The Medicine and Magic of the Plants
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Ancient Medicine for the Here & Now
The traditions of herbalism are rooted in our most ancient past- and are more important now than ever. The plants guide us to our own sacred center and help us to regain the harmony and health that nature affirms for us.
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Heart-Centered Wellness
Herbalism is both a physical and a spiritual medicine. By working with the plants we engage with nature’s great teachers to find our path to profound healing while nourishing our own connection to the whole of things.
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Body, Mind, and Spirit
There are no aspects of self that the herbs cannot share their medicine and magic. From physical issues both acute and chronic to foundational wellness, emotional and mental atmosphere work to aspects of the life path, the herbs empower us.
The Wild Way of Herbs
Herbalism is both an ancient, spiritual practice of nature connection and a progressive, grounded expression of whole-person wellness. By working with the plants we come into direct contact with the very intelligences of nature while meeting our bodies, minds, and spirits where they are.
As a traditionally-trained clinical herbalist in Salt Lake City, Utah with over two decades of experience, my goal is to bring each person I work with into direct contact with the plants that speak to their heart of hearts. These plants bring their own special medicine- but they also bring something more; spirit.
Areas where herbal medicine, herb magic, plant rituals, and heart-centered engagement with nature can help us find our center and nourish it include:
Chronic and acute physical disharmonies
Preventative and nourishing holistic care
Support for the mental atmosphere and the beauty of thought
Power to the heart and the life path
Areas of life including work, relationships, prosperity, protection, and release
Nature-centered spiritual growth and connections to intuition
Herbalist Josh Williams
Salt Lake City, Utah
Trained in Vitalist, Folkloric, Traditional Chinese, and Ayurvedic Herbalism
Over 12 years of formal education including a formal 4-year clinical program
Working with the magic & medicine of plants for over 25 years
Author of two herbal textbooks published by the legendary Aeon Books in London, UK
Winner of Best Herbalist in Best of Utah for 8 years running
In full-time private practice at Flow Acupuncture & Apothecary
“I've worked with Josh for years on many different health concerns and his knowledge and skill are top-tier! There's a REASON he is hands-down the herbal authority in SLC - he really knows his stuff! He has really helped me improve my digestion, and reduce overall stress and anxiety through natural plants and helped me avoid pharmaceuticals. He also helped me save a bunch of money because I was taking a boatload of supplements and herbal formulas (that cost a fortune) and he was able to dial it in for me and make me customized tinctures that were MADE FOR ME, which ended up being more effective and cheaper in the long run. 10/10 would recommend working with Josh- he makes herbal medicine accessible and easy while also powerfully effective!”
Why Spiritual Herbalism?
There are many traditions, approaches, and methods of herbalism that exist in cultures, spaces, and times. My practice of herbalism is fiercely spiritual in nature- meaning that while I give my clients all of the herbal support they need for their wellness goals on a clinical level, I am also engaging with the spirit of the plants as well.
Spiritual Herbalism allows us to acknowledge the wisdom, presence, and virtues of the plants in how we work with them for our individual and collective healing so that their magic and medicine can flow anywhere its needed.
This approach also means that we can nourish deep personal connections to the plants and have profound experiences where they teach, guide, harmonize, and protect us.
In approaching herbalism from this ancient spiritual perspective, there are many ways it can show up for each unique person I work with, including:
The way we explore disease and illness states and the ways in which we map out ap ath back to whole-person wellness
Traditional herbal remedies like teas, tinctures, salves, and soaks
Meditative or ritualized experiences with specific plants such as tea ceremony
Energetic work with the plants where their physical presence is less important than their wisdom presence
Visionary experiences with the plants where we connect to them heart-to-spirit
Custom herbal formulas written and compounded for each unique person
Tailored practices and protocols that open the heart to the power of the plants
“Working with Josh has been such a great experience. He is good about getting a comprehensive understanding of your current needs and recent past without it feeling exhausting. I appreciate his holistic approach and how he tries to treat your overall condition without adding a lot of supplements/plants at once. He tailors his treatment to you in such a way where if you want to go deeper and incorporate the medicine in your spiritual practice, he is more than happy to accommodate and support that. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience while remaining humble and respectful. I look forward to working with Josh for a very long time.”
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“Josh is one of the most knowledgeable and skilled providers I have ever seen. He is also kind and compassionate. He listens deeply. The herbs he recommended have helped me feel better physically and emotionally.”
What is Disharmony & Disease?
Traditional, spiritual, animist schools of herbalism posit that illness is a metaphor, or as I say, illness is omen. This means that the nature, type, and expression of any disease state is inherently connected to that of the person experiencing the disease- they have innate qualities in common and the way in which the disease manifests and even where in the body is shows up is very meaningful to the individual person. The point of connection, more often than not, from the perspective of our ancient methods of healing, is that the individual is out of harmony with themselves in such a way that the disease being expressed tells the tale.
The plants are exceptional allies here because they can move through us, and with us, to help find where the disharmony is and gently, slowly, and deeply unwind it.
The most common undercurrent of illness is blockage: the vital force of life is not able to get to the fullness of the person because of intrusion, loss, or chaos. This comes in the form of depleting emotions like lack of love, shame, guilt, and spiritual loss. Regardless of the cause and path of disharmony, the plants will help us find our way out of the maze.
So, from our perspective, illness is the manifestation of blocked or restricted vital energy which tells us that the prime force of the cosmos, love, cannot flow freely. Illness will show up in a way that speaks directly to the kind of blockage we have- an omen of our healing journey. The plants then come in as teachers, protectors, and guides to help us step back into the ways of love and vital energy.
“Josh is a literal miracle worker. I have suffered from perioral dermatitis for about 10 years. It comes and goes and when it comes, it stays for about 6 months. I typically would have 2 choices-wait it out for the 6 months or take 2 months of antibiotics, only to have it come back one week after completing the round. Last November, I got another batch and decided to see Josh as my options were not ideal. The consultation is very thorough and Josh spent a lot of time understanding my lifestyle and how this skin condition was showing up for me. I appreciate that he spends the time doing this to understand how to treat the individual vs any generic remedies… I have literally tried everything and I’ve never had results this quickly and long lasting. All of this with the right herbs for ME. I am incredibly grateful that someone of this talent is available in SLC and can’t recommend him enough.”
