A New Approach to Diversity in Herbalism

I read this in a job description for a role at one of the leading herbal institutions in the United States:

"We are actively looking for a diverse applicant pool. LGBTQIA+ individuals, Black, Indigenous, people of color, parents, people with different abilities, veterans, and folks who speak English as a second language are encouraged to apply. [Name] is an equal opportunity employer."

First, I have to say I respect this institution tremendously. I have learned so much from their contributions, and they are vocal about social justice issues. I and the field are better because of what they create in world.

Yet, this rubbed me the wrong way. As an ever-evolving African-American herbalist, I'm sensitive to issues of race and equity in this field. It's hard to miss that most of the well-known and widely respected herbal leaders in America are white, and the path to getting into that circle is often prohibitive to people without significant financial resources and time. I don't know many people who can take months off to move to a beautiful part of the country to study, be mentored, and gain clinical experience. However, the vast majority who can and do are white.

If we are honest, the universal image of an herbalist doesn't look like me. It's interesting, given the history of herbalism. I think about how to change it often.

So, when I saw a job description like this, it led me to believe there isn't a fundamental understanding of diversity and inclusion.

There's an implied hierarchy of what types of diversity matter most. It made me wonder if they see black and indigenous people as separate from people of color, and if so, how are people of color defined? It reads like a checklist, with more points given to some groups and bonus points if you check more than one box. Most of all, it doesn't share why diversity matters to them.

In all fairness, I don't think this was the intent, and I am grateful for their acknowledgment of the need for diversity. Yet, it's one thing to advocate for diversity and another to embody it. It goes far beyond faces and numbers. It's about personal and cultural transformation.

This isn't a unique statement in a job description, yet admittedly, I had a different reaction to this one. Maybe it's because this field matters so much to me, and I want to see herbal medicine become as common as aspirin in homes nationwide. For this to happen, we have to change mindsets and break down many walls. We need to communicate differently and show that a different way of thinking and doing things is better. But first, we have to embody it.

Over time, I've found herbs to be among my best teachers. From how they grow and why they work, there are lessons that I apply to different areas of life. Interestingly, thinking about what makes them effective provides a lens for how we approach diversity.

We know that herbs do not produce the side effects of "modern medicine." The reason for this is simple. We use the entire part of the plant that's medicinal. We value and depend on every constituent. However, while most pharmaceutical medications are based on or derived from plants, they extract the parts with the most benefit (active compounds) and use them in high concentrations. It is also combined substances are added to have a faster effect.

Yet, while the eliminated elements may be an essential part of the remedy, they provide the balance needed to prevent side effects and strengthen the entire body.

I bask in the beauty of that.

Understanding the need to include the people who bring essential balance should be our focus. This shift in thinking moves us from focusing on someone's identity first to prioritizing what makes us stronger. Ultimately, it's about focusing on the value and benefits of diversity. When we seek this, the people around the table will be more diverse than we can imagine.

 I'd love to see a job description that looks more like this:

We want our team to grow and learn from different cultures continually, so we seek applicants with varying life experiences, as well as people with knowledge of a variety of cultures and practices in the art and science of herbalism.

Our team is committed to making herbal knowledge accessible to everyone, and believe that when we do, our team will be stronger, and we can offer richer learning opportunities, and we will better serve everyone in our community.

Or something kind of like it.

Kim Violet is a mom, wife, herbalist, and the founder of Eden's Leaves, an herbal products company with medicinal blends for immunity and emotional health. She studies, writes, and teaches about herbal medicine. Kim is also the founder of Simply Brilliant, a consulting practice for organizations creating the world we want to leave for our great-grandchildren.