Hippocrates said all disease begins in the gut. Two thousand years later, the science of the microbiome is finally catching up to what plant medicine traditions have known for centuries — that the gut is not just a digestive organ. It is an immune system, a nervous system, a communication hub, and the foundation of whole-body health.
In this webinar, I walk through the digestive system in full — from the anatomy and physiology of how food moves through the body, to the enteric nervous system and its relationship to mood and stress, to the microbiome and what it means to truly support it. We cover the most common digestive complaints such as gas, bloating, heartburn, constipation, IBS, leaky gut, candida, and inflammatory bowel conditions — and what is actually driving them beneath the surface.
Then we get practical. We look at the herbs that address each layer of the digestive system: bitters to stimulate liver and gallbladder function, carminatives to ease gas and cramping, demulcents to soothe inflamed tissue, astringents to tighten leaky junctions, and anti-inflammatories to calm a system that has been on fire too long. We also cover the nutritional pieces — fiber, stomach acid, probiotics, digestive enzymes, bone broth, magnesium — and how they all fit together.
This is not a protocol. It is a way of thinking about the gut that will change how you approach your own health and the health of the people you support.
What we cover:
- The gut as immune system, nervous system, and second brain
- Anatomy and the full transit of food through the digestive tract
- The eight functions of digestion and what happens when any one of them breaks down
- Healthy digestion fundamentals: chewing, fiber, hydration, stomach acid, probiotics, and enzymes
- Prebiotics, probiotics, symbiotics, and postbiotics — and the difference between them
- Common digestive conditions and their root causes: gas, bloating, heartburn, IBS, leaky gut, candida, parasites, Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis
- Bitter herbs for liver and gallbladder activation: dandelion, artichoke, gentian, turmeric
- Carminative herbs for gas and spasm: fennel, chamomile, ginger, cardamom
- Demulcent herbs for inflamed tissue: marshmallow, licorice, calendula
- Astringent herbs for leaky gut and infection: goldenseal, Oregon grape root, barberry, oak bark
- Anti-inflammatory herbs: turmeric, meadowsweet, willow bark, licorice
- Gut-healing foods: bone broth, collagen, L-glutamine, fermented foods
- Magnesium and its role in relaxing the gut and nervous system
- Lifestyle foundations: mindful eating, movement, and not overeating
This workshop is for you if:
You have been told your digestion is “fine” but you know it is not, or you are a practitioner who wants a more complete framework for supporting clients with chronic gut issues.
When the gut is well, everything else has a better chance of working. This is where we start.
Want to go deeper?
Learn herbalism from the ground up — on your own schedule:
FREE Resources & Getting Started with Herbalism Guide
My foundational education program walks you through plant medicine, body systems, and evidence-informed herbalism in a way that actually sticks: Herbal Workshop 101
Ready to work together?
If you are a healthcare professional, healer, or health-conscious person who wants personalized guidance — through coaching, education, or both. I would love to support you!
Coaching and Education with Dr. Marina Buksov