What Do Permaculture and Herbalism Have in Common?
In the new Regenerative Herbalism Intensive available in The Herbarium, you’ll deepen your understanding of the exquisite interdependence of human health and the well-being of our planet. In this Intensive, Herbal Academy educator Sarah Wu offers an in-depth overview of the parallels between the earth’s structure and the human body, in all of their complexity…
Can I Become a Certified Herbalist?
If you are reading this article, it is probably because you have a love of herbalism. You may be curious about herbalism as a career path and wonder what kind of training or credentials are required to become an herbalist. The good (and perhaps confusing) news is that there is no single path to becoming…
Everyday Korean Herbs + a Hibiscus Jujube Tea Recipe
In our new Everyday Korean Herbs Intensive available in The Herbarium, herbalist Grace Yoon, author of The Korean Herbal Apothecary, deep dives into the many different aspects of herbal traditions in Korea. This intensive covers topics of interest ranging from specific Korean herbs for beauty to Confucianism and its philosophical influence on Eastern perspectives on…
Plant Personalities: How Growing Plants Deepened My Relationship With Them
I can proudly shout from the rooftops that I am a giant nerd! I am obsessed with herbalism, plant personalities, and creating deeper connections to the earth. This path is a lifelong study, which is one of the many reasons I am drawn to it. As an herbalist, I can continually read, study, play, and…
Bioregional Herbalism
Bioregional herbalism is the oldest form of herbal practice. Before global trade people used what was close at hand. This taught herbal practitioners to develop relationships with the plants in their region on a much deeper level—beyond clinical knowledge and using herbs to address specific problems. This deep, experiential knowledge gave people a profound sense…
Community Herbalism: 3 Ways to Make it More Accessible
Awhile back, I was sitting outside and thoughts tinged by panic began to pop up, seemingly out of nowhere. A voice inside asked, “isn’t your business just participating in capitalism? Is there any community in your community herbalism practice? Do your personal values match your business values? Upon considering this message, I had to admit…
4 Everyday Ways To Use Hydrosols
I studied herbalism for nearly seven years before I stumbled across hydrosols! When I finally started researching how to use hydrosols, I was amazed that this safe and versatile product wasn’t more popular. Aromatherapist and herbalist Cathy Skipper calls hydrosols “the quiet revolution in plant medicine” (AromaGnosis, 2019), and indeed, they’ve started to gain more…
Free Ebook: Top 10 Herbalism Articles of 2018
Although the new year has already begun, some of you may still be looking back on 2018, reflecting on experiences had or lessons learned. Some of this reflection may revolve around your herbal journey and how it’s progressed or changed over the year. If this is you, we have something to help you with your…
Curious About Becoming An Herbalist? Here’s What You Need To Know First!
Have you ever daydreamed about becoming an herbalist? Perhaps in your dream, you’re standing in your herbal garden, basket in hand, wind blowing through your hair as you gather flowers, leaves, and roots to take home and prepare for later use. Maybe you’re standing in your kitchen, your counters covered with supplies and materials to…
Herbalism: A History – How Herbalists Of The Past Paved The Way For Today
Have you ever wondered how modern-day herbalism came to be? Before the dawn of Instagram herbalism or online herbal education (like the Herbal Academy!), the roots of herbalism run quite deep. Tracing these roots all the way back to prehistory (the time before writing systems were developed), we find that different cultures around the world…
101 Herbal Books To Build Your Herbal Library
As we so often remind our readers and students, learning herbalism is a lifelong journey to be savored and experienced. It is an endeavor to be nurtured with hands-on practice, study with experienced teachers, and learning from the many herbal books written by herbalists of all traditions and approaches, both modern and historical. As herbalists,…
How To Approach Headaches Naturally With Supportive Herbs And Essential Oils
You might feel pressure behind your eyes. You might feel pain across your forehead or just on one side of your head. The ache may be dull or sharp and may increase slowly or quickly. You might have blurred vision or a sensitivity to light or sound. All of these symptoms have one thing in…
How to Make an Herbal Decoction
That simple, tasty cup of tea is only one way of extracting the many virtues of herbs into water. Other ways include the making of infusions and decoctions. Today I am going to share how to make an herbal decoction and which herbs are used for this type of herbal preparation. Infusions are used with…
A Comprehensive School Directory & Guide to Finding the Best Herbal Education For You!
It is, after all, transformation that all the best herbal schools encourage, enabling and supporting our transitioning into informed and empowered plant healers who have amazing gifts to share with this world. – Plant Healer, Herbal Education Guide & Herbal School Directory, p. 26 It is in this spirit that the wonderful folks at Plant…
How to Begin your Herbalist Training
You want to become an herbalist, but you’re not sure where to begin. That’s natural, because although an herbalist is someone who works with and studies herbs, the details of how and where an herbalist acquires their herbalist training depends on the interests and talents of the individual. Most often, the job people have in…
Celebrate Herbalist Day by Honoring Your Teachers – FREE card downloads!
Herbalists are known for generously sharing knowledge about herbalism with those around them, helping to empower others to tend to their own wellness. From the seemingly small actions of showing someone how to brew a cup of tea or make a comforting herbal bath to more formal instruction of students in a classroom or writing…
How To Learn Herbalism Directly From Plants
By Sage L. Maurer The plant spirits are waiting to speak with those of us who are open to listening. They echo through our minds and hearts, touching our bodies with their healing hands, and guide us into the medicine we are most needing. We can ask the plants for wisdom and guidance, and we…
Opportunities for the Herbal Entrepreneur
Herbalism is a unique niche for the aspiring entrepreneur. Herbalist entrepreneurs can create their dream job by turning a passion for herbalism into a living. We’ve done it here at the Academy! Creating a line of herbal extracts, body care products or tea blends, growing or wildcrafting herbs to sell, or creating monthly herbal CSA…
How To Make A Poultice With Dried & Fresh Herbs
It’s easy to focus on the internal herbal preparations, like teas, extracts, and syrups, because we are so conditioned to “taking something” – whether that be supplements, OTC medications, or prescriptions – to manage our health. Topical herbalism, though, has many unique preparations that have benefited people for generations. In this post we’ll teach you…
What is Herbalist Day, also known as Thank an Herbalist Day?
Everyone has a unique story of their own herbal journey. Herbs touch so many lives – they are there for people of all ages and from all walks of life. For some, a kind word from a friend set them on this path. For others, a cherished book or the curiosity born from exploring a…
Herbs Work For Our Highest Good: Tonics, Adaptogens, and Alteratives
One of the views that sets herbalism apart as a philosophy of the human body is the way herbs teach us to see our relationship with wellness. Rather than seeing the body as irreparably broken when chronic illness unfolds, herbs teach us to see the body as having come out of balance within itself. Balance…
Understanding The Simplicity Of Herbs
Some herbalists use a healing art called “simpling,” referring to the use of one herb at a time rather than in formulas or in combinations. These single herbs are called “simples” and the people who use them, “simplers.” We can all benefit from learning to understand the simplicity of herbs. No matter how much I…
