As we get older, health is the most important thing in life. Without it, life becomes painfully dreary, but when we’re healthy it’s full of possibilities. One common thread among people who keep their health for life is a skill at intentionally maintaining one’s own health. Wellness doesn’t just happen; it takes discipline, knowledge, and diligence. 

Herbal medicine has always been an important way by which certain people maintain their own health. Herbal tonics and supplements have been used for millennia to prevent illness, both occasional and chronic. While modern medicine typically concerns itself with reversing illness after it has already set in, herbal medicine is primarily preventative in nature. Properly applied, knowledge of herbal medicine could help prevent common maladies from ever cropping up in your life. 

But how do you acquire education in herbal medicine? After all, practitioners of herbal medicine throughout history have sought out lengthy apprenticeships and academic training. You may not be able to do the same in your current situation, but you can still gain the knowledge you need. 

Humans have always learned through a combination of theory and praxis. With theory, we learn the information that we need for a proper herbal education. In praxis (practice), we learn by doing. It’s important that we start with both of these methods working in tandem. 

Start with a health problem you wish to solve. Let’s say you want to stave off many of the negative symptoms associated with aging. You could start by ordering Fo-Ti Root Powder from Starwest Botanicals, then recording observations as you take the supplement. In this case, the best method would be to learn everything you can about Fo-Ti Root by reading studies, historical accounts, and the observations of other home researchers. This is theory. By taking the supplement and recording the effects you observe, you are learning by praxis. 

Once you have enough experience with the herb to understand its effects, you’re ready to expand your repertoire. This time, you might go for lomatium extract from Herb Pharm, in an effort to promote immune system health. Here, again, you would learn everything you can about the nature and efficacy of lomatium extract as a medicine. Then you’d put your learning into practice, by using the supplement as directed and then recording your observations. 

The more knowledge and experience you acquire, the more you’ll be able to use herbs to solve problems (or prevent problems from occurring in the first place). Fill out your herbal arsenal with products from Ayush Herbs, and keep improving your skill through theory and praxis. 

The important thing is not to overwhelm yourself with information or supplies. It’s easy, in the early days of a self-taught herbal education, to flood your shelves with different herbal remedies, without giving yourself the time to properly “form a relationship” with each one. Remember, your education in herbs is a marathon, not a sprint. This isn’t like high school, where you’d cram the night before a test and squeak out an A. With herbs, you really have to allow yourself to learn about them at the speed of life. Trying to rush the process will have you spending a ton of money on herbs, without taking the time to thoughtfully assimilate each herbal tradition. 

Once you’ve absorbed the relevant herbal information, and applied these theories in your daily life, you’ll have an herbal education that stands the test of time. No matter where you acquire this kind of practical knowledge (a teacher, a school, or the internet!), the proof is in the pudding. Herbs have the potential to heal, but the healer is you. Take the time to develop this skill, and you’ll be just as much an herbalist as the healers of yore.