by Patrice Green of Green Aromatics

The miracle of herbs and plants is that when taken responsibly and respectfully they do not deaden the emotions.  As gentle, loving, supportive allies, plants help us work through the lessons we are here to learn.  In particular, roses do this beautifully.

by Cathleen Miller.

When I sit with a client for the first time, I spend a lot of that session listening to the ways that they talk about their experience of illness and wellness, what their aspirations and fears sound like.  The words they choose tell stories about how they see the world and how they experience themselves in it.

I listen for ways that we can shift their dominant narrative to improve the potential for healing.  I learn what feels nourishing and nurturing to them, and what they struggle to integrate or what they avoid.  I try to imagine weaving a web that creates safety and commonality, opening a space where nothing is inherently wrong.  I try to empty my mind of any stories I have created from reading their intake form—instead, I listen to them identify why they are there and what they hope to gain from our work together; and I listen for plants that speak during that time too.  That first conversation is such an amazing opportunity for co-creation, and a chance to build connection that will last through the relationship if we do it well.

When clients talk about their bodies, we can hear patterns that could use some tending, some lovingkindness, some acknowledgement.  I often feel that at least fifty percent of the work of the session is just about making sure that the person you are sitting with feels heard and accepted.  There is so much healing just in that practice of listening intentionally.  When we pair skillful listening with supportive activities that can help shift deeply-ingrained patterns, then magic can happen.

I work with a lot of people who have experienced trauma and struggle with a variety of the aftereffects—often feeling unseen and unheard in the world.  I use flower essences with nearly all of these clients, and I also offer writing exercises to help shift the energy that arises from doing the intense work of facing their fears and shadow selves.  If we can help our clients make meaning out of the experience of illness, then it turns into a teacher instead of just something that is happening to them.  It can become an ally, or at least a good source of information.

Given the power of story, I am very careful not to suggest to clients that their thoughts manifest in their bodies.  This is a story that many healers use to talk about the power of our thoughts, emotions and intentions.  While it is undoubtedly true that our emotions and thoughts are powerful, and that patterns of thinking can certainly result in illness, I prefer to use words to affirm the body’s intelligence, resilience and ability to heal.  I never want a client to walk away believing that they caused their illness; instead, I want them to believe firmly that no matter the circumstances they are now in, their body-minds are full of the potential for healing and wellness. The stories we tell ourselves and our clients matter—with our words, we build the foundation of the healing relationship.

Submitted by Cathleen Miller.

Sometimes you can’t really understand something unless you live it.  When I first began seeing clients a few years ago, I was in the beginning of what would become a major health crisis.  I had always been healthy, and I could not imagine that this blip was anything but that—a minor occurrence that I could shift through diligence and the belief in my body’s ability to heal itself.

As a new practitioner, I was excited to share the power of herbs with others.  I operated under the assumption that while allopathic medicine treated symptoms, herbal medicine got to the root and was, therefore, far superior in its methodology.  I was headstrong and full of fervor to bring medicine back into people’s hands.  I knew my limitations as a practitioner, and was well aware when I should refer a client to someone more knowledgeable or experienced, but my view toward my own worsening symptoms verged on something like denial.

I would try just one more tea blend or tincture, homeopathy, naturopathy, acupuncture, reiki, polarity, getting out in the woods, doing yoga, TCM, meditation—whatever it took to keep me away from having to take medication.  It felt imperative to prove to myself that plants could heal me from the deepest roots.  I wanted to really believe in this path I was walking; and how could I advocate for herbalism if it didn’t work for me?  I met with desperation and despair.  I began to feel like a failure, and then my body just stopped working.  I couldn’t eat or keep fluids down.  That went on for a week or so, and then I finally said, “maybe I should go to the hospital.”  And then, I met prednisone.



It was only after I began taking this dreaded drug that I started to really understand autoimmune diseases. I began to comprehend the nature of the autoimmune cascade when my gastroenterologist said to me, “you did not fail.”

I realized in the course of that conversation that I had been operating from the heroic model, believing that I could overcome this disease, that if I just eliminated enough things from my diet and took the right herbs and supplements, I could beat it.  What I didn’t understand up until that point was that this disease could be calmed, but that now a “switch” had been flipped in my genetic code and the outcome was fairly unpredictable, even if I did all the right things.  I have since experienced the building up of one syndrome on top of another, just when I thought things were looking up.  It’s complex and extremely challenging to work with, and now I believe in the power of using all the tools we have when we deal with autoimmunity.



Ultimately, though, this is not a story about me—it is a lesson in seeing the world through our clients’ eyes.  It is a question of embracing all that can be of benefit instead of seeing ourselves in opposition to allopathic medicine.  I think it is important to see the places where we can build bridges for our clients into the world of allopathic care.  If we can help our clients more easily navigate the system of doctors, pharmacies, hospitals, and insurance; if we can develop the ability to help our clients advocate for holistic care within allopathic systems, we have done a great service to herbalism and to our clients.

Submitted by Katie Munn of Anchor & Rose Apothecary.

The digestive system is one of the most import systems within the body. Keeping your digestion in tip-top shape is essential to health and well-being. Below are some tips on how to maintain healthy and happy digestion.

Mindfulness is Magic: Being mindful while eating sets the tone for your entire digestive process. Being mindful could include simple things such as saying a prayer before eating, blessing your food, or just taking a deep breath before eating. It doesn’t matter what you do, just do whatever helps you become present and relaxed while eating.

It’s the Way you Chew: Chewing your food thoroughly is so important for a number of reasons. Chewing your food well coats it with your enzyme-rich saliva, which aids in the digestive process. Combined with this the chewing process breaks down your meal into smaller pieces which is much easier on your stomach. So next time you eat make sure to slowly chew and savor your food.

Bitters for the Belly: Bitters are amazing for digestion. Bitters are foods or herbs that we commonly consume. Some examples are dandelion, greens and even coffee! Humans evolved eating bitter foods but sadly today’s normal diet is lacking in bitters. Bitters are important because they help stimulate the digestive process by producing digestive enzymes and balancing HCL in the stomach. So next time before you eat take some bitters to get the process jumpstarted!

Ginger Tea for You and Me: Herbal teas are wonderful for your stomach. Ginger tea is one I especially love due to its warming qualities. Ginger stimulates the digestive “fire” helping the stomach release enzymes to assist in the digestion process. Along with this it is anti-inflammatory and helps with nausea. So next time before you eat brew yourself a cup of ginger tea!

Fermentation is Fun: Many cultures around the world eat fermented foods on a daily basis. The reason for this is that fermented foods are full of “friendly” probiotic bacteria as well as enzymes. Some traditional fermented foods include sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha and even miso soup. Fermented foods are known to improve digestion, balance the bacteria in your gut and even boost your body’s ability to absorb the nutrients from the foods you eat. So invite your friends over and make a big vat of sauerkraut–your belly will thank you!

Exercise is Essential:  That’s right, movement is amazing for your digestive health! Exercise has been shown to help speed up digestion, increase blood flow to your organs, and even stimulate muscles in the GI tract. So this spring make sure to get out there and move your body!

Let’s Talk about Stress Baby: Stress can wreak havoc on the body–especially on the digestive system. Keeping your stress in check is key to maintaining a happy digestive tract. Preventive care is the best so do those little things everyday that help you de-stress and relax. It could be yoga, meditating, taking a walk in nature or drinking tea and doing a crossword puzzle. Whatever that “thing” is that helps you relax make it a priority for your health.

If you like these tips and want to hear more I’ll be giving a talk on digestive health at this year’s Herbstalk. Thanks for reading and many blessings to everyone this spring.

Submitted by Larken Bunce of the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism.

Spring is coming to the forest. Even as gale winds continue to blow and snow remains a constant presence in the far Northeast that I call home, the birds have started to sing. The sun is higher in the sky, sending strong shafts of light glancing through branches swelling with leaf buds. On a recent day, I’m sure I heard the rushing whisper of sap rising.

In the people around me, I sense a kind of readiness, even an impatience, to burst forth, start moving, rise up, make a plan, get gardens in the ground. Many folks are getting antsy. I’ve even seen t-shirts and shorts when the thermometer approaches 40 degrees! And then there are those who are still enjoying the hibernation of shorter days, richer meals, warm fires. They might be feeling a bit nervous, even fearful about the coming activity, the expectations to jump into action, know the path and get to work on another season of growth. These folks might be getting a bit irritated in their own way, too, as when being asked an important question just a little sooner than you’ve arrived at an answer.

So, there’s early Spring in a nutshell: the dynamic tension between moving ahead into expansive, decisive action and staying wrapped up tight in rest and unknowing, between rest and productivity, solitude and community. You’ve probably noticed that you lean one way or the other, towards wanting Spring to hurry up and arrive in earnest and wishing Winter would stay a bit longer. And since the seasons acquiesce to no one, you might notice that either way you lean, you are not satisfied. Except, of course, if you’re content with just exactly what is, right now–if you’re comfortable being flexible, letting life flow through you, just as it is.



Because the truth about Spring–at least the face it wears here in the Northeast–is that sometimes it’s warm with promise, other times blustering and harsh. The constant, especially now, is change. If you’re one of the folks able to stay present and navigate this time of transition, you may find that you are able to bend gracefully, not break in frustration under these mutable conditions. Like the young maples in the forest, you might find that as the day is warm and night cold, the sap in you rises just as it should, pulsing in rhythm with the fluctuations, even dependent on them. At exactly the right time, your leaves will burst forth, extending toward the light, and arch skyward into the song-filled air.

These are some of the core teachings of Spring. Flexibility. Ability to respond at the perfect moment. Reveling in change. Channeling inner treasures, discovered and accumulated during deep rest, into powerful manifestations of who we are. These are Spring’s requirement of us, as well as its invitation.

Though Chinese medicine can sometimes seem to be a maze of abstract theory to those not accustomed to its language or concepts, in the Five Phases (or Elements), the Chinese elegantly captured what I’ve found to be timeless insights about life on this planet. Essentially, they recorded how the landscape is reflected in the bodies, hearts and minds of humans in an analogous, inner terrain. While this particular tradition is rooted in Taoist alchemical, even shamanic, philosophies and practices specific to China, we can see that the essence of this system bears truth in multiple bioregional and cultural contexts. Identifying the core features which resonate with our own rich experiences and diverse locales, we begin to craft a modern, living, breathing medicine, rooted firmly to place.

No matter where we are, we can see the teachings and invitations of each Phase present in the cycles of our lives. We see ourselves as glints in our parents’ DNA, becoming infants and children, young adults, parents, and then elders, preparing to transition back to the earth. We see the dark of midnight, sliding into dawn, noon-day sun, afternoon’s glow, evening, and night again. We see the plants as they move from seed to sprout, to flower, to fruit, to making seed and letting it fall, beginning the cycle anew. We see our fears, our hopes, our passion, our care and tenderness, and our solitude with spirit. We can universally recognize these cycles as expressed in ourselves and the land, though Spring in one place might have a different face than in another, just as we are each a singular terrain with unique stories. Regardless of place, this living system affirms that Nature, in all its complexity and diversity, is a perfect, self-sustaining whole. In answering Nature’s invitation to become attentive to our inner landscapes, we can experience the same complex, diverse and imperfectly-perfect wholeness. In essence, it is an invitation to dynamic health and to belonging.

So, as the snows recede and ever more green peeks through, as creatures begin to emerge from winter dens and our seed packets start to call to us from wherever they’ve been tucked away, consider apprenticing yourself to Spring. How can you flow gracefully into this season embodying all at once the lithe sapling, the bursting bud, and the birdsong that fills the sky?

Submitted by Michael Blackmore of Mad Crow Herbals.

Stop! Step away from those herbs…yes, I mean you. I know this is a blog for an herbal festival and so it is all about herbalism, but I just want to make the case for not taking herbs – at least every once and a while.

It is pretty easy to get in the habit of always incorporating all the wonderful plant friends into our daily lives – teas, tinctures, capsules, etc. But sometimes I think it is good to take a break from it all every now and then.

Too often, we tend to think of ourselves as static instead of dynamic. When in fact, we change from year to year, season to season, and even day to day as our world changes, our lives change and even the weather changes.

I find it helpful to take a break from time to time and see what is truly going on in the body. What changes have happened? Is there a new normal? Sometimes you can more profoundly recognize the effects of different herbs and what different combination are having on you when you aren’t taking them.

Herbal Kitty knows to take an herbal break once in a while…


Taking a break and then trying a new herb or re-visiting one that you never really connected with before can be a powerful experience. And one always worth exploring. You may find a new herbal best friend or re-visit a long lost one!  More importantly, you may learn something about yourself in the process.

One of the hazards of plant love is that we can begin to see the world through narrowed “herbal” colored glasses. Just like that old piece of wisdom, Maslow’s hammer – if all you do is hammer than everything looks like a nail. You can see yourself, family, friends and customers and clients no longer as full individuals but as nails requiring an herbal hammer.

I see it all the time on line in places like Facebook, when a simple observation about a momentary mood, event in day, physical ache, pain etc. – invokes a torrent of “herbal” fixes from my many online herbal friends.

I generally just smile, roll my eyes and think “bless their well-meaning hearts” but sometimes things just are and they pass. It is part of living life, impermanence and being.  Trying to “fix” things through herbs can be just as bad as the over-medicating that seems to be an epidemic in mainstream Western medicine.

Herbs: feel free to use and love them. Share that love with others.

But take a break from time to time to be not so attached. Then you can learn more about yourself and others while remembering to truly see people and be with them and not just see objects to be “herbaled.”

Just my own insane .02