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Episode 111

What does it mean to be an herbalist?
(and a little glimpse into my personal plant path)

hosted by clinical herbalist & integrative health educator Kay'aleya Hunnybee

What does it mean to be an herbalist?
(and a little glimpse into my personal plant path)

Download on Apple | Download on Spotify | Download on Google Podcasts

 

I woke up this morning feeling the spark of spring, and simultaneously felt the excitement of plants popping up.

Maybe soon, maybe not. 

In those moments, I started to reflect on the multitude of ways we can "be an herbalist."

And how I'm really a blend of so many, depending on the day, and how my personal herbal journey reflects this. 

I realized I haven't really ever told my own personal plant path story - not fully at least, and while I couldn't fit it ALL into one episode, I tried to give the highlights to offer some context to how the heck I got where I am, some of the influences along the way, and a few pivotal moments where I realized what I wanted to pursue and why.

I hope it's not just a story about me, and instead it's a glimpse into what a diverse, meandering plant path can look like in a way that inspires you to feel into what's true and right for you. 

Whether that's in your own plant path or in choosing an herbalist or practitioner to work with. 


The truth is, no two herbalists are the same.

 

And your unique expression of herbal medicine will be your own. 

Plant medicine is truly people's medicine and I want to encourage you to bring whatever form of herbalism you practice to the world.

But also to name it in a way that reflects your path honestly. 

I offer a few different ideas for you to pick from --

folk herbalism, home/family herbalism, community herbalism, embodied herbalism, clinical herbalism.

But maybe there's another one that resonates even more for you. 

And please, name your teachers too.  They deserve our honoring. 


Listen to learn:

  • where I started (hint: very simply)
  • what a hands-on herbal apprenticeship can look and feel like
  • how long it took me to claim myself as an herbalist
  • why "western herbal medicine" is really not "western" at all
  • ways I began to incorporate herbalism into my professional practice
  • differences between home/family herbalist, community herbalist + clinical herbalist
  • why I chose to become a clinical herbalist and get a masters degree
  • why I don't think most people need to go to graduate school!
  • what I'm inspired to offer now


Resouces:

**I mis-spoke a couple times in this episode. I meant "bodywork school" when I said "herb school" where I learned mostly about flower essences and aromatherapy. And I meant to say "Andrew" not "Adam" when I was talking about my teachers at David Winston's school! (I'm not going to edit the recording, but wanted to have this documented somewhere)


DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

 



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