Exploring the World of Herbalism

By Stacy Dever, Certified Herbalist

Herbalism, the practice of using herbs, has been around as long as humans have and is now enjoying a come back in popularity as more individuals are seeking to care for their health without the side effects of pharmaceuticals. People use herbs to deal with acute infections, such as bronchitis, the common cold, and ear infections, as well as chronic conditions such as digestive imbalances, acne, and depression. People also use herbs preventatively, to ward off the common cold, to keep the eliminative organs functioning well, and to build the immune system. Herbs are also used as nutritional support, such as in the case of nettles, dandelion greens, and rosehips which contain iron, calcium, vitamin C and many more nutrients.

What is an Herbalist?

The definition of an herbalist varies depending on who is asked. To some, such as Rosemary Gladstar, it is anyone who loves herbs and uses them often in their lives. To others, it is someone who has a strong knowledge of using herbs medicinally and uses that knowledge to help others deal with health concerns. It may be an individual who buys bulk herbs at the co-op or someone who finds the plants in nature and harvests them for medicinal use. Some people go through schools that include clinical experience to train to be a certified herbalist, while others study through correspondence courses or apprenticeships. Some study to develop a professional practice while others study to be able to help themselves and their household, family, and friends deal with health issues naturally. Currently, there is no legalized system of practicing herbalism as a healing art or science in this country. This is a controversial issue among herbalists, with some wanting to keep it this way to allow more freedom and others wanting strict guidelines and safety for practicing. Herbalists who consult are legally not allowed to diagnose, treat, or cure (or claim to.)

Many different approaches to herbalism exist, including what Susun Weed terms the “scientific” tradition, which mainly focuses on symptoms. Others focus on the root cause of the symptom, perhaps using herbs to both alleviate the symptoms and to help balance the condition causing the symptoms. For example, acne is often the result of the liver needing to be toned. An herbalist practicing in a more holistic fashion may give the individual a blend of herbs to use directly on the face to draw out infection, cleanse, and tone the tissue, while suggesting the individual consider dietary changes such as better quality oils, less refined foods, and more fresh fruits and vegetables and using herbs that support the liver, such as dandelion and burdock root.

How are herbs taken?

Herbs can be taken and applied in many ways. Beverage teas are very common and not the most medicinal. This is where an herb is steeped for maybe five minutes. An infusion is when an herb is steeped in hot water for a longer period of time—30 minutes to 8 hours, depending on the part of the plant being used and what the active constituents of the plant are. For example, the volatile oils in Thyme are considered to contain the antiviral properties. These are extracted into the water in a matter of minutes and the steeping vessel needs to be covered to contain the oils. A mineral, such as iron, takes much longer to extract, so steeping nettles for 4 hours would be helpful for getting the most nutrition from the plant. Most roots and some berries need to be decocted, or simmered for 30 minutes or longer, to extract the active ingredients. Another common method of taking herbs is a tincture, which is most often an alcohol extraction of the medicine in the plant. Sometimes apple cider vinegar or glycerine is used instead of alcohol. Each extracts different constituents, with alcohol extracting the widest range and vinegar extracting the most minerals. (Consider making an herbal vinegar loaded with minerals and using it as a salad dressing.) Tinctures are easy to make at home—see the reference list for books. Tinctures are taken as drops. Fluid extracts are similar to tinctures. They are more concentrated and require special equipment to prepare. Poultices and fomentations involve using the herb externally. Salves and ointments are made by extracting the herbal medicine in an oil, such as olive oil and then adding beeswax, cocoa butter, and/or lanolin to help solidify it.

What can herbs be used for?

The following is a brief list of some ailments and herbs that can help. This list is not comprehensive in any way. It is recommended that you do your own research on these herbs and conditions before using them, especially if you are on any medications.

• Fever — Elderflowers, Peppermint, Yarrow, Catnip
• Liver Tonic — Dandelion Rt., Burdock Rt., Gentian Rt.
• Joint Pain — St. Johnswort, Meadowsweet, Dandelion
• Insomnia — Hops, Valerian, Chamomile, Scullcap, Passionflower
• Nervousness — Scullcap, Passionflower
• Migraines — Feverfew (fresh plant material is best)
• Allergies — Fresh Nettles
• Minor Skin Injuries — Calendula, St. Johnswort, Comfrey
• Depression — St. Johnswort
• Cramps — Crampbark, Valerian, Passionflower
• High Blood Pressure — Hawthorne, Garlic

If you want to learn more…

Some great beginning books include Herbal Healing for Women or Family Herbal by Rosemary Gladstar (or any book by her), Healing Wise by Susun Weed, Herbal Handbook by David Hoffman, A New Age Herbalist by Richard Mabey. Other authors that I enjoy are Amanda McQuade Crawford, Joyce Wardwell, and Ann McIntyre. Here in Michigan, apprenticeships are offered by Jackie Rushton and classes are offered by herbal author Joyce Wardwell of East Jordan. Many schools exist around the country such as the California School of Herbal Studies, The Rocky Mountain Center for Botanical Studies (Chinese), Southwest School of Botanical Medicine, and the North American College of Botanical Medicine to name a few. Many more schools are listed at www.naturalhealers.com. When choosing a school it is helpful to determine if the school will allow you to reach your goal and if the school shares your approach to herbalism.

Correspondence courses are offered by Rosemary Gladstar, Susun Weed, Michael Tierra, Australasian College of Herbal Studies, and many other herbalists and herbal schools.

Also, please check out United Plant Savers website to learn how to use and help preserve our herbs: www.unitedplantsavers.org

Stacy Dever is a certified herbalist practicing in the Wise Woman tradition, mother of two sons, and owner of Green Wisdom Herbal Products. She can be reached at 231-995-9697.