A few weeks back I asked all of you in the HerbRally newsletter, if you could ask your favorite herbalist just one question, what would it be? We received over 70 responses, and some of you expressed interest in hearing what those questions were.
So, here ya go! I removed all of the names to maintain anonymity, and reformatted them a bit. But these are the questions y’all had!
And just FYI, this is not the project I was referring to when I asked the question. The project is going to be much more fun! Involving many-an-herbalist + video. Stay tuned!
Comment below if you want to add to the list, or let us know what your favorite question is!
Thanks for bein’ a part of the community.
~Mason
What is the first plant you remember having a relationship with as a kid?
If you could only have five herbs growing in your backyard, what would they be?
What can I do to support you for once?
How do I find out what can I take while breastfeeding?
What is your favorite resource for learning?
What difference and/or similarities do you believe herbalism has in present day compared to 50, 100, or even 200 years ago?
In what ways have herbalism changed your life big and small?
What was your most profound journey with a plant?
How do you work the business side of herbalism?
Funniest and most memorable herb moment of experience! These are some of my best teaching moments.
How do you find a healthy balance in your life?
What's your best piece of advice for running a clinical practice?
Which herb is your least favorite and why?
How did you become an herbalist?
What is your COVID protocol?
How long did you study plant medicine before feeling qualified to call yourself an herbalist?
How has herbalism enriched your life?
What was your most profound experience with a plant?
I feel like I rely a lot on my books and notebooks. How long did it take before you could remember independently and project confidence with your herbs?
What herb introduced you to the healing world of plants, and why?
Why isn't the importance of herbal energetics stressed more in each and every video posted on any particular herb more? People watch videos on YouTube and think they're qualified to recommend herbs right away. What about the energetics of the herbs?
What is the most vital /often used (both) herb in your First Aid Kit ?
What Northeastern herb is comparable to or equal too Osha root?
What is the one thing you do daily to practice your craft?
If you only had room to plant three herbs, which three would you choose and why?
What herbs would be good for a child recently diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, but not yet taking medication for it?
What are the tells that indicate switching herbal remedies might be in order when treating a person?
I keep hearing that local herbs are the most potent. Is it possible/reasonable to find or grow everything you need for health in your locality?
Do dried herbs lose their potency over time? If so how long?
How do you know when is the right time to supplement herbal remedies with modern western medicine?
What has been the most important aspect and most important plant in your practice?
What does being an herbalist mean to you and your life?
What are your favorite smoking herbs and what is their intention?
How did you first start incorporating herbs into your daily life?
What do you think is the most effective way to start communicating with plants?
How do you retain so much information regarding clinical herbalism, and how do you store it? I.e. notebooks, flags in reference books, or just memory?
What does healing mean to you?
How do you know what the potency of your herbal concoctions are?
Who do you go to for health advice?
I feel the spaces surrounding herbalism are being infiltrated with a plethora of "self" described herbalists. What do you do personally to ensure the information and guidance you are seeking/using is from qualified, endorsed, and recognized sources?
What is your vision or dream for the future of herbalism and herbal medicine in the United States?
What is your favorite herb that you use most often?
In your opinion, what is the most versatile herb that you have used personally & would highly recommend due to its versatility?
What herbs and practices do you recommend to improve focus [seriously, I wrote this far, got distracted by something, and now half an hour later, I returned to this page, surprised that this email is still incomplete and unsent. Send help!!]. I was going to say: to improve focus and a centered feeling. I have felt tempted lately to ask my doc about ADD medication, but I really feel that with herbs and meditation, I feel I could find a more lasting, healthful path to help me.
If you could only save one medicinal plant, what would you choose?
Is there ever a place in life for modern medicine or is eating our weeds the answer?
Are there any herbs that can help with kidney failure?
Of all the herbalism books on the market, what are the top five books experienced herbalists would recommend for the beginning herbalist?
How has herbalism and using herbs in your practice deepened your relationship to the earth and sourcing plants in a respectful way? Alternatively, how have you incorporated sustainability (reducing waste, less plastic, intentional sourcing of herbs) into your practice?
When did you first feel validated as an herbalist? I've been dabbling in herbal medicine-making for ages and am currently undergoing a more formal education, but still struggle with nay-sayers and self-doubt.
What is the most significant story about a health issue you helped to solve for someone, using your knowledge of herbal medicine?
What does the herbalism industry need most right now to evolve positively (besides more herbalists)?
Did you realize that herbalism was greatly an entrepreneurial field when you decided to pursue it?
When teaching a group, how do you handle someone who questions the material that you are teaching?
As for measuring herbs for teas: How much herbs would I measure for a recipe with Chamomile flowers and Holy Basil herbs for a gift bag, for multiple cups? I want to put together a few tea treat bags together for gifts. Thinking Chamomile flowers and Holy Basil would be good for the immune system/belly (hope it makes sense).
What herb do you think is the most valuable to use regularly and why?
As a newbie herbalist, what is the most important action I can take to learn, promote, live an authentic herbalist life?
My big question is how to get your herbal business set-up, going and growing? Like, the business forms and licensing needed… straight forward information.
My question would be what five herbs would you consider vital for their ability to address multiple health issues that every person should have in their apothecary?
If you are already inspired by plants, herbs, mushrooms and their healing properties, how do you portray this excitement to other people in your life so that they too will understand the joy or herbal healing but also believe you when you tell them about the healing properties of plants?
Did you choose this path or did this path of a Herbalist choose you?
What experience in your life motivated you towards Herbal Medicine over Allopathic medicine?
What was turning point, the catalyst, the light that directed you to the dedicated path of learning, absorbing and being skilled in provision of medicinal herb?
What advice do you wish you had as an herbal student?
Hmmm I would probably ask them a question about dreaming with plants. There is a legend that you are initiated into herbalism when you have been visited in your dreams by a plant. I would be curious which one (if any - not gatekeeping).
I am new to Herbalism as a practice. I am starting with the master plant Cannabis indica. She definitely has lessons for me.
I wonder what the best way is to add or blend? Feeling conflicted about merging properties, considering Hops or Valerian but am literally paralized about how or if I can merge these essences? To me it's not as simple as just "creating a blend '' We need to be in balance with these plants...I'm sure that sounds bizarre to you...I'm stumped...mired in the weeds....lol.. I could go on.
If you could only have the use of one herb, which would it be and why?
How do you absorb it all and keep it absorbed? There’s so much information and even if I feel like I’ve memorized it, when I need to I can’t seem to remember it all.
As a Herbalist, how can you best address climate change and global warming ?
How do you as an herbalist work the business side of "things”?
I would like to ask an herbalist what's your favorite way to introduce children to herbalism?
I was recently diagnosed with osteopenia. There are too many side effects from taking the prescription drug. What herbs are great for bone health?
How do you keep your focus and keep from getting distracted by all the wonders every piece of plant life on the planet?
What is your favorite part of being an herbalist and what's your big "why" that keeps you learning and growing?
What herb surprised you?
I would ask what herbs are good for osteoarthritis and the best mechanisms for delivering them to the body by constitution?
What is the difference between catnip and catmint? Also, are there any courses or teachers you would recommend who focus on herbalism for animal and tree spirits?
What is the one herb or herbal product that you always have on hand and would never be without and why?
What do you do when you see someone you don’t know well dealing with an issue that you’re pretty sure you could help with, but they haven’t asked for help?
What is your favorite resource when using herbs?
What would a herbalist need in a first aid kit- Since I live in Hurricane Valley New Orleans!!!
For someone like me who's just starting out, aside from teas, infusions or decoctions, what would be the best type of plant medicine to practice making?
My question to herbalists in general is now that many people are getting into herbalism, how do we keep plants mostly for other species survival and not human consumption? Over-harvesting is happening at rapid rate, and to be honest, I don’t put up a lot of tinctures and salves because I can’t justify my needs over pollinators. I propagate as many plants as possible, and I still can’t bring myself to harvest St. John’s wort!
What herbs would you recommend for chronic hemorrhoids? Herbalist podcasts and blogs I’ve read cover the upper GI and general upset that can be directly related to food, but what about the painful, persistent end side of GI problems?