Herbalism, like astrology or tarot cards, has been lived for the most part in the underbelly of society. Until now. With our desire to live authentic lives, get in touch with the earth and live more naturally, many of us have turned to homeopathic remedies, including herbal teas, tonics, and potions. Skeptical? Health benefits aside, fresh and dried herbs are a vital part of any good cooking arsenal. Where would we be without pesto, curries, or marinara sauce? But as these three herbalists will tell you, herbs were used for healing way before pharmaceuticals or pesto.
Many nutritive herbs touted by naturopaths (those who use natural remedies to help the body heal itself) are hiding in our own kitchen cabinets, local grocery store, or neighborhood farmers market. “We just have to get to know them,” says Leah Larabell, owner of East Nashville’s herbal teahouse darling, High Garden Tea. “If you open your eyes and take off the blinders, every single plant – the leaves, stem, root, flower – no exception, is food or medicine.”
Leah has been pursuing her herbal studies for 15 years and is just one of several local herbalists who have dedicated themselves to reviving this ancient healing tradition.
After opening the teahouse, she and her husband Joel founded the Wholistic Herbalism and Traditional Skills School in Nashville. One popular class they teach is ‘Foraging and Feasting’, where students go outside and learn to identify, gather, and cook with local, wild, and edible herbs.
Chickweed, dandelion, and ground ivy (creeping charlie) are just a few examples of herbs that grow wild in our area and will soon be abundant in late winter to early spring. Most can be found in your own back “yarden,” as Leah likes to call it. However, she stresses the importance of learning how to properly identify these wild herbs before attempting to forage them on your own.