April 23, 2022

I first met Doug Wolkon when I was in Kauai and was convinced by big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton to go visit a favorite local farm of his called Kauai Farmacy. I was immediately blown away by the vast array of over 80 varieties of organic healing plants and food orchards…

…along with a team of incredibly knowledgeable herbalists and gardeners; a closed-loop vermiculture feeding system (worm compost farm); honeybees, butterflies, and other pollinators; wildfowl; environmentally-compatible farming (water-catchments, permaculture guilds, and more); and medicine-making systems (solar-dehydrators, low-temperature herb-curing, herbal teas, tinctures, hydrosols, salves, honey, capsules, etc.).

Everything is done by hand at the Kauai Farmacy, including brewing homemade fertilizers from the plants they grow. They also seed, propagate, plant, hand harvest, artisanally craft, and package all the herbal products they grow right on the farm. The fresh and pure nature of the herbs ensures high-quality, potent, consistent, and effective plant medicine straight from the source.

Since that visit two years ago, if you've been following me on Instagram and elsewhere, you've seen me using ample amounts of Kauai Farmacy powders and tinctures in my recipes, along with products such as their salves and hydrosols for joint and skin health. Rooted in the wisdom of Hawaiian La’au lapa’au, Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, and the tribal indigenous, the potent herbal plant medicines harvested from the rich, volcanic soil of Kauai just seem to have a very unique and special energy.

After graduating from the University of Michigan, my guest on this podcast, Doug Wolkon pursued a ten-year career in private equity finance in Connecticut. Before moving his family to Hawaii in 2007, Doug published The New Game, an economic theory and strategy for sustainable communities.

Doug co-founded Kauai Farmacy in 2010 with his wife Genna, and they currently live there with their three kids. The Farmacy is a seed-to-cup tropical herbal oasis spanning four acres and consisting of what may be the most diverse collection of plant medicine in the western hemisphere.

After spending the last 10 years experiencing the power of fresh plant medicine for both himself and his family on a daily basis, Doug thrives on a high-fat, ketogenic, 100% raw-food diet. Doug believes Kauai Farmacy's vertically-integrated herbal medicine model is a budding example of what needs to be the future of a more sustainable, preventative-care-focused healthcare industry.

You can click here to shop Kauai Farmacy, and use code GREENFIELD15 to save 15% on any products on their site, including those you'll discover below.

During this discussion, you'll discover:

• Raw ginger coconut carrot cake recipe
• Ginger Honey (use code GREENFIELD15 to save 15%)
• Noni Honey
• Coconut water
• Curry
• Ancient Healing Secrets, Tinctures, Salves, Hydrosols & Teas, Permaculture Tips & Much More From A Little-Known Superfood Farm In Hawaii.

-What brought Doug to Kauai ten years ago…07:04

• Trauma with the birth of first child
• Out of shape in his early 30's, negligent of health and fitness
• Farm makes available what was available prior to the arrival of haole in Hawaii
• High-grade turmeric and black pepper
• Flora oxygenating the air around us is just as important to the immune system of the body
• The key to high-grade is freshness and how it is grown; building soil is first and foremost
• Biodiversity is critical; monocrops results in pests which eventually need fertilizers and pesticides

-First days on the farm…10:40

• The 4-acre property was once a horse farm with pasture land, trees, etc.
• Tulsi was the first crop on the farm
• Tulsi and noni brought self-awareness of what was confusing regarding health (mindfulness)
• Calmness of the breath and digestive tract
• Tulsi tea blend (use code GREENFIELD15 to save 15%)
• Puritea
• Tropical Chai Tea and Wellness Tea with galangal

-What you don't know about noni…16:18

• Noni – The All Everything Medicine – Doug's article on Noni
• Versatility is the key, noni can address many ailments
• Noni leaf hydrosol, Noni Honey, and Comfrey Noni serum
• Used for inflammation, circulation
• Blood thinner but nourishing
• Noni has a horrible smell

-Honey made out of noni fruit…20:28

• Noni Honey
• Cacao Ginger Turmeric Honey
• Dehydration facility which are solar-powered
• Freshness is key
• Honey is one of the most underrated healing medicines

-What makes a spice “high grade”?…26:42

• High-grade turmeric and black pepper
• Flora oxygenating the air around us is just as important to the immune system of the body
• The immune system is dependent on the immune system of the environment
• The key to high-grade is freshness and how it is grown; building soil is first and foremost
• Biodiversity is critical; monocrops lead to pests which eventually needs fertilizers and pesticides
• Simplest of medicines have been used by royalty throughout history

-Ways to hydrate and re-mineralize your body you may not have thought of before…36:42

• Serums and Hydrosols (use code GREENFIELD15 to save 15%)
• Comfrey is fertilizer for the plants and is also known as the warrior plant; knit-bone
  • Using Comfrey Root To Heal Bones
• Mimics bone marrow of a baby
• Hydration and mineralization through lubrication
• Comfrey Salve (use code GREENFIELD15 to save 15%)
• Lubricating through the body avoids taxing the digestive system
• Sensual Serum with macadamia (use code GREENFIELD15 to save 15%)

 -Ginger: the most popular plant medicine in history…44:44

• Tropical Chai Tea and Wellness Tea with galangal (use code GREENFIELD15 to save 15%)
• Breaks down acids in the body; extremely alkalizing
• Ben Ferris of Kolo Kai Organic Farm
• Turmeric, ashwagandha, curry are similar in the efficacy of ginger; stimulate the root chakra
• Curry Blend powder (use code GREENFIELD15 to save 15%)

 -A potent yet gentle hydrosol to fortify your skin…53:03

• Turmeric Hydrosol (use code GREENFIELD15 to save 15%)
• Steam distill fresh plant medicine to vaporize the oil
• Hydrosols (use code GREENFIELD15 to save 15%)
• Spirit water blended with hydrosol
• Potency + gentleness
• Turmeric addresses area of skin while bypassing the digestive system
• Best way to experience the natural elements of the jungle
• Tulsi Hydrosol (use code GREENFIELD15 to save 15%)
• Spilanthes on Kauai Farmacy (use code GREENFIELD15 to save 15%)
• Can Spilanthes acmella promote muscle growth and sexual function in men?
• Spilanthes is known as the toothache medicine
• Herbal Buzz Chew (use code GREENFIELD15 to save 15%)

-How to create your own medicine farm Doug Wolkon style…1:00:49

• Begin nourishing yourself with plant medicine first
• Doug views it as an obligation to share his knowledge with others
• Needs to be rediscovered
• Kamana Wilderness Awareness School

And much more!

Upcoming Events:

• PaleoFX (April 29 -May 1, 2022).
• RUNGA – The Gathering (May 12-14, 2022). Register for the event now by clicking here
• Health Optimization Summit! Use code BEN for 20% off (May 22-29, 2022)
• Keep up on Ben's LIVE appearances by following bengreenfieldlife.com/calendar

Click here for the full written transcript of this podcast episode.

Resources from this episode:

– Doug Wolkon:

• Kauai Farmacy (use code GREENFIELD15 to save 15%)
  • Ginger Honey
  • Noni Honey
  • Curry Blend
  • Tulsi Tea Blend
  • Puritea
  • Tropical Chai Tea
  • Wellness Tea
  • Noni Leaf Hydrosol,
  • Comfrey Noni Serum
  • Comfrey Salve
  • Sensual Serum
  • Turmeric Hydrosol
  • Tulsi Hydrosol
  • Spilanthes
  • Herbal Buzz Chew
• Ancient Healing Secrets, Tinctures, Salves, Hydrosols & Teas, Permaculture Tips & Much More From A Little-Known Superfood Farm In Hawaii.
• Raw Ginger Coconut Carrot Cake Recipe
• Noni – The All-Everything Medicine
• Using Comfrey Root To Heal Bones

– Podcasts:

• Anti-Aging, Homeschooling, Underwater Workouts, Pooping & More With Laird Hamilton & Gabby Reece

– Other Resources:

• Ben Ferris of Kolo Kai Organic Farm
• Can Spilanthes Acmella Promote Muscle Growth And Sexual Function In Men?
• Kamana Wilderness Awareness School

Episode sponsors:

–Seed Daily Synbiotic: A formulation of 24 unique strains, each of which is included at their clinically verified dose, to deliver systemic benefits in the body. Save 15% off your first month's subscription when you use discount code BEN15. (00:56)

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–JoyMode: Want to spice things up in the bedroom and boost your sexual performance? And do it naturally without nasty prescription drugs? We have a special offer for the Ben Greenfield audience. (31:02)

–Kion Aminos: Building blocks for muscle recovery, reduced cravings, better cognition, immunity, and more. (32:54)

–Spring Transformation Challenge: If you are looking to spring into action with our Spring Tribal Transformation Challenge, make sure to secure your spot. It's limited to 150 participants! (34:48)

Do you have questions, thoughts, or feedback for Doug Wolkon or me? Leave your comments below and one of us will reply!

Since the original release of this content, Ben has changed many of his thoughts and practices regarding plant medicine. To learn more, please read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.