Mary Colvin: Apothecary Herbalism

Mary Colvin: Apothecary Herbalism

From Herb Mentor Radio by LearningHerbs.com

May 28, 2026 · 1h 0m

About this episode

Mary Colvin discusses the personal and practical aspects of apothecary herbalism.

In this episode of HerbMentor Radio, we continue our journey through National Geographic Herbal with Chapter Three: Apothecary Herbalism. To guide us into this hands-on and deeply personal aspect of herbal practice, we are joined by clinical herbalist and educator Mary Colvin, founder of Ancestral Herbology and author of The Herbalist’s Guide: How to Build and Use Your Own Apothecary . Mary Colvin is a Registered Herbalist, Mentor, Formulator, and herbal educator with over 17 years of experience in the herbal community. Mary invites us into her apothecary, a space that feels alive with the scent of lavender and fresh flowers. Throughout the conversation, we explore the process of building an apothecary in a way that feels grounded and personal rather than overwhelming. Mary gently shifts our perspective. Rather than using herbs, Mary speaks of working alongside them. It is not about how many herbs we collect, but how deeply we know them. She shares how journaling, observation, and working with plants across their many forms help build true relationship. And she brings us to violet, a plant of remarkable versatility and quiet beauty. Violet offers a wide range of preparations…

People in this episode

Host: LearningHerbs.com

Guest: Mary Colvin

Topics covered

  • apothecary herbalism
  • herbal practice
  • building an apothecary
  • relationship with herbs
  • violet preparations

Keywords

  • herbalism
  • apothecary
  • Mary Colvin
  • violet
  • herbal education
  • herb relationships
  • herbal preparations

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Ancestral Herbology

Books & works: The Herbalist’s Guide: How to Build and Use Your Own Apothecary

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