How do we digest difficult experiences? Can plants, from the perspective of herbalism, help? In my experience, the answer is yes. My approach to herbalism is holistic and it is also an approach to deepening intimacy with our bodies and with nature. So it can be hard determine where the real healing begins.
Holistic herbalism is not a “this for that” approach to medicine (take this plant for that symptom) or a tool to eliminate acute discomfort, though that can be done; it is preventative medicine and a daily, ever-evolving practice of self-care. For me, the most powerful aspects of the practice are working in direct relationship with the land while learning more and more about the incredible ecosystem of my body.
In a holistic view of health, we look at the whole picture of ourselves in relation to our environment. If we ignore the basics of good sleep, nourishing food, hydration, way of life, or tending to our emotional landscapes, then plants can only do so much. Treating symptoms without changing habits that deplete us is not a holistic approach to healing.
Awareness is the first step. I like to use these 4 categories as a basis for exploration: the inner landscape, way of life, the outer environment, and heredity. Here’s a brief overview of each one:
Inner Landscape: These are things that no one else can see or ever truly know. This includes your emotional body, soul-self, belief systems, and personal stories.
Way of Life: Do your activities support or diminish your well-being? Do you walk in the park regularly or stress-scroll through Instagram? Do you get adequate sleep? Do you move your body? Take time to just be? Are you eating nourishing foods?
Outer Environment: How do your surroundings impact your well-being. For example: Who surrounds you? Do you have a healthy relationships and a relationship with Mother Earth? Are you aware of the plants and trees nearby? How do you feel in your home?
Heredity: What physical proclivities, belief systems, and possible trauma have you inherited? What is yours and what isn’t? Begin to untangle the web.
Here is one way to explore each of these categories:
Go through each list and subtract something that depletes you. In it’s place, add something that nourishes you. For example, you might replace the time you might spend on social media today with a stroll in your local park. And then do it again tomorrow, and the next day.
When we become aware of our inner dialogue, notice the way we relate to the world around us, and recognize the stories we have inherited from our families and culture at large, we empower ourselves with self-knowledge. We can look at where there is excess and where there is deficiency in each area of our lives and begin to create balance. It is from this space of self-awareness that the plants can be true allies and collaborators in healing.