Ruth Shelton: The Empirical Herbalist
Episode description
Episode 90 features a conversation with Ruth Shelton, The Empirical Herbalist. For over two decades, Ruth has cultivated a life devoted to the plants—growing, foraging, formulating, and teaching throughout the Midsouth. Together we explore what it means to be in relationship with plants, how food history intertwines with healing, and the spiritual intelligence of the natural world. Ruth shares personal stories, practical guidance, and soulful reflections on how plants can guide, teach, and nourish us on every level. She explains what initially drew her to herbalism, and how plants have become sacred teachers and allies in her life. She also shares her perspective on the spiritual and energetic aspects of herbalism, how to begin working with plants through ritual and meditation, and why honoring the cultural roots of food and herbal practices is vital for true healing. Towards the end we talk about the importance of reclaiming food history in herbalism, how overlooked traditions can offer potent medicine, and why reconnecting with ancestral plant knowledge is a radical act of remembrance.Find Ruth at:
Instagram: @empiricalherbal Facebook: The Empirical Herbalist