The Lifestyle Herbalists Podcast--A healthy dose of happiness

Let's Talk Symptoms

In today's short podcast we begin to discuss the meaning of symptoms.  this will be part of a serious so stay tuned for episodes that bring awareness to the symptoms that are sending you a very important message.  

The Hidden Role of Oral Function with Elisha Allred

In this episode, I sit down with Elisha Allred, myofunctional therapist, to explore the often-overlooked role of oral and facial muscles in whole-body health.
We unpack what myofunctional therapy truly is, why tongue posture, breathing patterns, and swallowing matter far beyond the mouth, and how modern lifestyle factors—from stress to diet to screen time—are shaping airway health across all ages. Elisha shares common signs she sees in practice that indicate dysfunction, even in people who believe they’re otherwise healthy, and explains how mouth breathing and poor oral muscle function can influence sleep quality, inflammation, and nervous system regulation.
We also discuss how myofunctional therapy works alongside dentistry, orthodontics, and airway-focused care, shifting the conversation from symptom management to prevention and long-term resilience. Elisha offers simple, accessible habits listeners can begin today to support healthier oral and airway function, and reflects on what she wishes more adults and parents understood earlier about oral development and prevention.
This conversation is an invitation to look at the mouth not as an isolated system—but as a powerful gateway to overall health.
Learn more about Elisha at: https://www.lipssealedmyo.com/about-myofunctional-therapy
Find Dabney at www.herbalhygienist.com
Find Sabrina at www.nurishwell.com
 
 
 
 

Nutrition for Women: Cycles, Stress, and Burnout

This is the fifth episode in Dabney’s ongoing series exploring nutrition as the foundation of health. Throughout this series, we’ve looked beyond diets and trends to understand how the body actually responds to nourishment, stress, digestion, and mineral balance. This episode brings those threads together and introduces gentle, traditional supports that help the body restore function rather than force change.
In this conversation, Dabney explores how nutrition works best when paired with mineral repletion and herbal support, especially for sensitive or depleted systems. You’ll learn how minerals influence digestion, energy, and resilience, and how herbs like chamomile, marshmallow, agrimony, and meadowsweet support the digestive tract by calming irritation, improving function, and creating a sense of safety in the body. This episode emphasizes nourishment over restriction and offers a compassionate framework for using food and herbs as medicine in a way that feels sustainable and supportive.
This episode is for anyone who has felt overwhelmed by nutrition advice or exhausted by doing “everything right.” It’s an invitation to slow down, rebuild foundations, and approach healing with patience, curiosity, and care.
Reach out or find out more about HTMA and Dabney's work, go to www.herbalhygienist.com
 

From Passive Patient to Informed Participant

Many of us have been taught to hand over our health and follow instructions without question—but true healing begins when you become an informed participant. In this episode, Dabney explores practical ways to step into your own care, including reading labels with awareness, understanding blood sugar, minerals, and inflammation, and noticing how your body responds to food. You’ll learn simple shifts that build confidence, improve digestion, and support both your gut and oral microbiome. By the end, you’ll have tools to ask better questions, interpret your body’s signals, and feel empowered in your health journey.
 
Learn more about Dabney and her work at www.herbalhygienist.com
https://herbalhygienist.myshopify.com/
 
Learn more about Sabrina at www.brewjablends.com
 
 

When Food Stops Working: Understanding Digestion, Context, and Healing

We hear the phrase food is medicine everywhere—but what does it really mean in a body that’s stressed, depleted, and overwhelmed? In this episode, Dabney explores why nutrition isn’t about superfoods, trends, or rigid rules, and why two people can eat the same meal and have completely different responses. You’ll learn how digestion is influenced by nervous system tone, mineral status, stress, hormones, and life rhythm—and why even “healthy” foods can cause symptoms when the body lacks support. This conversation invites you to step away from food fear and restriction and toward nourishment, observation, and trust in your body’s communication.
Learn more about HTMA here: https://www.herbalhygienist.com/htma
Learn more about Dabney and her work: www.herbalhygienist.com
 
 

Bio-Individual Nutrition: Why Your Body Needs a Different Approach

In this episode of The Lifestyle Herbalist, Dabney and Sabrina have an honest conversation about why one diet will never work for everyone.
Together, they explore how bio-individuality, hormones, stress, digestion, and mineral balance influence the way our bodies respond to food—especially for women. They discuss why so many people feel frustrated or defeated by diets that “should” work, and how under-eating, restriction, and rigid rules often do more harm than good.
This episode invites listeners to step away from diet culture and begin listening to their body’s signals with curiosity, compassion, and confidence.
 
Reach Dabney at dabney@herbalhygienist.com
Reach Sabrina at sabrina@brewjablends.com
 

New Year New You?

New Year New You with your host Sabrina Cooper Registered Dental Hygienist, Culinary Nutritionist and Practical Herbalist, Mindfulness Instructor and Mindful Eating Coach. 
### Episode Overview:In this episode of **New Year New You**, we explore the art of setting and achieving your New Year’s resolutions. With practical tips, motivational insights, and expert advice, we'll help you turn your resolutions into achievable goals for lasting success. Whether you want to improve your health, boost your career, or enhance your relationships, this episode delivers the tools you need to make 2026 your year of transformation!
Key Topics The Psychology of Resolutions Understanding why we make resolutions and the common reasons why many fail.-Setting Realistic Goals How to differentiate between achievable goals and unrealistic dreams.- Creating a Resolution Plans: Step-by-step guide to drafting a personal action plan that works for you.- Accountability Strategies The importance of sharing your goals and how accountability partners can boost your success.- Overcoming Challenges Common obstacles and strategies to navigate setbacks.- Celebrating Small WinsWhy recognizing progress, no matter how small, is crucial to maintaining motivation.- Staying Committed Tips on how to keep your resolutions intact throughout the year.
Action Steps for Listeners:1. **Write Down Your Resolutions**: Put pen to paper and clarify what you’re hoping to achieve this year.2. **Break It Down**: Divide your resolutions into smaller, manageable goals and set deadlines for each.3. **Find Your Accountability Partner**: Reach out to a friend or join a group to share your goals and check in regularly.4. **Create Reminders**: Use apps or calendars to set reminders for your milestones to keep you on track.
 Listener Challenge:We challenge you to share one of your New Year’s resolutions on social media with the hashtag **#NewYearNewYouChallenge**! Tag us, and we might feature your story in an upcoming episode!
 
Subscribe and Review:If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on [Your Podcast Platform]. Your feedback is invaluable and helps us create content that resonates with our audience!
Next Episode Teaser:Tune in next week when Dabney and I discuss how Food Is Medicine—But Not in the Way You’ve Been Told
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Thank you for listening to the **New Year New You** podcast! Here’s to making your resolutions stick and achieving your dreams this year!

Why Nutrition Was Never the Priority in Western Medicine

Nutrition is foundational to health—so why isn’t it foundational to medical care?
In this first episode of The Lifestyle Herbalist, Dabney breaks down how Western medicine evolved away from food and herbalism, why doctors receive little training in nutrition, and how public health guidelines replaced individualized nourishment.
You’ll discover how this shift impacts women’s health, hormones, digestion, and energy—and why so many people are left managing symptoms without addressing the root cause.
This episode invites you to reclaim your role in your health by understanding food as daily medicine—not a trend, not a diet, but a relationship.
Find more information about Dabney @ www.herbalhygienist.com or Sabrina @ www.brewjablends.com
 

Honoring 2025 As A Teacher

As we close out 2025, this episode offers a gentle invitation to pause, reflect, and integrate—without judgment or pressure.
Rather than reviewing the year through the lens of success or failure, we explore how 2025 served as a teacher. Through the wisdom of the body, the awareness of the mind, and the quiet guidance of the spirit, this episode invites you to notice what the year revealed, what patterns became clearer, and how growth unfolded beneath the surface.
Together, we reflect on how challenges created opportunities for deeper self-awareness, how the body communicated its needs, and how alignment often shows up as calm clarity rather than force.
We close with a grounding exercise to help you release what no longer serves you and step into 2026 with intention, compassion, and trust.
This is not about reinventing yourself for the new year—it’s about honoring what you’ve learned and allowing that wisdom to guide what comes next.
Get your FREE download to help you reflect on 2025: https://www.herbalhygienist.com/year-end-integration
Reach Dabney at www.herbalhygienist.com
 
 

When the Gums Speak First

Dental hygienists often notice changes in health long before a diagnosis is ever made. In this episode, we explore why the mouth is one of the first places systemic imbalance shows up—and how routine dental visits can reveal early clues about inflammation, stress, and overall wellbeing.
Through a real patient story, we discuss how new, generalized gingival inflammation led to a deeper conversation about preventive care, missed medical checkups, and the oral-systemic connection. We’ll talk about why hygienists are uniquely positioned to notice subtle shifts over time, how to approach these conversations safely and professionally, and when it’s appropriate to encourage further medical follow-up.
This episode also introduces how tools like Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) and salivary testing can help uncover underlying patterns related to inflammation, stress, and mineral balance—not as diagnostic tools, but as ways to better understand what the body may be communicating through the mouth.
Whether you’re a dental professional or a patient curious about preventive health, this conversation invites you to listen more closely when the gums start telling a different story.
 
Reach Dabney at www.herbalhygienist.com