This is What Happens When You Love Herbs
Or anything else involved with nature for that matter.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about why I love herbalism so much. Let me explain how I stumbled upon this wonderful healing modality.
When I was recovering from burnout, I spent many hours in nature. During this time I started backpacking, which opened my eyes to a whole new world. I’ve always been a nature lover and spent plenty of time exploring the natural world over the years.
Still, it wasn’t until I was suffering emotionally that I experienced the healing power of nature.
I clearly remember one backpacking trip in the Sawtooths. I stopped along the trail to rest and looked down at my feet. There was a fascinating plant with little red berries and I had no idea what it was (it was Kinnikinnick btw). As I continued hiking, I noticed that I barely knew any of the plants surrounding me.
Here I was feeling a kinship with nature, and to my chagrin, I didn’t even know the names of those that played a part in my healing. So back home, I purchased my first regional plant guide. It not only helped identify a plant, but it also described its edible and medicinal qualities.
What a pleasant surprise to realize I was surrounded by natural medicine, and I decided to find a local herbalist to learn more. It was important to me to study the plants specific to my region because they are the ones I felt a connection with.
That was the beginning, and I haven’t stopped learning about plants since. In this article, I want to share five reasons why I love herbalism and how it has changed my life.
Reciprocal Relationships
The plants taught me the importance of caring for the environment. When I practice herbalism, I take from nature, but I’m conscious of what I’m doing and always do it with intention and respect.
Most of the herbs I use are grown in my garden. I wildcraft some, but only from abundant populations, and I’m of the mindset that wildcrafting is not the optimum choice for the sustainability of the plants and their ecosystem. Thus, I’ve learned that giving back is much more satisfying than taking.
Sometimes I feel like the plants provide more to me than I ever could to them. However, they have taught me the meaning of relationships built upon mutual support.
Relationship with the natural world, relationships with others, and the relationship with myself.
Learn to Listen & Care for Yourself Holistically
Learning to listen to what your body is saying is one of the most important things you can do for your health. I guarantee that if everyone were conscious of what their bodies are trying to tell them, they would experience fewer health issues. Unfortunately, most of us wait until our bodies scream at us with illness or disease.
Our hearts, minds, and souls alert us when something is amiss. Although comprehension can be difficult, communication becomes easier once we give ourselves space and permission.
The plants taught me this important lesson when I began working with them and it’s advice I will continue to heed. I now have the utmost respect and appreciation for my internal wisdom.
More Control Over Your Health
Western mindset is to take a pill to correct an issue without trying to figure out the causative factor. This is one of the reasons for the high rates of preventable diseases in our society.
Herbs function differently than pharmaceuticals, and you need to know that herbal remedies can be misused. Although herbs are effective, an herb that relieves my affliction may not give you the same results.
However, once you incorporate herbs into your routine, you'll discover which ones deliver results and how well they complement a healthy lifestyle.
Herbs are holistic healers and great for bringing balance to our systems. Certain natural remedies may provide better outcomes than synthetic drugs, and this knowledge makes it easier to improve other unhealthy habits.
In this way, herbs have given me more control over my health and helped me become the expert of my body.
Ordinary Becomes Extraordinary
When did you last watch a bumblebee gather nectar from a flower? Or witnessed the aspen leaves tremble in the breeze? Studying herbs showed me that details are important.
When identifying herbs, details are essential so you don’t accidentally harvest a toxic or ineffective plant. That’s why I’m drawn to macrophotography - it allows me to see things I miss with my human eye.
The plants want us to slow down and observe. You’ll be amazed at what arises when you pause. This can relate to anything in life, not just the natural world.
Since I became aware of the details, life has been more interesting and engaging. There’s beauty and magic everywhere, waiting to be discovered.
Advocate for What You Love
All of these lessons from the plants have significantly impacted my life, but the one I feel the most passionate about is advocating for Mother Earth. It is my home, home to the people I love, and home to the plants and animals I adore.
The natural world deserves to be treated with respect. To say the least, the things we are doing to our planet are atrocious and depressing. Despite what mainstream culture has us believe, humans aren’t separate from nature; we are a part of nature, inexplicably bound together.
Spraying toxic chemicals to control a weed or a bug only causes more harm than good. It affects our health and the health of the planet. This is only one example of many, but I’m sure you get the point.
Because of herbalism, I will advocate, protect, and do what I can to make this world a better place for everything that lives here.
That’s All She Wrote
You don’t need to be an herbalist to incorporate these benefits into your life. But I do hope you discover a pastime that connects you to the natural world.
Herbalism led me to where I am today, and I’m thankful I followed that path.
Such a beautiful read Kendra, thank you :)
Exactly this! Delightful read Kendra.