Herbal Radio
Herbal Radio

Aromatics, Bitters, and Tonics Part 1 | Featuring Guido Masé (Vault Release)

August 7, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Guido Masé opens this talk with a simple provocation: is the orange powder on the table turmeric for a curry, or is it a pharmacologically active substance rich in curcuminoids? His answer is that it is both, and that this blurring of food and medicine is the core of what herbalism has always been. He argues that the developed Western world, particularly the United States, has lost an intact tradition of what he calls a "cuisine for healing"—a system of knowledge, passed through generations, that uses plants from the natural world to nourish and strengthen people around the hearth and table. The goal of the talk is to rebuild that cuisine by focusing on three categories of plants: aromatics, bitters, and tonics.

Herbalists as Gardeners of the Human Physiology

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (01:15) **Welcome and Guido’s Framing** - Guido Masé, clinical herbalist and author, is introduced and opens with the core question: is herbalism cooking or medicine?
  • 2 (08:41) **Three Principles for Tonic Herbalism** - Guido lays out three gardening-inspired principles for a tonic approach to wellness.
  • 3 (10:32) **Support vs. Control: The Immune System Example** - Guido illustrates the support principle with how plant saponins and polysaccharides from roots like astragalus and ginseng modulate immunity.
  • 4 (11:14) **The Three Critical Areas for Plant Action** - Guido introduces the three categories—aromatics, bitters, and tonics—and maps them to specific physiological systems.
  • 5 (11:42) **Why Tinctures and the Bitters Template** - Guido explains his preference for alcohol extracts as a delivery system for these principles.
  • 6 (13:51) **Aromatic Plants: Bringing Us into the Present** - Guido explains the unique power of aromatic plants to reset internal tension and ground us in the now.
  • 7 (15:11) **Aromatic Examples: Garlic, Ginger, and Culinary Herbs** - Guido gives practical examples of aromatic plants from the kitchen.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

While the Herbal Radio team is away on summer break, we're opening up the vault and sharing another special excerpt from one of our past Free Herbalism Project presentations. Originally recorded in 2016, this episode features the herbalist, educator, and author, Guido Masé.

Join us as Guido explores:

    • Practical, safe, and effective ways to incorporate botanicals into everyday life
    • How aromatic herbs support the mind, emotions, and spirit
    • The vital role bitter herbs play in digestive health and overall wellness.
    • Using herbs to promote resilience and vibrant health
    • Reconnecting with the natural world through time-honored herbal traditions

🎥 Watch the video version to this epsiode here: https://youtu.be/YGqAzJ_Lb5Y

As always, we thank you for joining us on another botanical adventure and are so honored to have you tag along with us on this ride. Remember, we want to hear from you! Your questions, ideas, and who you want to hear from are an invaluable piece to our podcast. Email us at [email protected] to let us know what solutions we should uncover next within the vast world of herbalism.

Learn more about Guido below!

🌿 Guido Masé RH (AHG) is a clinician, herbal educator, and author specializing in Western herbalism with an eclectic approach shaped by traditions from around the world. Raised in Italy, where he first discovered medicinal plants, he later settled in Vermont and co-founded the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, a nonprofit herbal medicine clinic and school, while maintaining a clinical practice through the Burlington Herb Clinic. He teaches herbal pharmacology and therapeutics, has contributed to herbal education at the University of Vermont, and is the author and contributor of numerous books, including DIY Bitters: Reviving the Forgotten Flavor and The Wild Medicine Solution and DIY Bitters. His work has also included collaborating with traditional Maasai healers in Tanzania, and he currently focuses on research, formulation, and education for Traditional Medicinals. Through clinical experience, storytelling, and scientific research, Guido inspires a deeper understanding of the relationship between people, plants, and the natural world.

📗 Click here to get a copy of DIY Bitters: Reviv

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