Heron's Nest

IngredientsCodonopsis root, Pellitory-of-the-wall aerial parts, Astragalus root, Round-head lespedeza aerial parts in flower, Chinese rhubarb rhizome & root, Licorice root, Cinnamon bark, Stinging nettle seed Other ingredients: water, alcohol, vegetable glycerin, citric acid Typical Use PatternsMaintenance support: 1 to 2 mL, two times daily Moderate support: 2.5 mL, two to three time daily Advanced support: 5 mL, three times daily Dr. Yarnell’s Approach Dr. Yarnell employs a weight-adjusted framework using the advanced support dosing: Individuals over 150 pounds: 5 mL three times dailyIndividuals under 150 pounds: 2.5 mL three times daily This higher-support phase is typically maintained for 3 months. If overall kidney support appears adequate at that point, he commonly reduces to 2.5 mL two to three times daily for continued maintenance. Dr. Yarnell rarely uses a broad, multi-supplement approach. He generally relies on tinctures—including Two Treasures—to provide the primary supportive actions needed. Clinicians who take a more supplement-centric approach may find that moderate serving sizes are sufficient. Dr. Yarnell uses GFR and urine protein as markers of kidneys health.

Optimal dosing of herbal extracts is essential for achieving meaningful clinical outcomes. Most Heron Botanicals formulas are intentionally calibrated for safe and effective use at approximately one teaspoon, three times daily. Of course, patient needs vary. The most therapeutic results come from individualized dosing recommendations made by a trained practitioner—someone who can account for the patient’s constitution, the severity of the presentation, and the intended therapeutic goal. At Heron Botanicals, we believe that this partnership between practitioner expertise and high-quality extracts is what leads to reliable clinical outcomes. Typical Use PatternsAcute support: 2.5 ml to 5 ml, every 3 to 4 hours Maintenance support: 2 mL, two times daily Moderate support: 2.5 mL, two to three time daily Advanced support: 5 mL, three times daily Dr. Yarnell’s ApproachDr. Yarnell employs a weight-adjusted framework using the advanced support dosing: Individuals over 150 pounds: 5 mL three times dailyIndividuals under 150 pounds: 2.5 mL three times daily This higher-support phase is typically maintained for 3 months. If support appears adequate at that point, he commonly reduces to 2.5 mL two to three times daily for continued maintenance. Dr. Yarnell rarely uses a broad, multi-supplement approach. He generally relies on tinctures to provide the primary supportive actions needed. Clinicians who take a more supplement-centric approach may find that moderate serving sizes are sufficient. Dropper size: A squeeze of the dropper bulb is equivalent to .75 to 1 mL depending on the dropper. Most short droppers are .75 mL. Sleep Support FormulasSuggested Use: take 2.5–5 mL 15–60 minutes before bedtime If sleep has not initiated after about one hour of attempting to fall asleep, a repeat dose may be used as needed. BiPhasic FormulasFollicular: Take 2.5 ml to 5 ml (1/2 to 1 teaspoon) two to three times a day. Start after the end of menses and take until the start of ovulation (typically taken from day 6 through day 14 of cycle). Shake well before using. Luteal: Take 2.5 ml to 5 ml (1/2 to 1 teaspoon) two to three times a day. Start at ovulation through the end of menses (typically day 14 of cycle through day 5 of next cycle). Shake well before using. Formulas Often Used as Acute SupportClean Waters - Urinary tract support Cough & Clear - Respiratory support Calm Cough - Respiratory support Herbal Biotic - Immune support On the Hunt - Immune support Fresh Air — Sinus Support Herbal Biotic Kids - Immune support Pediatric DosingOur pediatric formulas are designed for safe use in children over 1 years of age. Use the following dosing for those formulas: 15-29 pounds - .25 ml to .5ml 30-59 pounds - .5ml to 1 ml 60-89 pounds - 1 ml to 2 ml 90-120 pound - 1.5 ml to 3 ml ExceptionCough & Clear (Hackin’ It) — 2.5 ml every three to four hours. If well tolerated, dose can increase to up to 5 ml every three to four hours. Bitters - 1 to 2 mL 15 minutes before each meal. Gut Motivator — 1 to 2 mL 15 minutes before each meal. Turska like Formulas — Take 15 ml two to three times a day or as recommended by a trained health care practitioner. Hammer head — Acute support: 2.5 ml to 5 ml once, repeat dose in 30 to 60 minutes if adequate support is not experience. Maintenance support: 2 mL, two times daily Moderate support: 2.5 mL, two to three time daily Advanced support: 5 mL, three times daily

by Eric Yarnell, ND, RH (AHG) One of the stars of naturopathic and herbal medicine died the morning of October 15, 2005. Dr. Silena Heron influenced a generation of herbalists and naturopathic physicians through her teaching, clinical work, medicine making, writing, and speaking. She practiced as an herbalist and then naturopathic physician for over 20 years and was the first chair of botanical medicine at Bastyr University and faculty member from 1985–1991.  Dr. Heron was born Nancy Feldman in 1947 in Queens, New York. Her father was an electrician, who helped build the World Trade Center. Instead of going to college, she attended nursing school. By age 19 she was a registered nurse working in intensive care and then psychiatric medicine in New York City. She attended the famous Woodstock rock concert in 1969 and later moved to Bolinas, CA in 1972, where she was known as Nancy Denmark. There she studied weaving and helped create a macramé playground in 1974. Tending the garden for the weaving collective, she eventually developed such an interested in and love for the plants that she incorporated them into her weaving practice by using and teaching natural dyes. She also taught health classes at the local adult education program. In 1975 she traveled to Central America to connect with native weavers and began studying herbal medicine. By 1976 she was back in West Marin County, CA, practicing as an herbalist and teaching classes on herbal medicine. She particularly favored giving herb walks so people could learn the local flora and use these plants as foods and medicines. She was part of California’s herbal renaissance, studying with the late herbalist William LeSassier among other notable herbal teachers. Through her many travels she was exposed to a wide range of herbs in numerous habitats and developed an encyclopedic knowledge of hundreds of herbal medicines. Dr. Heron became involved with the Native American Church, spending time with Soloho, a Hopi bone setter, and working with the late, great, medicine woman Keewaydinoquay Pakawakuk Peschel on the island off Traverse City, MI. She also lived in Norman, OK. Her experiences with Soloho resulted in her name change: Silena is a Hopi word related to flowers (she always contended it meant squash blossom, but I've never been able to confirm this). By the early 1980s, Soloho told Dr. Heron that she should use her gifts and bridge the worlds of traditional and scientific medicine, urging her to get further scientific training and to spread the knowledge of herbal medicine. She became a naturopathic physician, enrolling first at the Pacific College of Naturopathic Medicine, and, after this school closed in 1983, transferring to what is now Bastyr University.  Despite being a single mother starting in 1985 she not only commuted by ferry every day to school but also taught many of the botanical medicine classes, becoming the first chair of botanical medicine at Bastyr. She also started an herbal company called Botanical Pharmaceuticals, initially importing tinctures produced by the late Dutch-British herbal teacher Hein Zeylstra’s company Phyto Pharmaceuticals in the UK. Dr. Heron was instrumental in bringing Zeylstra to the U.S. to teach. Botanical Pharmaceuticals still exists today, renamed Heron Botanicals. Dr. Heron graduated from Bastyr in 1988 and by 1990 moved to Sedona, AZ. There she wrote and lectured extensively while maintaining a busy family practice. She was one of the few clinicians who actively combined botanical medicine and constitutional homeopathy, and wrote two articles about the rationale and her successful experiences doing so in the Journal of Naturopathic Medicine. She and I were co-recipients of the AANP/NF Formula's In-Office Research Award in 2000 for our practice-based study on the safety of bitters containing Artemisia absinthium (wormwood). In the late 1990s, Dr. Heron successfully championed the drive to start the Botanical Medicine Academy, recognized by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians as a specialty society in botanical medicine. The BMA worked for many years to develop continuing education and credentialing for experts in botanical medicine, a lengthy and difficult process. [Update 2020: sadly, the BMA ultimately shut down without attaining its goals.] In 2000, Dr. Heron was diagnosed with stage III ovarian cancer. Within a year she was too debilitated to keep practicing and she experienced financial difficulties. In 2001, the American Herbalists Guild established the Herbalist Health Trust, a fund to which tax-deductible contributions can specify recipients in need of medical care---people who may not be eligible for insurance reimbursement. Dr. Heron was the first recipient and was the motivating force behind the Trusts’ creation. After five years of various treatments, she ultimately succumbed to a recurrence of the cancer. Silena’s commitment to healing others was unequaled she was a friend of the truest kind . She was a strong woman, uncompromising, dogged and persistent.  My own love of herbs started when Silena led an herb walk at the University of Washington herb garden. She seemed to know everything about every herb, no matter how obscure. One of her last acts was to work on a book about formulating herbal medicines with me, which I intend to complete. Hopefully, it will serve as a small reminder of her wisdom about medicinal herbs. Dr. Heron is survived by her 19-year-old son Paige.  [Update in 2020: Paige is now married and has a child on the way.]  Thanks Noel Benson, Sherry Hirsch, Jim Kravets and the Point Reyes Light, Paul Bergman, and Roy Upton for providing some of the details in this tribute

Sustainability is defined both by what you do and by what you refrain from doing. Heron Botanicals is committed to both components of sustainability. Our product line-up is made up of exclusively sustainably sourced herbal medicine. We revisit our product lineup regularly to insure that each product's sourcing continues to meet our commitments to ecologic sustainability. Despite our strong commitment to preserving traditional herbal medicine, there is a growing list of traditionally used herbs that cannot be sustainably source. We are persistent in our search for sustainable ways to source these herbs, but despite many sources claiming to be sustainable, ethical sourcing an increasing concern. We refuse to stock endangered products, but actively seek out alternatives to ensure that your dispensary can remain effective despite. Here is a list of alternative to threatened herbs:  Threatened/endangered herb North American alternative(s) Aspidosperma quebracho (quebracho) Lobelia infalata (lobelia), Asclepias tuberosa (pleurisy root), Asclepias asperula (inmortal) Boswellia spp (frankincense) Populus spp (cottonwood) buds, Pinus spp (pine) resin, Picea spp (spruce) resin   Bursera microphylla (elephant tree) Populus spp (cottonwood) buds, Pinus spp (pine) resin, Picea spp (spruce) resin  Castela emoryi (crucifixion thorn) Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven) weed in N Amer, Quassia amarga (Surinam quassia) Chamaelirium luteum (false unicorn) Nuphar polysepalum (yellow pond lily) Commiphora mukul (guggul) Cinnamomum spp (cinnamon) Commiphora myrrha (myrrh) Populus spp (cottonwood) buds, Pinus spp (pine) resin, Picea spp (spruce) resin, Abies spp (fir) resin, Pseudotsuga mensiezii (Douglas fir) resin Cypripedium spp (lady's slipper) Pedicularis spp (lousewort) Dionaea muscipula (Venus flytrap) Artemisia absinthium (wormwood, for Crohn's disease), Annona muricata (soursop, for cancer), Echinacea spp Drosera rotundifolia (sundew) Populus spp (cottonwood) buds, Grindelia spp (gumweed) Frangula purshiana (cascara sagrada) Rheum palmatum (rhubarb) uncooked root, Cassia spp (senna) Gentiana lutea (yellow gentian) Arctium lappa (burdock), Artemisia spp (mugwort/wormwood) Guaiacum officinale (lignum vitae) Larrea tridentata (creosote bush) Harpagophytum procumbens (devil's claw) Salix spp (willow), Populus tremuloides (aspen) Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal) Berberis aquifolium (Oregon grape) + Rubus spp (blackberry) Lepidium meyenii (maca) Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) US cultivated Ligusticum porteri (oshá) Osmorhiza occidentalis (western sweet cicely), Lomatium dissectum (desert parsley), Ligusticum grayi (Gray's lovage) Panax ginseng (Asian ginseng) Oplopanax horridum (devil's club), Codonopsis pilosula (dang shen) US cultivated Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) Oplopanax horridum (devil's club), Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) wild simulated Picrasma excelsa (Jamacian quassia) Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven) weed in N Amer, Quassia amarga (Surinam quassia) Picrorhiza kurroa (kutki) Silybum marianum (milk thistle), Arctium lappa (burdock) Prunus africanum (pygeum) Serenoa repens (saw palmetto), Urtica dioica (stinging nettle) root Rauvolfia serpentina (Indian snakeroot) Rauvolfia serpentina (Indian snakeroot) cultivated, Rauvolfia vomitoria (poison devil's-pepper) Saussurea costus (Indian costus) Inula helenium (elecampane), Inula racemosa (puskaramula), Balsamorhiza deltoidea (deltoid balsamroot), Balsmorhiza sagittata (arrowleaf balsamroot) Tabebuia spp (pau d'arco) Thuja plicata (red cedar), Thuja occidentalis (arbor vitae) Trillium ovatum (eastern trillium) Alchemilla spp (lady's mantle), Trillium ovatum (western trillium) in moderation Ulmus rubra (slippery elm) Althaea officinalis (marshmallow), Zea mays (cornsilk), Elymus repens (couch grass) Uncaria tomentosa (cat's claw) Oplopanax horridum (devil's club), Chilopsis linearis (desert willow)   Additional herbs that we do not yet have alternative source for: Santalum alba (white sandal wood), Hoodia gordonii (hoodia)