Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men and, as men live longer, they are more likely to develop the disease. In general, prostate cancer is a slow growing cancer, and many men diagnosed with low-grade disease are recommended to follow an approach called “‘watchful waiting.” Watchful waiting entails allowing time to pass while monitoring the PSA at regular intervals, and most men with a diagnosis of prostate cancer will die with the disease, rather than from it.

In this presentation, Jason Miller explores prostate cancer risk factors, assessment protocols, treatments and their related side effects, and holistic therapeutics including botanicals. A botanical medicine approach can play a powerful role in managing symptoms, regulating androgen metabolism, and slowing disease progression. (Catalog Number 20ME21)

Learn more about Jason Miller and his work.

Keeping our hearts open but protected can be a challenge, especially in these chaotic, often heartrending times. Yet it is only from the heart that we have any hope of healing our relationships with ourselves, with others, and with all creation. Plants are invaluable allies in aiding us in this endeavor.

They can heal us, teach us and guide us physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. In this presentation, naturopathic physician Deborah Frances explores herbs that nourish and support the emotional heart. Herbal allies include hawthorn, cactus (night-blooming cereus), Aralia spp (spikenard), passionflower, pine, Leonurus (motherwort), Alchemilla (lady’s mantle), and frankincense. (Catalog Number 21SW06)

Chris Hobbs begins this lecture with a detailed description of making medicinal mushroom water extracts and growing some varieties at home. He then reviews the different species of fungi and their medicinal uses, enriched with interesting personal anecdotes.

Mushrooms have consistently shown immunomodulatory and anti-tumor effects when tested on humans. This lecture explores the compounds responsible for these findings, and how best to utilize them in medicine, with a focus on the types and uses of beta-glucans found in fungi. He also discusses the pros and cons of using fruiting bodies vs mycelium for medicine. (Catalog Number 16ME09)

For those who want to pursue more information on this topic, Chris has recently published an updated book in March of 2021: Christopher Hobbs’s Medicinal Mushrooms: The Essential Guide, available on Amazon.

An original homesteader, herbalist, seed saver and world traveler, Richo draws on his many years of experience to describe the art of the poultice. It’s a form of botanical medicine anyone can use anywhere, utilizing common plants that grow in most places in the world. Includes how to make a poultice, how it works for healing, and recommendations for common ailments that benefit from an external herbal application, all infused with Richo’s special brand of humor and wide experience.

The last part of the presentation is a demonstration of how to make and apply a comfrey root poultice. Even though this is an audio recording, he gives a lot of detail while preparing and applying the root mixture to a willing volunteer who injured a foot while rock climbing. We thought we’d offer it this month for a little distraction from the world at large! (Catalog Number 17ME22)

Richo describes the art of the poultice and many other medicine-making techniques in his book Making Plant Medicine.

Note: If you’d like to see the video of the demonstration part of this lecture, this link takes you to Part 3 on YouTube. The blending and applying of the poultice starts at minute 7:30 and goes through Part 4.  Enjoy!

The information on this site is provided as a research resource for health professionals and is not intended to replace diagnosis and treatment by a qualified health care practitioner. Consult your medical care provider before using any herbal medicine.