Have you ever caught yourself thinking, "Who am I to guide someone else with plant medicine?" Or maybe, "I need to study more before I can really call myself an herbalist." Or "Do I know enough to teach this?" 

If so, welcome to the club. The imposter syndrome club. And it's a surprisingly crowded room.

In this episode, I'm getting vulnerable about something I've wrestled with for decades - even after 25 years of practicing, teaching, formulating, and guiding thousands of people with herbal medicine. That nagging voice that says "not enough yet." Tune in on apple here, Spotify here, or Youtube here.

And I'm sharing this not because my story is special, but because yours probably isn't either. Meaning: you're not alone in this feeling. And more importantly, that feeling doesn't mean what you think it means.

When Your Teacher Plants a Seed (That Grows Into a Weed)

Early in my clinical studies, one of my absolute favorite teachers - Paul Bergner, who's brilliant and has been practicing for over 40 years - said something that stuck with me. Something along the lines of: "I’ve been doing this for 40 years, and I figure I've got about 95 more years before I'm actually a master herbalist."

He was being insightful about the depth of this work. About how herbalism is a forever learning journey. And he's right about that.

But what my brain heard was: "You need 135+ years of experience before you're qualified to share what you know."

And that voice followed me everywhere. When I was running Mountain Mel's and getting my products into REI and health food stores nationwide - still that voice. When I opened my herbal apothecary and tea shop and worked with clients one-on-one - still that voice. When I started teaching herbalism classes back in 2011 - yep, still there.

"Who am I to do this? Surely, I don’t know enough."

What Imposter Syndrome Really Means

Here's what I've come to understand: Imposter syndrome doesn't show up because you're unqualified. It shows up because you understand how much there IS to know.

Beginners don't feel imposter syndrome. They don't know enough yet to be intimidated by the depth of the work.

But if you're feeling this, it means you've studied enough to see the vastness of herbalism. You understand the responsibility of working with someone's health. You know there's always more to learn. That awareness isn't a weakness - it's actually a sign you're taking this seriously.

What Others May See (That You Can't)

One of my students, Lissa, said something during a live session that made me tear up. She'd already studied with other herbalists, completed the Herbal Academy's program, and was working on her degree in horticulture. And she told me: "Your course gave me the confidence to actually call myself an herbalist and not just an herbal student."

Another student, Corey, messaged me recently and said, "You really have a gift as a teacher. That's what you do so well. You really shine in that way."

And here's the thing - 25 minutes after reading those beautiful words, my imposter syndrome came roaring back. Because it doesn't care about evidence. It doesn't care about testimonials or years of experience or the fact that Eclectic Herb (a company that's been around since 1982) just hired me as their herbal educator.

Imposter syndrome is a beast. And it's sneaky. And it's really, really common.

What It Actually Takes to Be "Herbalist Enough"

Let's talk about what it really means to be a skilled community herbalist - because understanding the depth of the work is part of what triggers imposter syndrome in the first place.

Being a good herbalist isn't just knowing which herb helps with sleep or digestion. It's about:

• Understanding the human body from a holistic perspective
• Developing the intuitive gift to draw someone's story out of them
• Going beyond symptoms to understand what's happening in their life
• Assessing their capacity for change (not everyone can cook elaborate meals or afford all the supplements)
• Guiding sustainable lifestyle shifts, not just throwing herbs at problems
• Helping people understand that herbal medicine isn't an instant-fix pill

That's a lot. And yes, it takes time to develop those skills. But here's what I want you to hear: Your community needs you NOW. Not in 95 years. Not when you've read every book and taken every class. Now.

The Gift of "I Don't Know"

One of the most important things Paul Bergner taught me (besides planting that 95-year seed) was the power of saying: "I don't know. That's outside my scope of practice, let me refer you to someone else."

You don't have to know everything. You need to know your boundaries. You need to build a network of practitioners you can refer to. You need to be honest about what you can and can't help with.

That's not imposter syndrome talking - that's integrity. And your community needs herbalists with integrity way more than it needs herbalists who pretend to have all the answers.

So, Are You Herbalist Enough?

If you're asking the question, there's a good chance you are.

If you care about doing this work well. If you're willing to keep learning. If you understand the responsibility. If you're ready to say "I don't know" when you don't know. If you want to meet people where they are and help them make sustainable changes.

Then yes. You're herbalist enough.

And your community needs you. Not the perfect version of you that exists 95 years from now. The real, still-learning, slightly-imperfect-but-deeply-committed version of you that exists right now.

Start where you are. Teach a fire cider class. Share what you know. Build your confidence one class at a time, one client at a time, one remedy at a time.

Because the truth is the world doesn't need more herbalists waiting in the wings until they feel "ready enough." It needs more herbalists brave enough to show up now - with humility, with integrity, and with a willingness to keep learning and growing.

You're not alone in the imposter syndrome struggle. Neither am I. But we're also not letting it stop us from doing this sacred work.

You're not alone in the imposter syndrome struggle. Neither am I. But we're also not letting it stop us from doing this sacred work.

If you're ready to build that confidence with guidance and community support, I'd love to welcome you into the Community Herbalist Certification & Mentorship Program. You can start your studies now and join our next live cohort. Learn more here.

And, if you've got time, or can relate to these feelings, I'd love to hear from you! Reach out on Instagram, or TikTok at @Therherbalistspath, or by email at [email protected]  💚