Honoring Black History Month Through Herbal Wisdom

Black History Month is a time to honor the strength, resilience, and wisdom carried forward through generations. Within holistic health, Black heritage lives not only in history, but in living practices rooted in care, connection, and relationship with the natural world.

“Our people didn’t just carry stories. We carried seeds.”
- KhadiYah Preciado

Across generations, plant knowledge traveled alongside people - kept alive through hands-on experience, close observation, and deep familiarity with the land. Herbal knowledge was learned by listening, tending, and remembering. It was adapted to new environments and shared within families and communities, even when preservation came at great personal cost.

For Black communities, herbal wisdom has long supported the body, the spirit, and the collective. When access to formal medical care was limited or denied, plants offered practical support for wellness, nourishment, and restoration. This knowledge endured through elders, healers, midwives, and caregivers who ensured it was passed forward with intention and care.

Herbal Wisdom as Living Heritage

Herbalism has never been separate from daily life. It has been woven into foodways, caregiving, spiritual practices, and community well-being. These traditions reflect a deep understanding that healing is relational - between people, plants, and place.

Many modern holistic practices are built upon this foundation of plant knowledge. Honoring Black heritage in herbalism means acknowledging these roots, learning with respect, and ensuring that cultural contributions are not erased or overlooked.

Honoring Influential Black Herbalists & Healers

Throughout history and into the present day, Black herbalists and natural health advocates have helped shape holistic healing and plant-based wellness:

• Harriet Tubman – In addition to her work as an abolitionist, she used herbal and root medicine to care for enslaved people and support those traveling the Underground Railroad.
• George Washington Carver – A botanist and agricultural scientist who taught the nutritional and healing value of plants and promoted sustainable, plant-centered living.
• Queen Afua – A leading voice in modern holistic wellness, known for teaching plant-based nutrition, detox practices, and the body’s natural ability to heal.
• Karen Rose – Community herbalist and educator focused on accessible plant medicine and culturally rooted herbal traditions.
• KhadiYah Preciado – Clinical herbalist and educator whose work honors Black herbal legacy and the preservation of plant knowledge across generations.

Their contributions continue to influence how herbalism is practiced, taught, and understood today.

Learning the Foundations of Herbalism

At Florida School of Holistic Health, this understanding is central to our Foundational Herbalist Course. This course is designed to introduce students to the core principles of herbalism - how to work with plants thoughtfully, responsibly, and in relationship with the body and the natural world.

Students explore:
• The fundamentals of herbal practice and plant energetics
• Traditional ways of learning plants through observation and experience
• How herbs support balance and overall wellness
• The importance of honoring the cultural and historical roots of herbal medicine

Our approach emphasizes respect for the traditions that shaped herbalism while supporting students in building a grounded, ethical, and informed practice.

Continuing the Tradition

Black History Month offers an opportunity not only to reflect, but to listen - to the wisdom that continues to shape holistic living today.

As students, practitioners, and lifelong learners, honoring Black heritage in herbalism deepens our connection to the work we do and reminds us that healing knowledge is both inherited and alive.

As we move forward, may we do so with gratitude - for the people, the plants, and the heritage that continues to guide holistic healing.

An Invitation

If this reflection resonates with you, we invite you to continue exploring the world of herbal wisdom with us. Our Foundational Herbalist Certification Course offers a welcoming space to learn, connect, and deepen your relationship with plants and holistic healing.

Whether you are beginning your journey or expanding your knowledge, we welcome you to grow with us.

 Learn more about our Foundational Herbalist certification Course: https://www.fshh.org/certification-programs