Ric Scalzo began his exploration of herbal and naturopathic medicine in 1980, delving into fields such as Naturopathic Herbal Medicine, Eclectic Herbal Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and various diagnostic methods. He earned a master's degree in Herbal Medicine from the School of Herbal Medicine and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine.
After several years of medical practice, Ric founded Gaia Herbs in 1987 and grew Gaia to the most respected and successful herbal company in the country. After selling Gaia in 2019, Ric established the Institute of Botanical Research in Arizona and established CR Medicinal Farms, a regenerative organic farm in Costa Rica. These became the stepping stones for his new adventure called Kokora, a herbal products company focused on regenerative organic cultivation with a mission to "create the finest herbal remedies that promote health and vitality for all".
Celebrated for his pioneering work in Herbal Medicine and his dedication to preserving herbal integrity for over four decades, Ric continues to innovate in the field and plays a key role in integrating regenerative agriculture with herbal medicine.
In this episode, Ric Scalzo explores how regenerative herbal farming, constitution‑based botanical formulas, and aligned sleep practices can radically upgrade immune resilience, metabolic health, and inner‑outer environment regeneration.
RESOURCES:
CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Ric Scalzo bio and herbal medicine journey.
00:30 – Founding Gaia Herbs and moving into regenerative farming.
00:59 – Why Ric's research farm and regenerative agriculture matter.
02:01 – New regenerative agriculture courses and Kokora Life.
02:32 – Sponsor: Peluva barefoot shoes story and offer.
04:19 – Interview begins: welcoming Ric back and setting the stage.
05:07 – Life in Costa Rica and fruit‑tree sanctuary.
05:59 – Turning a sugarcane monocrop into a regenerative organic farm.
07:04 – Soil microbiology, nutrient density, and immune resilience.
08:47 – Environmental toxins, plastics, and depleted soils as a "double whammy."
11:02 – Why regenerative agriculture is essential for diversity and life.
13:02 – Soil diversity, multiple crops, and gut microbiome parallels.
23:31 – Ric's clinical background, diagnostic methods, and constitutional herbal formulas.
28:33 – Mast cells, allergies, and Total Defense immune support philosophy.
31:24 – Immune stressors, nasal turbinates, silent onset, and inflammation research.
36:06 – Quick Response vs Total Defense: timing the immune "war."
36:06 – Higher Coaching, app, retreats, and lab‑based work.
41:43 – Sleep, circadian rhythm, angel train metaphor, and latency vs maintenance.
49:51 – Golden Milk Bliss, ojas, sattva, and nighttime nervous‑system support.
53:07 – Why to support Kokora and what regenerative agriculture provides.
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