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| The Sustainable Herbalist; The Sustainable Life - Page 3 |
- We support the use of healing techniques and practices that are non - invasive and minimizes ecological impact as much as possible. This would include the appropriate and conscientious growing, harvesting, wild crafting, preparation and utilization of herbs.
- Proper nutrition utilizing organic sustainably grown food is the basis for ones health. Herbs, as it is stated in many ancient practices, helps to digest the food and aids subtle nourishment and support to the vital life force. They are not to be used as replacement for mindful living. Education as to how to prepare nourishing food, cooking with herbs and eating with gratitude is the basic place to begin a person's education. Herbal therapies without the basic understanding of eating will just tax the herbal community. Remember, eating fast food and taking St. John's wort for the ensuing depression due to nutritional and spiritual deficiencies does not work.
- We encourage the use of local organically grown plants over those that are imported; especially those imported from countries with questionable growing practices and labor practices. We also feel that people should be utilizing and harvesting herbs primarily for their immediate community, family and friends or purchase herbs from small ethical companies rather than from large multinational corporations whose main goal is profit for the stockholders. Over harvesting herbs for profit is quickly beginning to destroy our wild herb populations.
- We encourage all people who are interested in the utilization of herbs to
learn to recognize, draw pictures of, smell, taste, meditate on, and see the plants through the seasons. It is also important to see how and where the plants grow in relationship to the whole environment which includes observation of the terrain the plants are growing on, the animals, insects and other plants the herbs are in relationship with, as well as how the herbs relate to the sunlight, moon light, and so forth. This type of exercise and study helps one to become a more integrated human being.
- We feel that herbs are being misrepresented by the big corporate interests
by using excess media hype, false information, and deceptive advertising techniques. This type of business creates a mass demand for specific herbs without any guiding wisdom. The St. John's wort fiasco is an example of this. This lack of true understanding and education of herbal uses and the continuous need for profits has created a situation of excess harvesting, disrespect for the plants, and mass production of products. It is our contention that herbal medicine making and harvesting must be carried out with the prayers, intent, and love. This type of conscious intent has been a part of healing for thousands of years. To create herbal medicines without this intent will create a continuing downward spiral for humanity and eventually a further degradation of life.
(See Ebers papyrus and others from thousands of years ago)
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