Well, it happened. You had your first experience with an herb, and it was fabulous, but now you want more. Every plant you see triggers a question of "can I make medicine from this?" but you don't know where to start. I have great news! You can learn herbalism! Yes, you! And guess what, it doesn't have to be super expensive or even hard.
I still remember the first time I had a healing experience with a plant that sparked a fire inside to learn more about herbal medicine. It actually didn't involve me too much, but it helped my husband. We went to our family's cottage by the lake for the day, and we needed to bring a large, round, glass table up from the boathouse. Things got awkward fast, as they usually do when carrying large pieces of furniture up a flight of stairs, and in the end, my husband carrying the table by himself. Unfortunately, there is one step that is a little higher than the rest and as fate would have it, he tripped on it. Both he and the table tumbled, and in trying to save the table he put his hand between the table and the concrete edge. His hand slid down the rough stone, with the table using it as a ski. Once it was all over, his knuckles took the most of the trauma. In places, it looked like it almost hit the bone. But he saved the table!
After we had both him and the table upstairs, we cleaned his wound and applied a bandage to keep it clean until we got home. I read somewhere the previous week that Calendula officinalis is a great wound healer. So I ran to the nearest health food store and searched for Calendula petals. In our area, it was actually super hard to find, but I did and rushed home. I fired up the stove and put a pot of water on to boil. A handful of petals was all I needed, (I later learned you should use the flowering top for the best effect, not only the petals.) and I threw them in a bowl with the boiling water. They steeped for a half an hour. The water was lukewarm, and I had my husband soak his hands in it for about 15 to 20 minutes. When bedtime rolled around I would wrap his hand in a bandage and drizzle a fresh batch of wash over the bandage, and he would sleep with it on.
We repeated this for about a week before it was covered with fresh new tissue. Remember, his hand was scuffed almost to the bone! It was an amazing feeling to know I can help my husband, and we didn't have to have a big expensive doctor bill. (Please remember, emergency rooms & hospitals are a great resource, but sometimes they are overused.
That being said, if you are in an emergency or have a serious complaint, please get yourself to an ER right away or call the doctor.) This occurrence fueled my drive to learn how to heal myself and my family using safe and simple herbal medicine.
Here's where many people get scared or think that they cannot learn to use the plant allies that are growing right outside. They believe that only those with lots of money or a degree in natural medicine can create herbal remedies or have knowledge of plants that is valid. This is not true. Unfortunately, in the United States, the hard work and long hours that many have put into getting a professional title of “Certified,” or “Master” herbalist aren’t recognized. Schools may offer a certificate of completion or a title, but without a certifying agency they are not nationally recognized, and unintentionally mislead the public.
The closest thing we have to a certifying organization would be graduating from a college or becoming a professional member of the American Herbalist’s Guild. In order to do so there is a lengthy yet thorough process. You can check it out atwww.americanherbalistsguild.com It took me over ten years of working with plants and learning about them before I had the courage to call myself an herbalist. How crazy is that? It should not be that way; we are herbalists as soon as we make the connection that plants can heal and start using them in our daily lives. But that doesn't mean we should grab any plant we see, tincture it, and hand that out to our friends and families as a great medicine. Chances are, if you do that, you will have created a poison and could harm someone.
DON'T DO THAT!
But don't let that turn you away. Once you learn to identify plant allies you will be well on your way to making remedies for your family and friends that will work hundreds of times better than most store-bought or prescribed medicine.
There are so many free or low-cost resources out there where you can learn herbalism. Start with your local library. Many well-known herbalists have made it their life's mission to share the knowledge of plant medicine with the world. The first book you pick up may not be up your alley so don't be discouraged if you do not care for the author's writing style or find it hard to read. That is one of the most beautiful things about herbal medicine and herbalists. I heard Rosemary Gladstar say, "There are about as many ways to practice herbalism as there are herbalists out there," and it is true! You will find something that works for you.
Once you have scoured your library shelves and requested every book you can, (this isn't a recommendation, this is what will most likely happen if you feel called to the path of an herbalist) you may want to search the Internet, which is another free or at least low-cost way of learning. Many herbalists keep websites and blogs that are loaded with herbal information. Many even use social media like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, to share info filled posts or even live videos. These are great because you can interact and ask questions often in real-time.
Also be sure to check out LearningHerbs.com and Herb Mentor. I am not affiliated with them, but besides the library and YouTube, this is where I first started learning about herbalism way back when these sites were in their infancy. They were awesome back then, and have now blossomed into something truly amazing. There are videos, monographs, community forums, short courses and more! Many of my favorite herbalists present wonderful material on Herb Mentor and the price is hard to beat.
If you really want to dive deep into learning, maybe even consider making herbalism a career path, you can invest in taking a course or attending a school. But one thing I want to mention is that they can be cost prohibitive for many sometimes costing upwards of $5,000, and remember in the U.S. there is no nationally recognized certification for a herbalist, yet. For the ‘home herbalist’ a big course is not necessary, but may be helpful depending on how you want to learn. For those who learn best when they are being taught in a "classroom" type setting, these courses are wonderful. Plus, you get the bonus of a mentor, and interaction with like-minded people, which something to cherish. So look at the schools near you to see if they are right for you.
Remember, you don't have to take a 1700 + hour course to learn how to use plant medicine. There are herbalists around the country offer many smaller classes, or free lessons & herb walks. Taking a class taught by a local herbalist may be enough for the average home herbalist, and many times they are low-cost and can be as informative as attending a school.
Lastly, but most importantly, (this really should have been number 1) pick up a field guide for your area, and
get out in nature with the plants. (Yes, even the plants in your very own backyard are powerful!) There is something special about being with the plants outside as they grow and capture what they need that can seem almost magical. It is one of the first steps to starting a relationship with powerful plant allies and can bring a deeper connection that you can only experience when you work with them. Book learning is great for rainy days but the most knowledge will stick when you work with the plants.
As time goes on, your home apothecary will grow, you will have a knowledge of herbs that is unique to you. It is a beautiful process to watch when someone decides to connect with plants, and it is something we should never forget. Our ancestors knew this path of herbal medicine was important, that is why many passed down their knowledge. Herbal medicine is for everyone, and I urge you to start your journey today.
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