Erin Vanhee, LMT, Herbalist

11/13/2025

Looking to gain some hands on skills in practical herbalism? Here ya go!

www.erinvanhee.com

11/05/2025

I remember the first time I placed a steamed onion poultice on my daughters ear during a rough winter of multiple ear infections following a common cold. I wasn't really sure (yet) if I knew what I was doing. But she was miserable. I was miserable. Nothing was working. And honestly- I was scared.
I had no health insurance, the hospital was almost an hour away and there seemed to be no relief in sight. I remembered a class I had taken a few years before and how the herbalist had spoken of the onion remedy. "What do I have to lose?" I thought.

I gathered what I had in the kitchen, prepared the poultice and wrapped it in a towel. Then I gathered up the unhappy child, laid her against my shoulder and placed the onion on her ear. I still remember in my bones the relief I felt as her body relaxed and the pain resided.

I still had a few more days of a sick child but you all know how it is when you get even a few minutes of relief? That was all it took for me to be hooked in learning more about how herbal remedies can support me, my family and my community.

Join us for this afternoon class full of practical ways of supporting yourself during the cold and flu season. You'll sample tea, make a vapour balm to take home, learn how to recognise wet vs dry coughs, how to move an unproductive cough
and what's the truth about fevers.

Here's a link for more details and to register
https://erinvanhee.com/in-person-classes/herbal-first-aid-for-colds-flu

11/04/2025

Day Classes for the herbalist and wannabe herbalists alike. You gotta start somewhere, right?
In person at the Apothecary Wellness Center in Burlington. Join us.
https://erinvanhee.com/short-classes

11/03/2025

Integrated Plant Medicine Immersion 2026 is now open for registration. This is one of the longest running Plant Medicine training programs in the PNW. 2026 will fill so if you are called to do a long program in herbs and plant medicine- Here's some details with a link to get your deposit in to hold your space.

Begins February 28/March 1, 2026, meeting in person one full weekend per month through September 2026, Saturday 10:00-5:00, Sundays 10:00-3:00. 8 month training program with 100 hours in person hands on, practical training, home study projects and some online material to maintain growth in between classes.

AREAS OF FOCUS

The course of study is divided into three key areas: field study, medicine making skills, and herbalist training.

Field Study:

Plant identification in their native habitat, learning how to use observation, habitat awareness, and plant taxonomy as tools.

Wild-crafting and sustainable harvest techniques of root, bark, leaf, and seed

Materia Medica (the who, what, when, where and how) of wild and cultivated plants

Harvest protocols, cultural practice

Herbal Medicine Making Skills:

Deep nourishment through water based remedies- Teas, infusion, decoction, syrup, vinegar

Folk and standardized methods of creating herbal medicine - Tincture, Glycerite, Elixer

Internal and external practical applications of fresh and dried plants

Creating your own herbal medicine, preparing and practice of medicinal plants

Herbal oils, balms, salves, compresses, poultices, placements

Making Flower Essences

Herbalist Training:

Herbal actions and energetics, body awareness practices.

Understand the role of medicinal plants for building strong body systems and plants that nourish and tonify,

Somatic herbalism, drop dosing, and somatic assessment using pulse reading.

Herbal First Aid for Body systems: Hands on step by step first aid for acute dis/ease

Herbal Bodywork, movement, longevity of structure, muscle, bone

Communication skills, holding space, talk story, and ethics in their herbal practice.

Location: In person, mostly in the Upper Skagit area, with one day on Camano Island.

Details: https://erinvanhee.com/immersion2026

11/03/2025

Join me for the weekly Wild Food- Wild Medicine Intensive or Spring 2026.
Four consecutive weeks- Thursdays in outdoor spaces of Skagit County and Camano Island. Deeply nourishing spring session- wild nutrient dense foods, with each week a harvest week.
Take home all food and medicine made in class and gather skills to continue the craft outside of class and beyond.

Begins in April- this will fill so grab your space soon.

Wildcrafting and medicine making on the fly! Field study, plant identification, harvest, preparation with Erin Vanhee, Herbalist

11/02/2025

As always- Tickets are going fast for this Make & Take Day Class! Fast paced and full of herbal wisdom- join in the fun with like minded folks and learn some herbal tips and tricks along the way.

Here is a link- www.erinvanhee.com/in-person-classes/herbal-gift-making

10/27/2025

Aloha, folks. I am headed back to my beloved Maui soon- I have availability for bodywork Up until November 14. Then I won't be scheduling again until December so grab your spot soon. Or else you'll have to meet me at the beach.

New way of online scheduling www.calendly.com/erinvanhee or just call/text 360.391.2706

Welcome! I invite you to schedule your massage therapy using this calendar. New clients please call for your first appointment. I no longer accept medical insurance. 360.391.2706

10/23/2025

Last Call for this weekend TWO FULL DAYS of Herbal Bodywork training. What a way to get your hand on training, yes?

All the plants, knowledge, wisdom, practical solutions to pain inside and outside the treatment room. THIS WEEKEND- October 25/26

I love sharing technique, story, protocols with herbalists, massage therapists, healers, Medicine Moms - Anyone who is called to know the plant/people connection.
Join us!

Arlington School of Massage- no experience necessary-open to all. CE's for LMT's
www.erinvanhee.com/herbal-bodywork-fundamentals-ce-certified

10/22/2025

Herbal Bodywork Class this week end!! Plant and people connection is woven through the clinically minded approaches to resolving pain in this weekends herbal training program- Herbal Bodywork Fundamentals- 1. Two full days of hands on practical applications in and out of the treatment room! October 25-26 at Arlington School of Massage.

I'm gathering fresh plants to use in the treatment room after we prepare them in to compress, poultice. Take the mystery out of how, when, why and what temperature, frequency to apply herbs and botanical infused oils, liniments.

This is open to anyone wanting hands on, practical knowledge and skill to support themselves and others in pain. CE certified through National Board of Bodyworkers (NCBTMB)- two days of training- Dive deep into the physiology of pain and how to choose the appropriate herbs and hands on techniques to support the herbal application in efficiency.

Yes, it's a lot. And so is living with pain. Join us.

Here's a link to register- Held at the Arlington School of Massage. We've got massage tables, plants, botanically infused oils, all materials provided- www.erinvanhee.com/herbal-bodywork-fundamentals-ce-certified

10/19/2025

Bones are underrated! Show your bones some love with horsetail 🌿Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) is a perennial herb growing wild throughout the PNW and is high in silica maximizing the assimilation of calcium in our bodies. 🌿When you visit horsetail you see sections in its growth that reminds of the vertebra.
🌿The anti-inflammatory action coupled with the bone strengthening of horsetail make it a must have addition to liniments and/or bone healing tea blends, vinegars..
🌿Horsetail is an ancient plant and has been found in fossils dating back to BC. What is fascinating is that the horsetail plant had completed its adaptation thousands of years ago.
🌿What does that mean for people in pain? It may just be the remedy for you if your pain began at a time that you were learning to adapt to something. 💫Want to learn more about bone wisdom, soft tissue support, fascia and all the ways plants and people connect through addressing physical, emotional and spiritual pain? Check out the link for registration in the October 25/26 Herbal Bodywork Fundamentals Class!

Www.erinvanhee.com/herbal-bodywork-fundamentals-ce-certified

10/19/2025

Blue Elderberry has gained quite the reputation as an immune system stimulant and antiviral supplement. Here is a quick and easy way to start using Elderberry. This picture was taken just minutes after adding herbs to water. The Elderberry helps the tea become a beautiful, rich brew.

Blue Elderberry Tea

You will need:

Two tablespoons dried Elderberries

3-4 cardamom pods

A bit of a cinnamon stick

one inch ginger root, sliced.

Add all ingredients to a pot with 3-4 cups of water. Bring brew to a boil. Lower heat to a simmer and decoct for about 20 minutes. Strain, add a bit of honey, and enjoy.

Elder sure is a plant to know this time of year, and its popularity as an antiviral is for good reason. It can reduce an inflammatory response in the sinuses and lungs and reduce the length of time you are ill by up to 50 percent. Reducing inflammation will relieve congestion which reduces symptoms, all good news!

Dosing with elderberry is best when you are just coming down with an illness. Small doses at 3-4 hour intervals is optimal in the first 3-5 days of a cold or flu. A tincture or elixir can be taken in 30-60 drop doses, while a tea can be taken in 1-2 cups every 4 hours.

I have a lot to say about Elderberry! Join us on December 5 for the Herbal Gift Making Class in Burlington! Make and take with elderberry - among others- in this fun, day long gift making class.

here's the link! www.erinvanhee.com/in-person-classes/herbal-gift-making

10/18/2025

Tree medicine in Willow is similar to the Alder, Cottonwood and Birch- all contain Salicin and all can be found near water, with the exception of the Birch which has a more widespread ecology.

When plants have a similar medicine- I look at how the plant moves and grows to help decide which is the best remedy for myself or client. The willow is graceful, flowing and somewhat feminine in structure while the Cottonwood reaches high above the willow along the shores. Cottonwood has a broad trunk and can live long and strong- but has weak limbs which fall to the ground in winter while willow stays lower than cottonwood and bends at will- with rarely a break.

These characteristics are observations that I use as practitioner to choose a remedy.

All plants containing salicin like the Willow, Aspen, Cottonwood, Birch, Meadowsweet are allies when assisting others with inflammatory conditions and pain.

I love sharing ways to integrate these plants in to your personal or professional practice. October 25/26 is the date of the two day Herbal Intensive- Herbal Bodywork Fundamentals. Join us if this way of connecting with plants is your way, too.

* Picture from the Herbal Immersion field harvest of willow near the Sauk River. *

www.erinvanhee.com/herbal-bodywork-fundamentals-ce-certified