I heard this story once and since then it has a special place in my heart.
A group of anthropologists visited a tribe in South America (honestly, it could be anywhere in the world) and tried to record their life as they usually do. We are several decades back, unfortunately I can't remember exactly when. The anthropologists were very kind and the indigenous people were very welcoming and open to share everything. When the anthropologists asked them "How did you learn all these amazing things about herbs and plants and their healing powers?", the indigenous people tried to understand what the anthropologists wanted to know. They were hosting these guys in their village already a few days, they knew they could listen to their voices and reply to their questions. "The plants told us" they said feeling confused and they added "Can't you listen to the plants?" I guess they wondered "What's wrong with these people? Is this possible?"
I heard this story from Asia Suler, a gifted herbalist.
And it is true, we have disconnected from Nature and our nature. The thing is that by learning new stuff and creating a high speed society we forgot the basis of our own existence, that we are part of the life in this tiny spot in the Universe, nothing more and nothing less. Indigenous people haven't forgotten this and still honor our connection with the plants and all beings.
Plants are here to share their wisdom, they have been here long before we do and they are our oldest allies, always supporting us. Would we still be here if it wasn't for the plants to feed us, dress us, heal us and comfort us?
I guess herbalism is a way back to the roots. The roots of humankind poetically, but basically also back to the roots of who each one of us really is.
Herbalism is a journey inwards. You need to be honest to yourself in order to understand what you need and get back in balance. You need to study, yes, but you also need to learn how to accept all your parts, how to trust your intuition and be open to all this wisdom out there with open heart and open mind.
Do we need to say that herbs have powerful medicinal properties? It is already proven and they are widely used in medicine. Herbalism is so much more than that.
We don't need just physical healing but healing on many levels. And this is a never ending process.
The human body is not separate from the heart and mind, feelings and thoughts. It is not just several autonomous systems, but a whole complex multidimensional system. There is no battle between medicine and herbalism, there is no need as they both are here to serve us. Each one of us is different and unique and we can welcome the benefits of herbalism in so many different ways. We don't have to be herbalists out in the forest with a basket looking for herbs (which is amazing!). Plants are all around. We just have to slow down for a while and connect with them in our own way. Even by taking 15' to think about how we feel today, what do we need, prepare a herbal tea and just be there for ourselves even just for a moment.
Herbalism is a way of living, a way of thinking, a way of dealing with the world and a way of honoring our true existence. Am I exaggerating? Maybe! But it is only because herbalism and natural medicine is my way to feel good in this weird complicated world.
This post is my response to the question of The Herbal Hive community, one of the coziest corners in this virtual world:
We'd love to hear your thoughts about this quote:
Herbal medicine's been around for thousands of years!" Indeed it has, and then we tested it all, and the stuff that worked became 'medicine'. And the rest of it is just a nice bowl of soup and some potpourri. — Dara O Briain
Is this how YOU feel about the world of herbalism? Is it simply rosemary on potatoes or some nice smelling dried plants in a bowl? Or is it much more than that?
If you would like to know more about me this is my introduction post!