So You Want To Be a Herbalist - Part One
The Home/Family Herbalist
Going through my asks tonight, and there are several of them on herbalism. Thought I might attempt a master post, possibly a few of them, as this is always such a hot topic for witches it seems.
The first question really is, what are you hoping to do with it? Do you want to just incorporate herbs into your life, into your family's health practices? Or are you looking to work with other people? Knowing the answer to this can help direct the kind of studies and learning you want to do.
Also, witchcraft IS NOT herbalism. Sure, a lot of witches are interested in herbalism. But there's no requirement of a witch to have a knowledge of herbalism. Likewise, not all herbalists are witches or otherwise pagan. There are, sadly, a lot of herbalism information out there which is no better than snake oil. For myself, my herbalism is grounded in science. That's not to say I ignore the traditional uses of herbs. Knowing how different cultures use a plant can give a lot of insight into what it's useful for! The reason the information survives is because people see results. So, while I do believe in some energy work, and think that sort of thing is important. And mind-body-spirit is an important part of the holistic approach that I use... my witchcraft is separate from my work as a herbalist.
A) I am not your herbalist. This series is general herbal advice and things I've learned along the way and is not meant to be any sort of medical advice!
B) Herbs CAN be dangerous. Even seemingly innocuous ones. Do your research.
:: The Home and Family Herbalist ::
If you are only intending to treat yourself and your family it's a fair bit simpler. Although that *can* depend on how medically complex you all are! If your family is taking a lot of medications then you're going to want a deeper understanding than the suggestions below are going to give you.
Generally, for someone looking to only practice on themselves and family, without complex medical issues, you can do a lot with "book learning" and premade formulas.
For a "typical" situation with your average health stuff I'd highly suggest Rosemary Gladstar's books.
Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner's Guide - this is where I started. It's got a lot of common herbs in it, a ton of formulas for general ailments and health boosts
Herbs For ... : She also has a whole series of small books that start with "Herbs for" and include "Stress and Anxiety" "Natural Beauty" etc. So if there's something more specific you'd like to do then getting this book can be useful.
She's popular for a reason. People wanting a deeper and more complex look into herbal medicine might not feel too satisfied. But if you want a good introduction, this is a great start.
Recipes from the Herbalist’s Kitchen by Brittany Nickerson
The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine-Making Guide by Thomas Easley
Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients into Foods and Remedies That Heal by Rosalee De La Foret
So, what sort of stuff will you be making?
Fire Cider is my go to. I think everyone should make fire cider.
Teas of all kinds are great.
Cough syrups and various salves are fantastic to know how to make.
Tinctures and oil infusions, also splendid. Although you're getting a little deeper here as some herbs extract better in different alcohol contents, some don't do well in alcohol at all. Some are better dried, some fresh, etc. And there's a lot of science into optimizing the extraction of the constituents from a plant.
There's So MANY PLANTS, where do I start??
I was overwhelmed at first, so I sat down with Rosemary Gladstar's "Herbs for" book series and went through putting a little sticky note on every condition that was common in my household.
Then I went through the list and wrote up a list of herbs that were in the formulas for those things. That gave me a decent place to start.
What does the upcoming season usually look like for your family? What sort of medical stuff comes up? Headaches? PMS/period pain? Digestive problems? Sprains, cuts, bruises? Start there.
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