Herbal Intelligence

A guide to the cultural reawakening of modern herbalism

Providing a comprehensive guide to the dynamic new landscape of modern herbalism, renowned medical herbalist David Hoffmann explores how ancient healing modalities are once again becoming prominent—just when the planet most needs them. Acknowledging the ecologically unsustainable course we are on as a species, Hoffmann reveals herbalism as a way to reconnect with the land and ourselves, a powerful way to participate in the earth-centered green transformation underway in our culture.

Using the concept of viriditas—the understanding of nature as divinely ­intelligent—Hoffmann explores modern herbalism in detail. He looks at the deep involvement of herbs and their constituents in ecology, revealing the universal role of plants in integration and homeostasis. He examines the concepts of biodiversity and chemodiversity, elaborating on the ecological role of human-herb interactions and co-evolutionary relationships between species. Presenting evidence of medicinal plant use by animals and early humans, he reviews herbalism from its ancient roots to the modern varieties in practice today, emphasizing how herbalism that developed outside of the dominant culture laid the foundations for the effective, simple techniques relevant for our modern world. He examines the radical and non-hierarchical roots of herbalism, considering the parallels between the field’s development and the growth of spiritual awakening and social radicalism.

Exploring herbalism through the modern scientific lens, Hoffmann reveals the exponential growth in recent research and peer-reviewed literature on phytotherapy and herbs. He describes the problems inherent in herbalism’s integration into the global marketplace, emphasizing that herbalism must stay rooted in the health of the people to avoid becoming commodified. He also offers a range of herbal approaches to support personal and cultural resilience during the crises humanity is facing.

Ultimately, Hoffmann says, a vibrant culture of herbalism can have critical implications for the future: in the face of ecosystem breakdown and myriad crises, earth-centered herbalism can serve as a crucial force for health and resilience.