Masking Herbal Tastes
The Plant Path: Herbalism, Medical Astrology & Spagyric Alchemy
Sajah Popham
4.8 • 570 Ratings
🗓️ 2 December 2020
⏱️ 8 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this podcast, I want to share a little bit about some of the dynamics around the taste of herbs. In traditional systems of medicine, the way an herb tastes, whether it's bitter or pungent or astringent or sour or sweet, is a really strong indication of the medicinal properties of a plant. If we add a whole bunch of things to an herbal formula that changes its taste, is that going to change the medicinal impact of that formula?
————————————
CONNECT WITH SAJAH AND WHITNEY
————————————
To get free in depth mini-courses and videos, visit our blog at:
http://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com
Get daily inspiration and plant wisdom on our Facebook and Instagram channels:
http://www.facebook.com/EvolutionaryHerbalism
https://www.instagram.com/evolutionary_herbalism/
Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyP63opAmcpIAQg1M9ShNSQ
————————————
ABOUT SAJAH
————————————
Sajah Popham is the author of Evolutionary Herbalism and the founder of the School of Evolutionary Herbalism, where he trains herbalists in a holistic system of plant medicine that encompasses clinical western herbalism, medical astrology, Ayurveda, and spagyric alchemy. His mission is to develop a comprehensive approach that balances the science and spirituality of plant medicine, focusing on using plants to heal and rejuvenate the body, clarify the mind, open the heart, and support the development of the soul. Sajah's approach honors and acknowledges the chemical, energetic, and spiritual properties of plants for a holistic model that uses the whole herb to heal the whole person. He lives on a homestead in the foothills of Mt. Baker Washington with his wife Whitney where he teaches, consults clients, and prepares spagyric herbal medicines.
————————————
ABOUT THE PLANT PATH
————————————
The Plant Path provides unique perspectives for the modern practitioner of herbalism that doesn't just want to "fix what's broken" in the body, but seeks to serve others with deeper levels of healing and transformation with herbal medicines.
A unique synergy of clinical herbalism, alchemy, medical astrology, and herbal traditions from around the world, The Plant Path focuses on giving you a truly "wholistic" perspective on herbal medicine so you never fall into the trap of allopathic herbalism.
————————————
WANT TO FEATURE US ON YOUR PODCAST?
————————————
If you'd like to interview Sajah or Whitney to be on your podcast, click here to fill out an interview request form.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Plant Path, your window into the world of herbal medicine, with Saja and Whitney Popham, founders of the School of Evolutionary Herbalism. |
| 0:23.6 | Hey there everybody, Sagea Popham here, founder of the School of Evolutionary Herbalism. |
| 0:29.6 | And in this post, I want to share a little bit about some dynamics around the taste of herbs. You know, in traditional systems of medicine, |
| 0:41.6 | the way an herb tastes, whether it's bitter or pungent or really astringent or sour or sweet, |
| 0:49.6 | is a really strong indication of the medicinal properties of a plant. But as we know from a |
| 0:58.5 | physiological perspective, certain tastes of herbs, especially bitters, actually tasting that |
| 1:06.2 | flavor on your tongue is a really important attribute for actually the medicinal virtues being |
| 1:14.2 | conveyed to the body. |
| 1:16.1 | And so a question came up recently in regards to, you know, someone maybe sweetening up an |
| 1:23.2 | herb tea with some stevia or some honey. |
| 1:26.1 | And if we add a whole bunch of things to an herbal |
| 1:30.9 | formula that changes its taste is that going to change the medicinal impact of that formula? |
| 1:38.4 | So that is the topic of discussion for this week's post and hopefully you learn something good from it. |
| 1:45.0 | All right, question number three is coming from Laura. |
| 1:50.0 | And Laura is asking, if a patient takes a bitter or pungent herbal tea or concoction for a digestive condition, |
| 2:00.0 | but then adds a bunch of stevia to mask that strong bitter or pungent herbal tea or concoction for a digestive condition, but then adds a bunch of stevia |
| 2:02.4 | to mask that strong, bitter, or pungent taste. |
| 2:05.4 | Ending up with a tea that tastes sweet and not bitter or pungent, will that somehow dilute |
| 2:10.3 | the intended effect or send the wrong signal to the brain and organs? |
| 2:15.4 | Will the tongue and digestive tract receptors register it as sweet |
| 2:18.2 | and thereby weaken the resulting action intended |
| 2:21.1 | with the originally prescribed herb? |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Sajah Popham, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Sajah Popham and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.