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One of the questions Rachel Robinette, herbalist and Supernatural founder, gets all the time is, “Where do I start with herbalism?” If you're interested in the therapeutic and medicinal uses of plants, this episode of Plant Based is a great place to start. As any good herbalist will tell you, a cup of tea or a tincture won't solve everything. Herbalism is a comprehensive, holistic practice that is not about treating symptoms, but about treating the whole person and the root cause of symptoms.
“Using nature as a lifesaver is not new. It's global and historic,” Robinette says. “We have evolved with plants forever. There are currently 30,000 medicinal plants in the world that we know of… [and] We discover approximately 2,000 or more species of plants each year. These are plants that can be used as food, medicine, or both. ” So there are many categories of plants.
Here, Robinette shares five plants that she considers to be the most common and most useful. You can read the version of “Cliff's Notes” below, but be sure to press play on the video for more details.
1. Adaptogens
“I've produced a number of plant-based episodes on adaptogens, so I highly recommend checking them out for more information on this category of herbs,” says Robinette. She explains that adaptogens can help you recover from stress in a gentler, more effective way, making you more resilient to stress over time.
Examples: Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, Reishi
2. Astringent
Essentially, astringents are toning plants, the most well-known of which is probably witch hazel. “These are things that are used as topical or internal treatments for the digestive system,” Robinette says. Astringents also help strengthen the skin barrier and protect moisture balance.
Examples: witch hazel, rose petals, green tea
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3. Aromatic
Robinette explains that these plants are incredibly beneficial for a variety of reasons. ”[Aromatics] “These plants tend to be great to have in a beginner's medicine cabinet or first tea collection because they can be useful in so many different ways,” she says. , and relax her muscles.
Examples: mint, lavender, holy basil
4. Bitters
“I love this category. I believe strongly in this category and I truly believe this category has a great future,” Robinette says. She explains that the most common use for bitters is before a meal to aid digestion. Bitter foods help digest and absorb nutrients more effectively.
Examples: arugula, orange peel, gentian
5.Nerves
“Nervine is another favorite of mine,” Robinette says. “These are herbs that love our nervous systems. And these are plants that tend to work faster than adaptogens.”
This is one of the main reasons Robinette likes tension. She explains that while adaptogens are great foundation builders, they need to be used over a long period of time. If you need immediate support, your nerves will kick in. “The great thing about nerves is that some of them are plants you use during the day, others you use at night for sleep, or for deep relaxation if you're feeling really anxious and need to calm down. There are plants that do things like that, so there's a lot of variety,” explains Robinette.
Examples: lavender, lemon balm, California poppy
Herbology essentials for beginners
“Remember that knowing the cause of your symptoms is the starting point. And if you don't have symptoms, focus and explore herbs in that category,” says Robinette. As with anything, she strongly recommends starting slowly, consulting your health care professional if you're on any medications, and of course stopping if you notice any side effects.
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