06/13/2026
What makes someone an herbalist?
As herbalism continues to grow in popularity, I've been thinking a lot about this question.
The growing interest in plant medicine is wonderful. More people are reconnecting with nature, learning about herbs, and becoming empowered in their own health. But with that growth comes a challenge. Not everyone practicing herbalism is practicing it in a way that honors the traditions, the plants, or the people seeking help.
One of the biggest differences between traditional herbalism and the way many people approach herbs today is the difference between treating a symptom and understanding a person.
In conventional medicine, an allopathic approach often looks like this: high cholesterol? Take this medication. Headache? Take this medicine.
Unfortunately, many people now approach herbs the same way.
Joint pain? Take turmeric.
Trouble sleeping? Take valerian.
Anxiety? Take ashwagandha.
But traditional herbalism asks a different question:
Why is this happening?
An herbalist doesn't just look at the symptoms. We look at the whole person. We observe constitution, energetics, tissue states, lifestyle, digestion, stress levels, sleep patterns, medications, environment, and much more.
As herbalists we also really need to understand each individual plant themselves and how they work with other plants in a formulation. Is it a high dose plant or a low-dose plant? Used acutely or is it a tonic herb? Is it warming, cooling, drying, moistening, astringent, relaxant? This is why you can’t just ask AI what herbs to take.
For example, two people may both have pain, but for completely different reasons. One person may have a hot, inflamed condition. Another may have dry, depleted tissues that have become irritated and inflamed because they lack nourishment and lubrication. Giving the same herb to both people may not produce the same result.
This is why herbalism is an art as much as it is a science.
Another challenge is that in the United States there is very little regulation around who can call themselves an herbalist. Someone may have decades of study and clinical experience, while someone else may have taken a weekend course. Both can legally use the same title.
That doesn't mean one person is "better" than another, but it does mean that training, experience, and scope of practice matter.
When looking for an herbalist, consider asking:
• Who have you studied with?
• How long have you been practicing?
• What type of herbalist are you?
• How do you evaluate clients and make recommendations?
There are many paths within herbalism: clinical herbalists, community herbalists, home herbalists, herbal farmers, medicine makers, educators, and more. Each brings valuable skills and perspectives to the field.
I have been fortunate enough to be able to have experienced both extensive in person and online courses with some of the best herbal teachers in the world over the years. I have had the chance to travel all over the country to learn and grow my understanding. Living in New Hampshire, we are so blessed to have so many opportunities locally for apprenticeships. Personally, some of my most influential teachers have included Rosemary Gladstar, Sajah Popham, jim mcDonald, Mimi Alberu, and Wendy Snow Fogg.
What I've learned most over the years is that herbalism is a lifelong study. The more I learn, the more I realize how much there is still to learn.
Herbalism isn't something you master after one course. It's spending time in the garden. It's touching, tasting, growing, harvesting, and making medicine. It's learning from teachers, books, clients, and the plants themselves.
Every day I learn from the plants.
Every day I learn from people.
Every day I learn from my teachers.
And that learning never ends.
At The Herbal Path, we often describe ourselves as a natural pharmacy. But what does that mean? We don't sell pharmaceuticals, but we do bring together herbal knowledge and pharmacy knowledge. Our pharmacist and herbalists work together to help ensure recommendations are both effective and safe, especially for people taking medications. That's especially important when multiple medications are involved, where herb-drug interactions can become much more complex than a simple internet search.
Our goal is to educate, empower, and help people better understand their own bodies so they can participate in their healing journey.
My favorite quote that I’ve heard many herbalists say is, “Herbalists don’t treat diseases; they treat people.”
