Episode 125:
California Poppy, Herbal Formulation and more with Benjamin Zappin 

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Would you prefer watching or reading this episode? If so, click here for the 'Benefits of California Poppy' video and transcript.

Episode Summary

In this episode, I’m excited to explore the benefits and properties of California poppy with Benjamin Zappin, one of my first ever herb teachers down at the East West School of Herbology in California.

When might you reach for California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)? Among other things, it’s a wonderful herb to support sleep, relaxation, and emotional quiet. (Know anybody who could use more of those things in their life?) ;)

There’s a lot more to know about this beautiful plant, though, so be sure to listen in to the entire episode for all the details, including a recipe from Benjamin for a California Poppy Tincture. (By the way, don’t miss downloading your beautifully illustrated recipe card!)

Besides celebrating the gifts of the beautiful California poppy, Benjamin also shares a wealth of general herbal advice about dosage and formulation. When I hear “herbal formulation,” in my mind, there’s Benjamin Zappin. So I’m really excited to share this conversation with you.

By the end of this episode, you’ll know:

► Which parts of California poppy are most potent and whether to make medicine with the fresh or dried plant

► How to work with California poppy for sleep, anxiety, and pain relief (including what types of pain or discomfort may be helped by it)

► How to grow California poppy in your own garden so wild stands are left alone

► How to gain an understanding of the building blocks of herbal formulation

► and so much more…

For those of you who don’t already know him, Benjamin Zappin is an herbalist and licensed acupuncturist with over 25 years of clinical experience. He co-founded Five Flavors Herbs with his wife, Ingrid Bauer, to provide their community with exceptional herbal finished products and custom herbal formulas. Benjamin offers integrative herbal consultations through Paeonia Integrative Medicine. In his free time, you’ll find Benjamin cooking and studying music.

I hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I enjoyed recording it!

What You'll Learn from This Episode

• [01:09] Introduction to Benjamin Zappin
• [02:14] Benjamin’s herbal path
• [05:23] How Benjamin and Rosalee met
• [07:36] Why Benjamin loves California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
• [12:14] The medicinal benefits of California Poppy
• [14:10] California Poppy Tincture recipe
• [21:39] Five Flavors Herbs
• [25:11] Start with the basics
• [33:50] What herbs don’t go together?
• [36:27] Formulation from the landscape
• [39:00] Creating formulas as a beginner
• [41:18] Educational and other offerings at Five Flavors Herbs
• [48:38] How herbs surprised Benjamin
• [57:30] Herbal tidbit

Get Your Free Recipe!

Connect with Benjamin:

• Website | FiveFlavorsHerbs.com
• Instagram | @fiveflavorsherbs
• Facebook | @fiveflavorsherbs

Connect with Rosalee

• On Instagram | @rosaleedelaforet

• On Facebook | Herbs With Rosalee
• On YouTube | Herbs With Rosalee

• Website | herbswithrosalee.com


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