The Reality of Herbal Therapy

From Mail Truck to Formulas: The Origins of Dr. James’ Herbal Formulas

In this episode of the Reality of Herbal Therapy with Jim Applegate, Jim traces the origin stories behind the clinic’s most trusted herbal formulas, centered on the life and work of his father-in-law, Dr. James.

Listeners will hear how an 18-year-old’s near-fatal ulcer and later debilitating allergies in Oregon led Dr. James to study at Dominion Herbal College under Ella Berznik, start making house calls from an old delivery truck, and develop patient-tested blends like Hay Asz (for upper respiratory/allergies) and Flem Up (a dramatic remedy for severe asthma and lodged lung toxins).

The episode covers: the hands-on process of evolving formulas through real patient use; why Dr. James chose capsules over teas or tinctures for portability and preserving plant integrity; the critical importance of herb quality and freshness; the herbalist’s system-based approach to healing (treating root systems such as kidneys, blood, or the respiratory tract rather than only symptoms); and touching anecdotes about specific formulas and the people behind them.

Expect practical examples, clear explanations of how herbal formulas are created and tested, and guidance on when and why to use specific blends. Jim also explains how to choose a formula, offers examples of how formulas addressed severe conditions, and invites listeners to contact the clinic with questions.

This episode is for anyone curious about traditional herbal practice, the stories behind trusted remedies, and how individualized, system-focused herbal therapy can restore quality of life.

Juniper Berries: Ancient Spice, Modern Remedy

In this episode we explore one of Dr. James’s 20 essential household herbs: the juniper berry. Lets walk listeners through the plant’s identity, history, traditional uses and practical ways to prepare and apply it at home. Expect a mix of historical context, herbal science and hands-on recipes you can try yourself.

Topics covered include juniper’s botanical background (a small evergreen that produces berry-like pine cones), its widespread use across the Mediterranean and Asia, and cultural lore — from Roman and Greek culinary uses to Viking purification rituals and even its place in plague-era herbal mixtures.

The episode details juniper’s primary medicinal actions and what it is commonly used for today: supporting digestion (appetite, gas and bloating), urinary and kidney health (mildly diuretic, bladder and prostate support), joint and muscle cleansing, antimicrobial properties, and help for lower-back pain and sciatica. The host also explains how juniper can help build tolerance to local pollens (the connection to hay fever) and why it appears in allergy formulas like Hay Asz.

Practical preparation tips are emphasized: use whole crushed berries for teas (avoid powders for tea), crush only the amount you’ll use to preserve volatile oils, and try combinations like juniper + parsley for flushing the bladder and kidneys or juniper + peppermint for digestion. The episode explains infused oils and essential oil use for topical massage on sore muscles, alcohol tinctures and more concentrated simmered decoctions (plus preservation options such as honey, vinegar or glycerin and refrigeration for shelf life).

The host describes formula uses — juniper appears in Bladney (for urinary and kidney cleansing) and in blends aimed at joint and rheumatic complaints (e.g., Arth Rite). You’ll hear how juniper helps clear uric-acid buildup that can crystallize in muscles and contribute to chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia.

Practical sourcing and safety notes include wildcrafting advice (avoid roads and polluted areas), storage recommendations (keep whole berries until ready to crush), and reminders about choosing the right preparation for your needs (tea, infusion, tincture, or topical oil).

Listeners are invited to check the show notes for a link to Dr. James’s 20-herb booklet for recipes and suggested uses, and to reach out with questions or requests for future herb spotlights.

Tag your herbs

Tagging herbs is one of the reasons we use formulas. In this episode we discuss what tagging is and how you can use it to your advantage.

I talked about Herbal MSM

The formulas that can be tagged are:

• Fection
• Throb Eaz
• Tissue Mend

The formulas that will take the tagged formula where you want it:

• Arth Rite
• Bladney
• Tonic F
• Hrt

There are several other formulas that will tag but these are the ones I talked about.

What is RBTI

In this episode we talk with Scott James from HELTH. One of Scott's preferred tests to use is the RBTI test. In this episode Scott talks about what the test is and how and why he uses it.

Parsley Tea

In this episode I discuss with you how to make parsley tea and why you would want to drink it.

 

Parsley Tea:

FRESH

1/4 Cup Fresh parsley leaf

1 Cup of Boiling Water

(Optional) Honey or Lemon to taste

DRIED

2 Tablespoons dried parsley leaf

1 Cup of Boiling Water

(Optional) Honey or Lemon

Method

Put parsley into a cup or (a tea strainer if you have one) pour boiling water over leaves and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain and sweeten if desired.

5 ways Parsley Tea is helpful to your body:

1. Kidney stones and Urinary Tract Infections (Supporting Formula Bladney)
2. 25% daily Vitamin C (Supporting Formula C Complex)
3. Menstruation (Supporting Formulas Tonic F, Her Mone)
4. Normalizes Blood Sugar (Supporting Formula Hy Sugar)
5. Breath (Supporting Formula Zime)

Sage and what it can do for you.

With cold and flu season going around I thought I would share with you a simple remedy for a sore throat. Sage Tea.

 

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To make sage tea:

1 Tablespoon sage leaf (dry or fresh is fine)

1 cup Boiling water

Honey and Lemon to taste

Put sage tea in cup add boiling water and let steep for 3-5 minutes.

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I also spoke about Fection, Hay Asz and Monia in the podcast.

 

The Benefits of Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)

In this episode we talk about 6 reasons you would want to add baking soda to your water.

Dr James suggested adding 1 teaspoon of baking soda to 1 gallon of water and to drink one quart of the mixture for every 40 pounds of body weight.

The benefits we talked about are:

1. Balances your body pH
2. Promotes health by killing mold, fungus, and yeast
3. Gets rid of uric acid in the kidneys and bladder to soothe a urinary tract infection
4. Helps with digestion to balance the stomach acid 
5. Helps remove acid in the muscles to prevent post-workout pain
6. Reduces inflammation in the joints 

Bladney and why use it.

Bladney is one of our most popular formulas. It is used to help nourish and heal the urinary system. In this episode we talk about why Bladney is effective and what it does for your body.

20 Years of Experience

Let me take you on a journey. My journey of how I got to where I am with Professional Herbal Instruction.

Healthy Kidneys after Childbirth

We were asked what to do for the need to urinate often following having children. Bladney is one of the first things we suggest. However there are several things you can do to strengthen and tone the kidneys and bladder.

In this episode we discuss:

• Bladney
• Tonic F
• Rebounding
• Urine pH