by Tiffany Sporicelli
Hello all you green Divas out there! I’m a huge fan of all of you and what this site has to offer, so I thought I’d try to share something myself, instead of just greedily taking in all the valuable information you share!
All my life I have been interested in plants and the mystical, magical properties they contain. However, I had many interests growing up and there are only so many hours in a day, so, I didn’t end up following my interest in gardening and herbalism until after the completion of my undergraduate degree. I was 25 and after two short years of living and working in Manhattan, I moved (read: ran) away to return the sprawling countryside of northern New York. It was in this transition to the country that I rediscovered my innate desire to begin working the land.
With two small children and her modest organic garden, Rebecca embodies all the grace and wisdom of our earth mother. A year ago she took me in and began giving me herbal lessons in exchange for some work on the farm. There ware really no downside to the situation for me- I had found my heaven on earth. Since I was renting my home at the time, I appreciated the opportunity to get down and dirty in the soil while learning more about herbalism from a certified herbalist!
Now, herbalism and gardening remain interests and just that. I certainly do not claim to be an herbalist myself. But I thought it would be interesting to share this novice’s experience and what valuable herbal basics I’ve learned so far during this herbal exploration.
One of the most popular ways herbs are used today is in cooking. We use them to add flavor to dishes and to create authentic recipes from each corner of the globe. Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme along with cilantro, oregano, and a few others have become kitchen staples. Not only do they taste great, but they offer many health benefits from toning to detoxification.
Another popular way that people ‘take’ their herbs is though herbal teas. You don’t need to observe four o’clock teatime daily to know that a good cup 
of tea, properly steeped, can soothe the nerves and bring about wonderful healing results. Chamomile might be one of my favorite nighttime teas for the flavor, but it has also been used for centuries in treating children’s colic, nervous stress, infections, and more. No wonder it’s one of the leading ingredients in Celestial Seasonings’ popular Sleepytime tea!
If tea isn’t, well, your “cup of tea,” today, just about everything comes in capsule form. Vitamins, sleep aids, caffeine, and, you guessed it- herbs. In fact many of the leading medicines on the market today are heavily concentrated doses of herbs that our ancestors discovered centuries ago to be potent healers.
Herbs also come in tinctures for a controlled dose. Tinctures are concentrated herbal extracts in a liquid solution. They are administered by dropping 20-30 drops into water (or tea) depending on the desired outcome. Tinctures need to be taken regularly and herbal medicines usually take several days to months before the desired outcome is achieved.
There are several other ways to reap the benefits of medicinal herbs. Oils, lotions and bath soaks have become popular in homes and spas around the world.
We can incorporate the use of herbs into our modern lives in many different ways however to embark on this path of herbal healing and wellness, it must be understood that good health and the path to vitality can’t be found in a plant or pill. Good health is the result of balanced living and nurturing ourselves on a daily basis. It’s a way of life, not a passing diet plan. And no herbal regimen should take the place of personalized medical care from a licensed professional.
Stay tuned, Divas, for our upcoming project: Herbal Talks for Women with herbalist Jonathan Raymond!!