I came across a post today that really made me pause. A new herbal student was being told that in order to “truly learn” herbalism, they needed to personally try every herb the class covered. Contraindications, sensitivities, medications… allegedly brushed aside.
The message was clear: if your body cannot tolerate an herb, you will never be able to work with it.
I cannot express how deeply I disagree with that.
Herbalism is not a test of endurance. It is not about who can push through the most tinctures or ignore their own physiology for the sake of “experience.” Our practice is rooted in relationship, observation, study, and respect. If a teaching model asks you to override your intuition or your known contraindications, that is not experiential learning. That is unethical.
