The Foundations of Health, Wellness, & Vitality

Previous: Intro to Western Energetics

When we start learning about herbs, it can be tempting to seek out the perfect herb for the discomfort or ailment we are experiencing without considering the context of whatever we are experiencing. This is understandable since we are immersed in media and advertising that provide the illusion that we can achieve 'health' through quick fixes and by swallowing magic pills. But quick fixes cannot address root causes of dis-ease, nor can they contribute to long-term health and vitality.

Herbalism and the natural wellness industry are not immune to the cultural temptations of quick fixes and fast results. You see this is the aisles of Whole Foods where supplements like concentrated curcumin extracts are advertised as a panacea for all inflammatory issues, juice fasts promise complete immunity against oxidative stress, and nutraceuticals offer bio-hacks to extend brainpower to superhuman status. While some of these products can be supportive for some people, the implicit message that proliferates is that you should spend your energy finding the perfect pill that will 'fix' you–this message is toxic on many levels.

First, this message implies that you are broken. Second, it relies on you feeling as if you are broken in order to capitalize on your vulnerability to make a profit. Third, it defines health as 'the absence of disease', which completely ignores aspects of health that are based on actual human needs.

Instead of health being defined as the ‘absence of disease’, we should view health as the strength of the vital force in relation to the season of one’s life.

"[Health is] an inner spark that glows from the core of a person outward."
– Aviva Romm, Naturally Healthy Babies and Children, p. 3

So before we even start to talk about integrating herbs into our daily rituals, let's explore five foundational aspects of health, wellness, & vitality. These are areas of where we can cultivate awareness and need to be acknowledged before even considering the use of herbs. Using herbs without an awareness of and focus on these foundational areas can often cover up issues and encourage a dependency on herbs (or supplements) to ease symptoms rather than address root causes. Using herbs in this way is making herbs do more than their fair share of the work.

The integrity of each foundation is reinforced through a combination of rituals and habits that we can work to become more aware of as we deepen our relationship with our body. These rituals and habits become points of self-awareness that shed light on where we need to challenge ourselves to change and grow.

Finally, these foundations remind us that there is no magic potion, no quick-fix, and no such thing as 'swallowing the solution'. Our journey towards vitality, well-being, and self-actualization requires work, self-discipline, and often challenging ourselves to do the very opposite of what we’ve learned to become comfortable with. While the work is hard, you’ll find that what you discover along the way about your body and self is absolutely worth the effort.

I look forward to exploring these foundations in greater depth throughout this space, sharing rituals, habits, and practices that open awareness and moves us toward a deeper resonance with ourself in each of these areas. For now, here are links to a few short articles exploring the scope of each.