Medicine woman

Take another look at that weed you’re about to pull out, you might not know it has beneficial properties. Ali Sutherland shares some knowledge

- TEXT MICHELLE JOE

Medical herbalist Ali Sutherland lives in Ōtaki Gorge, where she grows medicinal plants in her garden and transforms them into medicine in her cottage. Ali enjoys sharing her knowledge of the healing energy of plants in her workshops, provides personal consultations and conducts health retreats.

What is herbal medicine and how does it work? Plants and humans have a long history of reciprocal relationships. We share our breath cycle and receive shelter, warmth, food and medicine from plants. Herbal medicine is the use of this ancient craft of growing, harvesting and creating medicine to keep us healthy and vital. Modern herbalist practice involves a solid understanding of how plant medicine works in the body and how to use it effectively. This also means knowing the interactions between herbs and pharmaceutical drugs. Having had a long working history in pharmacy alongside my herbal practice has allowed me to have a good working knowledge of these interactions useful in both places.