Evolutionary Herbalism

Weaving together herbal and medical traditions from around the world into a singular cohesive model, this groudbreaking book guides herbal practitioners to a comprehensive understanding of the practice and philosophy of healing with herbs. Written by one of the most exciting up-and-coming teachers in the field, this book presents a wide-angled and innovative approach to herbalism that truly considers both the plant and the human in a holistic context. Sajah Popham teaches a method of heart-centered contemplation--in which we relate to the plant with our hearts, rather than our heads--that allows practioners to access and honor the psychological, emotional, and spiritual qualities of a plant in conjunction with its physiological properties, resulting in a transformative level of healing. Organized in five parts that lead the reader from the microcosm to the universal, this work--grand in scope and profound in its understanding--encompasses indigenous wisdom, Ayurveda, alchemy, Chinese medicine, astrology, and clinical herbalism to address physical as well as spiritual levels of well-being. Aimed at both the student herbalist and the experienced practitioner, as well as a readers interested more generally in ecology and spirituality, Popham's teachings, both practical and philosophical in nature, guide readers to a more intimate, synergistic, and intuitive relationship with the plant kingdom and the healing medicine that is found there.