Why "Root to Bloom?"
I chose the title "Root to Bloom" because I enjoy the double meaning. First, it takes into consideration the entirety of the plant (or person). I believe it's important in matters of health, happiness, and life in general to consider a whole being as the amazingly complex and synergistic wonder that each of us is, and not just address parts of an interchangeable bio-machine. And second, this site is about herbalism, a beautiful and ancient tradition dating back through the whole of the human family. I believe that it's in this rich history that we may find the roots, the foundation and nurturing, in which to flourish and bloom, in our bodies, lives, and in the world-at-large.
When I still my mind and share space with the plants, I find an inner calling to share their voices as I have heard them, just as they are always waiting there to share their wisdom and support if we but openly listen and partake in what they offer. This site is about sharing, empowering , creating, growing, and supporting each other on a mindful and healthful plant-filled journey.
Information
In the spirit of herbalism being of the medicine of the people, I would love to share some of my favorite resources. Remember folks, I'm not an MD giving medical advice, I'm just a student-practitioner on a lifelong path of learning and sharing. The info presented on these pages is for educational purposes only, and you are free to use it (or not) as you see fit. So here they are, my go-to materials:
1) My notes from the Family and Community Herbalist course tracks taught by the wonderful and wise Emily Ruff at the Florida School of Holistic Living
2) Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health (with a special place in my heart as my first "real" herbal book)
3) David Hoffman's Medical Herbalism. Some may find it heady and dry, but I could read that cover to cover for the rest of my days and never be bored.
4) M Grieve's A Modern Herbal volumes I and II
5) Lisa Ganora's Herbal Constituents
6) I find it fun to use google scholar to stay up-to-date on some research and nit-pick minutia, though of course study quality, reproducibility, etc must be taken into account.
7) My own experience from experimentation and good ol' trial-and-error. It's sometimes the funnest way to learn!