How to Practice Herbalism: A Complete Beginner's Guide to Natural Healing
Herbalism was my first step toward a homesteading lifestyle. While I discovered herbs as medicine out of a very specific need, anyone can start their journey practicing herbalism as a hobby, life skill, and healthy alternative. Read on to learn about how to get started with herbalism plus the amazing herb that started my journey to a lifestyle shift.
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My Journey
I have had seasonal allergies for as long as I can remember...in ALL the seasons. Whether it was grass, tree pollen, ragweed, dust mites or mildew, I always had allergy symptoms. Which meant that I took an over-the-counter antihistamine every day, year-round. In college, I thought I had a really bad cold that just wouldn't go away when I learned that traditional (big-pharma) anti-histamines can just stop working for your body over time. So I decided to test the theory and I tried a different antihistamine with a different active ingredient and it worked-my cold symptoms went away and I was back to normal. A few years later, the new active ingredient stopped working and my allergy symptoms returned. Fearing that I would eventually run out of effective modern medicine options, I started to research alternatives. In the process, I also learned about how terrifying the side effects of modern antihistamines can be, not to mention they become taxing on the liver. I was convinced that I needed a new option to deal with my allergies, but needed one that really worked.
I found Stinging Nettle in my research. I learned that this herb, really a weed, is a natural anti-histamine and is full of minerals like iron, calcium and zinc. So I found an option that is not only safe for daily use, but it has actual health benefits beyond allergy relief and has no harmful side effects. I decided to give it a try since it seemed like a safe option. So, I bought the dried herb and vegan capsules and made my own pills which I started to take daily. While hopeful, I was also skeptical, so when I stopped the modern over-the-counter anti-histamine and was solely taking Stinging Nettle capsules, I essentially waited for the allergy symptoms to come back...BUT they didn't! I stayed fully symptom free even once ragweed season came along (historically my worst allergy season where even modern medicine struggled to keep my allergies at bay). I did not have a single symptom!
Being symptom free, safe from unwanted modern medicine side effects, and in control of my body was a relief I couldn't have imagined would be this amazing to feel. Being able to live without any modern medicine was so freeing, that I knew I never wanted to go back to relying on it-- for anything.
This inspired me to dive into my study of herbalism for all things wellbeing and I haven't looked back yet! Nettle remains a staple in my herbal apothecary along with many other herbs, and sharing the magic of herbalism is a huge goal of mine. You don't need to have an experience like mine to get started. You can start right now and experience everything herbs have to offer for the health of yourself, your family, and friends. So let's dive in to how you can start.
Start Small - One Herb at a Time
After discovering Stinging Nettle, I wanted to learn about every herb I could. But if you try to master every herb at once, you may get overwhelmed. Instead, learning one herb at a time can make the process far more manageable. One thing I tried was an herb-of-the-month package. Herbal Revolution (not sponsored) is a great herbal source that offers this as an option. It allows you to get targeted herbal knowledge in the form of a a zine, plus the dried herb and some pre-made herbal preparations to test. You can use this to gain knowledge of the herb and practice ways to utilize it, and experience it in a broad way, all in one convenient package.
If you don't want to buy an herb-of-the-month box or commit to a subscription type service, you can also have a self guided herb-of-the-month. Make yourself a list of the herbs you want to try, then research, purchase and experiment one at a time starting the first of each month! It makes learning a new hobby a step-by-step process.
Herbal Studies - Invest in One or Two Herbal Guide Books
Utilizing a wealth of knowledge condensed into one convenient book is a great way to explore herbalism. You can take notes, mark pages, and learn at your own pace. I started with two books that are still my most referenced books in my herbalism collection.
The first is Herbal Apothecary (direct link to buy!) which provides a background understanding of herbalism, an herb directory of 100 different herbs listed alphabetically, methods for herbal application, and common ailments and the herbs to treat them. This provided me with a great introduction to a lot of herbs but most importantly for me, the methodology it offers is easy to follow and well explained.
The second book is my Herbal Encyclopedia. (direct link to buy!) There are so many herbs in this book with amazing detail about its historical and present day uses. Remember, that just because herbalism is new to you, does not mean that it is a new study. The use of herbs as medicine is steeped in history, so an encyclopedia is a great investment for a new herbalist that will stand the test of time.
Easy Herbal Methods and Preparations
Utilizing herbs is not complicated science. The simplicity of it, is a huge part of the appeal. The plant does the work for you and is perfectly suited to be used by the human body, so you don't have to stress about needing a degree in chemistry to make herbs applicable as medicine. In my opinion, the three easiest preparations for herbs are as follows:
Tea
Hands down the easiest way to enjoy the magic of herbs is through tea. Steeping dried or fresh herbs in boiling water is a quick and effective way to extract the medicinal benefits from the herb. Tea can be enjoyed as a single herb or an herbal blend based on personal preference and your health goals. This is such an easy investment too because all you need is the dried herb, a tea ball, and a mug. You can also explore a tea press, cute kettles, and more eclectic vessels for your tea if that brings you joy (I mean that's part of the fun, right?!). Or you can get pre-made tea bags to start simple, but bottom line...tea can be a simple way to start exploring herbs.
Tinctures
A method of utilizing herbs with more of an upfront time investment is tincture making. This is the method of combining a solvent or mentsrum with the herb of choice over a period of time to enable the liquid to extract the active compounds from the herb resulting in a highly concentrated medicinal liquid. My preferred solvent is organic vodka, but you can also use glycerine or apple cider vinegar if you prefer to be alcochol free. Tinctures store very well and can be utilized at the onset of an acute issue like a stomach ache, a cold, cramps, etc. You can also use it consistently to delivery a balancing herb to your body easily--because it just takes a few drops. You can make a small batch with two ounce bottle like these, which is where I started. For more frequently reached for herbs I use 4 ounce bottles since a tincture can be shelf stable for a couple of years.
Salves
A salve is a way to make herbs into a topical solution. By infusing an herb in oil, you can apply it to your skin for healing benefits. To get a thicker texture, after you have infused and strained the first oil, you can add bees wax pellets (these are what I buy). Then store your salve in a glass or metal container for easy use. There are several methods to infuse oils, but i prefer using a double boiler on the stovetop and making a day of it. I have also heard of a water bath method in an oven or crock pot, but I haven't personally tried those techniques.
Easy Herbs to Start the Journey
Now that you have ideas on how to utilize herbs, I wanted to highlight what I consider to be a few easy herbs to use as a beginner if you feel overwhelmed about where to start:
Lemon Balm
After Stinging Nettle, I personally chose lemon balm as my next herb of study. This is a great starter herb because it has a mild and appealing flavor on its own making it easy to drink as a tea. It also has benefits that a lot of us can find useful.
Latin Name: Melissa Officinalis
Uses and Benefits:
Calming herb used to assist with stress relief and can provide minor digestive relief
Antiviral herb used to treat ailments caused by viruses such as cold sores
As part of the mint family, this herb is easy to grow and spreads readily, making it well suited for growing in pots. My favorite way to use this herb is through tea.
Thyme
This is one of my favorite herbs and can be used in so many ways. I love it as a culinary herb, but it also has an affinity for the respiratory system making it a great herb to have around for cold and flu season.
Latin Name: Thymus vulgaris
Use and Benefits:
Soothing herb for the respiratory tract and throat
Calming herb that can assist with inflammatory issues throughout the body
Antiviral and antibacterial herb helping rid infection in the body
I always keep thyme tincture in my cabinet to take at the first sign of illness. It's also delicious to make into a syrup or a tea for a sore throat or cough.
Peppermint
This is obviously a tasty herb that is easy to use. It is most well known for its digestive benefits, but it can also be utilized topically in multiple ways because it contains menthol.
Latin Name: Mentha x piperita
Uses and Benefits:
Antispasmodic herb that serves to reduce gas in the digestive system and improve digestion overall
Analgesic herb that relieves pain making it helpful for headaches
With this herb, a little goes a long way in my experience. It is an herb that awakens you and can feel very stimulating.
Ginger
So this is the only starter herb I am listing that is used as a root, but it is easy to get at the grocery store or as a pre-packaged tea and has great healthy benefits.
Latin Name: Zingiber officinale
Uses and Benefits:
Anti-inflammatory herb that improves digestion and nutrient absorption and assists with pain relief
Circulatory stimulant that can improve blood flow to an area when applied topically to assist with muscle recovery after a workout
Documented relief of nausea and used for motion and morning sickness
Ginger is delicious and spicy but also amazingly healthy. I love to have it in tea, as a tincture and I juice it with other fruits and veggies for a healthful sip.
Conclusion
Herbalism is an easy and rewarding hobby to begin. Even culinary herbs have medicinal benefits which means if you grow or use herbs for cooking, you have already unknowingly started your herbalism practice! Hopefully these tips help you on your journey to feeling empowered, healthier and joyful. Cheers!
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