsteric acidMonounsaturated fatty acidsFair treatment of animalsVitamin D(article) Fat soluble activators (article) *Spanish* El uso de la manteca de cerdo un aporte africano a la cocina dominicana lipid oxidation“See how much need you can create in your life.” - AsiaSOUL FOOD GENIUS COURSE 5-Week Virtual Course Starting Sept 30! Sign up here! https://www.bonesbugsandbotany.com/course/soul-food-genius-for-all Follow us on social: ⁠⁠@pettyherbalist⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@bonesbugsandbotany⁠⁠ Join the Patreon Community to fund this amazing POD: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/pettyherbalist⁠⁠ Join the bonesbugsandbotany Patreon Community to fund support all of Asia's work: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/bonesbugsandbotany⁠⁠⁠ Rate us to show your support! Thank You! #StayReady #BePetty ***if you read this far, send me a dm @pettyherbalist for a shoutout!***

    1h 3m

  7. 09/21/2025

    beef tallow? HELL YEAH! - sacred fats

    Happy Fall, y’all! WE BACK and WE BLACK… like we never left! We’re hopping back into the Fats Series, and we’re discussing a fat that is surprisingly controversial - Beef Tallow. You’ve heard a lot of discourse and politics surrounding this lovely fat… but what do your fave bougie aunties have to say about this? Well, as you know, we have lots to say, and we will get into many details about saturated fats, cholesterol and other medicinal properties of beef tallow. Get your fave bed and let’s get into it! As always, we want to thank you for all of your support, in all the ways! we’re trying to build up this patreon, so that we can sustainably fund the work we already do with the podcast. so if you’re not yet a patreon, join today @ ⁠⁠patreon.com/pettyherbalist⁠⁠. Sources and what’s discussed in the pod: Szechwan Chili OilHot Sauce in your bagMenstruation Medicine BagMotherwortAcetaminophenprostaglandinsWorkout & MovementKnow what you need: take it or leave it!SuetNIH - EthnozoologyFats and their locations in the body and their unique medicinal qualitiesRFK & MAHA: Make America Healthy Again(scholarly article) NIH The Lipid–Heart Hypothesis(author/professor) Marion Nestle (website) National Oilseed Processors Association - American Seed Oil Lobby(scholarly article) NIH - What is a Saturated FatStable at high temperatureTrans Fats - hydrogenated fatsMedicinal compounds of Tallow(scientific blog) Corrosive nature of soaps(article) Indigenous use of bear fatAnimal fats & PermeabilityNeed for multi-disciplinarians in the Food Science fields(scholarly article) NIH - Role of cholesterol in the bodyFat Loss & Loving Fat(website) Health at Every Size: Principles“Healing myself is enough”(IG Link) Michela Melone(IG Link) Sherrylin - DietitianSOUL FOOD GENIUS COURSE 5-Week Virtual Course Starting Sept 30! Sign up here! Follow us on social: ⁠⁠@pettyherbalist⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@bonesbugsandbotany⁠⁠ Join the Patreon Community to fund this amazing POD: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/pettyherbalist⁠⁠ Join the bonesbugsandbotany Patreon Community to fund support all of Asia's work: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/bonesbugsandbotany⁠⁠⁠ Rate us to show your support! Thank You! #StayReady #BePetty ***if you read this far, send me a dm @pettyherbalist for a shoutout!***

    1h 6m
  8. Meet Me at the Throughline with Simone Johnson feat. Asia and Karina

    08/15/2025 · BONUS

    Meet Me at the Throughline with Simone Johnson feat. Asia and Karina

    Hey y'all! We are so blessed to be featured on this lovely podcast! Simone is a wonderful interviewer so we hope you all enjoy. Stream Meet Me at the Throughline Podcast on Substack, Spotify and Youtube! Follow on IG: @throughlinepodcast See you back real soon, bbs!

    56 min
See All (127)

4.6
out of 5
40 Ratings

About

Two Black herbalists and Bougie Aunties help you discern the real shit from the b******t in food and herbs. Come share in the belovedness of Karina DesRoses and Asia Dorsey as they explore food science and medicine making at the intersection of ancestral reverence, ecology and cultures of healing justice.

Information

  • Creator
    Petty Herbalist
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    127
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Petty Herbalist
  • Show Website
    The Petty Herbalist Podcast

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