Herbal Medicine in the Modern World: Why work with an Herbalist?

As I move through the world, I often meet people who have never heard of an herbalist or aren’t quite sure what an herbalist actually does—or why they might want to see one.

Professions like massage therapy, acupuncture, and nutrition are widely recognized in the wellness space, but herbalism? Not so much. And yet, herbal medicine has been practiced for thousands of years, with written records from cultures around the world documenting the use of plants as medicine.

So why isn’t herbalism more well-known today? Over time, as allopathic (modern) medicine became dominant, much of this knowledge was pushed aside. (Quite literally. We replaced wise women with rich white men in lab coats.) And instead of working with whole plants, pharmaceuticals isolated single compounds from these plants to make many of the prescription meds we know to today.

And traditional plant medicine—once passed down through generations—started to diminished, and is often dismissed as outdated or unscientific.

But now, more and more studies are being done, and science is validating what traditional knowledge has long understood -- plants are powerful medicine. Research is confirming the benefits of herbal remedies, bridging the gap between ancient wisdom and modern understanding.

But because of this, I often get asked: What does an herbalist do? 

If you’ve ever wondered the same—or if you’re curious about how working with a clinical herbalist could benefit you—this newsletter is for you!

What is an Herbalist?

An herbalist is someone who studies medicinal plants in depth—learning how and where they grow, which parts of the plant are used (roots, flowers, leaves, berries, etc.), and how to best extract each of their unique medicinal properties (using hot water, cold water, alcohol, oil, etc.).

This study of herbalism isn’t just theoretical—it’s hands-on. Herbalists often grow and harvest plants themselves, experiencing their full life cycle, making medicine, and taking the plants themselves to understand how it works in their own body. This deep relationship with plants is what makes herbal medicine so unique. Herbalists gather knowledge from personal experience, teachers, and trusted sources, compiling all of this wisdom into herbal monographs—detailed plant profiles that capture their medicinal uses and effects.

What is a Clinical Herbalist?

A clinical herbalist takes this a step further—not just studying plants, but also studying the complexity of the human body and how the two interact. They then bring their knowledge into one on one work with clients.

Every person is unique, and so is every plant. Some herbs are warming, some cooling, some are drying, others are moistening or can be a combo of these properties.

A clinical herbalist considers these energetics alongside their clients own constitution and health history to find the right herbs for them.

For example, let’s say you tend to run hot—while others are bundled in sweaters, you’re comfortable in a T-shirt even on a cold day. You have some pain and inflammation and you heard either from a friend or online that “turmeric is an anti-inflammatory and can help with pain.” If you take turmeric to help with the inflammation, you might find that it actually makes things worse, because turmeric is a warming and drying herb.

A clinical herbalist takes this into account, curating custom formulas for each client, ensuring that the herbs chosen for you truly support and balance your body.

Why Work with a Clinical Herbalist?

Many of my clients come to me because they feel frustrated with conventional medicine. Instead of being guided on how to improve their health, they’ve been given a prescription and told to take it indefinitely—without addressing the root cause of their symptoms.

Others are simply tired of feeling unwell and want to take control of their health in a meaningful way. 

Some prefer to try a natural approach before exploring more invasive or expensive options—this is especially common with my fertility clients.

When you work with a clinical herbalist, you get personalized support, education, and custom herbal formulations designed specifically for you—your body, your history, and your needs. The goal is always to get to the root cause so you can create real, lasting change in your health.

My practice specializes in women’s hormone and reproductive health, as well as stress, anxiety, sleep, and fatigue.

If this resonates with you, or if you have questions, I’d love to connect! You can schedule a free 15-minute call to see if working together feels like the right fit.

Love,

Danielle