You're probably used to cooking with herbs and spices like basil, thyme, cinnamon or cumin. You may also be familiar with what's known as the herb - a.k.a. cannabis. In reality, the definition includes these and many more!

There are up to 80 000 plant species used medicinally around the world, which are all considered herbs. I actually think many more plants have medicinal qualities that we don't yet understand. Herbs can include flowers, roots, bark, seeds, seaweed, leaves and even fungi. Sometimes one part of the plant is medicinal, while another part is toxic. That's one reason why it's important to work with a qualified herbalist, who has deep knowledge of the herbal materia medica.

Unfortunately, many medicinal plants and fungi have become endangered or gone extinct because of ecological destruction. That's why I advocate for sustainable wildharvesting and wildtending practices and support the work of United Plant Savers.