What is herbalism?
Herbalism is the art and science of using whole plant and plant extracts made from barks, roots, flowers, and leaves, to promote health and the proper structure and function of all components of the body and mind.
The herbalist works as the communicator between you and the plant world - listening, analyzing, and connecting you to the right herb or herbal formulation for your specific needs.
How do Herbs work?
Medicinal plants, also called herbs, create movement and change within the body through various avenues:
Chemically - a plant’s chemical compounds (phytochemicals) interact with human cell receptors to influence chemical functions and changes within the body on a cellular level.
Energetically - the characteristics (also called “energetics”) of plants (i.e. drying, moistening, warming, cooling) have a direct impact on human tissues depending on the current nature of the condition or symptoms.
Experientially - the sensory relationship of taste, aroma, and temperature of an herbal preparation leaves an imprint on the body and mind.
Relationally - the process of blending, preparing, and enjoying herbal remedies calls on our ability to slow down, nourish and nurture. We deepen our connection to ourselves, the plants, and the Earth through a relationship with the plants.
While above are only a few of the many ways herbs impact us as human beings, you can check out the Meet the Herbalist page to learn more about how herbs can support the individual.
advocating for our health
Vitalist Roots is inspired by the notion that we all have the right to a life of health and wholeness, and we should all have access to the resources needed to participate in our health and wellbeing.
Andie empowers her clients to participate in their healing journey through preparing herbal remedies, engaging in lifestyle changes, and incorporating healing foods in a way that is manageable for their unique circumstances. She advocates for their health goals, providing support in getting proper access to medical healthcare, testing, and equitable treatment.
Together, we learn to listen and understand what our bodies are communicating to better advocate for ourselves and our needs.
Learn more about Sliding Scale offerings and donation opportunities, here.
Philosophy of Healing
Taking a holistic Vitalist approach, Andie understands that all life has an innate wisdom that is constantly moving towards healing and balance. Sometimes with the weight of our modern lifestyles and environment, the body gets overwhelmed, bogged down, and unbalanced - this is when we see confusing symptoms and unwanted changes.
The Vitalist understands that physical, mental, and emotional symptoms are the language of the body and how our environment on the inside communicates to us on the outside. By understanding this communication from our bodies, we have a framework for choosing the right herbs and support at the right time, and we can evolve how we tend to ourselves as this communication changes.
If you are interested in seeking out gentler, supportive, and nature-based strategies for health and healing, but don’t know where to start, schedule a 15-minute FREE herbal education call with Andie to see if a Holistic Herbal Consultation is a good fit for you.
Meet Your Herbalist
Andie N. Inscoe (she/her) is a Clinical Herbalist living on Native Nanticoke Land in what is now called the Eastern Shore of Maryland. She holds a Master’s of Science in Therapeutic Herbalism from the Maryland University of Integrative Health. Andie is a passionate advocate for her clients in improving their health and well-being. In her practice and her personal life, she works to harness the healing power of nature through herbs, food, and time spent close to the Earth.
on the practice of vitalism
“Holistic medicine is founded on the concept and experience that the organism is a functional unit or whole under the directing hand of an intelligent, self-regulating, and self-correcting guiding life force or energy. Since Nature in the organism is self-maintiaining and self-healing, holistic medicine is further based on the assumption that the organism can be…returned from an unbalanced state to one of balance or homeostasis.”
- Matthew Wood, RH(AHG), The Practice of Traditional Western Herbalism (2004)
