DR. CHRISTOPHER HOBBS is a fourth-generation, internationally renowned herbalist, licensed acupuncturist, author, clinician, botanist, mycologist, and research scientist with over 35 years of experience with herbal medicine.
Christopher has a doctorate from UC Berkeley in phylogenetics, evolutionary biology and phytochemistry. He is also a founding member of the American Herbalists Guild.
This site is dedicated to all who love and are inspired by the natural world, especially the green world and kingdom Fungi.
I invite you to explore the library at worldherblibrary.org 🌎🌿
I co-founded the @worldherblibrary with fellow herbalists and book collectors Bob Brucia and David Winston to help preserve rare and historic herbal texts and make them freely available to everyone.
What began with our personal collections has grown into an online library of centuries of plant wisdom—offered as a resource for students, practitioners, and anyone drawn to the study of medicinal plants.
#worldherblibrary #herbalism #plantmedicine #herbalhistory #medicinalplants
Giant Pacific horsetail ( Equisetum telmateia ) — a living fossil that’s been around since the age of dinosaurs 🌿
#christopherhobbs #herbalmedicine #herbalwisdom #plantmedicine
Sun-soaked Mediterranean herbs 🌿
Wild, aromatic, and deeply rooted in ancient tradition. Used for flavor, healing, and daily life for thousands of years — where food, medicine, and culture become one.
#christopherhobbs #herbalmedicine #herbalwisdom #plantmedicine
if you enjoy using black pepper in cooking, or maybe it’s in your supplement to bio enhance the uptake of turmeric, anti-inflammatory compounds, you’ll want to meet the vine in its home, personally.
Black pepper (Piper nigrum) — ultra-succinct reel summary
• Traditional use: Daily warming spice in Indian, Asian, and Mediterranean cooking; used to stimulate digestion and circulation.
• Cooking: Sharp, aromatic heat; added fresh-ground to savory dishes and often paired with fats to carry flavor.
• Key chemistry: Piperine (main alkaloid) + aromatic volatile oils (β-caryophyllene, limonene).
• Biological effects: Increases digestive enzymes, gastric acid, circulation, and enhances nutrient and herb absorption.
• Additional benefits: Mild antimicrobial, thermogenic, and bioavailability-boosting—one reason it appears in classic formulas like Trikatu.
Many of us remember blowing Dandelion seeds into the air, making a wish as they drifted away. Those delicate “parachutes” are called pappus — an elegant dispersal system that allows Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) to spread its seeds far and wide 🌱✨
#dandelion #seeds #taraxacumofficinale #pappus #christopherhobbs
warm. golden. grounding. ☕✨
fresh turmeric + creamy milk
a simple ritual for the body & soul
🌿✨ find the whole video on youtube:
https://youtube.com/shorts/0l9Wd-1m6yk?feature=share
In bio as well
#goldenmilk #slowliving #wellnessritual #naturalhealing #freshingredients
Have you ever heard of corn smut — the fungus that transforms corn into something entirely different?
Known as Huitlacoche (Ustilago maydis), this naturally occurring fungus has been valued for centuries in Mesoamerican food traditions. While often treated as a crop disease in industrial agriculture, it has long been considered a delicacy in Mexico — sometimes called the “Mexican truffle.”
When harvested intentionally and cooked, Huitlacoche offers a deep, earthy, mushroom-like flavor and impressive nutrition. It’s higher in protein than corn itself and contains lysine, an amino acid corn typically lacks.
#huitlacoche #cornsmut #fungalkingdom #foodasmedicine #christopherhobbs
many thanks to my wonderful herbal friend Darren Huckle L.Ac.
Usnea (often called “old man’s beard”) — succinct clinical use overview
Key principle:
Usnic acid and related phenolic acids are poorly absorbed systemically, but highly active topically against Gram-positive bacteria. Clinical effectiveness is therefore greatest on skin and mucosa, not as an internal antimicrobial.
Best uses
• Skin infections: minor wounds, abrasions, fungal–bacterial mixed lesions.
• Throat/oral bacterial infections: local action via contact (not systemic delivery).
Preferred preparations
• Honey syrup (throat): finely powdered usnea dispersed in raw honey → coats tissue, prolongs contact time, adds honey’s antimicrobial and wound-healing effects.
• Salve/cream (skin): delivers phenolics directly where needed.
Extraction notes (practical)
• Dry → grind → separate: When thoroughly dried and finely ground, the inner polysaccharide-rich filament can be reduced/removed; the remaining green cortex powder is richest in usnic acid and other phenolics.
• Warm oil extraction: Gently warm the green powder in olive or similar oil (low heat, hours to days). This efficiently transfers lipophilic phenolic acids into the oil, ideal for creams and salves.
• Why oil works: Usnic acid is lipophilic → oil extraction concentrates the antimicrobial fraction for topical delivery.
Bottom line
• Think local, not systemic.
• Honey for throat, oil-based salves for skin.
• Green cortex = phenolics = antimicrobial action; polysaccharides play a minor role here.
I’m feeling so much gratitude for all of my friends,  family, followers, leaders. We truly learn from one another, and if we have a work, a service, that truely warms our heart and creates joy and a touch of wildness, adventure, breaking the rules sometimes, I’m all for it
Rainya and I are headed out to Thailand on Friday for a long stay, and we hope to explore Thai food, food medicine, the herbs and spices with you as we go.
Many heartfelt blessings for a beautiful and conscious year ahead where we stand up and speak our truth and have the courage to change as life changes.!
Dr. Christopher Hobbs
Rainya Dann ❤️❤️❤️ 🎄🌳🌱🪴🍄🟫🥰
As we enter the new year, it’s worth remembering the old wisdom.
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
- Hippocrates
Long before modern nutrition labels and supplements, health was understood as something cultivated daily — through nourishment, rhythm, and relationship with the natural world.
May this year be guided by simplicity, discernment, and foods that truly support life.
Happy New Year!
Christopher Hobbs
#newyearwisdom #foodasmedicine #hippocrates #christopherhobbs #traditionalmedicine #plantwisdom #ancestralhealth #holisticliving
Gilled turkey tail
A normal common turkey tail has tiny pores, why did this turkey tail make gills?
That’s its nature.
🌿 Black Sage (Salvia mellifera) 🌿
Black Sage is a powerful herb native to California, known for its aromatic leaves and traditional uses in herbal medicine. It has been valued for its ability to support respiratory health, ease muscle tension, and even promote a sense of mental clarity.
The leaves can be used to make infusions, teas, or poultices. When preparing, always use sustainably harvested leaves.
Whether you’re exploring wildcrafted herbs or cultivating your own, Black Sage is a wonderful addition to an herbal toolkit.
#herbalmedicine #blacksage #salviamellifera #plantmedicine #christopherhobbs
This Mushroom is considered edible.
Make sure of your identification, and cook thoroughly.
Mushrooms in the Hericium genus (the group that includes both the familiar Lion’s Mane H. erinaceus and the branched “coral-like” H. coralloides) are chemically related and can share many similar classes of compounds, but the relative chemistry and specific profiles differ between species. Here’s a deeper breakdown:
🧬 Shared Chemistry Across Hericium
Both H. erinaceus (commercial lion’s mane) and H. coralloides (coral tooth fungus) belong to the same genus, meaning they share the same broad classes of bioactive compounds typical of this lineage:
• Polysaccharides (β-glucans and other complex sugars) — important for immune activity and antioxidant effects. 
• Terpenoids — terpenoid secondary metabolites are present across Hericium species; in H. erinaceus these include hericenones (from fruiting bodies) and erinacines (especially from mycelium). 
• Phenolic compounds — antioxidants common in many mushrooms. 
• Other metabolites (steroids, resorcinols, small aromatics). 
A comparative phytochemical analysis confirms that multiple Hericium species, including H. coralloides, exhibit similar types of bioactives (polysaccharides and antioxidant compounds) — though amounts vary. 
hope you can enjoy some soon from your local store soon!
Have you ever noticed food products or even Herbal or supplement product ingredient lists are harder to read than the positive messaging of benefits or the title? In this product, it contains white rice and cane sugar, but that doesn’t seem unusual!
I’ve been watching, and I’ve seen many ingredient lists that have much smaller lettering, or less contrast between the background color making it much harder to read than the positive advertising about the benefits of the product or the title?
I’ve been in the dietary supplement industry for a long time. I really appreciate a product that fully discloses everything that might influencing the purchase of products.
Is micro deceptions just human nature when selling a product for money?
I’m still watching, and waiting for a truly honest product. 😆
Have you ever tried Wintergreen berries? 🌲🫐
Gaultheria procumbens holds its bright red fruit through winter, while its leaves have been traditionally valued for their aromatic oils, especially in topical preparations.
#wintergreen #gaultheriaprocumbens #herbalmedicine #plantwisdom #christopherhobbs
My go-to mushrooms for staying balanced this holiday season 🍄✨Hope you guys have a happy holiday!!
#christopherhobbs #herbalmedicine #herbalwisdom #herbalism
Searching for a special dish to add to your holiday table? ✨
Comment “RECIPE” and I’ll share my Lion’s Mane Crab Cake recipe with you! 🌲🍄🟫
Warm wishes for a joyful and nourishing holiday season,
Dr. Christopher Hobbs
"And into the forest I go to lose my mind and find my soul" - John Muir 🌲
This is the Pacific Yew tree!
Show spectacular with its bright Scarlet bark.
this video was taken in an old growth forest in Oregon. Not many remnants are left, but when you were in one, you know, you’re in the presence of great spirit.
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Dr. Hobbs's News
Medicinal Mushrooms for Cold and Flu Season
Join Dr. Hobbs 4-hour presentation and demonstration, Live. Prevention and treatment of respiratory tract infections, including the use of potent mushroom extracts for heightened immunity.
Magic Mushrooms Course
Join Dr. Hobbs for a 7-Week Online Magic Mushroom Course (Evergreen stream)
Christopher Hobbs’s Medicinal Mushrooms: The Essential Guide
Dr. Hobbs’s latest book is available to order and being shipped now.
Follow Dr. Hobbs's on YouTube
What do Passionflower and Ayahuasca have in common? 🌿
What do Passionflower and Ayahuasca have in common? 🌿
Both contain harmine-type alkaloids, natural compounds that influence the nervous system.
Passionflower offers gentle, calming support for the nervous system and restful sleep, while Ayahuasca is a potent, ceremonial brew that produces strong psychoactive experiences.
Thank you for walking the plant path with me, 🌿
Dr. Christopher Hobbs
#herbalmedicine #passionflower #ayahuasca #banisteriopsiscaapi #harmine #alkaloids #plantmedicine #herbalwisdom #medicinalplants #christopherhobbs
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) with Dr. Christopher Hobbs
Calm your mind with Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) 🌿
This gentle herb contains alkaloids and flavonoids that can help ease anxiety, reduce restlessness, and support restful sleep. While it’s considered mild, its effects on the nervous system are real—highlighting the power plants can have when used thoughtfully.
Stay tuned for more informative posts on Passionflower this week! 🌸
Thank you for walking the plant path with me,
Dr. Christopher Hobbs 🌿
#herbalmedicine #passionflower #passifloraincarnata #alkaloids #plantmedicine #herbsafety #herbalwisdom #medicinalplants #calmingherbs #christopherhobbs
Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus gilbertsonii) with Dr. Christopher Hobbs
Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus gilbertsonii) is a striking, bright-orange shelf fungus often found growing on Oak or Eucalyptus in western North America. Related to Laetiporus sulphureus, this species forms overlapping clusters with a tender texture when young and a mild, savory flavor—earning it the nickname “the chicken mushroom.” 🍗🍄🟫
Always be sure to identify carefully before consuming; some species growing on conifers or Eucalyptus may cause stomach upset in sensitive individuals. When properly identified and cooked, Laetiporus gilbertsonii is a beloved wild edible with meaty texture and vibrant color, rich in beta-glucans and other immune-supportive compounds found in many polypore mushrooms.
Thank you for walking the plant (and mushroom!) path with me, 🍄🌿
Dr. Christopher Hobbs
#laetiporus #chickenofthewoods #wildmushrooms #mycology #foraging #herbalism #fungi #forestmedicine #mushroomidentification #ediblemushrooms #naturestudy
How to tell difference between Turkey Tail & False Turkey Tail with Dr. Christopher Hobbs
📖 For more details, see my book Medicinal Mushrooms: The Essential Guide 🍄🟫
— Christopher Hobbs 🌿
#turkeytail #trametesversicolor #falseturkeytail #medicinalmushrooms #mushroommedicine #herbalmedicine #plantwisdom #foraging #christopherhobbs
Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) with Dr. Christopher Hobbs
Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) 🍄🟫
A vibrant fan-shaped mushroom found on fallen logs, Turkey Tail is one of the most widely researched fungi in the world. Rich in beta-glucans and the unique compounds PSK and PSP, it’s been shown to support immune health and complement cancer therapies by helping the body find balance and resilience.
📖 For more details, see my book Medicinal Mushrooms: The Essential Guide.
— Christopher Hobbs 🌿
#turkeytail #trametesversicolor #medicinalmushrooms #mushroommedicine #herbalmedicine #plantwisdom #foraging
Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) with Dr. Christopher Hobbs
🌿 Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)
Native to the woodlands of the eastern United States, Fringetree has long been valued in Western herbal medicine for its affinity with the liver and gallbladder. The bark is traditionally used to encourage healthy bile flow, support digestion, and ease stagnation in the body.
While spring is often considered “liver season,” autumn offers another opportunity to tend this vital system. As we slow down and shift toward richer foods, gentle liver allies like Fringetree help maintain balance — supporting the body’s natural processes of renewal and preparation for rest.
Have you worked with Fringetree before, or noticed how your body asks for gentler support as the seasons change?
Thank you for walking the plant path with me 🌿
Dr. Christopher Hobbs
#fringetree #chionanthusvirginicus #herbalism #herbalmedicine #plantwisdom #botanicalmedicine #seasonalwellness #liverhealth #digestivesupport #plantpath #christopherhobbs #herbalist #autumnherbs #naturemedicine
Eucalyptus globulus with Dr. Christopher Hobbs
Eucalyptus globulus — Blue Gum Eucalyptus is prized for its aromatic leaves and powerful essential oils.
Traditionally, it has been used to support the respiratory system, helping to clear congestion, soothe coughs, and promote easier breathing.
The leaves are rich in cineole, a compound with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, making it a go-to in herbal medicine for respiratory wellness.
Thank you for walking the plant path with me 🌿
Christopher Hobbs
#eucalyptusglobulus #bluegumeucalyptus #herbalism #respiratoryhealth #naturalremedies #plantmedicine #herbalwisdom #medicinalplants #forestmedicine #christopherhobbs #herbalist #plantbasedhealing #aromaticplants #herbalknowledge #naturemedicine
Lungwort — Lobaria pulmonaria with Dr. Christopher Hobbs
Lungwort — Lobaria pulmonaria
This beautiful lichen, found growing on the trunks of old trees in moist forests, has long been associated with lung health. Its lobed, lung-like appearance inspired traditional herbalists to use it for supporting the respiratory system — a perfect example of the doctrine of signatures, where a plant’s form was thought to reveal its healing affinities.
Modern research has shown that Lobaria pulmonaria contains compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, and it’s still valued in folk medicine for soothing coughs and supporting the lungs through irritation or infection.
Just as it thrives in clean, oxygen-rich air, this lichen reminds us how deeply our own health is connected to the forests and the purity of the air we breathe.
Thank you for walking the plant path with me 🌿
Christopher Hobbs
#lobariapulmonaria #lungwort #lungwortlichen #herbalism #doctrineofsignatures #respiratoryhealth #medicinallichens #forestmedicine #herbalwisdom #christopherhobbs #herbalist #naturalmedicine #plantmedicine #herbalknowledge
Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.) with Dr. Christopher Hobbs
Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.) are a versatile and nourishing fungi found growing on decaying wood in forests around the world. With their delicate, fan-shaped caps and gentle flavor, they’re as beautiful in the wild as they are in the kitchen.
Beyond their culinary appeal, oyster mushrooms are celebrated in herbal medicine for their immune-supportive and antioxidant properties. Rich in beta-glucans, they help support the body’s natural defenses, while also contributing valuable nutrients like B vitamins, potassium, and fiber.
These mushrooms remind us that some of the most potent allies for our health are often growing quietly, right in the forest or even on a fallen log. 🌿
#oystermushrooms #pleurotus #medicinalmushrooms #fungimedicine #forestmedicine #immuneherbs #herbalwisdom #plantmedicine #foodasmedicine #natureheals #wildfood #christopherhobbs
Herb Walk
Garlic
Allium sativum
Garlic acts as a warming herb for the digestion and respiratory tract, and is the “herbal antibiotic,” and much more.
Cactus
Selenicereus grandiflorus
Cactus is the spectacular night-blooming cereus of Jamaica and Cuba.
Burdock
Arctium lappa
Burdock is a blood purifier commonly used for skin problems such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis.
Black Cohosh
Cimicifuga racemosa
Black cohosh preparations are useful for hot flashes and depression during menopause.
Ginseng
Panax ginseng
Use ginseng for chronic fatigue, convalescence, lethargy, depression, and chronic infections related to immune weakness, especially if you’re over forty-five.
