FAQs
What is herbalism?
Herbalism is a traditional healing practice that takes both the art, science and tradition of medicinal plants to promote health, wellness and prevent illness. Most of the world’s population use some dynamic of these healing practices of herbal medicine.
What is the difference between an herbalist and a clinical herbalist?
Herbalists are people who work with herbal medicine in various different ways. Some herbalists can include naturopaths, researchers, medicine makers, indigenous healers, midwifes, doulas, wild crafters, farmers, holistic medical doctors, and some scientists. What unites these groups of people is the interests of how plants and humans relate together in the world. A clinical herbalist has a background in looking at root causes of symptomatic expression by using plant energetics, plant actions and a constitutional layout to identify imbalances in the body.
Where do your herbs come from?
The herbs that are used in my clinical practice and in Wild Kin products are all organic and never sprayed with chemicals. They are ordered through various small organic farmers that are local to the the Pacific Northwest or grown personally in my garden.
What is the difference between herbs and pharmaceuticals?
Most pharmaceuticals in the US are often synthesized and refined, single chemical substances. Herbs are a complex system of hundreds of thousands interrelated compounds that work synergistically that science doesn’t always have the answers to. At one point in time, around 85% of modern drugs were originally derived from plants. Today, around 15% of drugs originate from plants.
How can herbal medicine benefit me?
Herbs can offer a wide therapeutic range of support that can be implemented in a general care program. Some of the main ways herbal medicine can benefit ones health journey are: preventing disease, supporting over health potential, offering symptomatic relief, assisting with minor ailments and chronic health issues.
How do you take a tincture?
A tincture is often an alcohol extract of an herb or blend of herbs. Tinctures can be taken directly in the mouth, under the tongue, added to a small amount of water or favorite beverage.
What is the best way to use a loose leaf tea?
For a standard tea infusion, putting 1 TBS of herbs into a strainer (i.e. reusable muslin bag, tea ball, paper tea bags) or french press, adding 1 cup post boiling water over the herbs, covering and letting the herbs steep for 10-15 minutes.
How safe are herbs?
This all depends on the herb. When used appropriately, the majority of herbs used by herbal practitioners are safe and have no adverse side effects. It is a rare occurrence for side effects to occur.
How long does it take for herbs to be effective?
This depends on a variety of factors. It can be as short as 2 minutes when taking a bitters formula for gas and bloating relief, a few days if someone has caught the flu, or months if working on a chronic issue. When working with a long standing chronic imbalances, herbs might take some time to galvanize the body’s healing mechanisms and to reverse the pattern it has been set in.
