97. Caring for the Inner Ecology with Herbs: Dr. Jason Hawrelak on Herbal Education

In today's episode, I interview Dr. Jason Hawrelak who is a naturopath, herbalist, and nutritionist on Bundjalung country, and is one of the leading experts in the treatment of gastrointestinal conditions with natural medicines. He has nearly 20 years of clinical experience and a deep passion for gastrointestinal health and the gastrointestinal microbiota. I met Jason at the beginning of this year at Marleen Herbs in Tasmania, with some other incredible inspirational herb folk who have been interviewed on this podcast like Greg Whitten, Sue Evans, and Nena Alaschewski, as well as Jason's partner Dawn Whitten, who I will be interviewing soon. Marleen herbs is run by Ronald, Marleen and Emma van de Winckel, who welcomed us all into their home and showed us their amazing farm which grows and makes all of the fresh plant tinctures for PPC herbs which are the only commercial suppliers of fresh plant tinctures in Australia. It really was a great way to start off 2024, and I felt humbled and honoured to have the opportunity to spend time with these incredible people who have all had a big influence and impact on the Australian herbal medicine community and natural health industry. Jason purchased Goulds in Tasmania 17 years ago with Dawn, Greg, and their friends Belinda and Daniel Robson. Jason shares how he was inspired by his time working at Mullum herbals, to create a clinic in Hobart which offered over the counter consultations for low income earners. In this interview Jason also shares his journey of becoming a practitioner and specializing in gastrointestinal health and the human microbiota, and how healing his own chronic health conditions with natural medicine spurred him to want to help others. Jason shares some of his preferred herbs that he uses in his practice, particularly for gut health and microbiome issues. He highlights the selectivity of certain herbs, such as pomegranate, garlic, Nigella sativa, and Bical skullcap, in targeting pathogenic bacteria while leaving beneficial ones intact. In this episode Jason shares some great practical advise on how our listeners can take better care of our microbiome and finishes with some great wisdom about custodianship of our bodies. Shownotes: Probiotic Advisor: https://www.facebook.com/probioticadvisor/ The Hawrelak Gut and Microbiome Clinic: https://www.gouldsnaturalmedicine.com.au/dr-jason-hawrelak-gut-and-bicrobiome-team Morre about Jason here: https://www.gouldsnaturalmedicine.com.au/dr-jason-hawrelak **THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY** You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support the Elder tree at the same time!  To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Find out more about this podcast and the presenters ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The intro and outro song is "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sing for the Earth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.