With so many holistic modalities, it can be confusing to find what you’re looking for when searching for a course in natural medicine. Herbal medicine (or herbalism) is a form of natural medicine that stretches back to the beginning of human history. It involves working with the whole plant, addressing the root cause of what’s happening in the body, considering health from a holistic perspective and making remedies without the use of chemicals. Read on to learn why you may actually be looking for a course in herbal medicine.
1. You Want a Course in Natural Medicine that Works with the Whole Plant
Different modalities you can study on a course in natural medicine work with plants, but they do so in different ways. Herbal medicine works with the whole plant, transforming it into different forms of medicine (e.g. tinctures, teas, infused oils, salves, creams, poultices, vinegars, etc.). It does not isolate individual compounds or synthetically mimic them. Some forms of natural medicine, like homoeopathy, work with the imprint of the energetics of the plant, rather than the whole plant, itself. Other forms, like aromatherapy, focus on a range of plant compounds that are worked with in a specific form (e.g. essential oils). With herbal medicine, you are working directly with the plants to engage with the broadest spectrum of medicine held within it.
2. You Want an Approach that Gets to the Root Cause
There are many ways to work with natural medicine, but if you want a course in natural medicine that focuses on getting to the root cause and supporting healing from that level, you may be looking to learn herbal medicine. In order to do this, herbal medicine reminds us symptoms are the body sending us messages something is out of balance. They are not the ‘illness’, itself, so silencing those messages is not a solution. (Although herbal medicine can, of course, help relieve the discomfort someone may be experiencing as they’re healing at a deeper level.) Once we’re listening to these messages, we can turn back the clock and work through the timeline to understand both the root cause of poor health, as well as how things progressed to their current state, so we can address the imbalance completely, rather than looking at one set of symptoms or one label/diagnosis in isolation. Ultimately, when taking a course in natural medicine where you’re learning herbal medicine, you’ll be concentrating on life, not labels, focusing on what’s happening in the body, as well as what’s happening in the world around you.
3. You Want a Course in Natural Medicine that Has a Holistic Perspective
In herbal medicine, it is understood that nothing in the body operates in isolation. Everything is connected. This also applies to ourselves and our lives beyond our physical bodies. What’s happening mentally, emotionally and spiritually is also taken into consideration and considered inextricably linked with what’s going on in our physical bodies. Our relationships, environments, experiences, what we put on and in our bodies - everything is taken into consideration. Herbal medicine is a holistic practice.
4. You Want to Work with Natural Medicines that Are Chemical-Free
A course in natural medicine that will teach you how to make and work with remedies that are chemical-free is likely to be one in herbal medicine. All of the forms of remedies can be made by hand at home with a few basic kitchen implements you likely already have, the medicinal herbs of your choice and a few other simple ingredients (e.g. olive oil, plain vodka, honey, apple cider vinegar, water, beeswax). For many students, that’s one of the most reassuring aspects of learning this form of natural medicine - if you can make it yourself with ingredients you recognise, you know it is completely chemical-free.
So if you’ve been sifting through various modalities looking for a course in natural medicine, you may actually be looking to learn herbal medicine. It is a form of natural medicine that works with the whole plant. It is an approach that gets to the root cause. It takes a holistic perspective on health and the natural medicines it works do not use chemicals.
If this is what you’re looking for and you’re here in the UK, you’re very welcome to take the next step on your journey building your knowledge, skills and confidence as a home herbalist 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 course in natural medicine you choose, 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!
