Sleep is not optional. It's foundational.

In this episode of Eclectic Herbal Wisdom, we're joined by Dr. Orna Izakson for a grounded conversation about insomnia, mental health, nervous system herbs, and why real healing often looks much simpler than the latest wellness trend.

We talk about Skullcap, Passionflower, and Valerian, including when they shine and when they don't. We also unpack detox myths, why extreme cleanses often backfire, and how gentle daily rhythms support the body's innate pathways far better than aggressive protocols.

What You'll Learn:

• Why CBT-I is the gold standard for chronic insomnia
• How herbs support sleep without overriding the nervous system
• When Skullcap is appropriate, including its use for seizure support
• Why Valerian causes paradoxical reactions in some people
• Detox demystified and why less is often more
• Milk Thistle: when robust liver support is actually needed
• Hawthorn as a heart and nervous system ally for challenging times

Connect With Dr. Orna Izakson, ND, RH(AHG) here

Naturopathic physician, registered herbalist, and educator specializing in mental health, sleep, and integrative care Instagram: @dr.orna, or find her stunning plant pics at @gardenmedicine

Herbs Mentioned:

• Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)
• Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
• Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
• Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)
• Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)

We'd love to hear from you!

What herbs have supported your sleep or mental health?
Have you experienced a paradoxical reaction to valerian or another herb?
Share your stories with us on Instagram or TikTok @eclecticherb

Full show notes: eclecticherb.com/podcast/herbs-mental-health-dr-orna-izakson

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Thanks so much for tuning into Eclectic Herbal Wisdom!

We'd love to show our gratitude by giving you a 20% discount on your whole order at eclecticherb.com.

Just use the code PODCAST20 at checkout for 20% Off all your herbal goods! 🌿

And, if you have time, be sure to reach out and let us know what you think of the show!

At Eclectic Herb we're passionate about bringing you herbs as fresh as plants in the wild!

That's why we take the time to gently freeze dry our herbs, right after they've been harvested at the peak of their medicinal potency.

We know you'll feel the freeze dried difference in every capsule, every powder, and every bit of herbal love you get at Eclectic Herb!

Your liver works overtime. Processing everything from last night's dinner to environmental toxins, your liver needs consistent support to stay healthy and resilient. In this episode, Chris and Mel dive deep into milk thistle, the gold standard herb for liver protection and regeneration.

You'll learn why milk thistle has been trusted for over 2,000 years, how silymarin (the compound complex in milk thistle seeds) protects and regenerates liver cells, and why freeze-dried milk thistle preserves the beneficial compounds that get lost in standard processing.

Chris shares her experience growing milk thistle and why it's one of Eclectic Herb's bestsellers, while Mel explains the science behind this powerful plant and its uses beyond liver support.

What's in this episode:

• The 2,000-year history of milk thistle, from Pliny the Elder to Victorian physicians
• How Eclectic Physicians used milk thistle for digestive complaints and sluggish bile
• Silymarin: the compound complex that protects and regenerates liver cells
• Using milk thistle for liver support, fatty liver disease, hepatitis, and cholesterol management
• Why milk thistle works for acne, skin health, and detoxification pathways
• Growing milk thistle: Chris's insights on harvest, seeds, and why it's invasive
• The antidote potential for poisonous mushroom exposure
• Why freeze-dried whole seed milk thistle makes a difference

Herbal Terms in This Episode:

• Silymarin: A complex of flavonolignans found in milk thistle seeds that includes silibinin, silychristin, and silydianin. This compound stabilizes cell membranes, reduces oxidative stress, and supports liver detoxification and regeneration.
• Hepatoprotective: An herb that protects the liver from damage caused by toxins, medications, alcohol, or disease.
• Galactagogue: An herb that promotes or increases breast milk production in nursing mothers.
• Biliousness: A term used by Eclectic Physicians referring to sluggish bile flow and digestive complaints.

We'd love to hear from you!

Do you already use milk thistle for liver support? Have you noticed benefits for your skin or digestion? Share your experiences with us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @eclecticherb

Get your freeze-dried milk thistle here and explore other liver-supporting herbs at eclecticherb.com

Full show notes, transcript, and Chris's in-depth blog on milk thistle:

Text Us & Let Us Know How You Liked The Show!

Thanks so much for tuning into Eclectic Herbal Wisdom!

We'd love to show our gratitude by giving you a 20% discount on your whole order at eclecticherb.com.

Just use the code PODCAST20 at checkout for 20% Off all your herbal goods! 🌿

And, if you have time, be sure to reach out and let us know what you think of the show!

At Eclectic Herb we're passionate about bringing you herbs as fresh as plants in the wild!

That's why we take the time to gently freeze dry our herbs, right after they've been harvested at the peak of their medicinal potency.

We know you'll feel the freeze dried difference in every capsule, every powder, and every bit of herbal love you get at Eclectic Herb!

Ashwagandha for stress and immunity is a powerful ally during Capricorn season, a time marked by ambition, determination, and the weight of responsibility. What happens when chronic stress meets winter’s demands? How can this adaptogenic root support your nervous system, immune resilience, and groundedness during a season of goal-setting?

In this episode of Eclectic Herbal Wisdom, Chris and Mel explore Capricorn energy, the shadow side of burnout, and why Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a foundational herb for stress resilience, vitality, and winter wellness.

What’s in this episode:

• Capricorn traits and the shadow side of ambition, recognizing when responsibility becomes burden
• Ashwagandha as an adaptogen for chronic stress, nervous exhaustion, and HPA axis support
• Immunomodulator vs immune stimulant, and why Ashwagandha supports winter immune resilience
• Traditional uses for reproductive health, libido, and long-term vitality
• How to work with Ashwagandha: golden milk, fresh root tinctures, freeze-dried capsules, and growing your own
• Using Capricorn energy for goal-setting and boundaries, even if you’re not a Capricorn
• Journal prompts and plant rituals for releasing stress and connecting with earth energy

We’d love to hear from you

Have you worked with Ashwagandha for stress or immune support? How does Capricorn season energy show up in your life?
Share your experience with us on Instagram or TikTok @eclecticherb.

Resources & Links

• Full show notes and transcript: eclecticherb.com/podcast/capricorn-herbs-ashwagandha
• Shop freeze-dried Ashwagandha: eclecticherb.com/products/ashwagandha
• Explore all organic supplements: eclecticherb.com
• Connect with us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @eclecticherb

Text Us & Let Us Know How You Liked The Show!

Thanks so much for tuning into Eclectic Herbal Wisdom!

We'd love to show our gratitude by giving you a 20% discount on your whole order at eclecticherb.com.

Just use the code PODCAST20 at checkout for 20% Off all your herbal goods! 🌿

And, if you have time, be sure to reach out and let us know what you think of the show!

At Eclectic Herb we're passionate about bringing you herbs as fresh as plants in the wild!

That's why we take the time to gently freeze dry our herbs, right after they've been harvested at the peak of their medicinal potency.

We know you'll feel the freeze dried difference in every capsule, every powder, and every bit of herbal love you get at Eclectic Herb!

Can’t turn off your racing mind at night? Feel like you’re constantly running on high alert? Skullcap might be exactly what your nervous system needs. This episode dives deep into one of the most beloved herbs for nervous system support, exploring its rich history from Native American medicine to Victorian-era Eclectic Physicians, and how it’s used in clinical herbalism today.

Chris and Mel share the fascinating ways Skullcap has been used throughout history. From menstrual support to snake bites, and why the Eclectic Physicians insisted on using it with fresh herb preparations.

You’ll discover why this herb is perfect for busy minds that can’t switch off, how to grow your own (it’s easier than you think!), the importance of proper botanical identification, and its astrological connections to the moon, Gemini, and Virgo. Whether you’re dealing with caffeine jitters, work burnout, or those 3am thought spirals, this episode will help you understand why Skullcap has earned its reputation as a go-to nervine for the overwhelmed and overstimulated.

What’s in this episode:

• Native American and historical uses of Skullcap
• How Victorian Eclectic Physicians used Skullcap for women’s hysteria and men’s burnout
• Why fresh is best: The importance of fresh tincture or freeze-dried preparation
• Clinical uses today: Racing mind, burnout, caffeine jitters, and nervous system restoration
• Skullcap for menstrual support and menopause irritability
• The critical importance of botanical names and avoiding adulteration
• Growing Skullcap at home: Tips, harvesting, and companion planting
• Astrological connections: Moon, Gemini, Virgo, and crown chakra
• Energetics and the Skullcap personality

Herbal Terms in This Episode

Trophorestorative: An herb that nourishes and restores a body system to normal function over time, especially after depletion.
Nervine: A plant that supports, calms, or tones the nervous system.
Antispasmodic: Helps reduce involuntary muscle spasms (digestive, uterine, or nervous system).
Diaphoretic: Helps the body release heat through sweating.
Energetics: The subtle qualities of an herb (warming, cooling, grounding, uplifting, etc.) and how they interact with a person’s constitution.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript: eclecticherb.com/podcast/skullcap-herb-of-the-month

Ready to experience Skullcap for yourself?
Visit eclecticherb.com to explore freeze-dried Skullcap capsules that preserve the volatile compounds and medicinal benefits of the fresh plant. Get Skullcap here: https://eclecticherb.com/products/skullcap
Connect with us @eclecticherb on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for more herbal wisdom.

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Meet Chris Alstat, owner of Eclectic Herb, and herbal educator Mel Mutterspaugh, two herbalists who found each other through their shared love of plants and are finally sitting down to do what they've talked about for years: share stories, wisdom, and a whole lot of herbal passion.

In this episode, you'll get to hear from Chris as she shares about her Japanese heritage, the influence her mother's garden had on her childhood, the health crisis that changed everything, and how a chance meeting in Tokyo led her to Eclectic Herb, a 40+ year legacy of organic, freeze-dried herbal supplements rooted in the Eclectic Physicians tradition. Mel shares the moment Lungwort Lichen literally appeared at her feet during every coughing fit from bronchitis.

You'll hear why they're both obsessed with nervous system herbs right now (hello stress), what it means when plants speak to you, and the one piece of advice they each give over and over. This is science-rooted herbal education wrapped in friendship, stories, and a whole lot of plant nerdery.

What's in this episode:

• Why Mel and Chris started this podcast and what you can expect
• Astrological profiles: How earth and air signs shape their herbal practice
• Early plant memories: From Japanese gardens to backpacking trails
• Chris's path to owning Eclectic Herb via healing crisis and chance meeting
• Current favorites herbs: Milky Oats for chronic stress and Tulsi for daily balance
• When plants speak: Lungwort and Chestnut Bud appearing exactly when needed
• The most important herb advice: Trust the plants & find what works for YOUR body
• What's coming: Victorian herbal history, astrology, expert interviews

Herbal Terms in This Episode:

• Trophorestorative: An herb that nourishes and restores a body system or tissue to normal functionality over time (like Milky Oats for the nervous system)
• Doctrine of Signatures: A traditional concept suggesting 'like treats like'—the color, shape, or texture of a plant can hint at its medicinal uses (like Lungwort Lichen for lung conditions)

We'd love to hear from you!

What early plant memories shaped your relationship with herbalism?

Have you ever felt guided by a plant or "nudged" toward a remedy intuitively?

Full show notes & transcript: eclecticherb.com/blogs/eclectic-herbal-wisdom

Explore Eclectic Herb's freeze-dried supplements at eclecticherb.com. Share your stories and follow @eclecticherb on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

Text Us & Let Us Know How You Liked The Show!