Are You Ready To Journey With Herbs?

What Does A 'Herbal Journey' Mean to You?

What exactly is a journey with herbs? I believe there are several ways in which herbs can transport us to a different place-

• Physical Herbal Journeys

  Using herbs for the many health benefits they can offer, whether that is under the guidance of a professional herbalist or through your own research is another form of journeying with herbs. Asides from physical changes, one can expect to experience emotional and energetic transitions too. Seldom a linear route, healing with herbs can be complex and adaptive.

  
  

  When embarking on a programme of herbal medicine to either address a specific health concern or for general wellness, one is also beginning a journey towards better health. Physical movement will occur internally, throughout bodily tissue and fluids, energies will shift and a patient may experience emotional and even behavioural change.

  
  

  Medicinal herbs contain phytochemicals which need to reach the specific body system, organ and tissues they are intended to treat, Messenger Herbs are added to a formulation to assist in this journey by their particular actions.

  
  

• Foraging

  Medicinal plants encourage us to embark on physical quests of healing, they summon us to roam into the meadows and woodlands seeking medicine and nutrition.The call to forage and delight in wild offerings comes from somewhere deep inside, an instinctive drive to nurture ourselves, our loved ones and communities.

  
  

• Travelling to other countries

  This is what my website is all about, visiting countries whose cultures value and preserve their herbal traditions. These ancient practices are kept alive and in many case remain at the forefront of daily rituals and self-care.

  
  

• Spiritual Journeying with Herbs

  To some, journeying with herbs would refer to a profoundly spiritual experience often involving psychedelics. These types of journeys move across realms of consciousness for those seeking deep insights into their lives and the workings of the Universe.

My own journey with herbs has been long and meandering, from learning about clinical herbalism during my degree, to creating herb gardens wherever I live and visiting exotic countries to learn about herbalism whenever I get the opportunity. Herbs inspire me to push myself and my exploration into other countries and cultures, the path of learning with/from herbs never ends.

Every culture has shared commonality of folk medicine but in some countries herbalism is less marginalised as in the UK and remains prominent in everyday life.

Herbalist Shop in Marrakesh, Morocco

Links to ancient times are not consigned to history in cities such as Marrakesh, but still very much alive and visible in the street scene. You may think this is a show for tourists but herbalism is very much integral to the rituals of everyday living.

Think of mint tea drinking in Morocco, this ritual performed with beautiful teapots, embellished glasses and the extravagant high pour is enjoyed by all throughout the country. The Moroccan tea ceremony highlights the delight of herb use in other countries, the everyday beauty of simple ritual, the mundane combined with artistry all to imbibe the great health benefits of the wonderful mint plant.

The Moroccan Teapot monument inside the Taroudant ramparts, Morocco

I have so many more examples to share from some of my travels, mainly in India, Sri Lanka and Morocco and these are what the website is about. The aim is to inspire to showcase

• Agritourism

• Ecotourism

• Cultural tourism

• Health Tourism

The Herbal Directory

This is an ever-evolving guide to include places of interest for the herb-curious, including -

• Shops, museums and markets

• Plantations and farm producers

• Co-operatives

• Practitioners

• Herb gardens

• Immersive experiences including workshops and retreats

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