In every industry there are trends. Yes, even in herbalism, there are herbal trends from time to time.

A trend, however, doesn’t have to be boxed in as something that’s currently popular. A trend can also be defined as a direction in which an industry is moving.

It’s here in this second definition that I have recently noticed 3 hot herbal trends.

The rise of artisanal apothecaries

A shift toward plant minimalism

The creation of ritualistic herbal practices

The Rise of Artisanal Apothecaries

The first of these herbal trends is the rise in what I refer to as artisanal apothecaries.

What I mean by that is that many new herbal entrepreneurs are coming out of the woodwork and setting up small-scale production in their homes. These artisans are creating unique products in small batches with creative formulas centered around skincare and wellness, many of them offering products that change seasonally.

This is a beautiful thing if you ask me.

One thing this herbal trend tells me is that more people are interested in herbalism as a career. No longer is the herbalist assumed to be a clinical herbalist working one-on-one with clients. Oh no! There are many other things you can do as an herbalist.

It also means that more people are being taught how to create an herbal business that centers around physical products as opposed to the boom of digital entrepreneurs we’ve seen over the last 10+ years. While there’s nothing wrong with digitally-based businesses (heck, that’s what my business is!), there’s something to be said about taking your knowledge and transferring that to a physical product that people want and need.

A Shift Toward Plant Minimalism

The next of the herbal trends I’m seeing is a shift toward plant minimalism.

Back in the day, a good herbalist was expected to have a lot of knowledge about a lot of different plants. They were to have an extensive apothecary filled with many different herbs so they could make preparations for those that needed their services, and their herbal materia medicas were vast and complex.

And while all of that is well and good, there seems to be this shift taking place where people want to connect on a deeper level with fewer plants. Instead of knowing how to use a lot of different plants, it seems as if they are narrowing their focus on a small number of herbal allies and learn to use them well and for many different things.

This too is a beautiful thing.

Not only does narrowing your focus to a handful of herbs help to cut down on the overwhelm that herbalism can be for the beginner, but I personally think that to be a good herbalist, you have to know your plants. To do that you have to spend time with them — studying and using them. You need both book knowledge and personal experience. There’s no way around it.

Sure, as you progress on your herbal journey, you’ll continue to study and learn about, and become familiar with more and more herbs. This will allow you to grow into that knowledgeable, experienced herbalist. But with the rising popularity of herbalism and the influx of new herbalists, I think narrowing one’s focus on spending time with one plant before moving on to another is a really smart plan. In fact, that’s what my Herb Folk studies and my course, The Art of Simpling are all about. These offerings help teach you to know your plants better and, in turn, help you to become a better herbalist.