If you've ever been curious about which herbs you might want to work with for a specific issue you're dealing with, chances are you did a quick internet search and received pages upon pages of results. The internet can be a great resource for general herbal information including plant identification, safety precautions, and even growing your own medicinal herbs- but is it a trustworthy resource for your own wellness? As a full-time clinical herbalist in Salt Lake City, I see a lot of folks who have gotten cursory guidance from websites and books about which herbs to work with- but many of them still end up in our herbal apothecary. The reason is that while herbs can be an effective and gentle modality of wellness, not every herb is right for every person- and even herbs that are good for a specific condition have nuances that may make them more or less appropriate for you as a unique person.
So, let's look at three reasons why anyone who's interested in working with herbs would want to experience an herbalist consultation and formulation. I'll even share with you a bit about what a session is like and what you can expect from the process.
YOUR VERSION OF CENTER
If you flip open a book on herbal remedies or search online, you'll likely find tidy lists of herbs that are good for a specific issue. These lists are usually based on herbal actions- the way specific plants have an affinity for a particular organ, body system, function, or process. If you wanted to work on something in your lungs, for example, you might find a list of ten common herbs that are good for respiratory conditions. While each of these herbs does have a connection to that part of the body, not all of them will be the right fit for you and your version of respiratory disharmony.
As an example, one of our most popular respiratory herbal allies, Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is famous as an herb for the lungs. This plant moves deep into respiratory tissue where their healing virtues are delivered. But Mullein acts on the lungs with coldness, dampness, and thinning. A dry, hacking cough with small amounts of heat-sign in the phlegm would be on indicator for a moistening herb like Mullein Leaf, but this herb given to someone with a damp, phelgmatic, and turbid lung condition could actually make things worse. Here, you're working with an herb that will put all of its energy into the lungs and add more moisture to an already overly-wet condition.
So, your version of a respiratory condition must be addressed when choosing not just an herb that's good for what you're working on- but the herbs that's right for you as a unique person.
MEETING YOU WHERE YOU ARE
One of the things I cherish most about herbal medicine is that no matter who I'm working with, what they're doing through, or what they can currently navigate- I can find a way to bring the support of herbs into their lives. Since I write and formulate herbal remedies for each unique person I work with, I can adjust things like dose, types of plants, strength, frequency of use, and intensity to meet each person where they are.
For folks who are currently taking prescribed pharmaceutical medications or non-herbal medications they buy over the counter, we can still find safe, effective, and affirming ways to being the herbs in to your wellness journey.
I also love the fact that herbal medicine feels good to people. Connecting to the inherent wisdom of nature in the form of medicinal plants lands differently in the spirit than many other kinds of medications.
THE BODY AND BEYOND
Lastly, I want to share with you something about working with herbs that's been the most transformative for me as an individual and as a traditionally-trained herbalist with over 25 years of experience working with plants. Spirit.
I approach plants as wise, conscious, and compassionate beings who are almost always willing to share their wisdom, medicine, and magic with us. Plants have an amazing way of moving through our bodies and minds as they help support us in healing- and then move even further into areas of our lives where we didn't even realize their medicine could flow. I like to say that the herbs are unlimited in scope when it comes to what areas of the human experience they can bring their verdant medicine.
For these reasons, herbalism is on some level a spiritual practice for me that acknowledges the spirit of my client, the spirit of the herbs, and the magic that's created when they come together with the intent of creating more harmony.
If you're curious about just how profound herbalism can be, I would love to work with you!
I offer one-on-one consultations at the beautiful Flow Acupuncture & Apothecary clinic in Salt Lake City, Utah- right at the base of the historic Avenues neighborhood.
I invite you to learn more about how I work with the herbs and how you and I can explore herbalism together...
Josh Williams is a clinical herbalist, author of two textbooks on the subject of spiritual herbalism, and herbal educator. He is in full-time private practice at Flow Acupuncture & Apothecary and you can watch free community classes posted every Friday on his YouTube channel; The Green Arte.
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