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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cI believe allopathic, herbal, and holistic medicine can work together. My grandfather used to point out plants we could eat or even a tree branch that we could scrub our teeth with. He knew which roots would make us feel better. The minute we started coughing, he gave us a spoonful of honey. My great-grandmother was a midwife, and her husband was an herbalist. There\u2019s always been a calling in my heart for nature.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since her 20s, Johns has battled chronic arthritis. Over-the-counter medications, prescription pain relievers, and steroid injections alleviated the pain temporarily, but Johns knew she needed a permanent, healthier solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHolistic and natural healing was my only hope. Natural ways aren\u2019t addictive, and knowing that my body is meant to process and work with what was naturally created made it an easy choice for me,\u201d said Johns. \u201cFinding herbs I could work with in teas, tinctures, and salves that alleviated my inflammation and discomfort has been fun and wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Johns began devouring books on the subject, and after experimenting with various techniques and recipes, she began to find relief. Neighbors and others in the community requested these remedies, and their interest, combined with her own thirst for knowledge, coaxed another thought to take root. Could this call on her life, which she believed had trickled\u00a0down from her wild-crafting ancestors, become a thriving business?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cToday, I have a certificate in the science and art of herbalism from an intensive program with Rosemary Gladstar in the didactic, therapeutic, laboratory, and fieldwork of herbalism. I regularly attend herbal retreats and conferences with instructors who are part of the American Herbalists Guild \u2014 who are experts in this field. These events keep my mind fresh, my skills sharp, and friendships in this field alive.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Gladstar is a renowned herbalist who has dedicated her life to reviving the skills that prior generations relied upon for thousands of years. She is the author of multiple books on the subject, including \u201cPlanting the Future: Saving our Medicinal Herbs,\u201d \u201cHerbal Recipes for Vibrant Health,\u201d and \u201cHerbal Healing for Women.\u201d Over the years, she has passed down her vast knowledge to hundreds of students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Like Gladstar, Johns is also passing down her knowledge to others. Those interested in learning about growing, harvesting, drying, and using herbs for better health \u2014 and to promote healing in a more natural way \u2014 can register for classes with Johns at the Bell Buckle Coffee Shop or at the Shelbyville Parks & Recreation Center. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf I were to recommend five herbs that are easy to get started with, they would be chamomile, catnip, basil, thyme, and sage. These herbs are easy to grow and maintain. They can be blended into teas, tinctures, or salves individually. They are gentle for children yet have mighty healing properties.\u201d GN <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Prior to Disney\u2019s \u201cSleeping Beauty,\u201d the Brothers Grimm published the original folktale in 1812 titled \u201cBriar Rose,\u201d and prior to prescription medication, families relied on gathering wild herbs to ease their ailments. Tina Michelle Johns\u2019 husband helped her unite the tale of the jilted fairy who placed a curse on a beautiful princess \u2014 which […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":23505,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cover"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/shelbyville\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/01\/2-3-1024x683.png\")
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