Wild Herbs with April

April Punsalan
  • 5.0 (31)
  • ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to the Wild Herbs with April Podcast where we unpack and uncover the healing properties of wild herbs so you can heal naturally with the plants beneath your feet.

  1. #34 Healing Addiction Naturally with Brigitte Mars

    1D AGO

    #34 Healing Addiction Naturally with Brigitte Mars

    What does it really take to break free from addiction and what if plants held more answers than we've been told? And what if those same plants could also help us face the one thing we fear even more than our addictions — death? In this episode, I sit down with herbalist and natural medicine legend Brigitte Mars to talk about the natural way of healing from addiction, the healing power of plant medicine, and why your lawn might be more of a pharmacy than you think. Brigitte Mars is someone I deeply admire for her decades of lived experience with plants, healing, and service. She has spent over 60 years working with herbal medicine, authored 18 books, and serves as both a psychedelic sitter and end-of-life doula.   What You'll Learn in This Episode Why your lawn could be your salad bowl Herbs and oils that support addiction recovery How psychedelic-assisted therapy is changing lives Plant medicine as soul retrieval and heart opening What it means to be an end-of-life doula and how plant medicine fits into that sacred work   Memorable Quotes: "We need to stop being a just say no culture and become a just say how culture." "Millions of people using something for thousands of years means a lot more to me than a two-year rat study." "Rather than feeling hopeless, we can all do something — maybe you're growing plants on the balcony, that's a good start."   Buy Brigitte’s books: Addiction-Free Naturally Natural Remedies for Mental and Emotional Health Dandelion Medicine Nettle Power   Other books: https://www.brigittemars.com/books   Links & Resources: Never wonder "what plant is that?" again. Brigitte's iPlant app puts plant identification right in your pocket. Whether you're out on a hike or exploring your backyard, you'll have a trusted herbal guide with you wherever you go. Download iPlant on iOS. Want more herbal wisdom from Brigitte? Stay in the loop with the latest news, tips, and updates straight from Brigitte herself. Sign up for her newsletter here. Brigitte's courses will inspire every corner of your life. Join Sacred Self Care, Herbal Kitchen Wizardry, and Hip Homemaker — plus get the HempNut Cookbook eBook when you sign up. Explore the courses here. Want to learn wild herbs at your own pace? Join a growing community of plant lovers discovering the healing world of wild herbs. The Wild Herb Academy Membership gives you the tools, guidance, and inspiration to get started today. Claim your 14-day trial for just $1.     About the guest, Brigitte Mars: Brigitte Mars is an Herbalist author of 18 books on Natural medicine and professor at Naropa University. She is a psychedelic sitter and End-Of-Life Doula and has been working with herbal medicine for over 60 years. She has written the book Natural Remedies for Mental and Emotional Health and Addiction Free Naturally. She is currently working on her 19th book.   About the host, April Punsalan: April is a botanist, ethnobotanist, herbalist, and the founder of Wild Herb Academy, dedicated to teaching the healing world of plants.   Rate, review, and subscribe: Bring the wisdom of wild plants with you. Listen to Wild Herbs with April on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you loved this episode, please leave us a review and most importantly, share it with someone who is walking through addiction, loss, or simply searching for a deeper connection to the Earth and to themselves. 🌲 Stay WILD. Stay human. And remember—you are nature.   With love,April PunsalanDisclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition, and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health routine, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or managing a medical condition.

    51 min
  2. #33 Learning the Deeper Medicine of Plants Through Dreams with Lauren Morgan

    APR 30

    #33 Learning the Deeper Medicine of Plants Through Dreams with Lauren Morgan

    What if your dreams were a direct conversation with the Earth itself? In this episode, I sit down with Lauren Morgan, a community herbalist, dream weaver, and author of Seasonal Herbalism, whose work bridges the worlds of plant medicine and dreaming. This conversation weaves together herbalism, dreaming, and deep Earth connection in a way that feels both grounding and expansive. You will learn how plants speak to you in your dreams, how dreaming reconnects you to the living Earth, and what it means to remember your dreams as a form of soul guidance. Lauren also shares her personal journey of losing and reclaiming dream recall, her work with mugwort and rosemary, and powerful dream experiences that reveal how plants actively teach and support us in waking life. If you’ve ever wondered whether your dreams are meaningful, how to reconnect with them, or how plants might be communicating with you beyond the physical world, this episode will open something in you.   Notable plant allies mentioned: Mugwort Rosemary  Hawthorn  Cottonwood Magnolia   Memorable Quotes: “If we are connected to the plants in our waking life, they will show up in our dreams.” ~Lauren Morgan “The plants will show up in your dreams because they want to help you help your people. They want to help you help the world.” “I'm like a collector of dreams featuring healing herbs and have learned a lot about kind of how they work within dreams.”   Buy Lauren's book:  Seasonal Herbalism: A Beginner's Path to Medicine-Making and Dreaming with Mother Earth   Links & Resources: If you want to begin working with your dreams, Lauren is offering Lesson 1 of her Dreamweaving Course for free: https://www.herbsanddreams.com/dreamweaving-course   If you’re an Earth dreamer, dreamweaver, or plant lover longing to deepen your relationship with dreams and plant wisdom, you can join her Herbs and Dreams Membership here: https://www.herbsanddreams.com/membership   Want to learn herbs at your own pace? Join a growing community of plant lovers discovering the healing world of wild herbs. The Wild Herb Academy Membership gives you the tools, guidance, and inspiration to get started today. Claim your 14-day trial for just $1.   About the guest, Lauren Morgan: Lauren Morgan is a community herbalist, dreamer, Earth-based ceremonialist, healer, author of the book Seasonal Herbalism: A Beginner's Path to Medicine Making and Dreaming with Mother Earth. She's a mother and teacher, creatrix and host of the Herbs and Dreams Podcast. She teaches classes and convene community gatherings online and in-person devoted to learning how to weave our lives with the wisdom of dreams, in alliance with the healing plants of Mother Earth on behalf of All Life. You can find Lauren on her website   About the host, April Punsalan: April is a botanist, ethnobotanist, herbalist, and the founder of Wild Herb Academy, dedicated to teaching the healing world of plants.   Connect with April Punsalan: Website: https://www.wildherbacademy.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildherbacademy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WildHerbAcademy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WildherbswithApril   Rate, review, and subscribe: Bring the wisdom of wild plants with you. Listen to Wild Herbs with April on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you loved this episode, please leave us a review and most importantly, share it with someone who feels called to reconnect with plants and the wisdom of the Earth through dreams. 🌲 Stay WILD. Stay human. And remember—you are nature.   With love,April Punsalan

    58 min
  3. #32 Rewilding the Human Spirit with Jesse Wolf Hardin

    APR 16

    #32 Rewilding the Human Spirit with Jesse Wolf Hardin

    What does it truly mean to rewild yourself? In this powerful, impactful episode, I had a conversation with Jesse Wolf Hardin, an American author, activist, musician, artist, herbalist, and wilderness guide to explore the concept of ''rewilding". This conversation goes far beyond ecology. It’s an invitation to remember that we are not separate from nature. We are nature. Together, we talked about how modern life has distanced us from our instincts, intuition, and wild essence and how reconnecting with the Earth can restore not only ecosystems, but our very identity. From Wolf’s 50 years living off-grid in New Mexico to his reflections on plants, activism, and inner transformation, this episode is a call to return to your roots, reclaim your wildness, and live more fully, and authentically. In this episode, you’ll learn: 00:00 – Teaser and Intro 00:43 – Jesse Wolf Hardin & his life’s work 02:12 – What rewilding really means 03:06 – Rewilding ecosystems vs. rewilding ourselves 04:28 – Disconnection, conflict, and the illusion of separation 07:08 – Humans as “feelers” of the Earth 10:04 – Wolf’s early experiences of wildness 12:17 – Learning from elders and living outside the system 14:02 – Finding his land in New Mexico 15:41 – Living off-grid and building a life rooted in nature 20:04 – Technology vs. connection: reaching the world from the wild 21:28 – The Good Medicine Confluence experience 23:16 – Feeling like an outsider & carrying “medicine” 24:44 – Raising children with imagination and wildness 26:26 – Can you rewild in the city or suburbs? 29:11 – Rewilding as a lifelong process 32:10 – Practical ways to begin rewilding anywhere 35:37 – Plant energy, medicine, and ecological connection 40:04 – Lessons from plants (especially Alder) 42:42 – Recommended books by Wolf 44:25 – Final reflections & gratitude   Memorable Quote: “We cannot be natural practitioners unless we are within our own nature.” ~Jesse Wolf Hardin “You are a part, just as the tree is, of all that has ever existed.” “Rewilding is not a place. It’s a way of being.”   Books by Jesse Wolf Hardin: The Healing Terrain Wonderements   Links & Resources: Good Medicine Confluence   About the guest, Jesse Wolf Hardin: Jesse Wolf Hardin is a presenter, musician, ecosopher, activist, artist, and author of hundreds of magazine articles and dozens of books – a champion of both human and bio diversity, as well as of nature’s medicines. Wolf tends and rewilds his very remote wilderness sanctuary home, and founded the international Good Medicine Confluence and Plant Healer Magazine with Kiva Rose in 2008. Connect with Wolf and Plant Healer on Instagram   About the host, April Punsalan: April is a botanist, ethnobotanist, herbalist, and the founder of Wild Herb Academy, dedicated to teaching the healing world of plants. Connect with April: Wild Herb Academy Instagram Page   Invitation Bring the wisdom of wild plants with you. Listen to Wild Herbs with April on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you loved this episode, please leave us a review and most importantly, share it with someone who feels called to reconnect with plants in a deeper way and to reWILD their spirit. 🌲 Stay WILD. Stay human. And remember—you are nature.   With Love, April Punsalan

    47 min
  4. #31 Pine Pollen, Hormones & Longevity with Dr. Saeid Mushtagh

    MAR 25

    #31 Pine Pollen, Hormones & Longevity with Dr. Saeid Mushtagh

    What if one of the most powerful longevity “superfoods” was literally falling from trees around you? In this episode, I sit down with naturopathic doctor Dr. Saeid Mushtagh to explore the science, tradition, and real-world benefits of pine pollen, a potent plant ally known for supporting hormones, energy, and longevity. From its roots in traditional Chinese medicine to modern clinical insights, this conversation dives deep into how pine pollen influences the HPA axis, supports anabolic health, and may help combat the chronic stress patterns of modern life. You’ll also learn how to harvest, preserve, and use pine pollen safely, and why freshness matters more than species. In this episode, you’ll learn: 00:00 – Teaser & Intro 01:51 – Meet Dr. Saeid Mushtagh 03:04 – The origin story of the Canadian Pine Pollen Company 13:59 – Pine pollen & longevity: what it is & why it's a superfood 18:55 – How to harvest & store pine pollen at home 22:12 – Balancing hormones, reducing cortisol & improving sleep 29:35 – How pine pollen supports adrenal gland health 31:01 – Anabolic health, aging & why hormones decline over time 37:16 – The key enzymes in pine pollen & how they work in the body 39:45 – Pine pollen, oxygen levels, cellular energy & inflammation 45:48 – Best ways to take pine pollen for maximum absorption 49:20 – Pine pollen & gut health: microbiome impact 53:01 – Canadian Pine Pollen Company products & where to find Dr. Saeid 59:42 – Pine pollen & PCOS: is it safe for women with high testosterone?   Resources mentioned:  Wild Certified Organic Pine Pollen | 100% Wildcrafted in Canada:Canadian Pine Pollen Company Enter code Wildherb for a discount at checkout   About the guest, Dr. Saeid Mushtagh: Dr. Mushtagh is a licensed naturopathic Physician and has been practicing naturopathic medicine in Canada since 2006. He is a graduate from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto and specializes in functional medicine, offering personalized diagnosis and treatment in his private practice. His integrative approach is rooted in therapeutic diets as the foundation for healing and long-term wellness. In addition to his clinical work, he is the co-founder of the Canadian Pine Pollen Company. Connect with Dr. Saeid Mushtagh: https://www.instagram.com/canadianpinepollen/   About the host, April Punsalan: April is a botanist, ethnobotanist, herbalist, and the founder of Wild Herb Academy, dedicated to teaching the healing world of plants. Connect with April: https://www.instagram.com/wildherbacademy/   Invitation If Pine speaks to you, take time this winter to sit with a pine tree. Observe its needles, cones, and presence. Let it teach you directly. Bring the wisdom of wild plants with you. Listen to Wild Herbs with April on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you loved this episode, please leave us a review or share it with someone who feels called to reconnect with plants in a deeper way. 🌲 Stay wild. Stay human. And remember—you are nature.   With Love, April Punsalan

    1 hr
  5. #30 Pine Medicine: Learning the Plant Before the Books

    JAN 14

    #30 Pine Medicine: Learning the Plant Before the Books

    In this returning episode of the Wild Herbs Podcast, April dives deeply into the medicine, botany, and spirit of Pine—an ancient evergreen ally that shows up for us when we need resilience the most. Pine has survived ice ages, climate shifts, and mass extinctions, and in the heart of winter it continues to offer powerful medicine for the lungs, immune system, and spirit. In this episode, April weaves together botany, herbal medicine, Ayurveda, and intuitive plant wisdom to explore why Pine is such a profound teacher for 2026. This episode is both a practical guide and a spiritual invitation—to slow down, receive fully, and remember that plants are not just remedies, but living oracles. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why Pine is one of the most ancient and resilient trees on Earth How Pine’s xylem and spiral water movement reflect efficient, rhythmic growth How to identify pines using needles, fascicles, sheaths, and cones Why Pine is especially important medicine in winter The medicinal actions of Pine (expectorant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory) How Pine supports colds, mucus, immunity, and inflammation Why fresh Pine is preferred over dried The spiritual symbolism of Pine, spirals, and the Fibonacci pattern What Pine teaches us about receiving, presence, and sustainable growth How to build a relationship with plants before turning to books Why intuitive plant connection is a vital part of herbal medicine Mentioned in this episode: Medical Botany: Foundations in Ancient Plant Wisdom, Click Here to Join Medical Botany Waitlist and Be the First to Know When Doors Open! Registration opens February 9, 2026 Course begins February 17, 2026 Invitation If Pine speaks to you, take time this winter to sit with a pine tree. Observe its needles, cones, and presence. Let it teach you directly. If you loved this episode, please leave us a review or share it with someone who feels called to reconnect with plants in a deeper way. 🌲 Stay wild. Stay human. And remember—you are nature.   With Love, April Punsalan

    24 min
  6. #29 The Healing Wisdom of the Womb: Reconnecting to Feminine Power with Malieokalani

    11/07/2025

    #29 The Healing Wisdom of the Womb: Reconnecting to Feminine Power with Malieokalani

    In this deeply nourishing episode of The Wild Herbs Podcast, April Punsalan sits down with Malieokalani Urrutia, founder of Sacred Woman School, to explore the ancient feminine wisdom of the womb. Together they uncover what it means to live from the womb space—a center of intuition, creation, and divine knowingand how this awareness transforms a woman’s life. Malieokalani shares how women can awaken and heal their womb energy through connection, ceremony, and remembrance, offering profound insight into the spiral of feminine creation, the energetic anatomy of the womb, and how menopause marks not an ending, but a rebirth into wisdom and power. Listeners are guided through a gentle womb clearing and activation, and learn how to use the womb as an oracle, a source of intuitive guidance, clarity, and inner truth. 💫 In this episode, you’ll learn: What it means to “live from the womb space” The spiral energy of creation and how it moves through the body How modern women can reclaim ancient womb wisdom The energetic power of menopause as transformation A guided womb activation and clearing practice Resources Mentioned: Womb Wisdom Workshop with Malieokalani – November 12, Register for Sacred Womb Garden Crafting a Sacred Womb Oil with April Punsalan – November 13, Register for Sacred Womb Garden Womb Wisdom Level 1 Training – November 15, Womb Level 1 Training Sacred Woman School, The School and Offerings

    58 min
  7. #28 The Gond Tribe’s Healing Secrets: Wild Foods, Rituals, and Living as One With the Forest with Nishanth Gurav

    09/02/2025

    #28 The Gond Tribe’s Healing Secrets: Wild Foods, Rituals, and Living as One With the Forest with Nishanth Gurav

    Why you need to hear this episode with Nishanth Gurav What if the key to healing our bodies, our spirits, and our planet has been preserved for thousands of years — by people living in deep relationship with the land? In this unforgettable conversation, ethnobotanist Nishanth Gurav takes us inside the Gond Tribe of India, considered one of the oldest Indigenous communities in the world. Nishanth has lived with the Gond for nearly two years, documenting their wild foods, sacred groves, and medicinal rituals — and what he shares will change how you see the plants outside your door. This isn’t theory. It’s lived wisdom. And it may just be the medicine our modern world is starving for. What you’ll learn in this episode: 🌿 Why the Gond people eat 10–20 wild greens a day and never use the word “weed” 🌿 How sacred groves protect biodiversity more effectively than modern conservation laws 🌿 The barefoot ritual that dissolves the separation between human and forest 🌿 How simple fermented foods and herbal kitchens keep disease away 🌿 The Gond approach to bone-setting, gut healing, and skin health using only local plants 🌿 Why Indigenous wisdom offers real solutions to our modern crises: climate, health, and mental well-being Nishanth isn’t just my guest today — he’s also my teaching partner inside Medical Botany: Mastery of the Flowering Plant Medicines. Every Wednesday, he joins us live to share his ethnobotanical knowledge and stories directly with Medical Botany apprentices. Alumni always comment how much they loved Nishant's teachings in Medical Botany. It is a true honor to have him join us in Medical Botany.  If this episode stirred something in you, don’t just listen — come learn from Nishanth himself. 👉 Join Medical Botany (Sept 3–7 only): Click to Join the Medical Botany Apprenticeship: Mastery of the Flowering Medicines We begin September 10, 2025, and I can’t wait for you to experience this life-changing apprenticeship. Please share this episode with at least one friend. This episode contains so much medicine and wisdom that many people need to hear.  I love you!   With Love and Green Blessings, April Punsalan

    57 min
  8. #27 Land is Power: Returning to Our Roots with Aleya Fraser

    07/31/2025

    #27 Land is Power: Returning to Our Roots with Aleya Fraser

    What does it truly mean to come home to the land—and why is land a source of both healing and power? 🌿 In this inspiring episode of the Wild Herbs Podcast, April sits down with Aleya Fraser, author of Caribbean Herbalism and land steward in Trinidad & Tobago. Aleya shares her extraordinary journey from Johns Hopkins medical labs and urban life to farming on ancestral lands, embracing agroecology, and creating spaces where others can reconnect with the earth. Together, they discuss: The life-changing moment that called Aleya back to the land Why land is power and a source of freedom for our communities How agroecology connects farming, healing, and social justice Simple spiritual practices to reconnect to local land—even if you live in the city Trinidad’s rich herbal traditions and the plants that have shaped Aleya's path Listeners will leave this episode feeling grounded, inspired, and called to reconnect with the rhythms of the Earth. Stay in Touch with Aleya and Access the Free Medical Botany Lessons: Aleya Fraser on Instagram: @naturalalyea Aleya’s land and cacao project: @panoramacacao April’s free 6-lesson Medical Botany preview, Click here to learn Medical Botany for free! Aleya's Caribbean Herbalism Website Aleya's Substack  Get Aleya's book Caribbean Herbalism Click Here I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I did. Follow this show so you don't miss an episode.   With Love and Gratitude, April

    52 min
See All (34)

5
out of 5
31 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Wild Herbs with April Podcast where we unpack and uncover the healing properties of wild herbs so you can heal naturally with the plants beneath your feet.

Information

You Might Also Like