Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine

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Asheville, NC
Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine

Blending the best of Chinese and American herbal medicine, with a focus on regional plants.

08/19/2026

One of our students hit the jackpot on a hike the other day and stumbled upon a plethora of chicken of the woods.

Chicken of the Woods refers to mushrooms in the Laetiporus genus. They’re usually found on oak, but also on other hardwoods. They grow in big, layered shelves that look almost like coral or bright petals stacked on a tree.

When cooked, the texture is famously similar to chicken (firm and shreddable) hence the name. The flavor is mild but savory, especially when sautéed or roasted. It can be sautéed, fried, added to soups, or even used as a plant‑based “chicken” in dishes.

Who has tried this mushroom before and what's your favorite way to prepare it? 👇

08/17/2026

In the Herbalist Kitchen today, I’m sharing a tea that became a steady source of support in the days after our area was devastated by Hurricane Helene: Relax & Resilience Tea. This is a blend created by CoreyPine to help calm nerves, lift spirits, and keep people going when everything felt heavy.

It’s made with Holy Basil, Jiao Gu Lan, peach leaf, hawthorn flowers, and mimosa bark — herbs that soothe the nervous system, center the mind, restore energy, and gently ease grief. During those long days, I made sure the first‑aid workers and organizers had at least one warm cup to ground themselves before heading back out. Small plant‑based supports can make a real difference when you yourself, your household or your community is under strain.

This blend is simple, steady care for ourselves, for each other, and for anyone carrying more than usual.

Let us know if you give this blend a try.

08/14/2026

Some of our Holistic Herbalism students were out harvesting some Reishi (Ganoderma spp.)the other day. 🍄‍🟫

Reishi is probably one of my favorite medicinal mushrooms and for good reason. It is in the Chinese herbal category “Herbs to Settle the Spirit”. It does this by nourishing the Heart, where consciousness is based. This makes it an excellent medicine for those who are depleted from shock or trauma or are having a hard time settling back into their bodies after trauma. The most common symptoms are palpitations, forgetfulness, and especially waking up during the night from disturbing dreams. Reishi helps settle our minds so that we have the groundedness to work through our emotional issues.⠀
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This is probably the reason it was considered a sacred Taoist medicine for millennia – its ability to quiet the mind, settle the spirit, and allow us to be present with whatever arises is a special gift. And in this chaotic and unsettled world we live in, who couldn’t use more of this herb?⠀
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In Western herbalism we might call it an adaptogen and a nervine, because it is calming and centering while at the same time nourishing our basic energy and helping us deal with stress better. Not only that but it is also an immune modulator with powerful effects on the immune system.
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Have you ever used Reishi? Let us know in the comments. 👇

08/12/2026

Let's play a game. What plant is this? Put your answers in the comments below👇

Hint: It's one of the main spring greens of the Cherokee (Tsalagi) people

08/07/2026

On September 12th, the Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine is hosting an immersive, hands‑on workshop with herbalist and distiller Rebecca Vann of Aurum Apotheca — Distilling Aromatic Plants + Resins.

Together we’ll slow down, circle around a glass still, and learn this ancient craft through direct experience. You’ll explore aromatic plants that grow beautifully in our region, the history and revival of distillation, and the different types of stills (copper alembics, glass, clay, stainless steel) and why each one has its place.

We’ll create hydrosol together, and every participant will take home a 2‑ounce bottle from the day’s distillation.

Spaces are limited for a more intimate learning experience. Register today by following link in bio or by going to https://bit.ly/4fTYECO

08/05/2026

The FALL 2026 Wild Medicine Internship is officially full. Every year, this program opens a whole new way of seeing the land and this season filled quickly.

If you still feel the pull, you can add your name to the waitlist. Openings do happen, and we always reach out in order received. Come walk the green world with us.

Waitlist available on https://bit.ly/4wGLtfF

08/03/2026

Last week in our Herbalist Kitchen we showed you how to make vanilla bean extract. Today we are showing you how to make vanilla bean maple syrup. 🍁

Unlike vanilla bean extract which takes more time to sit, vanilla bean maple syrup is ready in a couple of weeks. I have been putting this in my morning coffee, serving it on pancakes, and adding it into drinks. Whatever you usually put maple syrup in or on, this recipe will take it to the next level.

Share with your fellow maple syrup lovers!

07/31/2026

For our Essentials of Herbalism wild food feast I taught the students how to make wild fermented elder flower soda, colored with black raspberries and mulberries (shown in photos #1 and #2).

The students were encouraged to try making fermented herbal sodas on their own. In photo #3 one of the students made a blackberry, ginger, and basil soda and a peach, ginger, mint soda.

In the last photo one of the students is making sodas using white pine needles and honey. One of the jars has blackberries and honey added to the white pine and another jar has added ginger.

Applications open TOMORROW for our 2027 year Holistic Herbalism and Essentials of Herbalism Programs for those interested in joining.

Share your fermented soda combinations with us in the comments below! 👇

07/29/2026

Only at the Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine do you catch your teacher using a daisy as an optical device. 😁

CoreyPine has a way of blending humor and plant wisdom reminding us that herbalism always leaves room for joy.

Get ready because applications for our 2027 Holistic Herbalism and Essentials of Herbalism Programs open up this Saturday August 1st. We have only one spot left for our Fall 2026 Wild Medicine Internship which is a 4 week series starting on September 12th. Once full feel free to join the waitlist!

Follow our link in our bio to learn more. Follow our link in our bio to learn more or visit https://bit.ly/3MomGHR

07/27/2026

The Herbalist Kitchen smells incredible today because we’re crafting homemade vanilla extract. 🤤

Vanilla is more than a flavor...it’s a botanical treasure, rich with aromatic compounds that unfold beautifully when steeped over time. It’s the kind of pantry staple our grandmothers would have kept tucked away, steeping slowly until it was dark, fragrant, and ready to use in so many things. There’s beauty in making what you need with your own hands and in this video I show you how to make this step by step.

Share this with someone who would enjoy making their own pantry staples from scratch!

Follow along because next week I’m going to show you how to make vanilla maple syrup.

Address

Asheville, NC

Telephone

+18285050032

Website

http://www.blueridgeschool.org/

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