For too long, I understood my practice as Western Herbalism, reinforcing a polarized view of healing: western vs. eastern. Now I see my practices are rooted in North American herbal ways of many cultures and many backgrounds that have little to do with the concept of west vs. east. Western Herbalism has been largely taught through European traditions, Getting Rooted allowed me to synthesize my experiences with North American healing traditions. 

It is true that European traditions influence herbalism in North America, but so do Eastern traditions, especially the self-care practices of Ayurveda and the Asian practices of acupuncture and herbalism. 

More importantly, North American herbalism is founded heavily on the traditions of Native Americans, along with African American traditions, and the early practices of European settlers who brought many plants and traditions here. All of these plant people adapted to the plants of North America both native and introduced. All of these plant people had unique ways of interacting with plants for healing.

My herbal ways have been influenced and enriched by plant people from different cultures throughout North America. The teachings I received sometimes came from people I know well, and other times I was just another face in the crowd. CHI 2: Getting Rooted condenses the diverse perspectives that have enriched my personal life and my clinical work spanning more than twenty years into a one-year experience of herb ways.

For me, sustainability is centered in place and the ability to move throughout that place gracefully with healing intentions. I belong to North America. My herbal practice moves and adjusts according to where I am in the country. I work with the plants that are in the place I’m standing. I learn the folkways of the people I’m standing with. I learn the ways of my ancestors. I call this Getting Rooted.  

The mark of folkways is that nearly everything the people need comes from a relatively small place. Many indigenous people are and were nomadic. They flowed through a region instead of being anchored in permanent houses. My life landed me on a small homestead alongside Lake Erie, a home base while I travel through North America. I have practiced herbal folkways for more than 20 years.  

My indigenous roots are deep in ancient Northern Europe, my North American roots are in Appalachia reaching 10-12 generations back depending on which thread I trace, and I grew up in the San Gabriel mountains of southern California. I've traveled throughout the country meeting plant people from all kinds of backgrounds. All of these places, all of these people inform this course. 

I am sharing a lot of my ideas about herbalism, health, and life in general. I don’t expect you to agree with me on everything. But I do expect respect and compassion for everyone taking this course. Please help me maintain an open learning environment where all participants can share ideas. If you disagree with something, please be kind. If you are unsure whether you can address the issue kindly and compassionately or simply want to address it privately, you can always send me a private comment by accessing the Trillium Center’s Contact Us page or sending me an email at leah@trilliumcenter.org. If you want me to address the issue and share with other participants please say so. I want everyone to learn from everyone else as much as possible. We are all in this together.

Much gratitude for being here.

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