I realize I missed last week’s blog schedule. Things were a little crazy here at the Homestead.  One of the things that was holding up some of my chores was being without wheels.  Well, I finally got my beloved pickup truck back after a 10-point buck killed himself by running into me on the night before Thanksgiving.  While I know that is no excuse, of course,  I am grateful to be back on schedule at any rate.

Herbalism is a subject near and dear to my heart. It was something that I had always been drawn to and had been raised to appreciate. I have spent most of my adult life delving into the various aspects of herbalism, studied under recognized professional herbalists, worked for one of the largest natural products and herb suppliers in the United States, and started my own herbal practice and product business. I have studied for several years under an American Herbalist’s Guild (AHG) professional who is local to me. I have also rubbed elbows and corresponded with other herbalists who are recognized in the field.  I want to pass along some of the things I have learned and also provide several resources that I have found helpful in my herbal journey.  This blog entry will be the first of at least two posts that go over herbal education available via the web and books. I may add more to it if necessary.

First Things First

I know that our society puts a whole lot of emphasis on degrees, complete with sheepskins on the wall, certificates, etc. In the world of herbalism, while education is a very good thing, there is no such thing as being a “licensed” herbalist in the United States. Full. Stop.  So before you dive for your credit card and sign up for that shiny herbal course you saw advertised on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, understand that while people have put together courses to make it easy for those who need the structure, too few actually provide you with anything that you cannot learn on your own if you are committed to learn. I know of so-called herbal academies that copy out of other people’s books without crediting those authors to put together their own worksheets. After students complete the course, they receive a certificate that anyone could have printed off of their home printer with some papers that are easily purchased from Amazon or an office supply store.

There are scores of books, both at the beginner’s level or all the way up to the level where most doctors and scientists are most comfortable. There are scores of YouTube Videos, and websites assembled by respected herbal elders and experts, most of which are available at no cost, or a small fee to access their archives. Don’t overlook actual people and being able to open up a dialogue. If you show initiative and are respectful of them and their knowledge, doors will swing open wide more often than not. Many understand that passing on the legacy of knowledge is far more important than making a profit out of someone’s desire to learn more.

Now, if you want to take courses at your local herbalist’s shop, at a nearby community college, or online, by all means, please DO! Only you can decide what works best for you – and that is, in my view, how it should be.

Beginning Your Herbal Studies

Before you crack open a book or sit down to watch any videos or peruse the web, the first thing you need to do is to get yourself a notebook and something to write with. Get used to the idea of writing everything down, because I promise you, when you are planting, harvesting, drying, or processing your herbs in any way if you commit what you are doing only to memory, you are going to forget things.  That’s just the nature of our brains, and science has proved that the action of handwriting is shown to directly connect to our brains. Call it muscle memory, call it whatever you want, I believe there is a great deal of wisdom in that practice. It also helps when reproducing a successful situation – be it planting, tincturing, or creating a tea or herbal formula, knowing exactly how you did it before is crucial. It becomes even more so if you, a family member or a client has an allergic reaction to something in a formula. Just write it down.

One of the things I hammer into the heads of all of my own herbal students is to learn and use botanical names. Common names are often limited by culture, and just calling something by its common name can set up a situation that may end up being dangerous. Some species of plant are far more powerful than others in the same family. You will also find that various species of plants smell and work differently and have different “temperaments”. This practice is also especially useful when ordering plants. If you know and use botanical names, the doors of the gardening world will open wide.

Where to Find Information

My first recommendation is always to go to the public library and browse for books on herbs. Many of these books are general outlines of herbs with monographs that are easy to understand and absorb. Check some out, and be sure to take notes on the herbs that you are interested in.   From there, when your nursery, home improvement center, or grocery store starts carrying herbs or herb seeds for the season, pick a couple of favorites and try growing them at home.  Hands-on experience is invaluable and you will get to know the plants far more intimately that way.

Henriette’s Herbal – One of the best sources of information on the web is a site maintained by European herbalist, Henriette Kress. Henriette is by far one the world’s most knowledgeable herbalists. Herniette’s Herbal Homepage is a free source and has articles, botanical information, nearly 16,000 herbal photos, herbal monographs, and scores of classic texts such as King’s American Dispensatory. Remember I told you about learning those botanical names?  You will need those names because many of the classic texts were written for physicians of the day, and that’s how they are listed.

Botanical.com – This website features the two-volume work by Mrs. M. Grieve. Since this work was originally published in 1931, it is in the public domain.  This site has them listed so you can look up each monograph on the fly, whether you are on your phone or a computer. However, if you are like me and prefer a physical copy, A Modern Herbal Volume 1 and A Modern Herbal Volume 2 are readily available on Amazon.  In the interest of full disclosure,  I do earn a commission for purchases made through product links on this post  Please know that all of the books that I recommend here are ones that I have purchased for my own herbal library.

HerbMed – Put together by the American Botanical Council, HerbMed is another excellent free source to learn more about herbs and their uses.

Herbalista Free School – This is an online resource that is supported by members but offers free classes that are open to the public online at any time. Some classes are via Zoom, while others are pre-recorded.

Project Gutenberg – This website has information on anything you can possibly imagine. This free website has an herbal section filled with classic books and information that can prove invaluable in your herbal studies.

The Herb Society of North America –  This organization is dedicated to the promotion of herbal education and the preservation of herbal heritage and habitat.

This is but a very small sampling of the information you can find on the Internet. There are so many exceptional herbal websites. Find the ones that work well for you in your own studies, bookmark them, make note of them, and pass along what you have learned to others. If you have found one that you like that I failed to mention, please comment and we can add it to the list.  In that way, we keep herbal knowledge alive for future generations.

Disclaimer: The information made on this blog is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, recommend, or prevent any medical condition or replace professional medical advice. If you are pregnant or nursing, taking any medications, or have a medical condition, consult your physician or healthcare professional before using any herbs, herbal products, supplements, or tea.