In the modern world of herbalism, strongly influenced by information from Google and the phytopharmaceutical and supplement industries, there is an increasing lack of traditional knowledge in the common mindset and usage of plant medicines. This had led to an allopathic approach to herbalism and “holistic amnesia,” where we treat plants like drugs and not sentient beings.
Ultimately, plants cannot be used like drugs and if they are approached and such they will not work!
This lecture from the 2017 International Herb Symposium outlines 5 keys for how to understand and use herbs in a truly holistic fashion. This isn’t focused on what herbs are “good for,” but rather who they are as intelligent forces of nature. By learning these 5 keys, everything about a plant is understood within a holistic context so you learn each remedy with more depth and precision.