218 - Shay Grant - An Herbalist’s Guide to the Medicinal Power of Plants
“You have to belong to your body first, and you have to understand that ecology, but I think it's important not to get stuck there.” - Shay Grant
The Oxford English Dictionary asserts that “nature” is “the phenomena of the physical world collectively, including plants, animals, the landscape as opposed to humans or human creations.” That last bit––as opposed to humans––is especially disconcerting. The more I learn about indigenous and traditional approaches to well-being, the more I understand that humans ARE nature, not something outside or above it.
Herbalist Shay Grant operates from a similar POV. As Anne discovers, the land around us has the power to enhance our mental and physical well-being. All we have to do is stop and smell the roses. Or the gorse. And here’s the great thing: your locale doesn’t matter. Urban, suburban, or rural, you’re never more than ten steps from experiencing the emotional and physical support that plants provide.
“I love seeing people's faces light up when they realize common weeds are super medicinal,” says Shay, an herbalist and yoga teacher who relocated to the UK from Canada. Shay believes in creating an empowering relationship between our bodies and the world around us. Her interest in herbalism began with a simple Google search which led to self-study before an intensive apprenticeship in Scotland and, finally, a multiyear full-time course equivalent to a Bachelor of Science degree. “It's very scientific, very medical in its angle,” she explains, “and it equips you for treating patients in a clinical setting.”
Shay’s training perfectly combines ancient wisdom and modern scientific discovery. “I would not choose a world without modern medicine. I would not choose to live in that world,” she asserts. Instead, she believes that plant medicine offers additional options for care regimens and opportunities for humans to reignite their innate connection to the earth. “We co-evolved with these plants. We belong to them just as much as they belong to us,” Shay says.
The English language is so limiting when it comes to the magic of everyday life. Screw the OED! Shay reminds us that humans are not opposed to nature. “When you start to make that relationship, like, ‘Oh, these plants are really nourishing for me, and they grow everywhere,’ then you realize that you are a part of the land, and the land is a part of you.”
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CWH215 - Courtney Rolfe - Exploring the Ancient Wisdom of Modern Polyvagal Theory
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy
Scottish School of Herbal Medicine
GUEST CONTACT AND BIO
Shay Grant (she/her) is a Canadian yoga teacher and Medical Herbalist living in the UK. She's been teaching yoga for 8 years and practicing as a herbalist for 2. She believes in creating an empowering relationship with our bodies and the land.
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www.headheartbiztherapy.com/podcast
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