Around 400AD in China we see a split from the Taoist “barefoot doctor” approach to herbalism that involved the incorporation of herbs into the diet long term with the intent to lighten the body, slow aging and bring the spirit forth, towards doctors growing herbs for convenience and commercial incentive, reducing herbs and formula classifications to very specific symptoms and myopic actions that lessened focus on the unified nature of the body and simply treating disease with herbs (when it’s often too late). Although this is extremely useful and a natural progression when there are more dense populations in cities and thus disease present, it is a shame that the former intention and approach to herbs was shadowed and mostly abandoned in place of a medical system that could and would eventually would be commodified by institutions, rather than integrated.
We are here to bring the multidimensional, intentional and magical integration of herbalism back into the home that is unified with long term desire to thrive, potentiating our energetic and physical symptoms and stack the odds in our favour against early degeneration and disease; herbalism of the people.
Which herbs should you take? Well you can start with your symptoms and match blends and herbs to help alleviate them. But ensure you eventually go beyond this towards an intention of tending and stoking the health-fire of yourself and the family to an extent that you reclaim your health sovereignty. This includes exploring different herbs, trying safe tonic herbs that are gentle on the system and experiencing how they effect your system and seeing if they may be a contribution to your intention for longevity and becoming a wonderful human.
Don’t be scared of herbs, they are Nature, and we in the West could do well to overcome our fear of Nature when there isn’t actual threat, besides that of our domestication.
Have fun exploring herbalism, trust your instincts. If you don’t feel like one herb, don’t incorporate it for a time, if you’re vibing one HARD, go into the depths with it and see what there is for your to learn.
Build a culture of herbalism in your personal culture. 🌿🍄✌🏼