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Naturally: The Herbalist's Guide to Health and Transformation
A beginner's guide to the ancient art and science of plants to transform your life
When it comes to our health and well-being, modern treatments can take us only so far. What we're missing is a holistic, individualized, and natural approach that addresses the roots of our discomfort with life-changing results. In other words, we need herbalism.
Introducing herbalism as a vital layer of our well-being, clinical herbalist Rachelle Robinett reveals the natural remedies and rituals that can boost our health and happiness. Did you know that cloves and turmeric have analgesic properties that relieve pain? That if you struggle with anxiety, nervines such as lemon balm help quiet spiraling thoughts? That for a boost of motivation, nootropics like lavender support healthy dopamine levels, while adding bitters to your diet can improve digestion?
Walking readers through the key herbal categories, their functions, and how to best use them, Naturally shows how herbalism can be applied to all aspects of our lives—from reducing stress and depression to relieving pain and helping us sleep to stimulating sexual desire, improving liver function, and enhancing cognition—and offers simple recipes and formulas for herbal remedies.
When it comes to our health and well-being, modern treatments can take us only so far. What we're missing is a holistic, individualized, and natural approach that addresses the roots of our discomfort with life-changing results. In other words, we need herbalism.
Introducing herbalism as a vital layer of our well-being, clinical herbalist Rachelle Robinett reveals the natural remedies and rituals that can boost our health and happiness. Did you know that cloves and turmeric have analgesic properties that relieve pain? That if you struggle with anxiety, nervines such as lemon balm help quiet spiraling thoughts? That for a boost of motivation, nootropics like lavender support healthy dopamine levels, while adding bitters to your diet can improve digestion?
Walking readers through the key herbal categories, their functions, and how to best use them, Naturally shows how herbalism can be applied to all aspects of our lives—from reducing stress and depression to relieving pain and helping us sleep to stimulating sexual desire, improving liver function, and enhancing cognition—and offers simple recipes and formulas for herbal remedies.
448 pages, Hardcover
Published July 22, 2025
50 people are currently reading
5917 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 21, 2025
Book Review: Naturally: The Herbalist’s Guide to Health and Transformation by Rachelle Robinett, RH (AHG)
Perspective: Female Sociologist & Public Health Professional
Rating: 4/5
Reactions & Emotional Resonance
Reading Naturally as a public health professional, I oscillated between appreciation for its accessible democratization of herbal knowledge and unease about its individualistic framing of health. Robinett’s passion for plant medicine is palpable—her writing exudes a reverence for nature’s pharmacopeia that feels both ancient and urgently contemporary. The book’s emphasis on self-directed care resonated with my work on health autonomy. Yet, I couldn’t ignore how its aspirational tone (take control of every aspect of your health) clashes with the reality of marginalized communities who lack access to fresh herbs or time for elaborate rituals. Her blend of science and spirituality (herbs for grief) intrigued me. However, I wished for more critical reflection on cultural appropriation in Western herbalism.
Strengths
-Bridging Evidence and Tradition: Robinett adeptly balances traditional herbal wisdom with modern scientific references (e.g., nervines for stress), offering a pragmatic entry point for skeptics. Public health practitioners will value her emphasis on preventive herbal protocols.
-Structural Subtext: While not explicit, her critiques of industrialized healthcare (modern medicine can only take us so far) subtly align with sociological critiques of medicalization—a perspective I wished she’d expanded.
-Practical Empowerment: The recipes and format guides (teas vs. tinctures) are meticulously detailed, empowering readers to experiment safely. Her diet and lifestyle pairings reflect a holistic understanding of social determinants of health.
Constructive Criticism
-Equity Omissions: The book assumes readers have financial/geographic access to diverse herbs, overlooking how food apartheid and socioeconomic disparities limit such “natural” solutions. A paragraph on community herbalism or mutual aid could have addressed this.
-Cultural Context Gaps: Robinett’s celebration of herbalism lacks acknowledgment of Indigenous and Black traditions that underpin many remedies—a missed opportunity to discuss reciprocity and ethical sourcing.
-Risk Minimization: While noting herb-drug interactions, the book downplays potential harms (e.g., misidentification, overuse) that public health professionals caution against, especially for vulnerable populations.
Final Thoughts
Naturally succeeds as an inspiring primer but stumbles as a critical guide. Its greatest value lies in reframing health as a dialogue with nature—yet this dialogue remains disproportionately accessible to the privileged. Robinett’s work sparks necessary conversations about decolonizing wellness, even as it inadvertently highlights the inequities embedded in “natural” health movements.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the review copy. This book is a compelling provocation—both for herbalism newcomers and scholars questioning who gets to define “natural” healing.
Rating: 4/5 (A beautifully crafted but imperfect manifesto for plant-powered agency.)
Perspective: Female Sociologist & Public Health Professional
Rating: 4/5
Reactions & Emotional Resonance
Reading Naturally as a public health professional, I oscillated between appreciation for its accessible democratization of herbal knowledge and unease about its individualistic framing of health. Robinett’s passion for plant medicine is palpable—her writing exudes a reverence for nature’s pharmacopeia that feels both ancient and urgently contemporary. The book’s emphasis on self-directed care resonated with my work on health autonomy. Yet, I couldn’t ignore how its aspirational tone (take control of every aspect of your health) clashes with the reality of marginalized communities who lack access to fresh herbs or time for elaborate rituals. Her blend of science and spirituality (herbs for grief) intrigued me. However, I wished for more critical reflection on cultural appropriation in Western herbalism.
Strengths
-Bridging Evidence and Tradition: Robinett adeptly balances traditional herbal wisdom with modern scientific references (e.g., nervines for stress), offering a pragmatic entry point for skeptics. Public health practitioners will value her emphasis on preventive herbal protocols.
-Structural Subtext: While not explicit, her critiques of industrialized healthcare (modern medicine can only take us so far) subtly align with sociological critiques of medicalization—a perspective I wished she’d expanded.
-Practical Empowerment: The recipes and format guides (teas vs. tinctures) are meticulously detailed, empowering readers to experiment safely. Her diet and lifestyle pairings reflect a holistic understanding of social determinants of health.
Constructive Criticism
-Equity Omissions: The book assumes readers have financial/geographic access to diverse herbs, overlooking how food apartheid and socioeconomic disparities limit such “natural” solutions. A paragraph on community herbalism or mutual aid could have addressed this.
-Cultural Context Gaps: Robinett’s celebration of herbalism lacks acknowledgment of Indigenous and Black traditions that underpin many remedies—a missed opportunity to discuss reciprocity and ethical sourcing.
-Risk Minimization: While noting herb-drug interactions, the book downplays potential harms (e.g., misidentification, overuse) that public health professionals caution against, especially for vulnerable populations.
Final Thoughts
Naturally succeeds as an inspiring primer but stumbles as a critical guide. Its greatest value lies in reframing health as a dialogue with nature—yet this dialogue remains disproportionately accessible to the privileged. Robinett’s work sparks necessary conversations about decolonizing wellness, even as it inadvertently highlights the inequities embedded in “natural” health movements.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the review copy. This book is a compelling provocation—both for herbalism newcomers and scholars questioning who gets to define “natural” healing.
Rating: 4/5 (A beautifully crafted but imperfect manifesto for plant-powered agency.)
July 6, 2025
Very, very valuable info! I went and got some tea right away. I want to try so many of the things!!
October 6, 2025
Naturally is an inviting and practical dive into the world of plant-based healing, blending traditional wisdom with modern wellness insight. The author’s passion for herbs shines through as they describe not only the physical benefits of each plant but also their cultural and emotional significance. With accessible explanations and recipes for teas, tinctures, and salves, the book empowers readers to take a more natural, mindful approach to health. It feels both educational and nurturing—like learning from a friend who truly lives what they teach. This is a perfect read for anyone curious about reconnecting with nature’s quiet power.
September 14, 2025
aah exactly what i’d been looking for! thought i wanted some sort of encyclopaedic compendium of cooking ingredients (plants, herbs, spices, how they all holistically fit together). this was even more fundamental (plants, bodies, psychologies, how THEY all holistically fit together).
also loved the book as an object. cover felt like watercolour paper, soft and mottled and toothy. reminded me of the milkweed editions copy of kimmerer’s braiding sweetgrass. and then! she literally quoted and footnoted it in first chapter. similar lessons, and (almost) as nicely written. (encyclopaedic compendium sounds intimidating but this had good balance of both. holistic indeed.)
can’t wait to start brewing some potions. (also can’t wait for that book about cooking ingredients ik it’s out there…)
also loved the book as an object. cover felt like watercolour paper, soft and mottled and toothy. reminded me of the milkweed editions copy of kimmerer’s braiding sweetgrass. and then! she literally quoted and footnoted it in first chapter. similar lessons, and (almost) as nicely written. (encyclopaedic compendium sounds intimidating but this had good balance of both. holistic indeed.)
can’t wait to start brewing some potions. (also can’t wait for that book about cooking ingredients ik it’s out there…)
January 22, 2026
I received this book courtesy of the Goodreads First Reads program for the purpose of a fair and honest review.
Overview: Natural remedies seem to be in fashion today. How does one get started? Miss Robinett claims to have an answer. She even claims to have scientific evidence supporting her case. How does it line up? Let's find out.
Dislikes: In my opinion, Miss Robinett didn't know whether she wanted to write a pro-veganism book, or a guide to herbalism? This will send many away from using herbs. What's the point in doing so, if you must cut all meat, dairy, and sugar from your diet. Not one diet fits for everyone, be it veganism, the carnivore diet, paleo diet, or otherwise.
Many of her scientific proofs weren't written for the laymen, or those who barely understand basic science.
Likes: We did get some categories that certain herbs fit in. And we were given recipes and help in preparing our own herbs in the appendix. Just get an identification book before trying to harvest any of these herbs.
Conclusion: This book is more helpful to those who will only work with herbs in an official path with licensed herbalists. If you already support a vegan lifestyle, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.
Overview: Natural remedies seem to be in fashion today. How does one get started? Miss Robinett claims to have an answer. She even claims to have scientific evidence supporting her case. How does it line up? Let's find out.
Dislikes: In my opinion, Miss Robinett didn't know whether she wanted to write a pro-veganism book, or a guide to herbalism? This will send many away from using herbs. What's the point in doing so, if you must cut all meat, dairy, and sugar from your diet. Not one diet fits for everyone, be it veganism, the carnivore diet, paleo diet, or otherwise.
Many of her scientific proofs weren't written for the laymen, or those who barely understand basic science.
Likes: We did get some categories that certain herbs fit in. And we were given recipes and help in preparing our own herbs in the appendix. Just get an identification book before trying to harvest any of these herbs.
Conclusion: This book is more helpful to those who will only work with herbs in an official path with licensed herbalists. If you already support a vegan lifestyle, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.
January 20, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and author for the copy of this book for review! It’s full of lots of valuable and helpful information. It is so much more than just a resource book. It really dives into the way things work and why. I’ve highlighted so much of this book and can’t wait to try so many of the recommendations.
November 4, 2025
Very informative, I took a lot of notes ✍️
January 15, 2026
So good. Definitely useful
February 2, 2026
I absolutely loved this book. I’m excited to add some of the herbs that she talked about into rotation and continue on my journey to live more naturally.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews