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On Resilience
~ September 2025 Newsletter ~

Has this past year seemed a little extra rough or just "extra/extra" (and not in a  great way)? 

Whether you're endured major disruptions like catastrophic floods/fires/storms, or serious health issues for yourself or loved ones, are stressed by politics and dire world news, or simply just feel like you're going going going... you're not alone.

Even though overall I know and am grateful that my life is very privileged, I sometimes feel like this, too. I do my best to walk my talk and take care of my health in the same ways I encourage others: aim for adequate sleep, eat vibrant healthy and regular meals, move regularly, spend time in nature, and prioritize personal down time as well as positive social connections. These are the things that make the biggest improvements in quality of life and many facets of health.*

But, it's not always easy, and I'm not always perfect. That's ok.

This is where resilience comes in. 

The ability to forgive the bumps and imperfections, pivot, recenter, and continue.

Giving yourself that moment to step back and say, "What am I reclaiming?" and give that to yourself. It can be big or small.

For me, that might be eating my breakfast on the deck in the sun amongst my planters soaking in the moment and being present instead of scrolling on my laptop preparing for the work day. Or allowing myself, on a miraculous free day that I have to myself, to nap and read a fun book in the hammock. Or say, yes, I deserve to take a unplugged vacation instead of working every week (and 7 days a week for a few months) all year.

I'm back from a lovely, full vacation that included nearly 100 miles of paddling in the beautiful Adirondacks (including several miles of portaging between waterways and around rapids, swimming, napping, and reading Legendborn cover to cover). The second half of our paddling adventure didn't go as planned, but we made the most of it and enjoyed local adventures and then a mini-vacation of quality time with my in-laws. I've captured the many good moments in my photos (a few here) and am going to focus on and be grateful for them.  

* I also  dig deep to understand the root cause of exhaustion, and support the nervous-adrenal system with  beloved herbs, as we'll  learn about in September's classes Fatigue Differentials with Thomas Easley and Trauma and PTSD Nervous System Support with Amy Branum. Yes please, holy basil-lemon balm tea.

In this newsletter, we've also included some favorite herbs and recipes for deep immune resilience.

New & Seasonal in This Email

• Advanced Health Concerns Series Resumes in September

• Building Resistance and Resilience

• Immune Tea Recipe

• Broth/Blog

• Herbal Fertility Handbook Book Release & Sleep Tea Recipe with Liane Moccia

• Fall Drop & Community Classes

• Preorder my Herbal Gut Health book 

Advanced Health Concerns Series
+ Drop In Classes!

Advanced Health Concerns classes will resume this September and so does your chance to drop in on guest teacher classes or Maria's classes. Register for individual classes below or use the button to register for the guest teacher drop in bundle. If you decide to register for the entire course after attending your drop in class, email us for a code to apply your individual class payment towards the full course. There is no deadline to watch or access course after purchase.  You can  still sign up for the whole Advanced Health Concerns series or the broader full  Advanced series, both of which include access to these upcoming live stream classes and a bunch of other classes already available on-demand.

Don't want to take the full series? You can sign up for the individual classes as a drop in student!

While these classes are geared towards intermediate/advanced herb students and clinical herbalists, they are also open to the public. You do not need to have taken Maria's prior programs to attend.

Choose-Your-Own Scholarship Discounts are available for each class (see the bottom of the registration pages).

Really Cool Classes Coming Up In September

• Sep 9: Fatigue Differentials with Thomas Easley – Register Here

So many things can cause fatigue. Thomas is going to teach us how to sleuth out and support many of the most common causes of fatigue. He'll teach you how to look at symptoms and labs and will include a fantastic flow cart. This fascinating class has been a game-changer for me in supporting my client's vibrant well-being as well as my own! 

• Sep 16: Nervous System, PTSD & Trauma Support for Herbalists with Amy Branum – Register Here

Amy is going to take a different approach in her class to teach us as herbal clinicians how to support and approach others who are experiencing trauma, PTSD and stress, how to know our limits yet still provide helpful connections and the healing herbs and concepts to consider. This class has also been instrumental in my own practice to better support my clients who have experienced trauma.

• Sep 30: Herb-Drug Interactions with me – Register Here

In this class we will cover common types of herb-drug interactions, specific examples, and strategies to think holistically, avoid problems, and provide helpful adjunctive care.

Additional Series Classes

• Oct 7: Thyroid with me – Register Here
• Oct 14: Lyme Disease & Coinfections with Debbie Mercier – Register Here
• Oct 21: Herbal Cancer Care with Ember Peters (5-8 pm EST) – Register Here
• Oct 28: Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) & Histamine  Intolerance Overview & Herbal Approaches with Mel Kasting – Register Here
• Nov 11: Death and Dying Workshop for Herbalists with Suchil Coffman-Guerra – Register Here
• Nov 18: COVID Considerations with me – Register Here

Building Resistance and Resilience

What IS resistance and resilience, anyway? How does it manifest in our health? A strong, resilient immune system means that you’re less apt to get sick when exposed to pathogens (others around you are sick) or are under extra challenges (air travel, a busy work week) and that if you do get sick, the symptoms are less severe and you get over it more quickly. A strong, resilient nervous-endocrine system means that when stress pops up (because, no matter what, it still will) that you will are better able to rise to the challenge and resolve the stressor without flying off the handle emotionally, feeling as fatigued, or having disrupted sleep. A strong, resilient digestive system thrives on a healthy diet but can handle a wide range of foods and will not be thrown out of whack when you eat something different. The immune system, nervous-endocrine system (in particular your stress response), and your digestive system are perhaps the three most important areas of the body to focus on to build resistance and resilience, having a positive impact on your entire being. 

Mushroom Season!

As the heat of summer begins to break and transition into early autumn, mushroom foragers go giddy, gathering their harvesting baskets and knives, heading out in search of delicious edibles and powerful medicine. We herbalists lovingly welcome our fungal friends in as honorary “herbs” but they’re closer animals than plants, genetically speaking. Mushrooms make vitamin D in their skin like we do when exposed to the sun. They contain the same chitin fiber in their fruiting bodies as shellfish. And while we can make many of our favorite herbal remedies with fungi, we should keep a few key differences in mind to get the most out of the harvest. 

Learn more about making mushroom medicine HERE

This autumn, I encourage you to break out of your plant-loving shell and venture into this amazing kingdom of healing creatures that are particularly useful for our deep immune systems. I consider medicinal mushrooms part of “herbal medicine” even though, genetically, they have more in common with humans than plants. The unique nature of mushrooms is part of the reason why they offer so many healing properties that other remedies and foods do not. 

Explore benefits of different mushrooms in my Fungi with Benefits blog HERE.

Maria's Favorite Immune Tea Recipe

Ginger Thermos Tea

One of my main go-tos when I start to feel sick and have a sore throat. Spicy ginger and honey soothe sore throats and coughs, warm the body, break fevers, quell nausea, and boost digestion and fight stomach bugs. Add thyme for lung issues like chest congestion and mucus.

• 1-inch chunk fresh ginger, thinly sliced or grated* (no need to peel)
• 2 lemon wedges
• Optional – 2 sprigs fresh (or 1 teaspoon) dry thyme
• 1 tablespoon honey to taste (optional)
• 16 ounces boiling water

Place herbs and honey in a 16-ounce thermos, pour boiling water to top, cover, and let steep for one hour. (*Grated ginger is ready in 15 minutes without insulation, but it will need to be strained. Sliced ginger is best for a thermos so the water stays hot enough to extract it.) If you avoid honey or sweetener, then you may prefer a little less ginger so it isn’t overpowering.

Broth Season is Coming!

During the upcoming cold months, consider swapping out your mug of tea periodically to sip on broth instead. Sure, tea offers a wealth of health benefits (and by all means, go ahead and enjoy it as you like!), but broth crosses the food-medicine divide and offers moisturizing properties that soothe dry mucous membranes and nourish the body. Learn how easy it is to make broth and how to up your broth game with herbs and mushrooms! 

New Release & Guest Blog! 
The Herbal Fertility Handbook by Liane Moccia

Liane is one of my grads (and a graduate of other programs, mentors, and teachers) and an education advisor here at Wintergreen Botanicals - I am so excited by this fantastic, helpful, approachable book she has written on a popular yet poorly covered topic.

The Herbal Fertility Handbook by Liane Moccia, RH(AHG), provides clear, evidence-based strategies to support egg quality, sperm quality, and overall fertility, to help you improve your chances of getting pregnant.

Writing in a gender-inclusive style and informed by her years of experience helping couples conceive, clinical herbalist Liane Moccia offers strategies based on proper nutrition, fertility-boosting herbs and supplements, minimizing environmental toxins, and improving lifestyle factors such as sleep, stress, and movement.

Whether someone is in the planning stage or has been trying for a few months or for several years, this book presents a clear roadmap, guiding you to take an active role in optimizing your fertility.

Get a sneak peak excerpt on my blog and learn how sleep can affect fertility in Liane's guest blog post on sleep support and a pregnancy-tea (that almost anyone could enjoy)! I've also included links at the bottom of the blog to guest podcasts.

On a related topic (not connected with me nor my school but they are colleagues I admire) September 17 Herbal Fundamentals of Fertility Support class with Camille Freeman hosted by Sovereignty Herbs - register and details here

(Camille is one of Liane's mentors!) PS I have no financial affiliation to this class.

Autumn Community Events

RELEASES MID JANUARY 2026

Preorder! Maria's Herbal Gut Health Book
Natural Therapies to Promote Healthy Digestion, Boost Your Microbiome, and Support Gut Repair

A healthy gut is the key to good overall health—both physical and mental—and researchers are beginning to uncover the links between an unbalanced gut microbiome and chronic conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and cancer. As a clinical herbalist with decades of experience, Maria Noël Groves has helped patients of all ages resolve their digestive complaints and related health issues by teaching them how to adopt healthier dietary habits, employ herbs to alleviate digestive issues and improve digestion, and incorporate balanced lifestyle practices—resolving their diseases and dramatically improving their quality of life. Gorgeous full-color illustrated book, 300+ pages, including anatomy and physiology, herbal actions, detailed plant profiles, protocol points for key concerns, herbal energetics, recipes, charts, and more! 

The book will ship mid-January when it releases!

Includes Special Bonuses!

Free Access to Maria’s Mini Gut Health Online Course On-Demand course, releasing in 2026

Special one-time discount for 10% off 

Maria’s online live streamed and on-demand classes and series when you buy the book direct from her here.

And of course, your book will be signed by Maria!

(Local folks - at this time I don't have a free pick up option because my  home is not safe nor easy to swing by in winter. Stay tuned,  hopefully I'll be able to do a few free community classes in the area during January with pick up options there.)

Wintergreen Botanicals

Maria Noel Groves, RH (AHG)

www.WintergreenBotanicals.com

603-340-5161

wintergreenbotanicals.office@gmail.com