Here Comes the Sun
~ February 2026 Newsletter ~There's something refreshing yet restorative about February. For those of us in the northern climates, February is often our biggest snow month. Still very much cold and winter, as my aching
shoveling arms will attest. Yet February 2nd is also the midpoint between winter solstice and spring equinox, and many cultures in these latitudes celebrate this as a hint of spring, long before we called it "groundhog day." Have you noticed? The days are a tiny bit longer. When the sun shines down on you and the wind stills, it's so warm even if the air is quite
cold. Listen for the gurgle of life moving in the sap of the trees and deep under the frozen waterways. The conception of spring in the belly of the earth. The sun is returning. I always feel like the start of February has a brighter, more restorative, more creative vibe versus the "new year,
new you" of January 1. Hubbub has mellowed (a bit!) and with the wintery weather still present, a focus on restoration and rejuvenation feels easier to obtain. This month, give yourself permission to stop and appreciate the sun and nature around you. To rest. To make tea. To indulge in a good book, a creative
project, a nap, yoga, mediation, preorder seeds and seedlings and plan your garden, bask in the humid sun and verdancy a greenhouse/nursery, or spend quality time with loved ones. New &
Seasonal in This Email• A Breath of Fresh Air: Herbs for Lung Health • Aromatic Lung Tea • Plant Spotlight: Mullein • Upcoming Classes: Community & 2026 Series Quick Announcements - In celebration of my Herbal Gut Health book release last month, several free podcasts and videos have released with me discussing various aspects of gut health with my herbal colleagues. See my gut hub web page for links to the latest!
- On that note... did you buy my book? Consider writing a review via the big online booksellers! Reviews are super helpful in supporting authors, algorithms, and for prospective readers to get a vibe on books and if they're right for them.
- More Buyer Beware: Last
fall, a new report released finding 82% of the 2025 "herbal remedies" book releases on Amazon appeared to be AI/fake authors/copycat. (I know of two copycats of my own books as well as scam artists stealing my photos pretending to be me on Facebook - and I've been unsuccessful in getting Amazon and FB to shut them down.) My colleague, grad, herbalist, fellow author, and WB team member Liane Moccia, RH(AHG), was shocked to discover copycats of her newly released book with the same exact title. Her posts caught the attention of Boston25 reporter Kerry Kavanaugh, who interviewed us for a news segment that aired this past week. I've had terrible experiences with FOX-associated reporters in the past completely misrepresenting my words with editing and added commentary and using it for political fear-mongering, but Kerry did a
great job accurately reporting on the story and also putting pressure on Amazon. You can watch the news segment or read the transcript here. The FB scam artist is even using AI to video chat "as me" with people to try to convince them to
send them money for services they never receive, preying on folks dealing with serious health issues. Many others in our industry (Mark Hyman, Rosemary Gladstar...) have also been the victim of scam creating videos, fake social media profiles, etc to sell bogus products. With AI, it's getting easier for scam artists to dupe people - please, be careful!
- Shout Outs:
- My friend and colleague Camille Freeman's has launched year-long Supplement Deep Dive Series, a year-long continuing education program for herbalists and nutritionists (15 NPCE available). You can take the whole series or drop in for individual classes. This year's deep dive will cover commonly-used supplements, with an eye toward learning which ones are worth it and which
are marketing hype, best forms/dosages, safety and quality considerations, and more. I'll be teaching an autumn deep dive on bone support supplements for menopause, and other teachers and topics include supplements for SIBO, electrolytes and POTS, athletic performance, berberine, omega 3s, supplements for folks on GLP-1 meds like Ozempic, and more.
- Feb 11 Southwest School of Botanical Medicine fundraiser class on Deficiency and
Excess (energetics as taught by my teacher Michael Moore) taught by fellow SWSBM alum and fantastic herbalist Nicole Telkes. All proceeds from this class are 100% tax-deductible and directly support SWSBM’s nonprofit mission to preserve, steward, and share Michael Moore’s teachings and materials for future generations. Register here, payment link sent upon registration.
What's Happening at Wintergreen Botanicals January threw me a curveball
just as I was hitting send on my last email, crashing onto the couch. I got soooo sick with whatever that nasty flu/thing is going around. One of the weirdest, nastiest infections of my life. Certainly being already run down was not helpful, nor was non-negotiable tasks including a simultaneous book release. That being said, I did sleep and rest a lot and resumed my herbal allies once I could stomach them again. As of this week I'm finally feeling normal, reentering "the world" yet also
focused on TLC, restoration, and healthier boundaries with work/stress and life. I'm wrapping up a few loose ends then focusing almost 100% on book edits for book #5 for February. In honor of "the viral crud," - hope you and your family don't have it, but if you do... - Dayna and I have chosen to focus this newsletter on lung health and immune remedies to support acute phases and
overall restoration. Breath of Fresh Air: Herbs for Lung HealthThe ability to take a deep breath is something we generally take for granted. But when this most basic need becomes threatened by acute or chronic lung issues, we’re gripped with panic. How long will it last? What can you do to
break free and breathe freely again? When dealing with lung issues herbally, I like to double dip. Try a combination of remedies – tea and tincture, perhaps also a mushroom capsule or soup – that feature a variety of herbs customized to your needs. The ability of natural remedies to impact and improve lung health is nothing short of miraculous. Aromatic Lung Tea (& Steam)This tasty blend helps open the lungs and break up congestion. You can inhale it as a steam as it steeps, then drink it as a tea. It’s delicious with or without sweetener. I shift the ingredients based on what I’ve got on hand and am feeling like,
but the general theme is this something oregano/thyme-y, something fennel-y, something minty, something soothing (like marshmallow and/or plantain leaf) to balance it. Additional uses of this tea is to stimulate digestion and swish or gargle in the mouth or use topically as an antimicrobial. - 2 heaping teaspoons bee balm (Monarda fistulosa or similar) (or a mix of oregano and/or thyme)
- 1 heaping teaspoon peppermint
- 1 heaping teaspoon Korean licorice mint (or
fennel seeds, anise seeds, Anise hyssop, or perhaps 1 star anise pod)
- 1 heaping teaspoon marshmallow leaf (soothing, moistening, balancing; or use marshmallow root)
- 1 heaping teaspoon plantain leaf (soothing, moistening, balancing, antimicrobial)
Steep in 16 ounces of boiling water for about 10 minutes or as long as you like. Enjoy inhaling the steam as it steeps. |
Plant SpotlightOne of my favorite go-to herbs is mullein leaf (Verbascum thapsus), which can be taken as tea (strain hairy leaves well through teabag or coffee filter), tincture, or both for a variety of lung issues including asthma, bronchitis, impending respiratory infection, and lung
irritation. Mullein seems to relieve irritation in both infection and chronic cases, helping people take deeper breaths, and possibly also repairing lung tissue. 2026 Series Registration is OPENHerbal Gut Health Mini-Series
(Free with Herbal Gut Health Book Purchase)Wednesday Nights, 6-8 pm eastern & recorded This mini-class
highlights key points of gut health and the book and is free with book purchase. These two-hour classes include the opportunity for questions and interaction. • March 11: Intro to Digestion & Digestion-Enhancing Herbs • March 18: Gut Repair & Soothing, Healing Herbs • March 25: Microbiome & Dysbiosis Support including
Gas/Bloat and Antimicrobial Herbs How to Register: - If you purchase(d) the book through Maria, you're automatically registered. We'll email you updates and access as the classes approach.
- If you purchase(d) the book elsewhere, you need to register here and be sure to add the discount code at check out: See page 336 of the book (under Helpful Websites, Wintergreen Botanicals) for the promo discount code to get this mini-course for free. DO NOT FORGET TO ADD THE DISCOUNT CODE. We cannot process refunds after the fact.
We'll send emails out at least 24 hours before the first class with reminder, zoom link, and portal access. Home Herbalist SeriesSummer Wednesday Nights, 6-9 pm eastern & recorded Join me for my most popular foundational 9-class course. This year will have both in-person (limited!) and live
stream options, and everything is also recorded and available on-demand. The in-person option is already have full! Advanced Clinical & Assessment Skills Series Spring & Fall Wednesday Nights live streamed & recorded This series is for advanced students and practitioners to help bridge your skill sets
from herbal student to clinician or to refine your clinical skills. (Be sure to check out the pre-requisites before you register!) We have a fantastic lineup of class topics taught by Maria and guest teachers. (Drop in class registration for individual classes will open up later in 2026.) Topics include the art of intake, follow ups and case management, physical and and tongue assessment, functional bloodwork and genetic labs, red flags, trauma-informed care, inclusivity,
herbal practice business skills, time management and tools, pregnancy and lactation herbal support, EDS and hypermobility, assessment for the complicated case, and more. Guest teachers! Camille Freeman, Ember Peters, Mel Kasting, Keren Dolan, Larken Bunce, Lauren Eadline, Renée Camila, Vilde Chaya Fenster-Ehrlich, Andrew Appello, and Julie Beal - I'm also teaching 3 classes and all the bonus on-demand classes. (Longer descriptions and teacher bios for the individual classes
and drop in registration are available here (if needed, choose-your-own scholarship discount codes are listed at the bottom of each drop in class listing). But you get far more perks as a full series student. The bottom of the this page includes options for scholarship discounts and customized payment plans for series students.) Upcoming Community Classes & EventsBackyard Medicine & the Secret Lives of Garden HerbsAs part of the Rye Driftwood Garden Club meeting
In Person Tuesday, February 17, 2026 that runs 9:30-11:30 am IN PERSON at the Fellowship Hall, Rye Congregational Church
580 Washington Road, Rye, NH Learn about the medicinal benefits of a variety of common and lesser known herbs that can easily be grown in your own backyard. We will cover several of Maria’s favorite medicinal herbs and how to incorporate them into your diet and health routine including anti-stress and bedtime teas, brain boosters, and allies in
vital aging, digestive health, immune function, and nutrition. You’ll go home with a handout of recipes and quick remedy-making tips. Maria will sign and sell her books after the 1-1.5 hour talk. Non-members/public welcome to drop in with a $5 suggested donation. https://www.ryenhgardenclub.org/programs (If Rye School District
closes schools due to snow/ice, this talk will be cancelled.) NOFA-NH Winter ConferenceIn Person on Saturday, March 7 all day
Tt Colby-Sawyer College in New London, NH Herbal Gut Health Book ~ Available Now!
Natural Therapies to Promote Healthy Digestion, Boost Your Microbiome, and Support Gut RepairA 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! |
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