Herbalism Articles: Traditional Practice, Primary Research
I'm Ivy Ham, a certified clinical herbalist. Every article in this library combines traditional practice from Western herbalism, Ayurveda, and Traditional Chinese Medicine with primary research you can check for yourself.
Pick a topic below to get started.
Acne, the Skin Barrier, and Gut Health: An Herbalist's Approach
What the research says about acne, the skin barrier, and the gut, plus the food-first changes and simple unscented routine I use after years of severe acne.
Plant Milk and Gut Health: What Is in the Carton
Most plant milks contain gums, emulsifiers, and added seed oils chosen for shelf life rather than nutrition. A look at what carrageenan, gellan gum, stevia extract, and enzyme-processed oat milk do in the gut, plus a ranked comparison of every common milk including raw dairy.
What Is Leaky Gut? Intestinal Permeability Explained by an Herbalist
Gliadin, stress, alcohol, and NSAIDs each raise intestinal permeability in controlled human studies. Here is what the research shows, how permeability is tested, and which supports have trial evidence.
Gut Repair Protocol
A protocol that is supportive for reducing increased gut permeability (AKA “leaky gut”). I’ve educated about this protocol for years with clients as a jumping-off point and many have found it super helpful.
Raw Milk Benefits vs Pasteurized Milk: Nutrition Facts, Risks, and What the Numbers Show
Is raw milk good for you? A clinical herbalist compares raw milk benefits, nutrition facts, and health risks against pasteurized milk using outbreak records, individual death case files, and the cohort studies on childhood asthma and allergy.
Start Here
Reader Favorites
Not sure where to begin? These in-depth guides are the most-read articles on the site.
Adaptogenic Herbs for Stress
Only seven botanicals truly meet the scientific criteria for adaptogens. Monographs on all seven, drawing on Ayurveda, TCM, and Western herbalism.
Ray Peat Approved Foods List
The complete guide to bioenergetic eating: fruits, dairy, proteins, fats, grey area foods, and a detailed FAQ.
Best Water Filters for Fluoride, Aluminum & PFAS
A 2026 comparison of reverse osmosis and gravity filters from someone who has used them all firsthand.
Clean Mineral Sunscreen Brands + DIY Zinc Sun Balm
The cleanest mineral sunscreens on the market, plus the non-nano zinc sun balm I make at home instead.
Natural Tick Repellent That Works
Plant-based repellents that hold up in studies, a DIY recipe, and the case against DEET and permethrin.
The Clean Coffee Buying Guide
Every brand that passes strict criteria: third-party tested, organic, mold-free, with a Swiss Water decaf option.