Sage Against the Machine
Pharmaceuticals and me are a match made in Hell. In my junior year of college, I spent the night in the ER after having a bad reaction to an antibiotic I was prescribed mere hours before to treat an ear infection. I almost died. It was the first and only time I tried Amoxicillin.
Prior to this, when as a 14 year old with an anemia diagnosis, I was directed to take a prescription iron medication. I remember taking one pill (which was a shiny bright red orb) and puking it up 15minutes later. I couldn’t keep that pill down, even though I tried everyday for a week.
My other pharma fails included Midol not working one bit for severe menstrual cramps, and a terrifying hallucination from anesthesia after an emergency root canal. (I was high as a kite for over 24hours too. I believe the dosage was way too much, and again, I’m lucky to be alive.)
I’m seriously the biggest lightweight you’ve ever met when it comes to all drugs, including alcohol and caffeine. Two sips of beer, and I’ll be buzzed! When I was in the hospital, birthing my son, I refused the epidural because by then, at age 37, my pharma track record was 0-100, and knew it’d be a disaster. Between contractions, I yelled to the nurses, “Stay away from me with that!”
”In some Native languages, the term for plants translates to ‘those who take care of us.’” - Robin Wall Kimmerer
I was 31 when an acupuncturist exposed me to Chinese herbs….and they worked. After over 15years of suffering month after month, it felt like I’d won the healthcare lottery. My menstrual cramps and rollercoaster PMS symptoms were gone, which was nothing short of a miracle. I’ve been an admirer of herbal medicine ever since.
In the winter, I take turmeric. It’s warming. I use lavender for nervous system regulation, and chamomile for sounder sleep. I’ll drink dandelion tea when I feel bloated, and I’ll use calendula topically to eradicate redness on my skin. Sometimes, the positive effects of these herbal applications are instant, sometimes they take more time. Some herbal applications I take seasonally and/or temporarily, some I take on-going, and some are only one-time treatments.
“Everything on earth has a purpose, every disease has an herb to cure it.” - Mourning Dove
Medicine is growing in your yard. Medicine is for sale in your grocery store. Medicine is stashed away in your tea cabinet. It’s not only at RiteAid. Our ancestors used commonplace plants like thyme, hickory root and yarrow. They used weeds and wildflowers, gathered them up, and turned them into tinctures, teas, compresses, garnishes, and ointments.
But to be clear, today’s medical advancements save and prolong lives, and I love doctors. (My brother is a doctor.) Yes, there are hugely important pharmaceuticals out there, and we are fortunate to have access to them.
➡️ Three simple notions I want to convey: 1. don’t overlook herbal medicine, 2. doctors and insurance companies are gatekeepers to their medicine, but not all medicine, and 3. herbal medicine can be, and already is, food.
“ Herbs are the perfect companion for healing. They gentle nudge us in the right direction.” - Rosalee de la Forėt
You’re probably reaping the rewards of herbal medicine already, because you’re cooking with herbs. Cilantro in your burrito? It has been known to remove heavy metals from the body. Sprigs of rosemary on your potatoes? It has been known to reduce inflammation. Basil in your spaghetti sauce? It has been known to support heart health.
A great way to learn more about herbs is through podcasts. Here are my three favorites:
• Herbs With Rosalee
• The Plant Path
• Voices of our Herbal Elders
The only regret I have when it comes to herbs is I started late….but better late than never. Now, I grow my own herbs and search for herbs in the wild. I covet Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs book, which is worn out, stained and wilted from excessive use. (I think it’s the best book for real people trying to get herb savvy.)
Before those Chinese herbs back in 2002, which cost $12 for a month’s supply, I was jaded, had low expectations, and resigned to living my life with a few days of agony every month. Now, in 2026, I believe in miracles because I have experienced miracles, big and small, with herbal medicine. Are you jaded? Could you use a miracle or two? It's about thyme you danced with herbal medicine. 🌱
I am forever grateful that I stumbled into the local health food store when I was 17. It became my first job and 34 years later I'm still there, though under a new owner. When the nutritionists and herbalists spoke, I listened. When classes were held, I attended. The knowledge I have gained over the years is priceless and lives have been changed and made better for that knowledge. "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."🩷
This is so true Ellen. I, too, came late to the herbal wonders growing in our own backyard, but it's better late than never!
"Nature itself is the best physician" ~Hippocrates