Harm Reduction Herbalism + African Ashwagandha

This week, Katja describes a way of working with herbs to reduce the harm done when lifestyle factors like diet, sleep, and movement are less-than-ideal. (Because really, how often is everything in your life perfectly "right"?) Ryn identifies a mental blind spot in the course of "discovering" that aswhagandha is in fact native or naturalized in large parts of Africa and has a long history of use there. (Did you, too, think of it only as an Indian/Ayurvedic herb?) Mentioned in this podcast: Ashwagandha monograph from the Plant Resources of Tropical Africa projectAshwagandha monograph from the PlantZAfrica project at the South African National Biodiversity Institutethis Global Mapper from Discover Life can display worldwide plant distribution maps!Krystal Thompson's ashwagandha monograph at HerbRallyProduction dynamics of Withaferin A in Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal complex., Kaul et al (Nat Prod Res. 2009;23(14):1304-11. doi: 10.1080/14786410802547440.) - one investigation into the differences in chemotypes within the Withania somnifera species.African and Vedic ecotype ashwagandha seeds from Strictly MedicinalsSupport the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!