My Journey to Herbalism

My herbalist journey started over 10 years ago when I wanted to have more control over my own health. I had a severe upper respiratory infection turning into pneumonia that was not diagnosed. I went to multiple doctors and they all told me the same thing, there was nothing else wrong it was just a cold and would go away in a few days. I could feel in my body that the doctors were missing something and weren’t truly listening to what I was telling them. Weeks went by, and my cough was so bad I would have episodes of coughing were I could barely breath. I went to a different doctor who finally gave me a cough suppressant. This helped when I was having coughing fits, but in the long run wasn’t doing much for my overall health, just treating my symptoms.

I looked up herbal alternatives and decided I was better off figuring out a way to help myself because I knew and could feel what was going on in my body. Eventually, my cough and infection went away with home treatments. From this, I became extremely interested in alternative healing methods since it made me feel more connected to myself, and to the world around me.

I took an Alternative & Complementary Medicine class in college and fell in love with the herbal medicine unit. I memorized every herb and the functions I was being taught. This was my introduction to this topic and it just made sense. I was hooked. I investigated alternative methods of healing for every health problem I had after this. I graduated college and got into working just to make money and only really felt connected when I was out in nature.

Mid- pandemic I decided I wanted to learn more about herbalism and found a holistic herbal school in Oregon, which was across the country. I decided to go for it and take the journey to Oregon, where through my herbal education I found a deeper connection to natural medicine, herbalism, my self, and the Earth. I learned that herbalism was much more than herbs and their functions but is also an approach to life and healing that considers the person as a whole and connects them to nature. Herbs are so much more than what they are thought of as “good for”.

As the class went on, I found that herbal medicine making was my favorite part. I refined my practice and spent months designing and creating my own herbal products, which lead me to the start of launching my business- Ocean Dew Botanicals. This business has grown over the last few years to include taking on clients and advancing my formulation.

Herbalism is a lifelong study and there is always more to learn. Through more study, travel, and creation I can’t wait to see what more I can do and where this practice will take me. For now, I am learning, growing, and creating each day and following the herbal path back to Earth.