Across the globe, more and more people are turning toward their roots, literally. From homegrown herbal infusions to professionally formulated tinctures, herbal medicine is undergoing a powerful resurgence. But this isn’t a trend in the typical sense; it’s a remembering. At Neteru Apothecary, we see the return to plants as a return to ancestral intelligence. It’s not about rejecting science, but reweaving what was never meant to be separated: mind, body, spirit, and nature.
Why Are People Turning Back to Herbs?
The pandemic, environmental instability, and rising mental health crises have acted as catalysts, nudging millions to reassess how they live and how they heal. These layered challenges have sparked a deeper curiosity in ancient practices once dismissed as fringe.
A 2023 Wellness Industry Report found that searches related to “herbal healing,” “plant-based immunity,” and “natural stress relief” have increased by over 200% in the last two years alone. However, these numbers only confirm what many of us have already felt: people are hungry for a sense of rootedness. They're looking for something more than symptom management. They want coherence, physical, emotional, and spiritual.
Another key reason is growing disillusionment with the pharmaceutical model. While pharmaceuticals have their place, especially in acute care, many people are seeking alternatives for managing chronic conditions such as stress, anxiety, hormonal imbalances, and digestive issues. Studies published in Frontiers in Pharmacology (2019) and The Journal of Ethnopharmacology have highlighted the effectiveness of traditional plant medicine in managing these concerns without some of the harsh side effects associated with synthetic drugs.
Take ashwagandha, an adaptogen that has been used in Ayurvedic traditions for centuries. Today, it's being studied for its potential to reduce cortisol levels and improve resilience to stress. Herbs such as chamomile, passionflower, and lemon balm are now recognized by Western herbalists and clinical practitioners alike as gentle allies for the nervous system, supported by both tradition and clinical trials.
At the same time, mental health and nervous system regulation have become front-and-center in the wellness conversation. Rather than isolated approaches, people are recognizing that nervous system dysregulation, rooted in stress, trauma, and overwhelm, often requires long-term, layered healing. Herbs, when used with care and intention, can support this rebalancing by calming the vagus nerve, nourishing depleted adrenals, and bringing the body into a more parasympathetic state.
Plants as Energy and Intelligence
A less talked-about, yet deeply compelling, development in the herbal renaissance is the growing awareness of plants as conscious beings. Modern researchers are now exploring how plants store memory, communicate through chemical signals, and emit subtle electromagnetic fields. According to studies in Plant Signaling & Behavior (2013), some plants can even pass on stress resistance to their offspring through epigenetic changes, a concept long held in Indigenous traditions and now catching the attention of molecular biologists.
These insights align with age-old wisdom held by herbalists, medicine women, and plant shamans: that plants not only heal the body but also interact with the energetic and emotional body. Our ancestors knew this. Rituals were not just aesthetic; they were energetic attunements. A tea was not just steeped; it was prayed over. Plants were not extracted; they were invited.
What was once called folklore is now becoming validated through modern science. Researchers from universities in Europe, Asia, and the U.S. are exploring how plant compounds interact with the nervous system, support immunity, and even impact gene expression.
Take rosemary, long used in Mediterranean cultures to “strengthen the memory.” Today, rosemary extract is being studied for its potential neuroprotective effects and its role in improving cognitive performance (Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, 2020). Holy basil (tulsi), considered sacred in Ayurveda, is now shown to help regulate blood sugar and reduce cortisol levels. (Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 2021).
This growing body of evidence is validating what herbal traditions have known for generations: plants are teachers and healers, not commodities.
Sustainability & A Shift in Conscious Consumption
There’s also a rising awareness around sustainability and ethical sourcing. More people are asking: Where is this herb grown? Who harvested it? Is this wildcrafted responsibly? The herb industry has grown rapidly in the last decade, and with it comes the responsibility to protect the very plants we seek healing from.
Beyond their biochemical effects, herbs also carry energetic qualities. At Neteru, we often describe plants in ways that reflect both science and soul. For example:
- Chamomile brings soft boundaries and gentle rest.
- Nettle invites strength, but only after you respect her space.
- Mugwort opens the door to dreamwork, memory, and ancestral presence.
These descriptions are not poetic embellishments; they reflect a deeper truth: healing is relational. The way you approach a plant, the intention you bring, the time of day you harvest, all of it matters. And increasingly, modern science is catching up.
Studies from Plant Signaling & Behavior have shown that plants emit low levels of biophotons (light particles), respond to electrical fields, and send warning signals to one another through root systems and chemical release. These discoveries resonate with Indigenous knowledge systems that have always understood plants to be communicators.
According to the American Botanical Council, sales of herbal supplements in the U.S. alone surpassed $12 billion in 2022. This growth brings opportunity, but also risk of overharvesting, mislabeling, and cultural appropriation. At Neteru, we emphasize local, ethical, and small-batch sourcing, and we aim to preserve the sacred relationship between plant and practitioner.
The Herbalist as Listener, Not Prescriber
Unlike mainstream healthcare models, which often impose a solution onto the body, traditional herbalists approach healing as a conversation. We listen for what’s beneath the symptom, for what’s being held in the tissue, for what needs to be remembered.
In this way, herbal healing is often non-linear. A client might come in for sleep issues and find that grief is what needs tending. Another might seek energy but discover they first need rest. Herbs help us listen to our bodies, to the seasons, and to the rhythms that modern life tries to drown out.
This return to herbalism is not simply about alternatives to medicine or market trends. It is, at its heart, about reconnection to nature, to spirit, to ancestral memory, and one’s own body. It is about choosing slowness, presence, and ritual in a world that has made healing transactional.
We are witnessing a quiet revolution, one that uses a cup of tea as an act of defiance, a balm as a prayer, and a tincture as a key to remembering. This movement is not just herbal, it is spiritual.
Ancestral Memory and the Sacred Cycle
Many herbal traditions see illness not just as a biological disturbance, but as a signal of disconnection from self, spirit, land, or community. This is where ritual enters. A cup of tea, when taken with intention, becomes a ceremony. An herb bath becomes a cleansing rite. A balm becomes a prayer.
This view is especially important for diasporic communities, many of whom have experienced cultural disruption, loss of land, and the severing of ancestral lineages. Reclaiming plant medicine is not just about health, it’s about identity, power, and repair.
This is why we center ancestral healing at Neteru. We honor the lineage behind every leaf.
What's Next: Integration, Not Imitation
As herbal medicine continues to grow in popularity, we also carry a responsibility to protect its integrity. Wellness brands are now mass-producing herbal products, sometimes without transparency, sometimes without cultural respect, and often without the energetic care that makes herbalism so transformative.
We believe in slow medicine, harvested ethically, prepared mindfully, and shared with reverence. Our formulas are made in small batches, often aligned with moon phases or seasonal shifts. They are not meant to replace medical care, but to complement it, to bring us back into the right relationship with ourselves and the earth.
Final Reflections
This isn’t just a herbal revival. It’s a remembering. A remembering of who we are when we are connected. A reminder that healing is not a product to buy, but a process to tend.
At Neteru Apothecary, we don’t just sell herbs, we build bridges between body and spirit, past and future, science and soul. Whether you’re steeping a tea, lighting a candle, or simply taking a breath before your next step, know that this movement belongs to you, too.
You're not too late. You're right on time
📚 Further Reading & Resources
- Plant Spirit Healing: A Guide to Working with Plant Consciousness by Pam Montgomery
- Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
- The Energetics of Western Herbs by Peter Holmes
- Frontiers in Pharmacology – Review on adaptogens and herbal therapeutics (2019)
- Plant Signaling & Behavior – Studies on plant memory and electrical signaling (Vol. 8, 2013)
With reverence,
The Neteru Apothecary Team
Explore More:
- Visit: Neteru Apothecary
- Book a 1-on-1 consult: Schedule Here
- Shop: Our Seasonal Remedies
- Read: Plant Spirit Healing by Pam Montgomery
- Watch: Wellness is Trending