Why I’m Deepening My Roots in Plant Medicine...

are you coming along with me?

I’ve been working in health for over two decades now — both in the allopathic (Western medicine) world and the more alternative, holistic side of things. And one thing that’s become glaringly obvious over the years is just how conditioned we are to believe there’s only one way. One right way. One real way. Depending on which side of the fence you sit on, the other can often seem silly, unnecessary, or even dangerous.

Photo by Conscious Design on Unsplash

Having straddled both of those worlds, I can say with confidence — and a good dose of lived experience — that there’s absolutely room for both. In fact, it’s essential that both exist.

I was listening to the After Dark podcast recently (which I love, by the way), and there was an episode that really struck a chord. It was about the Alaskan myth of Sedna, the sea goddess, and how Alaska was framed as the “last frontier.” The guest, Tia Tidwell, talked about how colonisers entering the land didn’t value or absorb the wisdom of the Indigenous people who’d lived there for generations. They ignored their knowledge of the land, the climate, the food sources — and as a result, many suffered and died needlessly.

It made me think deeply about medicine. About how industrialised it has become. About how dismissive it can be of ancient knowledge, of different routes to healing. There’s this tendency to scoff at anything outside the pharmaceutical model, even though we know — we know — that the very drugs we rely on so heavily today were originally derived from plants. That’s not woo-woo. That’s history. Science. Truth.

I’m not here to pit one against the other. It’s not a case of “herbs are better” or “medicine is more researched so therefore superior.” It’s not that black and white. Life isn’t that black and white. Healing certainly isn’t.

What I do believe, though, is that when we approach health from a place that supports more than just the one thing we’re trying to fix — when we look at the whole person, the whole picture — we’re far more likely to support true, sustainable wellbeing.

I see it all the time: someone’s given a pill to treat a symptom, only to end up with another six side effects that need more medication. And on it goes. That’s the chain of command in allopathic medicine. And while it can absolutely be life-saving and vital, we’ve got to have the space to ask: what else can help?

There’s something so powerful about having herbal remedies in your corner. Whether you're dealing with chronic conditions like endometriosis, IBS, or fatigue — or just trying to avoid every cold that’s doing the rounds — plants can offer real, tangible support. Not just as symptom-chasers, but as allies in deeper healing.

I also find it deeply telling that in many areas of medicine, you're asked to stop any herbal treatments before proceeding with certain treatments or surgeries. To me, that only reinforces their potency. You can’t dismiss them as useless and then also claim they might interfere — which is it?

We’re often taught that knowledge of herbs is a bit old-fashioned, or something our nan might have talked about. Like the dock leaf for nettle stings — everyone knows that one. (Though for the record, you’re better off with plantain — works a treat!) These things aren’t just quaint folklore. They’re rooted in real knowledge, passed down through generations. And we’ve lost so much of that by not honouring the wisdom of the world around us.

There’s something sacred in reconnecting with plants. With learning their names, their properties, their stories. They’re more than just remedies — they’re part of our heritage. In a fast-paced world obsessed with productivity and staying forever young, we forget that sometimes, the answers aren’t in doing more — they’re in looking closer.

So, here I am, deepening my own learning around plant medicine. Rooting myself even further into the world of herbs and natural healing. And I want to bring that knowledge to you in a way that sparks curiosity. That invites you to head out into your own garden (or any wild patch you can find) and see the medicine growing all around you.

Because that’s the crux of it, isn’t it? That’s the power. We’re surrounded by plants that can support us, and we just need to remember how to listen.

And I’m really, really excited to share that journey with you.