Regenerative Herbalism and Aromatherapy takes the practice of using plants to support our health and wellness a step further. By using regenerative practices in using plants for our family, our business, our products, or our practice, we can ensure the ethical and ecologically sound use of these precious plants and materials to reduce our footprint and create better future in the face of climate change, habitat loss and destruction, and overharvesting and use. Sustainable is not enough anymore - and while finding sustainable sources of plant materials from across the entire planet might not harm our environment today, it is not helping improve our environment and leaving it better than we found it. Regenerative practices -which in the face of climate change is the bare minimum to try to reduce the impact of climate change on our precious species in the future - must be our gold standard. We can do the same in the use of local aromatherapeutic plants, growing our own where possible, applying local plants to our clinical uses where we can. We can also source our global products from ethical and responsible sustainable businesses.
Growing and making our own using permaculture and regenerative practices is critical in our sustainability journey in the aromatic and medicinal plant industry.
Some elements of regenerative herbalism and aromatherapy include growing your own, using bioregional herbs, make your own herbal products when possible, using local products as much as possible, using only what is needed/reducing your waste, and sourcing from sustainable and ethical companies.
By growing our own we are developing a more personal and deep relationship with the plants, connecting to and appreciating the time and needs of the plants in the ecological cycle. If we only purchase dried plants or products online, they may travel thousands of miles to reach us. They will be packaged up in layers of packaging and shipped in layers of boxes.
Creating deeper connections to our medicinal herbs and aromatic plants helps us cultivate a reciprocal relationship with the environment, and gives us the opportunity to also cultivate the space around the plant in our care for the soil, the water, the pollinators and beneficial insects, and our own local environment.
By seeing the whole plant from seed to harvest we develop relationships with the plants and care about their future and our role in conservation.
By creating local supply chains and alliances we are building and supporting local community and reducing our global waste and carbon footprint as well.
We cannot put the brunt of sustainability and conservation on the supply chain itself and the businesses that rely on international shipping, warehouses, office, staff, transportation, packaging, and so on. While it is critical we choose suppliers that do source ethically, sustainably, and with conservation and environmental concerns at the forefront and with transparency, they are still very large global industries producing millions of tons of product and generating billions of dollars. They must rely on the supply chain - and even if they incorporate sustainable and conservation based practices into their work, they still generate a lot of waste and have a footprint. They use complicated tools such as carbon accounting and other supply chain calculations to offset their impact, but there is still impact (we do not have solar powered shipping or air transit yet). Mobilizing global supplies takes fossil fuels. It is inevitable. So, the more we can grow ourselves and keep local the better, so that when we utilize the global providers for those things we cannot source locally, we are doing so mindfully, with intention, and sourcing ethical providers and suppliers. In these days, regenerative is a big step forward from sustainability as well, and finding farmers and suppliers using regenerative practices and not just sustainable, improves our supply chain impact as well. Regenerative practices for essential oils, herbs, supplements, and plant based products is critical.
While we all will still purchase things that come from afar - I cannot grow coffee beans here, I cannot grow cinnamon or ginger or make my own salt, for example, nor do I distill my own essential oils - sourcing everything possible locally first is a part of our conscious efforts in responsible use and regenerative practices. We can all take steps to be more local, we can all make choices that reduce our impact. Every choice we make can be impactful, and so intentional and conscious consumerism in plant medicine can make a big impact long term. Even baby steps can make an impact. Don't be afraid to start small, do what you can, make conscious and intentional decisions to find local sources, and grow your commitment over time!
Another key point these days is that retail herbal and aromatherapy products are often adulterated or containing fillers, dyes, or contaminants. Recently a high profile mushroom supplement manufacturer found dozens of counterfeit sellers on Amazon selling what looked like their product (the pirates even copied their packaging). How can we know what herbs we are using and guarantee what plants our families or clients are ingesting? Growing our own or purchasing from suppliers that are transparent about their processes, suppliers, employee practices and policies, and testing/validating their products. Buying direct from growers or distillers if we can. If we purchase what we can locally, and then move out in an expanding circle of committed sustainable (or better, regenerative) suppliers, we are using our money to make an impact, and reducing our waste where possible. Also, purchasing freshly dried bulk herbs means we can touch, taste, smell, and look at the herbs and confirm what they are. If we purchase single source essential oils, or only EO's with batch GCMS reports available for every product, we can ensure field to bottle is pure and that we are giving our clients what we say we are. We are reducing our waste and reducing our global footprint while also ensuring we are getting what we paid for. Again, this doesn't mean we don't ever purchase anything that isn't produced in our local area - carrier oils, butters, waxes, alcohol for extraction, essential oils, etc. also might need to be sourced from farther away - but if we do source everything possible as close as possible, we can help reduce our waste, footprint, and build our local community as well! We can develop relationships with our supply chain, rather than be invisible consumers.
“Regenerative Agriculture is a system of farming principles and practices that increases biodiversity, enriches soils, improves watersheds, and enhances ecosystem services. By capturing carbon in soil and above ground biomass, Regenerative Agriculture aims to reverse global climate change. At the same time, it offers increased yields, resilience to climate instability, and higher health and vitality for farming communities. The system draws from decades of scientific and applied research by the global communities of organic farming, agroecology, holistic grazing, and agroforestry.” - Terra Genesis International
So, to apply those concepts to herbalism and aromatherapy and our role as consumers, business owners, product makers, educators, and humans on this earth, is relevant if we are to protect these plants for future generations.
And, remember:
This doesn't have to be all or nothing
Everyone can take steps towards plant and environmental conservation in our homes and land
Even small steps can make a big impact over time
Start small, and work your way up - grow a few pots of herbs you use most often, use reusable inhalers or glass containers, etc.
Awareness helps make change possible
Do the best you can, with what you have
Check out one supplier at a time, or review one product every month - start small and work your way up
Be the example for your children, clients, and community - enthusiasm spreads!
I love talking about using Permaculture Ethics and Principles in Herbalism and Aromatherapy, and teaching folks how they can make a difference whether they are herbal and aromatherapy consumers, producers, or practitioners. See topics I love to teach about.
I am planning some online courses in this subject, and am happy to present as a guest instructor for herb schools, universities, or herb clubs/guilds or aromatherapy clubs/guilds.
