The Nervous Herbalist Castos https://nervousherbalist.castos.com A podcast for Chinese medicine practitioners who prescribe herbs or want to prescribe herbs and who want to geek out about herbal function, history, and treatment strategies. Hosted by Travis Kern and Travis Cunningham, licensed Chinese medicine practitioners and owners of Root and Branch Chinese Medicine in Portland, OR. Visit www.rootandbranchpharmacy.com for more information about their pharmacy and to create your own practitioner account today. Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:00:00 +0000 en © 2022 https://episodes.castos.com/635abec9902ea3-35460184/images/Show-Graphic-with-Pic.png The Nervous Herbalist https://nervousherbalist.castos.com A podcast for Chinese medicine practitioners who prescribe herbs or want to prescribe herbs and who want to geek out about herbal function, history, and treatment strategies. Hosted by Travis Kern and Travis Cunningham, licensed Chinese medicine practitioners and owners of Root and Branch Chinese Medicine in Portland, OR. Visit www.rootandbranchpharmacy.com for more information about their pharmacy and to create your own practitioner account today. Root and Branch episodic A podcast for Chinese medicine practitioners who prescribe herbs or want to prescribe herbs and who want to geek out about herbal function, history, and treatment strategies. Hosted by Travis Kern and Travis Cunningham, licensed Chinese medicine practitioners and owners of Root and Branch Chinese Medicine in Portland, OR. Visit www.rootandbranchpharmacy.com for more information about their pharmacy and to create your own practitioner account today. Root and Branch Chinese Medicine info@rootandbranchpdx.com false https://feeds.castos.com/0kxrg yes <![CDATA[04-12 Dizziness and Vertigo Case Studies]]> Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:00:00 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/2390627 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/04-12-dizziness-and-vertigo-case-studies TK asks TC about a pair of cases that exemplify important aspects of treating dizziness and vertigo

Chapters

  • (00:00:00) - Cass #1
  • (00:18:33) - Case #2
]]> full 12 4 false TK asks TC about a pair of cases that exemplify important aspects of treating dizziness and vertigo

]]> 00:44:32 <![CDATA[4-11 Dizziness and Vertigo]]> Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:06:00 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/2373723 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/4-11-dizziness-and-vertigo Tk asks TC about the various patterns that present with Dizziness and Vertigo

]]> full 11 4 false Tk asks TC about the various patterns that present with Dizziness and Vertigo

]]> 01:06:37 <![CDATA[04-10 Understanding and Using Pao Zhi]]> Mon, 22 Dec 2025 16:30:00 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/2283855 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/04-10-understanding-and-using-pao-zhi TC asks TK about the various types of common pao zhi, how they are related to herbs and food, and how you can use this methodology in the clinic, even if you are prescribing granule herbs. 

Chapters

  • (00:00:00) - Intro and Herbs as Food
  • (00:29:10) - Different Types of Pao Zhi
  • (00:52:34) - Si Shen Wan as an exemplar formula
]]> full 10 4 false TC asks TK about the various types of common pao zhi, how they are related to herbs and food, and how you can use this methodology in the clinic, even if you are prescribing granule herbs. 

]]> 01:20:44 <![CDATA[04-09 Chronic Pain Case Study]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2025 19:23:43 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/2279176 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/04-09-chronic-pain-case-study TK asks TC about a couple of chronic pain cases to better understand the theory as it applies to real people.

Chapters

  • (00:00:00) - Introduction and Case 1
  • (00:29:11) - Case 2
]]> full 9 4 false TK asks TC about a couple of chronic pain cases to better understand the theory as it applies to real people.

]]> 00:54:08 <![CDATA[04-08 Chronic Pain Theory]]> Mon, 24 Nov 2025 16:35:00 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/2236585 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/04-08-chronic-pain-theory TC and TK talk about the some of the common patterns around chronic pain presentations like fibromyalgia and specifically look at the symptom of sweating as an important differentiator for picking a formula. 

Chapters

  • (00:00:00) - Open and Intro
  • (00:16:50) - Adapting to a hostile environment
  • (00:24:12) - How chronic pain manifests in the clinic
  • (00:33:42) - Pain in patients with unremarkable sweating
  • (00:42:01) - Formula summary for patients who can sweat
  • (00:43:47) - Pain in patients with strong sweating
  • (00:52:59) - Six conformations connection to symptomology
  • (01:07:15) - Pain with deformative swelling
]]> full 8 4 false TC and TK talk about the some of the common patterns around chronic pain presentations like fibromyalgia and specifically look at the symptom of sweating as an important differentiator for picking a formula. 

]]> 01:11:43 <![CDATA[04-07 Interview: Kumiko Shirai and Fukushin Method]]> Mon, 10 Nov 2025 19:23:00 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/2201904 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/04-07-interview-kumiko-shirai-and-fukushin-method TC and TK chat with Kumiko Shirai, local Portland practitioner, about the use of Japanese Fukushin abdominal diagnosis and formula selection. Kumiko is an internationally recognized teacher of Fukushin methods having trained under Nigel Dawes. She has a particular emphasis on Women's Health in her clinic and is a herbal medicine specialist.

For more info about Kumkio and trainings with her visit www.kumikoshirai.com

Chapters

  • (00:00:00) - Background and Training
  • (00:27:19) - Understanding Abdomens
  • (00:43:53) - Women's Health Applications
  • (00:55:06) - Discussion of Specific Formulas
  • (01:21:29) - Connect with Kumiko
]]> full 7 4 false TC and TK chat with Kumiko Shirai, local Portland practitioner, about the use of Japanese Fukushin abdominal diagnosis and formula selection. Kumiko is an internationally recognized teacher of Fukushin methods having trained under Nigel Dawes. She has a particular emphasis on Women's Health in her clinic and is a herbal medicine specialist.

For more info about Kumkio and trainings with her visit www.kumikoshirai.com

]]> 01:25:24 <![CDATA[04-06 Menopause Case Study]]> Mon, 27 Oct 2025 15:15:00 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/2161756 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/04-06-menopause-case-study TC lays out the details of a successful menopause treatment case while TK interviews him about his diagnosis and treatment strategy. A companion to the 04-05 Menopause Theory episode.

Chapters

  • (00:00:00) - Case Intro and Intervention Part 1
  • (00:14:57) - Treatment Intervention Part 2
  • (00:26:09) - Talking Huang Qi
  • (00:32:25) - Case Resolution
  • (00:40:18) - Framing and Understanding Patient Improvement
]]> full 6 4 false TC lays out the details of a successful menopause treatment case while TK interviews him about his diagnosis and treatment strategy. A companion to the 04-05 Menopause Theory episode.

]]> 00:45:23 <![CDATA[04-05 Menopause Theory]]> Mon, 13 Oct 2025 15:15:00 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/2161644 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/04-06-menopause-theory Tk and TC get into the underlying mechanisms that can lead to discomfitting menopausal symptoms and the formulas used to ease them. Learn about the expected physiologic signs to female bodied aging and when its a good idea to intervene and how.

]]> full 5 4 false Tk and TC get into the underlying mechanisms that can lead to discomfitting menopausal symptoms and the formulas used to ease them. Learn about the expected physiologic signs to female bodied aging and when its a good idea to intervene and how.

]]> 01:05:28 <![CDATA[04-04 Working Like A Small-Town Doctor]]> Mon, 29 Sep 2025 15:30:00 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/2149812 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/04-04-working-like-small-doctor TK and TC talk about managing patient care in the style and method old-school, small-town doctors, channeling those patient skills into work as a modern doctor in a larger urban setting. 

]]> full 4 4 false TK and TC talk about managing patient care in the style and method old-school, small-town doctors, channeling those patient skills into work as a modern doctor in a larger urban setting. 

]]> 01:19:20 <![CDATA[04-03 Cough Case Studies]]> Mon, 15 Sep 2025 21:12:00 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/2147892 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/04-03-cough-case-studies TC and TK talk about some examples of real clinic case studies on cough to help you understand how the diagnosis and treatment develops over time

]]> full 3 4 false TC and TK talk about some examples of real clinic case studies on cough to help you understand how the diagnosis and treatment develops over time

]]> 00:56:04 <![CDATA[04-02 Cough Theory]]> Tue, 02 Sep 2025 22:21:00 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/2137187 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/04-02-cough-theory Tk and TC talk about the common ways that cough can present in the clinic and ways to tackle it from surface to deep level infections. 

]]> full 2 4 false Tk and TC talk about the common ways that cough can present in the clinic and ways to tackle it from surface to deep level infections. 

]]> 01:08:35 <![CDATA[04-01 Dietary Influences on Treatment]]> Mon, 18 Aug 2025 15:30:00 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/2095022 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/04-01-dietary-influences-on-treatment TC asks TK about Chinese nutritional guidelines for patients that can be easily followed and integrated into everyday life with an eye to creating a stable base for treatment and health. 

]]> full 1 4 false TC asks TK about Chinese nutritional guidelines for patients that can be easily followed and integrated into everyday life with an eye to creating a stable base for treatment and health. 

]]> 01:11:35 <![CDATA[Archival Podcast - RMR Interview with Dr Liu Gohui]]> Mon, 04 Aug 2025 15:30:00 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/2095133 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/archival-podcast-rmr-interview-with-dr-liu-gohui While TC and TK are away for summer break, they've found some interesting interviews they did while students at OCOM. These archival podcasts talk with faculty at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine circa 2015 about a whole host of Chinese Medicine Topics.

Listen in here to Dr. Liu Gohui discuss the origin of the Rivermap as a way to understand the movement of Yin and Yang in creation and to internalize his pearls of wisdom derived from more than 4 decades in practice. 

]]> full 18 3 false While TC and TK are away for summer break, they've found some interesting interviews they did while students at OCOM. These archival podcasts talk with faculty at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine circa 2015 about a whole host of Chinese Medicine Topics.

Listen in here to Dr. Liu Gohui discuss the origin of the Rivermap as a way to understand the movement of Yin and Yang in creation and to internalize his pearls of wisdom derived from more than 4 decades in practice. 

]]> 00:55:06 <![CDATA[Archival Podcast - River Map Radio Interview with Greg Livingston and Michael Berletich]]> Mon, 21 Jul 2025 15:30:00 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/2095126 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/archival-podcast-river-map-radio-interview-with-grsfg While TC and TK are away for summer break, they've found some interesting interviews they did while students at OCOM. These archival podcasts talk with faculty at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine circa 2015 about a whole host of Chinese Medicine Topics. Listen in here to Drs. Livingston and Berletich talk about historical perspectives on TCM and CCM as well as the complex process of diagnosing and treating patients. 

]]> full 17 3 false While TC and TK are away for summer break, they've found some interesting interviews they did while students at OCOM. These archival podcasts talk with faculty at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine circa 2015 about a whole host of Chinese Medicine Topics. Listen in here to Drs. Livingston and Berletich talk about historical perspectives on TCM and CCM as well as the complex process of diagnosing and treating patients. 

]]> 00:47:56 <![CDATA[Understanding Flavor - Essential Knowledge for Herbalists]]> Mon, 07 Jul 2025 15:30:00 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/2072432 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/nature-and-flavor-essential-knowledge-for-herbalists TK and TC discuss the historical, textual, and clinical uses of flavor in herbs. For folks who really want to get a better understanding of how herbs work, this discussion gets the heart of all Chinese herbal methodology. 

]]> full 16 3 false TK and TC discuss the historical, textual, and clinical uses of flavor in herbs. For folks who really want to get a better understanding of how herbs work, this discussion gets the heart of all Chinese herbal methodology. 

]]> 01:17:19 <![CDATA[Constipation Case Studies]]> Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:30:00 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/2069714 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/constipation-case-studies TK asks TC about some of his constipation cases and how he decided which herbs to use and why. 

]]> full 15 3 false TK asks TC about some of his constipation cases and how he decided which herbs to use and why. 

]]> 00:51:50 <![CDATA[Constipation Theory and Diagnosis]]> Mon, 09 Jun 2025 22:39:00 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/2062695 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/constipation-theory-and-diagnosis TC and TK talk about the various ways that constipation presents in patients and the various formulas you can use to treat the condition

]]> 14 3 false TC and TK talk about the various ways that constipation presents in patients and the various formulas you can use to treat the condition

]]> 01:23:52 <![CDATA[Using Topical Herbal Preparations]]> Fri, 23 May 2025 15:30:00 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/2022763 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/using-topical-herbal-preparations TK and TC talk about the various types and categories of topical herbs that can be useful in the clinic and how to decide what kind of topical to use when. 

]]> full 13 3 false TK and TC talk about the various types and categories of topical herbs that can be useful in the clinic and how to decide what kind of topical to use when. 

]]> 01:12:04 <![CDATA[Treating Pain With Chinese Herbs]]> Fri, 09 May 2025 15:30:00 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/2021464 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/treating-pain-with-chinese-herbs TC and TK talk about a simplified differential for treating pain with herbs. Consider all the ways you could get better results for your patients by combining a handful of common formulas with your acupuncture to resolve pain problems in a fraction of the time. 

]]> full 12 3 false TC and TK talk about a simplified differential for treating pain with herbs. Consider all the ways you could get better results for your patients by combining a handful of common formulas with your acupuncture to resolve pain problems in a fraction of the time. 

]]> 01:07:32 <![CDATA[Understanding Objective Diagnostic Tools]]> Fri, 25 Apr 2025 15:00:00 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/1998988 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/understanding-objective-diagnostic-tools TC and TK talk about the core diagnostic tools of Pulse, Tongue, and Abdomen. They discuss differences between the tools and what things they show better than other things as well as some ideas on how to train your diagnostic skills and why its worth taking the time to do it in the first place. 

]]> full 11 3 false TC and TK talk about the core diagnostic tools of Pulse, Tongue, and Abdomen. They discuss differences between the tools and what things they show better than other things as well as some ideas on how to train your diagnostic skills and why its worth taking the time to do it in the first place. 

]]> 00:59:49 <![CDATA[Treating Headaches - Case Studies]]> Fri, 11 Apr 2025 15:00:00 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/1994762 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/treating-headaches-case-studies TK asks TC about different headache cases he has treated so that listeners can have an idea of how diagnosis and treatment playes out with real patients. 

]]> full 10 3 false TK asks TC about different headache cases he has treated so that listeners can have an idea of how diagnosis and treatment playes out with real patients. 

]]> 00:38:37 <![CDATA[Treating Headaches - Theory and Patterns]]> Fri, 28 Mar 2025 15:00:00 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/1994753 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/treating-headaches-theory-and-patterns TK asks TC about his diagnostic tools for understanding the causes of headaches and which formulas he employs to resolve this common problem. 

]]> full 9 3 false TK asks TC about his diagnostic tools for understanding the causes of headaches and which formulas he employs to resolve this common problem. 

]]> 00:44:19 <![CDATA[How to get your patients to actually take herbs]]> Fri, 14 Mar 2025 18:46:00 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/1992967 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/how-to-get-your-patients-to-actually-take-herbs TC and TK talk about making herbs an integral part of your treatment strategy. They provide insights into talking to patients about their herbs, choosing the right form of herbs, and organizing the treatment plan for maximum results. 

]]> full 8 3 false TC and TK talk about making herbs an integral part of your treatment strategy. They provide insights into talking to patients about their herbs, choosing the right form of herbs, and organizing the treatment plan for maximum results. 

]]> 01:29:15 <![CDATA[Covid and Long Covid (Case Studies)]]> Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:26:10 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/1978177 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/covid-and-long-covid-case-studies TC and TK get into some specific examples of treating covid and long covid. Listen in for some treatment specific details!

]]> full 7 3 false TC and TK get into some specific examples of treating covid and long covid. Listen in for some treatment specific details!

]]> 00:51:54 <![CDATA[Covid and Long Covid (Theory and Pathomechanism)]]> Tue, 28 Jan 2025 21:20:02 +0000 Root and Branch https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/47805/episode/1953383 https://nervousherbalist.castos.com/episodes/covid-and-long-covid-theory-and-pathomechanism TK and TC discuss the change in COVID-19 presentations from the pre-vaccine days to the endemic status of the disease now and particularly discuss the complications and symptoms that are put under the umbrella term "Long COVID"

]]> full 6 3 false TK and TC discuss the change in COVID-19 presentations from the pre-vaccine days to the endemic status of the disease now and particularly discuss the complications and symptoms that are put under the umbrella term "Long COVID"

]]> 01:12:11