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The truth is that behavior change is NOT easy.

Most of us can't just say we want to do something, and then just do it. Especially if it's something we're trying to incorporate into our lives for a long period of time, regularly.

We have rhythms and patterns we are accustomed to. Sometimes they're healthy for us, and sometimes they're not. Sometimes we're choosing them, and sometimes they're just our default.

In working with clients for years, and also through my extensive health coach training, I've found that most of us don't have an easy time implementing something new into our lives, even if we know it's healthy for us or even if it's something we 100% want (myself included).

So today I decided to riff on the framework I see as foundational in the process of implementing something new.

Honestly I was inspired to speak to this partly because of this week's very controversial holiday (honor to ALL the indigenous people of Turtle Island who are certainly not represented accurately in the stories we learned in school).

But the act of true thanks-giving and allowing ourselves to feel gratitude is to me, the first step in effectively adding something new into our lives.

Not because our gratitude encourages change in itself, but because when we feel that sense of abundance in our lives, we can move from a foundation of feeling what's good, and what's possible. Accepting ourselves where we have been and are now, before beginning to envision what's next for us.

Instead of coming from a place of lack, we're coming from a place of nourishment.

And from there we can move into vision, gathering resources, intention and goal setting, creative action and then maintenance over time.

I speak to all of this and, as usual, so much more in this week's episode.

Listen to learn:

• some of the reasons we often don't achieve our goals
• the foundational pillars of behavior change from my perspective
• why I think gratitude is a huge and often missing factor
• what the difference is between vision and intention
• how normal it is to face obstacles after implementing change
• how this is relevant to the upcoming Natural Contraception course

Resources:

• Grab your spot on the Natural Contraception course waitlist here
• Today's shownotes: How to create new pathways of embodied possibility
• Episode 12: The simple practice of making herbal teas
• Episode 107: The healing practice of everyday rituals
• Free guide: Track your cycle naturally (FAM basics)

If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.

And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal concerns.

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What herbs are must-have remedies for every home apothecary? I think every herbalist would probably answer that differently.

But there are certain foundational herbs that are not-to-be-missed, partly because they are safe, gentle, and versatile.

Those are the kinds of herbs we cover in today's episode.

Clinical herbalist and host of The Herbalist's Path podcast, Mel Mutterspaugh shares about 5 of her absolute favorites to have on hand as a mama (or parent) for those common accidents, ailments or conditions that require a little first aid care.

Which herbs, you ask? We cover plantain, comfrey, echinacea, yarrow and calendula.

Especially for those bumps, scrapes, bruises, gashes, splinters, colds, flus, fevers, etc... these simple herbal remedies are some of our best allies!

I remember when I first discovered I didn't need to go to the pharmacy to get first aid supplies. I truly barely ever even set foot in there anymore.

So much of what we need is growing right outside your doorstep, or easy to grow in your garden. It's the kind of home herbalism we all deserve access to.

Simple, accessible, effective and abundant.

Mel shares practical tips, stories and experiences from her own family and community herbalism work in the apothecary she used to run.

We talk everything from sprains from ski injuries to flus and fevers to pulling out an embedded blackberry thorn and more.

It's a fun and informative conversation that I hope you love.

Listen to learn:

• how leading outdoor trips led Mel to herbal medicine
• why Calendula is Mel's favorite plant (+ how it helps "where the sun don't shine")
• what Echinacea does aside from supporting our immunity
• why plantain might be called "nature's band-aid" + how it helps the gut
• the magic of comfrey as a topical application + was we both think of those pyrrolizidine alkaloids it contains
• the versatility and first-aid-kit-in-a-plant that yarrow is
• a couple great tips on encouraging kids to actually *take* their herbal medicine from Mel's 11+ years of experience as an herbalist mama

Resources:

• Today's shownotes: Get links to all of Mel's offerings, courses, etc
• Grab your spot on the Natural Contraception course waitlist
• Episode 4: Herbal spotlight on Tulsi
• Episode 12: The simple sacred practice of making herbal teas
• Episode 82: Making herbal vinegars, oxymels, shrubs
• Episode 134: Herbal baths and compresses
• Download the FREE Track your cycle naturally guide

If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.

And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal concerns.

Support the show

Click here to send me a quick message :)

Fire. The energy of light, of transformation, digestion, metabolism, creation, vitality, radiance.

In Ayurveda, the concept of Agni (which is akin to digestive fire) is a key to digesting, metabolizing and absorbing both food and information.

It's not solely related to the gastro-intestinal tract but relates to anything we are taking in -- through our meals, sensory experiences, information, etc.

So the state of our Agni has a direct impact on everything from our hormones to our organs to our brain function.

And while we ideally want to experienced "balanced" agni, it's more likely to experience imbalance in some way (typically fast, slow or variable).

According to today's guest Ayurvedic practitioner Kimberly Kubicke, the quality of our agni corresponds to our hormonal and overall health.

Not only do we need to support the optimal function of agni, but we also need to both cultivate an optimal environment for it *and* maintain it over time.

For those of us with wombs, our fluctuating cycles and the major transitional times like postpartum and perimenopause are all impactful ON our agni, too.

Learn about many ways to caretake your unique agni on today's episode.

Listen to learn:

• what agni is
• why agni is not just "digestive fire" but also relates to brain function
• the four kinds of agni according to Ayurveda
• how to protect, support and maintain your digestive fire
• some initial practical steps you can take to support your own agni
• how agni impacts our hormones and vice versa

Resources:

• Today's shownotes: Get links to Kimberly's offerings
• Grab your spot on the Natural Contraception course waitlist here
• Episode 3: Ayurveda + your hormonal health
• Episode 49: How to create a sacred window

If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.

And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you. ❤️

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal concerns.

Support the show