Brown Bear Herbs Herbalism & Tactics for Thriving Together

St. John's Wort, Plant Meditation Club, 6/1/26

St. John's Wort, Plant Meditation Club, 6/1/26

By Lily Michaud Jun 12, 2026 0 Comments

On Monday, 6/1/26, we meditated with a tincture of fresh St. John's Wort, Hypericum perforatum.  Initial Impressions Taste is floral, oily, astringent, slightly fruity acidic, a little numbing (1). Meditations  •I...

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Free Plant Meditation Club--A Cup of Tea with HWB

Free Plant Meditation Club--A Cup of Tea with HWB

By Lily Michaud May 5, 2026 0 Comments

Curious about the Plant Meditation Club or Herbalists Without Borders? Join me for a free event (provide your own chamomile tea, make sure there are no other herbs mixed in!),...

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Fennel, Plant Meditation Club, 4/27/2026

Fennel, Plant Meditation Club, 4/27/2026

By Lily Michaud May 4, 2026 0 Comments

This week, on 4/27/26, we meditated with Fennel, Foeniculum vulgare. As always we taste this tea without knowing the identity of the herb to reduce potential bias.  Initial Impressions This herb has...

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Dandelion, Plant Meditation Club, 4/13/2026

Dandelion, Plant Meditation Club, 4/13/2026

By Lily Michaud Apr 17, 2026 0 Comments

This week we meditated with dandelion leaf, or taraxacum. Sensory Impressions Taste reports: A little bitter, vegetal (like chard), dull, a bit sour, wheat-like. Dry: smelled like hay. Second tasting:...

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Catnip, Plant Meditation Club, 3/23/26

Catnip, Plant Meditation Club, 3/23/26

By Lily Michaud Mar 27, 2026 0 Comments

This week we meditated with catnip on 3/23/26.  The leaves themselves have a strong smell and are a bit furry compared to the other members of the mint family. Meditation...

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Bee Balm (Monarda Fistulosa), Plant Meditation Club, 2/23/26

Bee Balm (Monarda Fistulosa), Plant Meditation Club, 2/23/26

By Lily Michaud Feb 27, 2026 0 Comments

This week, February 23, 2026, we meditated with Monarda fistulosa. This herb is native to North America (it grows in zones 4-9). It's history and modern use is comes primarily...

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Corn Silk, Plant Meditation Club, 2/9/26

Corn Silk, Plant Meditation Club, 2/9/26

By Lily Michaud Feb 12, 2026 0 Comments

This week we meditated with corn silk an herb used in Native American, European/Western and Chinese herbalism (玉米须 (pronounced: yù mǐ xū).  Initial Experiences Flavor notes include “good” :) as well as...

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Tulsi, or Holy Basil, Plant Meditation Club, 1/26/26

Tulsi, or Holy Basil, Plant Meditation Club, 1/26/26

By Lily Michaud Jan 26, 2026 0 Comments

This week, we meditated with tulsi, aka holy basil.  Initial Experience While steeping, some oils were visible in the water. The smell is pleasantly spicy. The tea felt very mildly...

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California Poppy, Plant Meditation Club, 1/12/26

California Poppy, Plant Meditation Club, 1/12/26

By Lily Michaud Jan 14, 2026 0 Comments

This week we meditated with California Poppy.   Initial Experience We had some varying impressions on the smell: hay, fishy hay, and sunshine. The taste seemed to be similar to...

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PMC: Bái Sháo, Peony Root, Reveal Date 9/5

PMC: Bái Sháo, Peony Root, Reveal Date 9/5

By Lily Michaud Aug 29, 2024 0 Comments

Plant Meditation Club: This week we meditated on Bái Sháo, white peony root, scientific name Paeoniae Radix, an herb of Chinese Classical Medicine. Pre-Meditation I found this tea to have a very...

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PMC: Angelica archangelica, Reveal Date: 7/18

PMC: Angelica archangelica, Reveal Date: 7/18

By Lily Michaud Jul 11, 2024 0 Comments

Plant Meditation Club: This week we meditate with Angelica archangelica, commonly known as angelica. This herb is related to a previous, Chinese herb we meditated with: Dú Huó, 獨活, Angelica pubescens radix. For my in...

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PMC: Black Cohosh, Reveal Date: 6/20

PMC: Black Cohosh, Reveal Date: 6/20

By Lily Michaud Jun 13, 2024 0 Comments

Plant Meditation Club: This week we meditated on Black Cohosh, or Actaea racemosa.   Black cohosh is well established as a support for women experiencing intense emotions and intense relationships....

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PMC: Shepherd's Purse Flower Essence, Reveal Date: 6/6

PMC: Shepherd's Purse Flower Essence, Reveal Date: 6/6

By Lily Michaud May 30, 2024 0 Comments

Plant Meditation Club: This week we meditated with Shepherd's Purse, Capsella bursa-pastoris, flower essence.   Shepherd's purse for moving from shame to "it is what it is" & then embodiment. Meditation...

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PMC: Yarrow, Reveal Date: 3/22/24

PMC: Yarrow, Reveal Date: 3/22/24

By Lily Michaud Mar 16, 2024 0 Comments

Plant Meditation Club:   Yarrow, areas for further investigation: "The successful warrior is an average man with laser-like focus." -Bruce Lee This week we tasted the flowering tops of Yarrow,...

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PMC: 天門冬, Tiān Mén Dōng, Asparagus Root: Classical Chinese Medicine Plant Meditation Reveal Date 1/16

PMC: 天門冬, Tiān Mén Dōng, Asparagus Root: Classical Chinese Medicine Plant Meditation Reveal Date 1/16

By Lily Michaud Jan 8, 2024 0 Comments

Plant Meditation Club: This week we meditated on 天門冬, tiān mén dōng, Radix aspargi, a classical Chinese herb from the Divine Farmer's Materia Medica, or Shén Nóng Běncǎo Jīng.   We had a lovely...

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