We want to congratulate you that you have decided to get yourself into the world of herbalism. We all are pretty much familiar with the term herbalism and how it works. It interlinks the realm of herbs with medicine and allows specialists to study and practice the therapeutic uses of plants for healing purposes.
It has taken the form of alternative medicine and is studied under a much bigger branch of pharmacy, called pharmacognosy.
Herbalism is itself composed of a wide array of traditional systems, including:
- Traditional Ayurvedic Medicine
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Naturopathic medicine
- Folkloric herbal practices
- Clinical western herbal medicine
There are other various indigenous and Native American herbal traditions too that are still employed by herbalists to maintain a consistent health routine.
Talking of herbalism, how can we miss our dear herbalists?
They are the sole reason herbalism is thriving in this modern era. Where synthetic drugs are competing with one another to get the first lane of sale, herbs are being used calmly to support health and showing successful results too. We have mapped out some types of herbalists who can surely help you with herbs.
- Clinical herbalist
- Community herbalist
- Herb supplier
- Herb educator
- Herbal preparation formulator
- Herb farmer
Oftentimes I get asked about where to start with the journey of herbalism. Of course, there are plenty of courses available online and in person. You would also find many successful herbalists who are self-taught and running their practicing business lavishly. Here I would say that the sky's the limit when it comes to learning herbalism.
The best and the most cost-effective way of getting your head in herbalism is to start with 1 herb. That is the easiest way to get started with the process. There is absolutely no need to rush. I believe that in this fast-paced world, it is fine to slow down sometimes.
Once you have chosen the plant you want to start with, go into the fields and try to identify it. Look at its growth pattern, and try to make sketches of the aerial parts (you can take a good amount of pictures too to look at it in your free time). You can also harvest it and bring it home to study its features.
I would recommend opting for a good book or website to learn about the benefits of that particular herb in your hands. Our Medicinal Plants 101 directory can be your perfect go-to option as it encompasses almost every aspect you want to learn about your herb.
To experience the highly-prized benefits of your chosen herb, you can formulate its tincture, vinegar infusion, syrup, decoction, tea, and whatnot. This way you would be able to not only identify the benefits but remember them too.
Once your head has wrapped around the aspects of your chosen herb, take a step and move on to the second one. With time and consistency, you will be able to grab a hefty amount of knowledge with precision for sure!