If you’re thinking about becoming a herbalist in the UK, you may be wondering about how learning herbalism can benefit your life beyond being an enjoyable hobby or interest. There are countless reasons to become a herbalist in the UK, but here are my top five as a qualified herbalist.
1. You have control over your own health
Do you want to always know what’s in your medicine? Do you want to always be aware of the messages your body is sending you? Do you want to be able to support your health and the health of your family as needs arise, without having to wait for an appointment to open up? Do you want to take fear, worry and panic out of the equation? Do you want to do things completely naturally and build your own resilience and vitality? Then become a herbalist in the UK. As a herbalist, you can do all of this. And what it adds up to is control over your own health.
2. You can grow and make your own medicine
If you’ve become increasingly dubious of allopathic medicines or even alternative medicines marketed as natural, when you become a herbalist in the UK, it means you can grow and make your own medicine. You’ll know every ingredient and have full control over their quality. If you want completely organic medicine, devoid of fillers, preservatives or chemicals, you can make them. And if you have the space and time, you can grow or forage for the herbs you include in your remedies - and that’s a quality that can’t be beaten.
3. You understand your body’s messages and how to support them
When you become a herbalist in the UK, you don’t just learn about medicinal plants. You also learn about your body’s messages and natural processes and how to support them. This has significant benefits. It means you can respond to what your body is asking of you, rather than constantly suppressing your body’s needs. It means you can address imbalances in your body long before they evolve into complex disease. It means you’re more resilient in yourself. It also means you can trust your own body and intuition, rather than having to rely on anyone else (although sometimes seeking a second opinion, specialist support or emergency services are of course the most appropriate course of action). It also means you can remove the worry, fear and panic from all of life’s natural ups and downs when it comes to common health concerns, which is incredibly liberating and empowering.
4. When you become a herbalist in the UK, you become more self-sufficient
Becoming self-sufficient doesn’t have to mean having a smallholding and growing all your own food, etc. Not everyone has the space or desire to do that! But when you become a herbalist in the UK, you become more self-sufficient in terms of your own health. You don’t have to worry about where you’ll buy your medicines from, because you can make them. You don’t have to worry about when you can get an appointment, because you won’t need one for most common home health concerns. You’ll also get more curious and naturally begin asking more questions of the systems and processes in place in wider society and start wondering how much you really need to rely on them. Self-sufficiency is equal parts skill and curiosity when it comes to becoming a herbalist in the UK.
5. When you become a herbalist in the UK, you can pass your knowledge onto the next generation
Herbal medicine was always the people’s medicine, crafted in homes and kitchens, in gardens and hedgerows. The knowledge and skills of herbalism used to be passed down from generation to generation so families knew how to take care of their own health and only needed to rely on specialists when it was truly necessary. You can give your family this gift when you become a herbalist in the UK because everything you learn, you can share with your children and grandchildren. Imagine your family growing up understanding their bodies, medicinal plants and how to work with them. What better gift is there?
There are many reasons to become a herbalist in the UK. Becoming a herbalist in the UK gives you control over your own health. It gives you the ability to grow and make your own medicine, so you always know the ingredients. You learn to understand your body’s messages and how to support them. You become more self-sufficient and you can pass your knowledge onto the next generation. All of these reasons add up to personal empowerment and better health and vitality.
If you’re here in the UK, you’re very welcome to take the next step on your journey learning herbal medicine with us on our intensive herbalism course - Awaken Herbal Wisdom - which spans all four seasons and gets herbalism both deep into your bones and your daily life. Although it is intense, it’s suitable for a wide range of herbalists, including beginners! You can learn more about our herbal medicine course here. Be sure to put your name on the waiting list to see what the current cohorts are up to and get first access to enrolment before it opens.
Whatever your next step learning herbalism for beginners is, I hope you enjoy the journey!
At Rhodes Roots & Remedies School of Herbal Medicine, our practice of herbalism is rooted in the belief that we must remember, reclaim and relearn our knowledge of our bodies, our autonomy and how to work with plant medicine in order to bring control of our own health back into our families and homes for a sustainable future for ourselves and the planet. Through our intensive herbalism course, we facilitate the development of confident, empowered herbalists, attuned to the messages of their bodies and the natural world. Living the deep wisdom of herbal medicine within themselves, their homes and their communities, they uplift themselves and others, creating a stronger society organically. We do hope you'll join us on your journey!
