The Herbal Medic Deep Dive

Sam Coffman
  • 5.0 (1)
  • ALTERNATIVE HEALTH

Welcome to The Herbal Medic - Deep Dive, your podcast exploring sustainable medicine, herbal remedies, gardening, and wild foraging through an in-depth lens. Created by Sam Coffman, a former Green Beret Medic with over 30 years of experience as an herbalist, educator, and founder of Herbal Medics Academy (AKA The Human Path), each episode is rich with practical insights and rooted in real-world knowledge from the Herbal Medics Academy curriculum, books, videos, blogs, and courses. Whether you’re a seasoned herbalist or just starting your journey, tune in for actionable strategies and wisdom to live more sustainably and healthfully. Learn more at: https://herbalmedics.academy

Episodes

  1. How Language Shapes Our Understanding of Healing

    06/26/2025

    How Language Shapes Our Understanding of Healing

    Join us on a deep dive into the fascinating story of Herbal Medics Academy, an organization that seamlessly blends the ancient wisdom of Eastern medicine with the scientific rigor of Western practices. Discover how this unique academy, founded by Army veteran and linguist Sam Coffman, embodies a multidisciplinary approach to herbalism and medicine. Explore the diverse expertise of their faculty, ranging from Special Forces medics to environmental chemists and traditional midwives, and see how their courses integrate various healing traditions. Delve into the innovative Integrative Herbalism program that bridges Western clinical herbalism with Traditional Chinese Medicine. The episode also unravels the profound impact of language on medicine, highlighting the importance of precise terminology in understanding health and healing practices. Reflect on the transformative power of words and how adopting new linguistic frameworks can enhance our perception of both traditional and modern medicine.

    15 min

  2. 05/23/2025

    "Long COVID and Herbs: Sam Coffman's Story"

    In this episode of The Deep Dive, we explore the unique journey of Sam Kaufman from Herbal Medics Academy as he tackles severe COVID and long COVID symptoms using his extensive knowledge of herbal medicine. Discover how Sam's personal battle with COVID-19, despite being vaccinated, led him to unconventional herbal remedies and techniques. Hear about Sam's life-saving use of steam inhalations with herbs like juniper berry and grindelia during the acute phase of his illness, and how he navigated the challenges of limited resources while living at high altitudes. Dive into his post-COVID struggles with neurological symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and ADHD, which he attributes to nervous system inflammation. Uncover the pivotal role of Sananga, applied intraocularly, in lifting the fog of depression, and the surprising focus-enhancing effects of sublingual lacticarium on ADHD symptoms. This episode highlights the importance of both the type of herbs used and their administration methods, revealing insights into targeted, direct delivery to potentially unlock new healing potentials for long COVID and beyond. If you are interested in lactucarium or the Neuro-Regen formulas, you can find them at Herbal First Aid Gear

    9 min
  3. Dyer's Woad: The "Invasive" Plant Medicine for Respiratory Health

    05/12/2025

    Dyer's Woad: The "Invasive" Plant Medicine for Respiratory Health

    In this intriguing episode, we explore the surprising potential of invasive plants as valuable resources for health and medicine. Focusing on Dyer's Woad, a plant often dismissed as a weed, we delve into its remarkable medicinal properties, especially for respiratory infections. Discover the concept of "invasive medicine" and how traditional Chinese medicine views these plants through a different lens. Featuring insights from Sam Coffman, founder of Herbal Medics Academy, we examine the practicality of harnessing these plants' potential rather than eradicating them. This episode challenges our perceptions and asks us to reconsider how we interact with and label the natural world around us.

    14 min

  4. 04/28/2025

    Compost Your Way to a Thriving Garden: Insights from Sam Coffman

    Welcome to "The Deep Dive", where we explore the crucial foundation of successful gardening: living soil. This episode takes inspiration from Sam Coffman's latest book, "Survival Gardening," and uncovers the importance of nutrient-rich soil for thriving plants and nutrient-packed produce. Discover how modern practices like monocropping and heavy use of NPK fertilizers have impacted soil health and the transformative potential of returning to nature's way through composting. Learn about different composting methods, including hot and cold composting, vermicomposting, and even the use of black soldier fly larvae to enhance soil fertility. Join us as we explore the vital connection between soil health, food nutrient density, and our well-being, encouraging gardeners to invest in their soil as a step towards a more resilient and nourishing garden environment.

    18 min
  5. Herbal Wisdom Unveiled: Inside Phytosapiens Membership

    04/21/2025

    Herbal Wisdom Unveiled: Inside Phytosapiens Membership

    Discover the transformative world of herbalism with Lisa Ganora's Phytosapiens Membership Community. This episode delves into the unique blend of hands-on experience and scientific rigor that Lisa brings to the field. Explore how this membership offers a structured approach to understanding plant chemistry, bridging traditional use with modern science. From monthly themes to interactive webinars, gain insights into herbal constituents and practical applications in medicine-making and formulation. Ideal for herbalists, pharmacists, or anyone curious about the biochemical magic of plants, Phytosapiens offers a community-driven path to deeper knowledge and practical skills.

    14 min
  6. Create your Own Resilient Homestead (no matter where you live)

    04/17/2025

    Create your Own Resilient Homestead (no matter where you live)

    Join us in this episode of Deep Dive where we explore the essentials of building a resilient homestead with insights from the Human Path and Herbal Medics Academy's revamped online course. Discover how you can start your journey to self-sufficiency and food security right from your current living situation, whether it’s an urban apartment or a rural plot. Learn step-by-step strategies to enhance your food reserves, explore sustainable gardening techniques, and understand the integration of animals into your homestead. This course offers actionable insights with assignments to empower you towards a secure future. Find out how this course can reshape your approach to daily living and equip you with skills for a more resilient lifestyle.

    12 min
  7. Meet the Instructors: An Inside Look at Herbal Medics Academy's Faculty

    04/16/2025

    Meet the Instructors: An Inside Look at Herbal Medics Academy's Faculty

    Join us for an in-depth exploration into the unique educational approach of Herbal Medics Academy. Discover the exceptional team behind the academy, led by co-director Suchil Coffman, whose passion for wilderness medicine and diverse qualifications, including EMTB, Wilderness EMT, and registered nurse, provide a critical bridge between field experience and formal medical training. Dr. Kyla Helm's integration of conventional and functional medicine, along with her board certifications and U.S. Army experience, adds a profound layer of individualized care. Former Special Forces medic Dr. Steve Pearson brings decades of high-stress, low-resource medical experience, shaping standards for prolonged care and pre-hospital emergency medicine. The academy’s faculty also boasts a strong scientific foundation from Dr. Rebecca Lyons with her environmental chemistry background and holistic approaches to herbal medicine, while Kat McKinnon emphasizes vitalism and intrinsic healing. Katia Lamone's extensive midwifery experience and global health perspectives enrich the learning environment further. Embrace the dynamic range of skills from Rick Murphy's naval background to James Brock's traditional blacksmithing, each contributing uniquely to the rich tapestry of Herbal Medics Academy. Dive into this constellation of knowledge and discover the vast opportunities for learning and growth in herbal and wilderness medicine.

    14 min
  8. From Surface Symptoms to Deep Healing: The 4 Layers of Disease

    04/16/2025

    From Surface Symptoms to Deep Healing: The 4 Layers of Disease

    Join us on this enlightening episode of 'The Deep Dive' as we explore the multi-layered approach to integrative health, guided by the expertise of Sam Coffman from Herbal Medics Academy. Discover how symptoms are just the tip of the iceberg and delve into the deeper mechanisms that influence our health. Sam brings insights from his extensive background, combining Western herbalism, acupuncture, and traditional Chinese medicine. In this discussion, we examine Sam's four-layer model of health, starting from the most superficial layer of symptom management to the profound depths of TCM syndrome differentiation. Learn how each layer offers a unique perspective—whether it's immediate symptom relief or a holistic view of dynamic bodily processes. Consider how these layers can offer a new framework for thinking about personal health challenges and the potential benefits of looking beyond surface symptoms.

    14 min
  9. From Garden to Food Independence: A Closer Look into Sustainable Nutrition in a Post-Disaster Environment

    04/16/2025

    From Garden to Food Independence: A Closer Look into Sustainable Nutrition in a Post-Disaster Environment

    Welcome to the Deep Dive, where we simplify essential topics without overwhelming details. In this episode, we explore the foundations of a sustainable food supply through Sam Coffman’s 'Survival Gardening.' This is not your average gardening guide; it emphasizes resilience and nurishment, particularly in challenging conditions. Coffman's book proposes a mindset shift from leisurely gardening to seeing it as a critical survival skill. The structure of the book starts with immediate, nutrient-rich crops for emergency situations, followed by strategies for long-term sustainability and self-sufficiency. His approach covers a broad spectrum from traditional gardening methods to innovative practices like vertical setups and backyard animal integration, focusing on nutrient-dense food production and food storage methods. The episode also emphasizes understanding your local environment and resources, as well as innovative techniques such as hydroponics, permaculture, and companion planting to maximize food production with minimal resources. Ultimately, the goal is to become a 'functional gardener,' prepared to consistently grow nutritious food and enhance food independence.

    17 min
  10. Unlocking Herbal Synergy through Formulation: Beyond the Basics

    04/16/2025

    Unlocking Herbal Synergy through Formulation: Beyond the Basics

    In this episode of The Deep Dive, we unravel the intricacies of crafting effective herbal formulas using insights from Sam Coffman's Herbal Medic. Discover how Coffman's extensive experience in real-world scenarios, like post-disaster zones, informs his approach to herbalism. Learn about the advantages of combining herbs to create synergistic effects that enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity, compared to using single herbs. We delve into Coffman's formula mapping system—a four-step process to build targeted herbal blends. Through case studies like strep throat and chronic digestive issues, we illustrate how Coffman's method offers a comprehensive approach, targeting multiple body systems for a more balanced treatment. Explore the importance of smart formulation, the role of bioavailability, and alternative delivery methods such as tinctures and nebulization. This episode also addresses crucial considerations, like avoiding negative interactions between herbs and respecting individual health conditions. Join us as we draw on Coffman’s herbal expertise to enhance your understanding of these powerful natural remedies and how they can be applied beyond just simple capsules.

    15 min
  11. Unleashing the Healing Power of the Chameleon Plant

    04/15/2025

    Unleashing the Healing Power of the Chameleon Plant

    In this episode of "Deep Dive," we explore the fascinating world of Houttuynia cordata commonly known as the "Chameleon plant". Our guide is Sam Coffman, a seasoned herbalist with a rich background merging practical field experience and deep traditional knowledge. Coffman challenges the notion of this often-called invasive plant, suggesting it might hold significant medicinal value. We delve into the plant's traditional uses in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where it is known as Yuxing Kao, or "fishy smelling herb." Traditionally, it is used for its ability to clear "toxic heat," addressing conditions related to inflammation and infection, particularly in the respiratory and urinary systems. Coffman's modern interpretation expands its applications, focusing on its role as a mast cell inhibitor, which may help in conditions like asthma, allergies, and sinusitis. He highlights its potential during COVID for its anti-inflammatory effects and its unique multifractional extraction method, ensuring a full spectrum of benefits using the whole plant. Join us as we reconcile ancient knowledge with modern scientific insights, exploring the therapeutic potential of a plant often dismissed as a weed but could offer remarkable health benefits.

    9 min
  • 11 Episodes

About

Welcome to The Herbal Medic - Deep Dive, your podcast exploring sustainable medicine, herbal remedies, gardening, and wild foraging through an in-depth lens. Created by Sam Coffman, a former Green Beret Medic with over 30 years of experience as an herbalist, educator, and founder of Herbal Medics Academy (AKA The Human Path), each episode is rich with practical insights and rooted in real-world knowledge from the Herbal Medics Academy curriculum, books, videos, blogs, and courses. Whether you’re a seasoned herbalist or just starting your journey, tune in for actionable strategies and wisdom to live more sustainably and healthfully. Learn more at: https://herbalmedics.academy

Information

  • Creator
    Sam Coffman
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Herbal Medic Deep Dive