How can an herbalist support you on your healing journey?
For millions of years, humankind has looked to plants for healing. Our ancestors used herbs in their everyday lives to support their health and wellbeing. Many of us have stories from our childhoods of our grandparents going out into the garden and coming back with a plant, flower, or root to create "magic" teas or poultices that would soothe our stomachs or stop the annoying itch from mosquito bites. It may seem that in today's world, many have forgotten the old ways, but thankfully herbalists continue to teach and guide their communities using herbal allies with great success.
What is an herbalist?
An herbalist is a person who practices healing using plants, seeds, barks, flowers, roots, rhizomes, berries, and even mushrooms. Herbalists seek to address each person as a whole: mind (emotional), body (physical), and spirit. A physical illness may have been caused by years of emotional distress, knowledgeable herbalists get to know their patients on a deep and personal level in order to understand how they got to where they are today.
There are many different kinds of herbalists. Some herbalists gain their knowledge as it's passed down from generation to generation. Others gain their knowledge from apprenticeships or school programs and tend to focus on teaching their communities about the power of herbs. There are also clinical herbalists who have more extensive training and work with clients on a regular basis in an office setting (whether that's virtual or in-person).
Just like there are different kinds of herbalists, there are also various kinds of traditional herbal studies. Some of them include Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ayurveda, and Western Herbalism and Energetics.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): TCM is a healing system that has been used for thousands of years in China. This healing system aims to balance the flow of qi (vital life force). TCM practitioners use herbs and other healing modalities such as cupping and acupuncture.
Ayurveda: Ayurveda is a system native to the regions of India and Nepal. In Ayurveda, the body is made up of a mix of three doshas (vata, pitta, and kapha doshas). When one of the doshas is out of balance, health issues arise. Ayurvedic practitioners will then use herbs and diet to bring the doshas back into balance.
Western Herbalism: Western herbalism has been influenced by many cultures, including Native Americans, Africans, and Europeans. Herbal energetics in western herbalism has also been influenced by TCM and Ayurveda.
When to see a professional herbalist?
Oftentimes we get asked, "How do I know I should see an herbalist instead of a doctor?" This is a very personal question and can only be answered by the person themselves. The following questions may help you gain some clarity that can lead you to your answer.
What are you looking to achieve?
The main question is: what are you looking to achieve? There are people who prefer taking medication, and there are people who prefer taking teas and tinctures. There is nothing wrong with either of those choices. Each person has their own healing journey and knows what feels best for them.
Are you interested in making lifestyle changes?
Apart from prescribing herbs, herbalists seek to treat the body as a whole (mind, body, and spirit). Your herbalist may ask you to make lifestyle changes such as dietary adjustments and adding exercise and meditation routines. Are you ready or interested in making those changes?
How long have you been seeking treatment for a specific ailment?
Sometimes people will look for other forms of treatment after years of seeking help from medical professionals with little to no success. For some people, western medicine can often feel like they are just treating their symptoms rather than finding and treating the root cause of their disease or ailments.
Are you looking for a customized treatment?
Herbal practitioners seek to customize herbs and lifestyle treatment protocols for each individual patient. In Western medicine, you may often see two different patients walk out of a consultation for depression with nervous agitation with the same medication. An herbalist takes a different approach. Although these two people might be experiencing similar symptoms, they will each be receiving a different protocol and set of herbs depending on their individual emotional and physical responses to their disharmony.
Remember, there is no right or wrong answer to what kind of treatment you decide to choose. It is all about following your guidance system and ultimately feeling what is best for you.
What does it look like to work with an herbalist?
An herbal consultation may be in-person or online (virtual). This will depend on the location of your herbalist and how they prefer to work. But before your first consultation, you will most likely receive an email or mail packet with client intake forms. Similar to forms you have often filled out at your doctor's office, client intake forms include questions about your past medical history, family medical history, list of medications you are currently taking, and the reason for your visit. But that’s where the similarities end.
Herbalist intake packet example questions:
Your lifestyle can have a direct impact on your health, different lifestyle factors can cause physical and/or mental stress. Lifestyle questions include:
Who do you live with?
What is your relationship status?
What is your current occupation and how many hours do you work per day?
What is your work setting, and what is your commute time?
What are the physical demands of your work? Do you lift heavy material, how long are you sitting? How many hours a day do you use a computer?
What is your exercise routine?
Your herbalist will also have a section of questions about your emotional state of being. Emotions affect our mental state of being as well as our physical state of being. Oftentimes, emotions will manifest themselves as physical aches and pains.
What makes you happy?
What helps you relax?
What is your religious or spiritual affiliation (if any)?
Are you happy with your body?
Are there any family problems affecting you emotionally?
Diet can have a significant impact on how we feel physically and mentally. A well-balanced diet can help us feel more energized and balanced. Some herbalists may have you fill out a food journal. Common questions about diet and digestion include:
Are you a vegetarian or meat-eater?
Do you have any food restrictions (ex. allergies)?
What percent of your diet is raw fruits and vegetables?
What foods do you crave?
Your body temperature and overall energy can give an herbalist insight into your overall constitution.
Do you typically run hot or cold (temperature)?
How often are you thirsty?
Do you experience sweating during the day or night?
Are you experiencing any mucus secretions? (runny nose, watery eyes, etc.)
When do you have the most energy? When do you have the least energy?
Are you happy with your energy levels?
Sleep is another important factor that contributes to our overall health and wellness. Not getting enough rest can lead to increased stress levels and overall lower energy. If you’re having trouble sleeping, an herbalist can prescribe certain plant allies that may assist in relaxing the body and mind to help you get to sleep.
What time do you go to sleep? And what time do you wake up?
Do you have trouble falling asleep?
Do you wake up often during the night?
New client appointments are generally 90 minutes. This allows the herbalist to really get to know their new client and gives the client the opportunity to get to know their herbalist. Follow-up appointments are generally every 3–4 weeks, giving the herbs enough time to work their magic!
Common Herbal Suggestions
The benefit of working with an herbalist is that you get a unique individualized protocol; some may include tinctures, teas/infusions, flower essences, dietary suggestions, and even energy healing.
Herbal Extracts /Tinctures
Herbal extracts/tinctures are a combination of plant material and alcohol or glycerin. Tinctures can be made from fresh or dried plant material that is steeped for a period of 6 weeks in the menstruum of choice, traditionally alcohol.
Alcohol is a great solvent to extract a wide range of healing properties from the plants, creating a concentrated solution whose effects can often be felt on the same day. Stronger effects can usually be felt in about 1–4 weeks.
Herbal Infusions/ Teas
Herbal teas are one of the oldest forms of medicine. Water can extract nutrients and properties from plants that are not oil or alcohol soluble. For example, calcium found in plants can be better extracted in water than in alcohol.
What is the difference between an herbal tea and an herbal infusion? An infusion is just a stronger form of medicinal tea. Infusions are generally left to steep in water for 1 hour for flowers and leaves and 4 hours for roots and barks. Some infusions can even be left to steep overnight.
Flower Essence
Flower essences are vibrational remedies that assist in moving and shifting our energy to foster healing and personal growth. Discovered in the 1930's by Dr. Bach, flower essences offer a natural way to support our physical, emotional, and mental well-being. These vibrational remedies are made from living flowers and assist in harmonizing our chakras to boost vitality and reset patterns of imbalance. Flower essences may also help shift deep-seated trauma, woundings and limiting beliefs that have been imprinted into our energetic system, often starting in childhood.
As this energy is moved from the subconscious to the conscious mind, we begin to release what no longer serves us, resulting in subtle and beautiful shifts that nurture, inspire, and support personal growth and healing.
Dietary Suggestions
The food that you put into your body directly affects your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. It's important that you honor your body by feeding it nutritious foods full of vitamins and minerals. Incorporating more whole plants into your diet can have an anti-inflammatory effect. Fruits and vegetables can help the body fight off oxidative stress.
Energy Healing
Shamanic healing and energy medicine are the oldest forms of healing known to humanity, having been in existence for over 100,000 years.
Shamanic energy healing work can remove energetic intrusions, or heavy energies, from the luminous energy field that surrounds a person. Heavy energies can accumulate over the course of a lifetime and interrupt the free flow of energy through the chakras. By clearing and transforming these heavy energies, the luminous field is able to re-pattern the body and soul back to wellness.
If you are ready to connect with the plants and have an active role in your health and wellness, Gina Kearney RH (AHG) offers in-person and online appointments (via Zoom).
Licorice & Wild Cherry Bark Cough Syrup Recipe
• 1/3 cup licorice root
• 1/3 cup wild cherry bark
• 32 Oz water
• 1/2 cup honey (or less)
Instructions:
• Add water to pot, add licorice root and wild cherry bark
• Bring to a boil, turn down heat and slowly simmer for 30 minutes
• Strain out herbs and return liquid to pot.
• Stir in raw, local honey to taste. Cover and store in the refrigerator.