The Bitter Truth

We began with a question: what does it mean to be beautiful? The more I talked with friends about their beauty routines in preparation for this podcast, the more bewildered I felt about the lengths we all go to to make ourselves more beautiful: from waxes to skin care appointments to ten step routines. Beauty is a TRILLION dollar industry pedaling us makeup, skin care products, cosmetic surgeries, and botox. But do any of us feel more beautiful? I sat down with Dr. Sinéad Corrigan, a licensed acupuncturist and Doctor of Chinese Medicine to draw inspiration from a deeper well of wisdom about beauty. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers us a more holistic and profound perspective on why we want to be beautiful to begin with, and how we can actually feel beautiful. More about Sinéad: Dr. Sinéad Corrigan is a Doctor of Chinese Medicine, Board Certified Herbalist, and Licensed Acupuncturist in both North Carolina and Hawaii.Her private practice is focused on Preventative Medicine, Reproductive Health, and Natural Beauty + Skincare. Sinéad weaves “movement as medicine” into every treatment.She is a 4x certified yoga instructor and been teaching yoga since 2009, and qigong since 2016. As a Senior HealingTao USA Qigong Instructor, Sinéad certifies others to teach the beautiful practice of Qigong.Keep Learning with Sinéad:*GLOW FROM WITHIN 5-week natural beauty masterclass series www.innerbodydata.com/natural-beauty-courses (drop in or sign up for the full series; discounted over 50% until Jun 15; lifetime access to recordings; sign up anytime!); *ON DEMAND qigong, yin yoga, kundalini, and pranayama classes and courses class(www.innerbodydata.com/membership) IG @innerbodydata tiktok @peonyflowersSinéad’s Top Practices for Beauty: * Start with a morning routine- qi gong for a regulated nervous system* Face massage: rosehip oil, sweet almond oil* Fascia facelift, face massage* Spend time in nature* Sleeping enough, early* Community support, friendship & co-regulation* Put your feet on the ground for connection with the Earth* Feel gratitude for the Earth, the Universe, and your physical bodyThank you to Farmacopia for donating the amazing Bitters Formulas for this season! Here is my current favorite, GB Bitters. You can find more information about your host, Abbey Cmiel at abbeyjoyhealing.com or on Instagram @abbeyjoyhealing or @bittertruthpod Get full access to Abbey Joy Healing Newsletter at abbeyjoyhealing.substack.com/subscribe

It was an absolute delight to host one of my closest friends and collaborators, Ash Aether, on the podcast. Ash is such a wealth of knowledge and inspires me every day to live more presently with my body and the Earth. In this episode, we dive into the cycles of the Earth, Moon, Cosmos, Reproductive Cycle, and Feminine Archetype, and the wisdom they each offer for our life. If you have been feeling out of touch with your purpose and sense of self, this is the episode for you!Ash Aether is a ceremonialist, high priestess, mama wolf, artist, creatrix, and so much more. She holds ceremonies including full moon gatherings, women’s circles, ritual hair cuts, and weddings. Ash is the founder of Rüted Rituals and Unions as well as the co-founder of the Woven Wheel program and podcast. You can listen to the first episode of the podcast here- I couldn’t recommend more highly! She also co-directs a wedding company, Love & Wolves Co. with her partner. You can join us for our next day-long retreat in Occidental on August 23rd! Send me an email at [email protected] and I’ll send you the details as soon as they’re ready. The theme of this retreat will be “Healing the Blood” and include wisdom from Ayurveda about how to nourish our blood for deeper health. It was so fun to feature Farmacopia’s Salad Bitters on this episode of the podcast! Salad Bitters has a really yummy, green flavor that really does taste like a bitter salad. It’s perfect for the spring time because it’s packed with herbs that support liver detox and lymphatic drainage. Some of my favorite herbs in the blend are artichoke, milk thistle, and dandelion leaf! And I LOVE that Farmacopia is just down the road from me in Santa Rosa. They have an amazing tincture bar, and stock pretty much all of my favorite herbal products. Definitely check them out!Some of my favorite takeaways from the pod: * The more we connect with the cycles of our bodies, the more we can honor and support the cycles of the Earth. And vice versa. * Ritual comes back to Intention & Acknowledgment of things way bigger than us and way smaller than us* How to re-create ritual in your life: gratitude for food, drinking water with intention, full moon gatherings, breathing * Watch the sunrise and sunset as often as you can to set your circadian rhythm* Connect with the cycles of the feminine archetype: Maiden, Mother, Queen and Crone to channel the wisdom you need for each moment. Thank you so much Ash for sharing your wisdom with us! More to come Get full access to Abbey Joy Healing Newsletter at abbeyjoyhealing.substack.com/subscribe

It was an incredible honor to host this podcast with my dear friend Juliana Jimenez, a mother, herbalist, student of Ayurveda, and lover of the Earth. We dove into simple practices you can do to support your body through challenging times.*If you would like to make a donation to my friend Monica’s mutual aid project in Minneapolis, MN to support families affected by ICE, you can send a venmo to @abbeycmiel on Venmo and write “mutual aid” in the note.La Sabiduría del Cuerpo | The Wisdom of the BodyIn this episode we explore the quiet intelligence of the body and the small rituals that help us return to balance. Through bitter foods, medicinal plants, and simple daily practices, we remember that healing is not always complicated.En este episodio exploramos la inteligencia profunda del cuerpo y los pequeños rituales que nos ayudan a volver al equilibrio. A través de alimentos amargos, plantas medicinales y prácticas simples del día a día, recordamos que la sanación no siempre es complicada. smos.Bitter of the DayAmargo del DíaArtichoke | AlcachofaBitter foods awaken digestion and support the liver. The artichoke is a beautiful example of how bitterness nourishes the body and stimulates the natural intelligence of our digestive system.Los alimentos amargos despiertan la digestión y apoyan el hígado. La alcachofa es un ejemplo hermoso de cómo el sabor amargo nutre el cuerpo y estimula la inteligencia natural de nuestro sistema digestivo.Simple Ways to Support Your BodyFormas sencillas de apoyar tu cuerpo• Begin the day with a nourishing breakfast rich in protein — for example, three eggs with spinach, broccoli, or peas.• Comienza el día con un desayuno nutritivo y rico en proteína — por ejemplo, tres huevos con espinaca, brócoli o chícharos.• Eat without phones or distractions so your body can fully receive nourishment.• Comer sin teléfonos ni distracciones para que el cuerpo pueda recibir el alimento plenamente.• Give yourself a hug. Offer tenderness to your body.• Date un abrazo. Ofrece ternura a tu cuerpo.• Spend time in nature every day.• Pasar tiempo en la naturaleza todos los días.“Love is the perfect medicine to heal everything.”“El amor es la medicina perfecta para curarlo todo.”Medicinal PlantsPlantas MedicinalesNutmeg Milk | Leche con nuez moscadaWarm milk with a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg to support deep rest and sleep.Leche tibia con una pizca de nuez moscada rallada para apoyar el descanso y el sueño.Chamomile Tea | Té de manzanillaA gentle and comforting tea that can bring warmth and light during the winter months.Un té suave y reconfortante que puede traer calor y un poco de sol durante el invierno.Lavender | LavandaSimply breathing the aroma of lavender can calm the nervous system and invite relaxation.Simplemente respirar el aroma de la lavanda puede calmar el sistema nervioso e invitar a la relajación.Herbs & Spices for DigestionHierbas y especias para la digestiónCumin, cilantro, and ginger are beautiful digestive spices to include in daily cooking.El comino, el cilantro y el jengibre son especias maravillosas para apoyar la digestión en la cocina diaria.Digestive Tea | Té digestivoGinger and cinnamon tea to warm the body and support digestion.Té de jengibre y canela para calentar el cuerpo y apoyar la digestión.Nourishing ChaiChai reconfortanteCardamom, Cinnamon, Ginger, Turmeric, Nutmeg, Coconut milk & HoneyCardamomo, Canela, Jengibre, Cúrcuma, Nuez moscada, Leche de coco, Miel de abejaMorning RitualRitual de la mañanaWarm water with lemon and grey salt or sea salt to gently awaken digestion.Agua caliente con limón y sal gris o sal de mar para despertar suavemente la digestión. Get full access to Abbey Joy Healing Newsletter at abbeyjoyhealing.substack.com/subscribe

This episode with my dear friend Dr. Sínead Corrigan absolutely blew my mind. We dove into what Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) calls “Kidney Jing” or the “root of your vitality”. In TCM, the health of our kidneys determines the health of our reproductive system, and thus our creative and sexual energy. We talked about how connecting to rest and pleasure can help cultivate kidney energy and support you in following your life’s destiny. Sínead shared about how to support your body’s kidney energy, especially in the winter months, through nourishing foods, sleep, and listening to your body. I loved learning about the simple practices that can transform our lives and allow us to live more in alignment with our greatest pleasure and soul path. Thank you Sínead for sharing this rich wisdom! More about Dr. Sínead Corrigan: Dr. Sinéad Corrigan is a Doctor of Chinese Medicine, Board Certified Herbalist, and Licensed Acupuncturist in both North Carolina and Hawaii.Her private practice is focused on Preventative Medicine, Reproductive Health, and Natural Beauty + Skincare. Sinéad weaves “movement as medicine” into every treatment.She is a 4x certified yoga instructor and been teaching yoga since 2009, and qigong since 2016. As a Senior HealingTao USA Qigong Instructor, Sinéad certifies others to teach the beautiful practice of Qigong.To learn more, email [email protected] or visit www.innerbodydata.com/classes . Sinéad is also available for telemedicine consultations for those interested in herbalism, supplements, private online qigong+yoga instruction, and coaching-style support.Here are some of the amazing ways you can work more with Sínead: * On Demand Qigong & Yoga Membership: www.innerbodydata.com/membership* Qigong Courses for working with sexual energy (both can be found by going to the membership site and scrolling down to COURSES):* Sex & Power (4 week course for men)* Desire & Transformation (9 week course for man, woman, or couples)* Dance_4_Plants Membership (sensual movement, pelvic floor awareness, flexibility, & “healing the wounds of repressed creativity”): https://app.fanfix.io/@dance4plants* In person acupuncture (kauai, NC, and soon Miami!): www.innerbodydata.com/acupuncture* SOCIALS: @innerbodydata on IG @peonyflowers on TikTok (chinese herbal medicine education), @sineadpatience on IG & @dance_4_plants on tiktok for dance & sensuality related offerings* YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/innerbodydatawithsinead* Here are the bitters Sínead mentioned- so yummy!You can find more information about your host, Abbey Cmiel at abbeyjoyhealing.com or on Instagram @abbeyjoyhealing or @bittertruthpod Get full access to Abbey Joy Healing Newsletter at abbeyjoyhealing.substack.com/subscribe

This episode with Fertility Awareness Method and Hormone Specialist Caitlin McMurtry absolutely blew my mind! We went deep into so many of your hormonal and cyclical health questions including: * What is Fertility Awareness Method?* How can it help to prevent or encourage conception? * How to support your body to prevent PMS, clotting, cramping, acne and other cyclical challenges* Understanding Estrogen, Progesterone, and Testosterone and their effects in our bodiesWe tasted some delicious “Love Potion” Bitters from Audrey Rees of Your Village Midwife, featuring Damiana, Kava Kava, and Cacao. Yum!For more information about Caitlin, check out cyclewiselove.com or follow her on Instagram @cycle.wiseYou can also access her free intro to charting class here. I’d also like to thank our amazing sponsor for this episode, Lucid Brand Alchemy. Check out Fiona’s website for packages on developing your business, brand, photography, and website. For more information about your host Abbey Cmiel of Abbey Joy Healing and to book a session, check out www.abbeyjoyhealing.com or @abbeyjoyhealing on instagram. Thank you to the amazing Joseph Campbell of Durham, NC for making my groovy intro and outro beats. Get full access to Abbey Joy Healing Newsletter at abbeyjoyhealing.substack.com/subscribe

I am so grateful to share this episode with my dear friend RAD Brelvi, host of Radical Queers Podcast! RAD is such an inspiration to me in every way. RAD is an artist, musician, activist, a loving friend, and a true connection to spirit. Join us as we dive into the cycles of life reflected in our hormonal cycles, the seasons of the Earth, and the cycles of the moon and stars. We share our experiences of the current astrology: Jupiter returning to Cancer, Saturn returning to Aries, and a Pluto Cazimi (if you’ve never even heard of these, you’re not alone!)RAD also shares potent life experiences of connecting to one’s reproductive cycle with a queer lens, the initiation of perimenopause, chest/breast reduction surgery and hormone replacement therapy. In this episode we celebrate the seasons of our life, the depths of winter, and the beauty of queerness. Listen in and share your thoughts with us!Thank you to Matt Huges for the amazing Dreamscape OracleThe Bitter Truth herbs of this episode: * Rose (Rosa Californica)* Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)You can find more about RAD at @radfolkmusic and @radicalqueerspodcast on Instagram! Thank you to this episode’s sponsor www.yogawithjoyce.com for personalized yoga therapy sessions and yoga classes!You can listen to Abbey’s episode on cyclical health with Caitlin McMurtry here and her episode on Chest/Breast Care here. You can book a session with abbey at abbeyjoyhealing.comThank you for listening and please leave me a review wherever you stream! xoxo Get full access to Abbey Joy Healing Newsletter at abbeyjoyhealing.substack.com/subscribe

Let’s be real. Getting sick, either in the short or long term, can be incredibly frustrating, painful and inconvenient. In modern capitalistic society, most of us don’t have the time to take a couple weeks (or longer) off to fully recover from whatever illness or health challenge we may be experiencing. It’s an impossible part of a system that’s designed to keep us struggling towards maximum production without refilling our internal well of health, self-knowledge and rest. That said, when we do have the opportunity to integrate the illnesses we experience, they can be extraordinary portals into uncovering deeper layers of ourselves. The rest and reflection illness often forces us into can be a pathway to self-understanding and finding purpose. In this episode, Bailey and I talk about the value of health challenges in our personal journeys to becoming the herbalists we are. May this episode bring you some solace and inspiration in these dark months!Connect with Bailey McNeill of Bailey Interbeing:* Instagram* Integra Collective: https://www.integracollective.org/Connect with Abbey Cmiel of Abbey Joy Healing* Instagram* Website Bitter of the Day: Roble Sabana (Tabebuia rosea)* Immune support* Grounded nervous system support* Anti-parasitic, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial* Glucose/blood sugar regulation* Fights infection * Reduce digestive challenges Our teacher, Kealy Rudersdorf of KIS botanicals in Mastatal, Costa RicaGrounding tools through health challenges:* Relational practices of herbalism for connecting to herbal allies as friends * Journaling* Meditation* Nature walks without your phone Robin Rose Bennett: The Gift of Healing HerbsInitiations in the female reproductive system:* Menarch* Menstruation * Birthing * Birth release* Menopause Top herbal support for the winter:* Elderberry Rosehip infusion (steep the tea 8-12 hours overnight) * Roble Sabana antiviral tincture * Fire Cider (with garlic, onion, ginger, hot pepper, oregano, ACV, honey)* St. John’s Wort for seasonal affective disorder* not to be combined with SSRI’s or other medications (ask your doctor)Thank you to the amazing Joseph Campbell of Durham, NC for creating the fun intro and outro beats and producing this episode! Get full access to Abbey Joy Healing Newsletter at abbeyjoyhealing.substack.com/subscribe

Kate is my dear friend and practitioner of holistic pelvic floor care and I am SO grateful to have her on the podcast! In this episode, we go deep into the energetics of the pelvic floor, how to care for your womb space, and how to birth the life of your dreams. It was such a treat to learn from her expertise and I know you will love diving into this womb wisdom. Kate Coletti is a Midwife, Holistic Pelvic Floor Practitioner, Mother, Teacher, and Healer based in Sonoma, CA. You can find more information about her offerings here: Kate’s Website Instagram: @wildwomanwellnessEnlightened BirthBook A Session with KateManual Medicine MentorshipHolistic Pelvic Floor Trainings and Resources- Tami Lynn KentWild Feminine BookWild Feminine WebsiteAbout your host:Abbey Cmiel of Abbey Joy Healing is an Ayurvedic Practitioner, Body Worker, and Herbalist who specializes in Female Reproductive Care. Abbey offers lymphatic body work and Breast, Uterus, and hormonal care in Sonoma & Marin County, CA. You can book a session with her here. You can follow along @abbeyjoyhealing and @bitter_truth_podcast on InstagramThank you to Curtis James of @muunjuun for the amazing intro and outro beats! Get full access to Abbey Joy Healing Newsletter at abbeyjoyhealing.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to the 8th episode of the bitter truth podcast!I was so happy to chat today about a topic that is incredibly near and dear to my heart: breast health and how you can tend to your breast space at home! This is a topic many of us were never taught about and is essential for our overall health. In this episode I share some of the basics of lymphatic self-massage, as well as food and herbs that can support your hormonal, liver, and lymphatic health. For more information about my business Abbey Joy Healing and to book a reproductive care session for breast health, you can visit my website www.abbeyjoyhealing.comBitter of the Day: Vitex/Chaste Tree* Helps to regulate hormones in our bodies* Can increase progesterone levels over time* Try taking for three months to regulate female reproductive hormones during reproductive yearsThe seven tissues in Ayurveda: Lymph, Blood, Muscle, Skin, Bones, Nerves, ReproductiveListen to the Podcast Episode with DeAnna BatdorffLiver support herbs: Dandelion, Burdock, Turmeric, Milk Thistle, Artichoke, Vitexdhyana Essentials Practitioner Referrals listMore about the Lymph:* Our body’s immune system* All of the lymph flows through the subclavian drain (underneath the collarbone) back to the heart* Almost half of our lymph nodes are in the gut (especially the small intestines)How to move the lymph:* Movement: Walking, dancing, laughter, breathing, jumping on a rebounder* Self Massage* Support liver detox: eat bitters every day (turmeric, dandelion greens, grapefruit* Neti Pot, Dry Brushing, Gua Sha* Poop 1-2x per day to detox: Flax, fiber, beans, magnesium glycinateHow to care for the breast/chest space:* Listen to the emotions that are connected to your breast/chest and heart space* Consider your relationship to nourishment* Feel your breast/chest every day* Get a gua sha for self massage* Castor oil on the breasts with a warm compress or hot water bottle - very anti-inflammatory and detoxifying* Add a few drops of Frankincense Essential oil to your massage oil of choice for breast cysts or inflammation* Decrease inflammatory foods: chocolate, nuts, red wine, gluten, processed sugar, alcohol, conventionally raised meats* Avoid antiperspirant deodorant* Spend time bra-less* Dental health is key! Floss, brush & care for your teeth! More info from Gaye Mason Walden of Holistic Breast HealthFoods for Breast Health:* Eat lots of fiber for hormone detox: cruciferous veggies* Essential Fatty Acids: Flax, Chia, Sardines, Mussels, Oysters* Seaweeds for Iodine* Sweet Potatoes for progesteroneFlow for self breast/chest massage:* Start beneath the clavicle and upper chest* Massage the armpits* Massage the outside of the breast* Make circular motions with your hands underneath the breast and up the sternum* Massage along the top of the breasts/chest* Work your hands closer to the center/the nipple* Take extra time underneath the breast if you have matted lymph due to wearing brasAs always, thank you to the amazing Curtis James of @muunjuun for making the very groovy, very fun intro and outro beats! Get full access to Abbey Joy Healing Newsletter at abbeyjoyhealing.substack.com/subscribe

Wow, what a juicy conversation with my dear friend Katie Ring! Katie in an Ayurvedic Chef, body worker, health counselor, and now provides post-partum meal support! It was such a treat to dive into how food and nourishment can connect us to our deepest pleasure, and thereby help us heal our bodies. I hope you enjoy this episode!Connect with KatieMeal Delivery, Ayurvedic Health Consults, Sensual Suppers, Post Partum Doula supporthttps://www.awakenwithkatie.com/https://www.instagram.com/katiering_/The elements of fall and how to support your body in these times:* We are at the crux between summer (hot/dry) and winter (wet/cold)* Need to balance the hot and cold, as well as wet and dry* Fall is dominated by the Vata dosha (Air and Ether) so we need more grounding and nourishing* Eat seasonally in the fall: squash, sweet potatoes, apples, pears, pomegranates, figs, feijoas (guava), prickly pear* Integrate brassicas for cleansing and detox properties (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussel sprouts)* Ayurveda meal balance: 60% building foods (grains, protein, healthy carbs, fats), 40% cleansing foods (brassicas, legumes)* Integrate healthy fats: tahini, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, almonds, cashews, bay nuts (add on to oatmeal, chia pudding, yogurt)* Incorporate seaweed in meals* Increase citrus for vitamin C and bitters - add citrus peels to your meals* Collect your veggie scraps to make a broth- add carrots, celery, onion, parsley, thyme, bay leaf, seaweed, coriander, apple cider vinegarYarrow (Achillea millefolium):* Energetics: warming, slightly drying* Drink ¼ C of chopped yarrow leaves/flower or dried yarrow stepped in hot water if you feel yourself getting sick- can add ginger and honey for taste* Yarrow provides digestive and immune supportFood as pleasure:* Practice sitting down to eat* Take time to eat breakfast* Eat with good company* Sit outside and listen to nature rather than your phone or TV* Practice eating in silence every so often* Try eating blindfolded with loved ones* Try eating with your hands* Make an ancestor plate to nourish the past and future generationsStay tuned for our perinatal offerings!* Ayurvedic Body Work* Post Partum doula care* Fertility consultations* Nourishment, Stress Reduction, SafetyThank you thank you to Curtis James of @muunjuun for the amazing intro and outro beats!! Get full access to Abbey Joy Healing Newsletter at abbeyjoyhealing.substack.com/subscribe

With the arrival of fall, we are called to take stock of our daily practices and assess what is really serving us. My teacher DeAnna Batdorff says “Fall is for Follow through”. This idea has really stuck with me: how do we create the life of our dreams by following through on our visions and setting ourselves up for success? In Ayurveda, there is a concept called “Dinacharya” which is essentially our daily routine. Building in daily practices of healthy food, herbal, and lifestyle choices is what adds up to greater health and capacity in the long run. In this episode, I share some of my favorite practices that help me stay sane and well amidst the challenges and joys life brings. Show notes from Dinacharya: Daily Practices for overall wellbeingWhere to contact me: [email protected]@abbeyjoyhealing and @bitter_truth_podcast on InstagramLocal Native-Led organizations in Sonoma County:Heron Shadow- The Cultural ConservancySegorea Te Land TrustThe Botanical BusToday’s Bitters: Better Bitters from Herb PharmDinacharya: Daily RoutineMy morning routine:* Take Basal Body Temperature for Menstrual Cycle Tracking: Listen to podcast ep with Caitlin McMurtry on Cycle Tracking* Get sunshine on the face for cortisol balance* Brush Teeth* Tongue Scrape* Neti Pot: approx 1 tsp of sea salt in body temp distilled water* Drink warm salty water: ¼ tsp- ½ tsp of Atlantic Gray Sea Salt or other gray sea salt in a glass of warm water for electrolyte balancing* Some type of movement! Yoga (I like Yoga with Adriene), gentle weight lifting workout (I like HASfit), or rebounding (tiny trampoline)* Eat a protein rich balanced breakfast- aim for 20-30 grams of protein along with complex carbs and healthy fats* Avoid looking at phone until brushing teethTips throughout the day:* Take herbal bitters (I like bitters in the form of tincture) 15 minutes before meals* Eat a healthy protein-rich lunch (sardines, ancestral blend ground beef)* Try drinking a splash of apple cider vinegar in water before meals for blood sugar regulation* Take small breaks throughout the day to move body (walk, shake)* Add herbal medicine to your daily life (herbal teas, herbal spice blends in meals)Nighttime tips:* Avoid looking at phone for the last hour of the day* Try sleeping with phone in another room or away from your bed* Dinner is the lightest meal of the day because digestive fire is the strongest mid-day and the weakest at night* Change lights around the house to warmer/lower lights* Abhyanga: Oil body with sesame or almond oil, wait a bit, and then shower without soap to rub the oils into the body* Shakti Mat* Castor Oil on breast/chest/liver/belly with warm water bottle before bed* Eye Mask to allow body to go into deep sleep* Mouth taping: 3M micropore tapeThank you to Curtis James of @muunjuun for the amazing intro and outro beats! Get full access to Abbey Joy Healing Newsletter at abbeyjoyhealing.substack.com/subscribe

I spent the last week staying at my dear friends Dewey & Matthew Raybon’s house in the Bywater of New Orleans, and had a blast connecting with them and the beautiful plants that surround and fill their home. The trip was a amazing reunion of the Integra Collective’s members: Bailey McNeill, Dewey Raybon & Cameron Conklin.Over the course of the week we nerded out on our favorite herbal medicines, the ways we navigate health challenges, and our favorite elixirs. We drank bitter concoctions daily with Dewey’s extensive medicine/bartending cabinet- swirling up mixes of sparkly water, vinegars, juices, and bitters to make delicious mocktails for the late-summer heat.Sadly, Cam had to leave before we recorded this episode, but Bailey, Dewey and I had a blast sharing our quick-and-dirty top recommendations for connecting to herbs and herbal community. Here are our notes from the show!Thank you to our teacher and retreat co-facilitator Kealy Rudersdorf of KIS BotanicalsTop tips for wellbeing from Bailey & Dewey:* Wear an eyemask to sleep for deep rest* Spend time outside: skin in the sun, feet on the earth* Eat enough! Be conscious around restrictive diets* Build a daily relationship with your favorite plant* Walks (combine with a weighted vest or ankle weights if you so choose!)* Incorporate herbal medicine into your daily meals! Make “sprinkles” of blends of herbs, nuts, seeds, and salts* Make infusions of herbs in oils and vinegars to add to your foods (try thyme in your olive oil)* Bioregionalism: Work with the plants outside your door* Finding community around herbalism to learn and grow togetherMore about us! The Integra Collective hosts immersive programs and events that connect people to their bodies, communities and the Earth in service of a more regenerative future. Over the last three years we’ve hosted three festivals and three retreats connecting people to local herbalism, music, art, and more! Stay tuned for our Earth Body Spirit Retreat in North Carolina Fall 2026 and other upcoming events in California. You can follow along @integracollective on Instagram. Get full access to Abbey Joy Healing Newsletter at abbeyjoyhealing.substack.com/subscribe

I truly could not be more grateful to have my teacher, DeAnna Batdorff on the podcast for this episode! DeAnna has been one of the most powerful influences on my life and helped me become the practitioner and person I am. She has an unabashed desire to dive into the depths of existence and talk about the things most people relegate to the shadows. In this episode we talked about DeAnna’s journey to becoming an Ayurvedic practitioner: from being a child who saw spirits, to supporting loved ones in the HIV/AIDS crisis in San Francisco, to living in an Ashram in India and to creating multiple centers for radical health in the North Bay. I have been so lucky to study with DeAnna for almost 4 years now and absolutely loved getting to hear some of my favorite stories of hers again (and lots of juicy new tidbits!). We even got into some spicy “Ask DeAnna Anything” questions towards the end that I’m sure will make you giggle as much as I did. Here are some of the fabulous resources we mentioned throughout the podcast: DeAnna’s Website: https://dhyanaessentials.com/dhyana Essentials Instagram: @dhyanaessentialsCommunity Clinics: https://dhyanaessentials.com/pages/community-clinics-1Abbey’s Community Clinic: https://www.abbeyjoyhealing.com/community-clinicsStacey Pfiefer’s practice: Sways on the WatertopFind a practitioner trained by DeAnna near youFree Ebooks on Lymph, Breath, and Hydration Get full access to Abbey Joy Healing Newsletter at abbeyjoyhealing.substack.com/subscribe

For this week’s episode I decided to go solo to share why I decided to start this podcast! In this ep, I share why bitters are so important and my journey to becoming an herbalist, Ayurvedic practitioner, and reproductive health specialist. So get yourself an herbal mocktail with bitters and enjoy the ride!Here are some links to the amazing places & practitioners I mentioned in the episode and plan to interview over the next few months: Dr. Nicole Fodel of Synergy Holistic Health in Charlotte, NCThe Eco Institute in Chapel Hill, NCThe Occidental Arts and Ecology Center in Occidental, CAKealy Rudersdorf of KIS Botanicals in Mastatal, Costa RicaDeAnna Batdorff of dhyana Essentials in Occidental, CA To learn more about me and my practice you can check out my website or follow along @abbeyjoyhealing on Instagram. Thank you to the FABULOUS Curtis James of @muunjuun for making my amazing intro and outro beats! Get full access to Abbey Joy Healing Newsletter at abbeyjoyhealing.substack.com/subscribe

It was such a joy to talk with Caitlin McMurtry about how to avoid and heal from burnout and support holistic hormone health. She is an incredible resource on all things Fertility Awareness Method, hormones, and general cyclical living. We got into the bitter truth about the challenges of living in the modern world, and how we can integrate practices to support our bodies through times of stress and uncertainty.Learn more about Caitlin McMurtry at https://www.cyclewiselove.com/ or @cycle.wise on Instagram* Caitlin’s “Learn to Chart” Book: https://www.cyclewiselove.com/fertilityawarenessbookMorning recs:* No screens for the first hour after waking up (and ideally the hour before going to bed)* Splash cool water on your face* Do the hard thing you don’t want to do first* Eat breakfast!* Try these Protein muffins with collagen powderDaily practices:* Throughout the day take breaks to do nothing to teach your body that it is safe* Put your feet on the Earth* Turn down the lights the hours before going to bedThank you thank you to the fabulous Curtis James of MuunJuun for creating the intro and outro music! Go check out his music! Get full access to Abbey Joy Healing Newsletter at abbeyjoyhealing.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to the first episode of the Bitter Truth Podcast - where we take herbal bitters and talk about the truth!It was such a delight to chat with Fiona McNichols of Embody Wisdom about Mugwort (Artemesia Vulgaris)- one of our all time favorite bitters! We went deep into the magic and medicinal properties of Mugwort including as a connection to the womb space, a tonic for clarifying your purpose, and a portal to the dream world. Mugwort is truly a plant that contains multitudes. I highly recommend growing mugwort at your home if you have space, or purchasing from a trusted seller like Mountain Rose Herbs. Please use caution when taking Mugwort internally and consult a trained herbalist. Mugwort should not be taken by those hoping to conceive or currently pregnant. You can find more about me, Abbey Cmiel, at @abbeyjoyhealing on Instagram and at www.abbeyjoyhealing.com And you can learn more about our superstar guest, Fiona McNichols, at Embody Wisdom Thank you SO much to Curtis James of MuunJuun for producing this episode and creating the super fun beats for The Bitter Truth pod. Please tell us how you like to connect to mugwort in the comments! Get full access to Abbey Joy Healing Newsletter at abbeyjoyhealing.substack.com/subscribe