In Principio Erat Herbam... In the Beginning, There Was the Plant

Beginnings

Hello and thank you for coming!  As a short introduction, I would like to comment first that this is the beginning of a documentary of my studies in botanical medicine.  I am still forming my understanding of the subject as well as my community and can only speak from as far as I can see at the moment.  Certainly, the learning process will be infinite, and I look forward to hearing your commentary as I seek to heighten my understanding in this arena. 

I have only just recently moved to southern West Virginia and one of my favorite things that I have found to do around here is going out into the woods and surveying the vegetation.  I have taken several pictures that I would like to share.  Mushrooms have been a particular favorite of mine, as you will see.  I have even taken spore prints of several of them, but let me know if you think that you can identify them sans spore prints! Photos can be found at the end of this post. 

Technical Beginnings

I don’t want to get too technical for the purpose of this blog, but I do want to mention that I started a Master’s degree program in Therapeutic Herbalism back in September. Two courses that I am currently taking are Fundamentals of Herbal Medicine and Foundations of Health and Wellness. 

Holistic Medicine

In Foundations of Health and Wellness, I have learned a lot so far about a holistic approach to health and wellness.  Essentially, a holistic approach to health is taking into account one’s body, mind, and spirit.  The concept sounds New Age, but actually, this approach predates the age of modern Western medicine that is typically practiced in the United States today.

 When you have a headache and you run to the drugstore to fetch a bottle of acetaminophen, you are taking care of your body.  But are there other causes to your headache that a bottle of Tylenol does not address?  More than likely, the answer is yes.  A holistic solution to this same problem would likely address your stressors and how you have been handling them.  Very important: A holistic approach by no means suggests that you should neglect the support of a medical doctor! 

Herbal Medicine

Probably the biggest revelation to me thus far regarding herbal medicine is the way in which plants interact with humans.  The effects of herbal medicines are more subtle than those of pharmaceutical medicines because herbal medicines work with the body in many different ways as opposed to laser-beaming one solid target.  Pharmaceuticals on the other hand, strong as they are, are targeted toward a particular symptom but also come with some pretty drastic side-effects that might outweigh any benefit of taking the medication in the first place.  The complex manner in which the many different phytochemicals in herbal medicine works with the body is the cause for both its subtlety and efficacy.  Additionally, one way to think about the way Therapeutic Herbalism is that plants do not cure people; rather, the phytochemicals in plants give your body the boost it needs to heal itself. 

Reflecting

This is just a brief overview of what I am dipping my feet into this fall.  I want to open this up for conversation so that I can get a feel for how any of this is relevant to my community.  It is difficult to see now, but I hope to hone in on the facets of this degree program that those around me find applicable, while borrowing from the natural resources that surround us and passing such treasures along for maximum potential use, enjoyment, and benefit.

Photos from My Favorite Mountain

Taken 31 August, 2014