(...before the plant gods humbled me)
Let’s be real — herbalism sounds magical.
You picture yourself barefoot in a field of wildflowers, steeping moon-charged tea while your pet watches approvingly.
But here’s the tea (pun aggressively intended): the plant path isn’t all pretty apothecaries and Pinterest vibes. It’s work. It’s nuance. And it’s not always cute.
Here are the 4 biggest things I wish someone had shouted at me (lovingly) before I went full herbalist.
Save yourself the confusion, and sip on this wisdom instead.
🎥 Also, check out this gem of a video that inspired this post:
👉 Here's What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming an Herbalist
1. Herbalism Is Not a Quick Fix
Yes, plants are powerful — but they’re not drive-thru medicine.
Unlike pharmaceuticals, which often mask symptoms, herbs work with your body. And that takes time, consistency, and — let’s be honest — a lot of patience. That tea blend you made?
You might need to drink it daily for weeks before noticing changes.
No instant results, no magic cure-alls.
👉 Lesson: Herbal healing is a marathon, not a microwave dinner. Respect the slowness. Your body will thank you.
2. Not All Plants Will Love You Back
You love herbs — but some of them are low-key toxic. Literally.
Just because it grows from the earth doesn’t mean it’s safe.
Plants are complex chemical beings. Some interact with meds. Some cause allergic reactions. And yes, some just... don’t vibe with your constitution.
👉 Lesson: Just like people, some plants are not your type — and that’s okay. Learn slowly, cross-check interactions, and always test your tea before chugging the whole mason jar.
3. Herbalism Isn’t Just About Plants
Plot twist: you’ll spend as much time learning about people as you do about plants.
True herbalism is holistic — mind, body, spirit, environment, and context.
You can memorize 200 herbs, but if you don’t understand the person you’re helping (even if it’s yourself), it means nada.
Herbalism is part science, part story, and part intuition.
👉 Lesson: Get curious about the human side. Ask questions. Listen. Study energetics, history, culture — not just Latin names and dosage.
4. Herbalism Is Not Just Aesthetics
Sorry, but your curated shelf of labeled jars is not the full assignment.
It’s easy to get caught in the cottagecore spell — amber bottles, beeswax candles, perfectly dried bundles.
And while aesthetics are fun (and yes, soothing), herbalism is deeper than that.
It’s ancestral, political, ecological.
It’s hands dirty in the soil and real relationships with plants — not just plantstagramming your nettle tea.
👉 Lesson: You can love the vibes and do the work. Don’t let Instagram fool you — herbalism isn’t about how your apothecary looks, it’s about how you live and learn.
💚 Respect the Plant Path
Herbalism is deep, slow, personal, and often messy.
It will stretch you, ground you, and probably make you question your life choices more than once. But if you commit to the learning (and unlearning), it’s wildly rewarding.
🎥 Want even more insight from someone who's been there?
👉 Watch “Here's What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming an Herbalist” on YouTube
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