A holistic view
Some of you know that I’ve been getting into—first ‘dabbling with,’ then ‘pretty into,’ then ‘really into,’ and now in my third year of formally studying—herbalism. I’ve been toying with the idea of writing a newsletter in this area, partly as a learning exercise to help clarify some ideas for myself, but mainly to share the coolest things I’m learning with those who might be interested (i.e., YOU)!
I’ve been dragging my heels. There’s always a reason not to sit down and start a writing project. Part of my mental block was that I’ve honestly been learning so many fascinating (sometimes legitimately mind-blowing) concepts that it was hard to think about what to share first. And how much to write!
In the end, I figured maybe it would be best to start by sharing something less mind-blowing, but more personal—why I’ve been loving herbalism. It’s a good exercise to think concretely about why you love something (or someone). What draws you in. As I’m approaching 50, some things are getting clearer.
I’ve always had a passion for biology and exploring how life works. I’ve also been really interested in how our minds are shaped, and can change. That’s taken me through biology and psychology majors in college, to a PhD in neuroscience, to studying psychiatric disease, to exploring how practices like meditation can affect our minds and bodies, with some side tangents into philosophy and Buddhism, yoga and modern physics, psychotherapy and trauma, sociocultural systems and power structures, and now to plants and holistic medicine.
Looking back, a throughline that I can see is that underneath all of these inquiries has been an interest in healing. And more than that—in finding ways to realize our fullest potential. Not in a pressured ‘you must be the best you can be’ way, but more in the vein of removing barriers to the full expression of the deep goodness and vitality that’s inside of you.
Our modern world certainly does not set us up for this kind of expression. Between the stresses of our day-to-day lives, information overload, environmental toxins, inflammatory diets, political turmoil, increasingly frequent natural disasters, and the general uncertainties about the future we’re all holding (consciously or unconsciously), it can feel like there’s little room for us to truly flourish.
Here in the US, recent surveys show that half of the adult population has at least one chronic disease. That statistic threw me when I first heard it. We’re not doing so well, friends! Modern medicine, while certainly offering some miraculous interventions, is largely focused on treating symptoms, and doesn’t spend much time looking at root causes. (Leave aside the outsized influence of the pharmaceutical industry, which makes trillions treating the symptoms of our ailments, rarely offering anything close to a cure.)
I’m very interested in root causes (maybe obsessively so). Understanding causality is complex and nuanced. There’s never one single cause for anything, despite what the news, or advertisements, or social media would like us to believe. Many of the factors contributing to our current state are systemic and structural, and can feel too big for us to budge. But there are also many steps we can take in our own lives to lift some of these barriers and create change.
When we are hampered by illness, fatigue, stress, and fear, our creativity is limited. We don’t have the energy to think expansively, to step out of our habit patterns, it’s harder to be compassionate, to see things clearly. In short, when the inner light of our vitality is blocked, we cannot shine as our best selves in the world. And we’re all going to need to show up as our best selves—together—if we are to weather the coming decades on this planet.
How can we move towards health and vitality? When I started studying herbalism, I was surprised to find that it wasn’t just about herbs! Experts in both conventional and holistic medicine all agree that the foundations of health rest on a few large pillars, including nutrition, sleep, movement, stress management, and social connection. (I’d add one more: awareness.) Each one of these is a domain where we can make meaningful changes to improve our well-being. And herbs offer a powerful source of support and healing along the way.
I’ve been thrilled to learn that the holistic approach takes into consideration all of these foundations of health. Not only that, it views the body as a completely interconnected whole, and argues that a problem in any area or system will depend on the healthy functioning of the whole. This approach feels inherently right, and such a needed corrective to the mostly reductionist view of the body we’re all familiar with: liver, brain, intestines, heart—each system is often thought about as its own silo, almost as if it existed in isolation.
Yet at first, I struggled to really grasp the holistic view. How can my digestive health affect my skin, or cognition, or cardiovascular health? But as I’ve learned more about the pathways of interconnection, I’ve experienced a welcome shift in my understanding of how bodies work, and how humans thrive. Things are starting to feel more integrated.
In the past few years, I’ve made quite a few changes in my own life working with herbs, food, and more, and I’ve seen major shifts in my health. And here’s a kicker—it’s not just physical health that changes, it’s mental and emotional health too! I feel like this shouldn’t be surprising to me after so many years of studying the mind-body connection. Mind and body truly are one system, two sides of the same coin. There’s simply no way of separating them. I’ve ‘known’ this for years, but as I’ve experienced that truth for myself in new ways, it still amazes me.
Earlier this year, I decided to turn the rudder, shifting my career trajectory more decidedly in this direction of holistic health. I still have a good bit of training and school in front of me, but I’m on the path to becoming a clinical herbalist. Like all big changes, it’s both exciting and a little scary. (Mostly exciting!) I’m finding that it’s opening places in me that feel like they’ve been laying dormant for decades… waiting for just the right conditions to emerge. Seeds have this intelligence. Maybe we do too.
In this next phase of my life, I want to help people move towards that place where their inner vitality can shine. I’m not so interested in recommending an herbal supplement that might give someone a short-term boost of energy. (These ‘band-aid’ approaches are sometimes necessary, but they often miss the root of a problem—or worse, they can exacerbate it.) I’m interested in transformation. In holistic health that takes into consideration a whole person, and looks both within and beyond their individual bodies, into their physical and social worlds.
The English word ‘health’ derives from the Old English ‘hælth’, which is related to ‘wholeness.’ Other etymologies point to ‘holy’ and ‘sacred.’ Yeah, that’s the state I’m interested in.
There are so many modalities that can help people to heal and flourish—psychotherapy, body-based work, spiritual or contemplative practice, artistic expression, herbalism, and more. As with anything, I don’t think there’s one ‘right way’ to go about this, but I feel like I’ve touched into these worlds enough to do some synthesis. And working with plants, and learning this integrated worldview, has given me a kind of grounding that I haven’t experienced from any other approach.
I hope that this newsletter can give a glimpse into the fascinating world of herbalism and holistic health, and bring you along with me on my learning journey. The topics will of course include plant medicine, but will also veer down many other avenues that speak to our interconnection. There will be phytochemistry and botany, there will be minds and brains and bodies, there will be herbal remedies and practical tips; there will also be energetics, philosophy, cognitive science, history...
And throughout, there will be a deep love for this world we all share. I’m not sure just where it will take us, but I’m really grateful you’re along for the ride! 💚
Peripheral
A smattering of random recommendations & interesting tidbits:
Check out the amazing botanical art from Lara Call Gastinger. I was lucky enough to take a workshop with her at the beginning of my herbal journey. (Sometime I’ll post about her very cool concept of a perpetual journal.) Her IG account is pure inspiration.
Speaking of interconnection, what we're learning about fungi and mycelial networks within forest systems suggests that the lowly mushroom is one of the most important connectors and communicators of the natural world. Recent research is helping us understand fungal intelligence, and how they sense their environment and make decisions accordingly—across dispersed networks. I love thinking about "cognition" in organisms without a brain! Here's the full paper if you want to really nerd out. 🤓
Current life theme song: i/o - Bright Side Mix. I’ve always been a huge fan of Peter Gabriel, but I was a little late to his latest release in 2023. I dig the whole 2-disc album, but this song grabbed me recently. Rarely have I heard my worldview expressed so clearly!