As we move through our daily lives, we seek meaningful connections, and it is this very search that often leads us back to nature. In this endeavor, plants are our allies. Not only do plants physically nurture the animal body through food, shelter, and physiological support—plants also remind us of what it means to be a part of this wild and wonderful world.
Herbalism is one branch in this tree of human-plant interconnectedness. Herbalism is not just about herbs—it is also about creating connections in relationship with plants, linking the human experience with nature, and community building with people.
Stories From the Past
Herbal education allows us to share the wonder of plants and their place in the human experience. However, herbs are more than just supportive allies to humans—they are storytellers. Plants weave a narrative of connection across time and space. From the traditions of an array of civilizations to modern-day herbalism, plants tell stories about their place in human history. When we read about the ways that herbs have been used throughout the ages, we are connecting back to our ancestors and the journey of their human experience, and of course, to the plants themselves.
Writings from Sumerian clay tablets over 5,000 years old highlight the use of herbal allies such as plantain (Plantago spp.), licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), garlic (Allium sativum), juniper (Juniperus spp.), calamus (Acorus calamus), and more (Boeck et al., 2023). We can read about Sumerians using cumin (Cuminum cyminum) for ear maladies, (Boeck et al., 2023) relating to the use of plants for a common condition still with us in today’s world.
Emperor Shen Nung’s herbal Pen T’Sao, which is over 2,500 years old, describes many herbs still in use today, including gentian (Gentiana spp.), cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.), ginseng (Panax spp.), to name a few (Petrovska, 2012). In De Materia Medica, circa 77 CE, we can read about Dioscorides using chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) as an eye wash (Petrovska, 2012), and recognize familiar applications of a beloved plant with which humans still have a strong relationship through herbalism today.
Herbal education, past and present, and the usage of herbs for their supportive actions connects us to our herbal lineage and reminds us of our place in the web of life.
Plants That Connect Us
Herbalism can serve as a bridge to a more connected life experience and allow us to engage more fully with the world around us. Relaxing nervines, such as lavender (Lavandula spp.), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), and skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) for example, allow us to show up to life more present and centered in ourselves and our relationships. Herbs that support communication, like kava (Piper methysticum) and linden (Tilia spp.), help foster clearer communication and help us to create deeper bonds.
Plants can help stitch back together a broken heart, allowing us to open up emotionally and navigate pathways to restore vulnerability and trust in relationships. Herbs like hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) and rose (Rosa spp.) are known to instill feelings of love and compassion, encouraging us to connect authentically back to ourselves and others.
The simple yet powerful practices of herbalism can help us find our roots in the natural world, reminding us of our interdependence with our environment and the many living things that coexist with us.
Using Herbs to Create Connection
Creating a connection by using herbs doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as sitting with a cup of herbal tea and using your senses to take it in with intention. By mindfully connecting to the flavors and allowing the experience to bring you into your body and in turn the present moment, you create connection.
Working with plants—whether growing, foraging, or preparing them—brings us back to the rhythms of nature. These practices can be deeply meditative, instilling a sense of peace and connectedness that modern life often lacks.
Activities such as foraging invite us to slow down, observe, and truly interact with the plants in their natural habitats. When we gather herbs ethically and sustainably, with gratitude and appropriate wild harvesting practices, we participate in a meaningful exchange and a moment of connection.
Herbs can also be used to create connection through ritual practices. Aromatic herbs like rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), yarrow (Achillea millefolium), basil (Ocimum basilicum), mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), and mint (Mentha spp.) can be burned in our living environments to clear spaces, ground into self, and connect us to the present moment.
Through the processes of formulating and crafting herbal products, whether they be tinctures, salves, elixirs, or electuaries, we find ourselves developing relationships to the plants and the practice. Creating these preparations can even be a community activity and point of connection, as a chance to share knowledge and experiences while crafting herbal products together.
Indeed, herbalism can serve to deepen human relationships via many pathways—by sharing of herbal knowledge in personal conversations or community talks, in shared experiences like plant walks and growing herbs at community gardens, or a gift offering of homemade elderberry (Sambucus nigra) syrup and a beloved tea blend, can all be acts of service and connection to each or human community, in concert with our plant community.
A Cup of Connection Ceremony Tea Recipe
This herbal tea recipe says it all in the name—it's a special blend of herbs that support and inspire the act of building connection through herbalism, formulated with the 2025 Virtual Herbalism Conference theme in mind, and in this spirit of connection. This oh-so-potent blend can be enjoyed in communion with plant-loving friends and family, or in quiet moments to inspire your plant studies.
Will you bring it to the conference’s Opening Ceremony at 1:00PM EST on Sunday, February 16th?
Ingredients
Herbal education is not only a path to study plants, it is also a call for connection. The study and practice of herbalism reminds us of the interconnectedness of all life in a world that often feels fragmented. Developing relationships with plants can help us to honor them and the gifts they offer to us in our human experience. And in return, plants can teach us to slow down, to listen, and to nurture the bonds that sustain us. In the end, it is these connections—with plants, people, and the world around us—that make life truly meaningful.
If these connection points stir in you a desire to dive deeper into the world of plants, Herbal Academy’s 2025 Virtual Herbalism Conference will offer the chance to explore all that herbalism has to offer. This virtual gathering is a call to connect with the practices of plants with like-minded people, from dozens of the top herbal educators!
RSVP to the free 2025 Virtual Herbalism Conference, brought to you by Herbal Academy, premiering February 16-21!
If you’re eager to learn even more about the study of herbalism or cannot join the full conference live, we welcome you to explore the conference VIP Access Ticket including Lifetime Access to all 30 conference sessions with transcripts and audio files, a 90-minute Speaker Film on Chamomile: Herb of the Year, a special invite to The Heirloom Recipe Collection Course, and over 20 ebooks and herbal classes from conference presenters. See you there!
References
Boeck, B., Ghazanfar, S., & Nesbitt, M. (2023). An ancient Mesopotamian herbal. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Petrovska B.B. (2012). Historical review of medicinal plants' usage. Pharmacognosy Reviews, 6(11), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.95849
You may also enjoy:
The Herbal Academy is a trusted global leader in herbalism education having trained over 100,000 students worldwide. Founded by herbalist Marlene Adelmann, the mission of the Herbal Academy is to empower people with the art and science of herbalism through accessible, affordable herbal education that represents many points of view and honors our intrinsic connection to nature. Herbalism is for the people, and the Herbal Academy endeavors to connect its student body with the herbal knowledge to support their wellness, that of their community, and that of the plant world with which they build relationship. From Foundational Herbal Programs for beginners through advanced levels, herbalist training paths designed for career-oriented learners, and a collection of in-depth short courses and workshops, the Herbal Academy brings the student experience to life through clearly presented, self-paced comprehensive programs nestled in an inspiring botanically infused, multimedia learning platform! Paired with highly engaged online communities, Herbal Academy students have access to all of the amenities of a state-of-the-art, online classroom right from the comfort of their own home, or anywhere (follow along with our #MyHerbalStudies community hashtag)! If you’re interested in studying herbalism for your personal development or to prepare for a professional career in herbalism, the Herbal Academy has an online herbal program to fit your educational goals. Learn more and follow along with the Herbal Academy on their popular Instagram page @herbalacademy and on their website theherbalacademy.com.
As we move through our daily lives, we seek meaningful connections, and it is this very search that often leads us back to nature. In this endeavor, plants are our allies. Not only do plants physically nurture the animal body through food, shelter, and physiological support—plants also remind us of what it means to be a part of this wild and wonderful world.
Herbalism is one branch in this tree of human-plant interconnectedness. Herbalism is not just about herbs—it is also about creating connections in relationship with plants, linking the human experience with nature, and community building with people.
Stories From the Past
Herbal education allows us to share the wonder of plants and their place in the human experience. However, herbs are more than just supportive allies to humans—they are storytellers. Plants weave a narrative of connection across time and space. From the traditions of an array of civilizations to modern-day herbalism, plants tell stories about their place in human history. When we read about the ways that herbs have been used throughout the ages, we are connecting back to our ancestors and the journey of their human experience, and of course, to the plants themselves.
Writings from Sumerian clay tablets over 5,000 years old highlight the use of herbal allies such as plantain (Plantago spp.), licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), garlic (Allium sativum), juniper (Juniperus spp.), calamus (Acorus calamus), and more (Boeck et al., 2023). We can read about Sumerians using cumin (Cuminum cyminum) for ear maladies, (Boeck et al., 2023) relating to the use of plants for a common condition still with us in today’s world.
Emperor Shen Nung’s herbal Pen T’Sao, which is over 2,500 years old, describes many herbs still in use today, including gentian (Gentiana spp.), cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.), ginseng (Panax spp.), to name a few (Petrovska, 2012). In De Materia Medica, circa 77 CE, we can read about Dioscorides using chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) as an eye wash (Petrovska, 2012), and recognize familiar applications of a beloved plant with which humans still have a strong relationship through herbalism today.
Herbal education, past and present, and the usage of herbs for their supportive actions connects us to our herbal lineage and reminds us of our place in the web of life.
Plants That Connect Us
Herbalism can serve as a bridge to a more connected life experience and allow us to engage more fully with the world around us. Relaxing nervines, such as lavender (Lavandula spp.), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), and skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) for example, allow us to show up to life more present and centered in ourselves and our relationships. Herbs that support communication, like kava (Piper methysticum) and linden (Tilia spp.), help foster clearer communication and help us to create deeper bonds.
Plants can help stitch back together a broken heart, allowing us to open up emotionally and navigate pathways to restore vulnerability and trust in relationships. Herbs like hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) and rose (Rosa spp.) are known to instill feelings of love and compassion, encouraging us to connect authentically back to ourselves and others.
The simple yet powerful practices of herbalism can help us find our roots in the natural world, reminding us of our interdependence with our environment and the many living things that coexist with us.
Using Herbs to Create Connection
Creating a connection by using herbs doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as sitting with a cup of herbal tea and using your senses to take it in with intention. By mindfully connecting to the flavors and allowing the experience to bring you into your body and in turn the present moment, you create connection.
Working with plants—whether growing, foraging, or preparing them—brings us back to the rhythms of nature. These practices can be deeply meditative, instilling a sense of peace and connectedness that modern life often lacks.
Activities such as foraging invite us to slow down, observe, and truly interact with the plants in their natural habitats. When we gather herbs ethically and sustainably, with gratitude and appropriate wild harvesting practices, we participate in a meaningful exchange and a moment of connection.
Herbs can also be used to create connection through ritual practices. Aromatic herbs like rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), yarrow (Achillea millefolium), basil (Ocimum basilicum), mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), and mint (Mentha spp.) can be burned in our living environments to clear spaces, ground into self, and connect us to the present moment.
Through the processes of formulating and crafting herbal products, whether they be tinctures, salves, elixirs, or electuaries, we find ourselves developing relationships to the plants and the practice. Creating these preparations can even be a community activity and point of connection, as a chance to share knowledge and experiences while crafting herbal products together.
Indeed, herbalism can serve to deepen human relationships via many pathways—by sharing of herbal knowledge in personal conversations or community talks, in shared experiences like plant walks and growing herbs at community gardens, or a gift offering of homemade elderberry (Sambucus nigra) syrup and a beloved tea blend, can all be acts of service and connection to each or human community, in concert with our plant community.
A Cup of Connection Ceremony Tea Recipe
This herbal tea recipe says it all in the name—it's a special blend of herbs that support and inspire the act of building connection through herbalism, formulated with the 2025 Virtual Herbalism Conference theme in mind, and in this spirit of connection. This oh-so-potent blend can be enjoyed in communion with plant-loving friends and family, or in quiet moments to inspire your plant studies.
Will you bring it to the conference’s Opening Ceremony at 1:00PM EST on Sunday, February 16th?
Ingredients
Herbal education is not only a path to study plants, it is also a call for connection. The study and practice of herbalism reminds us of the interconnectedness of all life in a world that often feels fragmented. Developing relationships with plants can help us to honor them and the gifts they offer to us in our human experience. And in return, plants can teach us to slow down, to listen, and to nurture the bonds that sustain us. In the end, it is these connections—with plants, people, and the world around us—that make life truly meaningful.
If these connection points stir in you a desire to dive deeper into the world of plants, Herbal Academy’s 2025 Virtual Herbalism Conference will offer the chance to explore all that herbalism has to offer. This virtual gathering is a call to connect with the practices of plants with like-minded people, from dozens of the top herbal educators!
RSVP to the free 2025 Virtual Herbalism Conference, brought to you by Herbal Academy, premiering February 16-21!
If you’re eager to learn even more about the study of herbalism or cannot join the full conference live, we welcome you to explore the conference VIP Access Ticket including Lifetime Access to all 30 conference sessions with transcripts and audio files, a 90-minute Speaker Film on Chamomile: Herb of the Year, a special invite to The Heirloom Recipe Collection Course, and over 20 ebooks and herbal classes from conference presenters. See you there!
References
Boeck, B., Ghazanfar, S., & Nesbitt, M. (2023). An ancient Mesopotamian herbal. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Petrovska B.B. (2012). Historical review of medicinal plants' usage. Pharmacognosy Reviews, 6(11), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.95849
You may also enjoy:
The Herbal Academy is a trusted global leader in herbalism education having trained over 100,000 students worldwide. Founded by herbalist Marlene Adelmann, the mission of the Herbal Academy is to empower people with the art and science of herbalism through accessible, affordable herbal education that represents many points of view and honors our intrinsic connection to nature. Herbalism is for the people, and the Herbal Academy endeavors to connect its student body with the herbal knowledge to support their wellness, that of their community, and that of the plant world with which they build relationship. From Foundational Herbal Programs for beginners through advanced levels, herbalist training paths designed for career-oriented learners, and a collection of in-depth short courses and workshops, the Herbal Academy brings the student experience to life through clearly presented, self-paced comprehensive programs nestled in an inspiring botanically infused, multimedia learning platform! Paired with highly engaged online communities, Herbal Academy students have access to all of the amenities of a state-of-the-art, online classroom right from the comfort of their own home, or anywhere (follow along with our #MyHerbalStudies community hashtag)! If you’re interested in studying herbalism for your personal development or to prepare for a professional career in herbalism, the Herbal Academy has an online herbal program to fit your educational goals. Learn more and follow along with the Herbal Academy on their popular Instagram page @herbalacademy and on their website theherbalacademy.com.
