Naturally: The Essential Guide to Modern Herbalism

by Rachelle Robinett

'A guide that’s as grounded as it is transformative – true health begins with reconnecting to ourselves, our bodies and nature.' – Michael Easter, author of The Comfort Crisis

'A beautiful herbal homage to the restorative healing our nervous systems crave in this modern world.' — Dr Aviva Romm, author of Hormone Intelligence and founder of Herbal Medicine for Women

UNLOCK THE POWER OF HERBALISM TO TRANSFORM YOUR HEALTH AND LIFE

While modern medicine can only take us so far, herbalism – the science and art of plants as medicine – stands the test of time. In Naturally, clinical herbalist Rachelle Robinett offers a beginner-friendly guide to herbalism, revealing everyday remedies and rituals for health and happiness.

Herbs allow you to take control of every aspect of your health in a way that’s natural, sustainable and completely customisable. You don’t need fancy equipment or an extensive pantry to start – just a desire to feel better, naturally.

Weaving practical advice with deep explorations of herbalism’s potential to shift our relationship with the natural world, Robinett

science-backed guidance on how to use herbs to address a range of aliments, like pain and inflammation, how to regulate the nervous system, how to boost memory and mental clarity; and more;how to work with teas, tinctures, capsules and other herbal blends, as well as the best format for taking each herb;the tried-and-true diet and lifestyle considerations to pair with each herbal protocol;simple, easy-to-follow herbal recipes and formulas.
Whether you’re battling stress and anxiety, chronic pain, digestion issues, poor sleep, low motivation, or even grief, Naturally shows that herbs may be the solution you’ve been looking for.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Herbs, Science, Nature, Audiobook

406 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 24, 2025

Reviews

[Sarah Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.)

[Ginny Yurich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very, very valuable info! I went and got some tea right away. I want to try so many of the things!!

[Rae Bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Helen Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

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…)

[Charissa Wilkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Callista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a funny book- as in, I’m not sure who the target audience is. If I hadn’t had 3 years of herbal studies under my belt, I would not have even made it through the first chapter- since she uses some highly technical herbal terminology. Yet it also wasn’t apparently written for people who have already studied herbalism either? But her chapters were fun, her writing engaging for the most part (except when it felt like she was paraphrasing other herbal info books). Illustrations of the plants she was describing would have been a nice touch. Some of her writing passages were beautiful. I’d almost the book rather have been her own herbal memoir (I suppose parts of it were) I felt the parts where she was describing her own experiences working with clients to be the most compelling parts.

[Elly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked that the book prommoted a healthy life style with gut healthy foods and exercise. I liked that it didn't make any wild claims about herbs drastically solving all your problems. I liked that it approached all angles of your life to improve health and wellness. I would have liked more information on negative side effects of some herbs on different conditions. I would have liked more information on what is scientifically supported and what could use more research. I am also wary of vitamins and concentrates because that industry is not well regulated. More does not necessarily mean better. It was over all enjoyable and interesting. I did make a list of herbs to look into and will look into more herbal teas. I would recommend.

[Brooke Staley · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Eve Mahaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative, I took a lot of notes ✍️

[Ashlee Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good. Definitely useful

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loads of great information. I'm going to need a hard copy.

[Smutnerdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great, has lots of wonderful information. Can't wait to use it myself to make some yummy (hey some herbs taste good) and healthy things !