Herbalism is Activism
This path is not just a hobby.
It is not a trend, it is not about privilege - though social media influencers can make it (and many honorable industries) feel that way.
The true path has always been about activism and resistance. It is not an easy one, it is one filled with sacrifice. Herbal medicine is the people’s medicine and about accessibility. It is a deeply felt passion, a calling, a remembrance, a way of life.
It is about bringing to communities accessible options for health sovereignty, connection and environmental activism in a broken healthcare and people/earth care system.
It is reconnecting ourselves and one another to the stories and traditions of the past to unite us and heal generations forward and backward. It is a stewardship to protect and defend the earth and the voiceless. By the voiceless, you may think I’m just talking about the plants, but it is the role of the herbalist to protect and defend all of our voiceless earthly kin - especially members of our community who’s voices are unjustly suppressed.
Big business, big government, big medicine has never been about the people. In solidarity for today’s national shutdown, we will continue to not support these overarching oppressive corporate systems and hold space as a vessel of support for our community.
We also acknowledge that the ability to not work or not go to school is a privilege for many, and that one missed day can mean the difference in putting food on the table or providing other essentials for their family.
As a small business, we recognize how important movements like this are, and how incredibly essential healing spaces and local communities like ours and so many others are in these time.
We also understand how important it is to redirect support into local communities and economies while resisting and defunding corporate entities, so we can keep these essential independent places thriving in local economies.
One day is a minor disruption - keeping it going - a lifestyle shift - brings down walls. Every breath, every choice and every action is an opportunity for activism.
So what’s your next step? Where do you go from here?
Below we’ve detailed out:
Some favorite herbs for your nervous system
Some must have herbal essentials for attending protests responsibly
Some educational material for our youth
And the link to join our herbal program -
what better time than now to embark on an incredibly empowering and important journey to effectuate attainable change and community resilience.
Remember to be gentle with yourself, tend to your nervous system and make space for slowing down.
Some Favorite Nervous System Allies:
Bacopa
Blue Vervain
Chamomile
Gotu Kola
Lemon Balm
Milky Oats
Motherwort
Night Blooming Cereus
Passionflower
Reishi
Skullcap
Herbal Essentials For Protests:
Freedom of speech and assembly is our human birth right. Safety is key and the unexpected can happen at any time. Whether it’s stumbling over your own feet and skinning a knee or a situation of real compromised safety, an herbal first aid kit can be a life saver and is one of the oldest modern forms of herbal activism.
In the summer of 2020, we distributed street medic kits that included a lot of the following to help support and keep safe our community members:
Herbal Essentials For Protests:
Herbal Healing Salve - like calendula, plantain or yarrow for open wounds, arnica for bruises and closed injuries
Yarrow Tincture or Dried Powder - as a styptic to stop bleeding of minor injuries and as an antiseptic
Herbal Nervines - tinctures or glycerides of Skullcap, Motherwort or Lemon Balm can be a huge help for someone in a panic. Having an alcohol free glycerite is a bonus so you can not be limited in who you can support
Wraps and Bandages - bandaids, rolled gauze and non stick dressings are great to have on hand
Sterile Saline - for wound cleaning or flushing eyes in the event of tear gas or pepper spay
Reading Suggestions for Youth
Early Childhood:
The Journey by Francesca Sanna
Mama's Nightingale by Edwidge Danticat
Ages 10 and up (Young Adult):
The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf
American Street by Ibi Zoboi
Trail of Tears by John Ehle
this is by no means a complete list, just trying to not overwhelm with choices!
