Herbalism: Is It Your Road to Wellness?

Did you make a new year’s resolution to improve your health? While there are many pathways to achieve this, perhaps you should explore the role plants play in wellness.

One of the easiest ways to do this is to learn about – and drink! – herbal teas. When the beneficial properties of plants are slowly and regularly taken into our bodies we are nourished in our tissues and organs, down to the cellular level. This is often all that is needed to bring about healing.

“Herbal tea blended using locally grown or harvested plants is best because we have less impact on Mother Nature,” says Herbalist Maggie Hatzpanian (pictured) of Maggie’s Healing Path, “and we have plants in our cup that we know and that share our same corner of the world.”

Maggie also tells us that different plants possess different ways of healing. Some, she says, are best taken in tea, while others, like roots, barks and berries, often are better taken in tincture form. This method extracts the plants into alcohol and just a few drops are taken orally.

Still other plants may be better extracted into oils and used topically, either to heal problems with the skin or to have their medicine absorbed through the skin.

The world of herbalism is fascinating, and there is much to learn about the selection of plants and best methods of administration, always taking into account the person you are making the medicine for, knowing their health and wellness goals.

If you are intrigued by herbalism, it is easy to start on this road to wellness by attending programs at Mount Hope Farm led by Maggie Hatzpanian. Check out our event calendar for the first quarter of 2024.