In this episode I share a practical, down-to-earth look at muscle cramps and how mineral balance can prevent and relieve them. Drawing on years of clinical use and collaboration with Dr. James on the PM Minerals formula, the episode explains why cramps commonly appear during seasonal change, illness, dehydration, or long periods of static posture. Listeners will hear about the most affected muscles (calves, hamstrings, back and long muscle groups), and common triggers such as poor hydration, certain foods (including sodas and high red-meat diets), and stress.

Key topics include the three essential minerals for muscle health—calcium, potassium and magnesium—their roles (calcium for contraction/relaxation, potassium for fluid balance and nerve signaling, magnesium for muscle relaxation and calming nerve impulses), and the specific 3:1:2 ratio used in PM Minerals. The episode also covers the benefits of colloidal, plant-derived minerals (fossilized plant beds) for bioavailability and why dark leafy greens are a great dietary source.

Practical guidance is provided: typical dosing recommendations (one to two PM Minerals capsules at night; three to four for acute severe cramps), the importance of staying hydrated so minerals can circulate, and how consistent use can rapidly ease conditions like growing pains and restless leg syndrome—often within hours to a couple of nights depending on severity. The host shares personal anecdotes and client stories illustrating fast symptom relief and long-term prevention.

The episode also touches on other cramp types (including menstrual cramps) and notes that while minerals are highly effective for many muscle-related issues, different problems may need additional approaches discussed in future episodes. Overall, listeners can expect a clear, actionable primer on recognizing mineral-related cramps and simple strategies—dietary and supplemental—to prevent and treat them.

Join host Jim Appelbaum on this episode of Reality of Herbal Therapy as he explores the integumentary system—our skin, hair, nails and associated glands—and explains how this fastest‑renewing organ protects, senses, thermoregulates and even produces vitamin D. Jim walks listeners through the three skin layers (epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue) and highlights common skin clues to internal health like liver spots, jaundice, dehydration (the skin “pinch” test) and nail changes.

Topics covered include: the skin’s key roles (protection, sensation, temperature and fluid regulation), why good fats and hydration matter, and how sleep supports skin repair. Jim reviews important nutrients—silica for elasticity, zinc and vitamin C for tissue repair, and vitamin D from sunlight—and practical everyday tips such as choosing natural soaps and avoiding harsh fragrances and processed oils.

The episode also presents herbal and topical protocols for common skin issues. Core internal formulas discussed are Blood Wash (general skin detox and gland support), Liv Clean (to support liver‑related discoloration), Tissue Mend (for slow‑healing wounds), and mineral support including Silica DE. Hormone‑related acne recommendations include adding Tonic F for women and Happy O for men alongside Blood Wash. Topical options and wound care covered include Eraser Oil for hard or crusty scars, Comfrey Gold Salve for knitting and infection control, and practical application tips (e.g., applying salves under a bandage).

Jim also suggests simple kitchen and kit remedies: chamomile and lavender compresses for irritated rashes, red raspberry leaf spray for fungal or toxic rashes, and tea‑honey for quick rehydration. Listeners will come away with a balanced approach combining hydration, nourishing fats, sleep, nutrient support and targeted herbal formulas and salves to support healthier, more resilient skin.

Join host Jim Applegate on the Reality of Herbal Therapy podcast as he explores how gratitude — especially with Thanksgiving on the horizon — is more than an emotion: it’s a practice that affects your physical health as well as your mental well-being. In this episode Jim explains what gratitude really is, why it’s a skill to build, and how it interacts with healing traditions and herbal medicine (including insights from Dr. James and personal stories from Jim and his wife, Lynn).

Jim breaks down the science and mechanisms behind gratitude: how it activates the parasympathetic “rest-and-digest” nervous system, sparks feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, improves sleep quality, supports digestion, lowers blood pressure for a healthier heart, and even boosts immune function by counteracting the harmful effects of anger and chronic stress.

The episode includes practical, easy-to-adopt techniques to strengthen your gratitude muscle: nightly gratitude journaling with specific details, short gratitude pauses during the day, gratitude walks (counting 10–15 things you appreciate), writing gratitude letters or texts to others, and pairing gratitude with existing routines like mealtime prayer. Jim shares a touching anecdote about a simple compliment changing someone’s day and Lynn’s experience using gratitude journaling through cloudy months in Oregon.

Listeners will learn how gratitude complements herbal and lifestyle approaches — often improving how remedies work — and how cultivating gratitude can increase emotional resilience during long-term illness or life setbacks. Jim encourages trying one gratitude practice for a week and paying attention to changes in sleep, digestion, mood, and overall vitality.

This episode is a gentle, practical guide to bringing ancient wisdom into modern life: small daily habits that lift your outlook, deepen relationships, and support your body’s natural healing. Happy Thanksgiving to listeners in the U.S., and a warm invitation to anyone anywhere to experiment with gratitude and notice the difference it makes.

Join host Jim Applegate on Reality of Herbal Therapy as he dedicates this episode to the heart — the body’s nonstop electric pump. Jim explains heart anatomy and function (cardiac muscle, chambers, arteries, veins, capillaries), how the heart’s electrical rhythm works, and why good circulation matters for energy, clear thinking, and warm extremities.

This episode covers common stresses that strain the heart — physical inactivity, excess weight, emotional stress, processed foods, caffeine, smoking, and late-night eating — and highlights the importance of minerals (especially potassium), hydration, rest, and daily movement like walking or using a rebounder.

Jim introduces key herbal supports developed and recommended by Dr. James: the Hrt formula for rhythm and muscle support; Blood Wash to improve circulation and reduce vascular “gunk”; Nemia to normalize blood consistency (often used with Hrt when thyroid or blood health is involved); and Tissue Mend for rebuilding and recovery. He describes when to use each formula, how some can be combined, and real-life examples of fast relief from irregular heart sensations.

The episode closes with practical, actionable tips: establish simple AM/PM routines (prayer, meditation, gratitude, time with a core book), prioritize movement, hydration, and sleep, and avoid high-stress environments, excess caffeine, and smoking. Jim also reviews warning signs that require immediate medical attention — severe chest pressure, sudden shortness of breath, fainting, numbness or weakness in extremities — and reminds listeners how small daily changes can significantly reduce heart stress.

Find the herbal formulas and the Healer in Every Home guidebook at drugfreehelpstore.com. Expect an informative, practical hour that blends herbal remedies, physiology, and lifestyle guidance to help listeners support and protect their heart health naturally.

Join host Jim Applegate on the Reality of Herbal Therapy podcast as he dives into the muscular system — what muscles do, the three basic types (skeletal, smooth and cardiac), and why muscle health is essential for posture, mobility, metabolism and overall wellbeing. Jim explains how muscles work together with tendons, ligaments and the circulatory system (including the so-called “second heart” in the legs) and why poor posture, dehydration and mineral deficiencies can lead to fatigue, cramps, stiffness and chronic pain.

This episode covers practical lifestyle steps—hydration, adequate protein and sleep, movement (including the benefits of the rebounder), and targeted self-care like Epsom salt baths and PM minerals for growing pains and nighttime cramps. Jim also details key herbal and nutritional formulas used to support the muscular system: Tissue Mend for fiber repair and elasticity; Throb Eaz for pain relief and muscle relaxation; Vari Cose to support circulation and vein health; Arth Rite for joint and ligament nourishment; Bladney for breaking down uric acid crystals (helpful in fibromyalgia-type pain); Silica/diatomaceous earth for elasticity and connective tissue support; Herbal MSM for sulfur and nutrient permeability; and Infection for inflammation control.

Listeners will learn how minerals (potassium, magnesium, calcium), silica and sulfur support contraction, relaxation and elasticity, why restful sleep is when muscles rebuild, and simple routines to protect and restore muscular health. Jim shares personal stories—like resolving growing pains with PM minerals—and practical dos-and-don’ts listeners can apply immediately.

Find the herbal formulas mentioned and further resources at drugfreehelpstore.com, and pick up a copy of The Healer in Every Home for more guidance on herbal support at home. Tune in for an approachable, actionable episode that blends anatomy, natural remedies and everyday habits to keep you moving pain-free.

Join Jim Applegate on the Reality of Herbal Therapy as he walks listeners through preparing the body for the seasonal shift from summer to winter. Using local color — from Albuquerque’s Balloon Fiesta to the end of green chili season — Jim explains how shorter days and colder temperatures invite rest, rejuvenation, and a shift in how we care for our bodies.

This episode covers the physiological changes of autumn and winter: why we need more sleep, how indoor heating and cold weather dry the body, and why hydration and gentle movement are essential. Jim highlights the rebounder as a simple, low-impact way to keep lymphatics and muscles moving through darker months.

Learn how seasonal foods support your body’s needs — strawberries thin the blood for spring/summer, apples thicken blood for fall/winter, and citrus supplies vitamin C when it’s most useful. Jim emphasizes eating with the season as a way to align nutrition with physiology.

Jim reviews key herbal formulas to have on hand for winter: Fection as a go-to immune support for enclosed-air seasons; Hay Asz for upper respiratory support; Monia and Flem Up for lung and lower-respiratory drainage; Blood Wash to move lymph and optimize blood flow; Tissue Mend and Minerals for rebuild and rejuvenation; and Travl (aka Oh cramp) to boost metabolism and help the body adapt to rapid temperature changes.

From the 20-herb kit, Jim recommends single herbs for immediate, soothing relief: ginger (digestive and warming; great in lemon-ginger tea), elderberry/rose hips (vitamin C), peppermint and chamomile (calming teas), sage (emergency sore-throat support that opens and soothes the throat), and slippery elm (coats and soothes throat and stomach; Jim mentions a comforting slippery elm drink found here).

Practical daily tips include a warm lemon-ginger tea in the morning to stimulate digestion and liver/gallbladder flow, taking Tissue Mend and Minerals at night to support repair during sleep, staying well-hydrated, keeping movement in your routine, and listening to your body’s cravings as signals of possible nutrient needs (for example, chocolate cravings often point to mineral deficits like magnesium). Jim also explains how targeted herbs can reduce sugar cravings and support allergy and respiratory patterns.

Expect actionable advice on preventing winter stagnation, reducing the impact of colds and respiratory issues, and enjoying the season by supporting natural cycles of rest and repair. For more information and resources mentioned in the episode, Jim points listeners to drugfreehelpstore.com and the Healer in Every Home guidebook.

Join host Jim Applegate on the Reality of Herbal Therapy podcast as he explores the endocrine system — the body’s hormonal communication network — and how herbal traditions can restore balance. Drawing on teachings from Dr. James, Jim explains the major glands (pituitary, pineal, thyroid, adrenals, pancreas, ovaries and testes), what each gland does, and why a single gland out of balance can throw the whole body off like an untuned instrument in an orchestra.

Topics covered include common signs of endocrine imbalance (fatigue, weight changes, mood swings, sleep disturbances and poor stress tolerance), practical self-checks (sit-to-stand blood pressure testing and the BMR calculation), and lifestyle foundations that support hormones — consistent sleep, movement, and avoiding white sugar and processed flour.

Jim reviews specific herbal formulas and single herbs used in practice: Bladney and Low Sugar for adrenal and pancreatic support; Nemia and iodine for thyroid health; Dong Quai, Tonic F and Her Mone for female reproductive balance; Happy O, Bladney and Man Up for male hormone support; and Liv Clean for liver support in hormone processing. He emphasizes an herbal approach that supplies building blocks so the body can rebalance itself rather than forcing hormones one way or another.

Listeners will learn how herbs are used to nourish systems (not mask symptoms), when particular formulas are typically recommended, and how simple home tests and lifestyle changes can point to which glands need attention. For more information and resources mentioned in the episode, Jim points listeners to drugfreehelpstore.com and professionalherbalinstruction.com, where you can also find the free guide “The Healer in Every Home.”

Episode 107 of the Reality of Herbal Therapy podcast with host Jim Applegate dives into the lymphatic system — the body’s drainage and defense network. Jim explains what lymph is, why the lymphatic system matters for detoxification and immunity, and how it acts like a river that must keep flowing to maintain health.

The episode covers how lymph moves (it has no pump), common signs of lymphatic stagnation such as swelling/edema, puffy glands, chronic fatigue, brain fog, skin breakouts, frequent colds and slow healing, and why hydration and movement are essential to keep lymph fluid thin and mobile.

Jim shares practical strategies listeners can use every day: short walks or desk “five-minute” walks, gentle exercise and rebounding, deep breathing, lymphatic massage (using gland oil blended with a carrier oil), hot/cold contrast (sauna or warm-to-cold showers), and a daily routine of water and movement. He also mentions a dedicated lymphatic cleanse episode with guest Jessica for listeners who want a guided protocol.

The podcast highlights specific herbal formulas and topical supports discussed in this episode — Fection (a cleansing lymphatic formula), Blood Wash (promotes drainage and purification), Bladney (supports lymph flow and elimination), and gland oil for targeted massage. Jim explains how these remedies can help clear lymphatic “gunk,” support immune function, improve skin clarity, reduce swelling and restore energy.

Key takeaways: treat your lymph like a river — keep it well-hydrated and moving, use movement and simple therapies to stimulate flow, and consider targeted herbal supports when needed. Expect clearer skin, improved energy, fewer infections, less stiffness and faster healing when your lymphatic system is well cared for. For more resources, subscribe to the podcast and visit DrugFreeHelpStore.com to download the free "Healer in Every Home guidebook" and explore the formulas mentioned.