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Writer's pictureSusun Weed

Motherline Medicine

Updated: Oct 18




Motherline, matrilineal, matrifocal.

What do these words have to do with herbalism?

Is there a motherline in herbalism?

"Clan of the Cave Bear" wisdom passed without words down the matriline?

Wise woman, woman of power, woman with drum, shaman woman, medicine woman. Are these women herbalists?

Are all women inherent shamans?

Where are male shamans considered women?

Who practices people's medicine? What is that anyway?

Do herbs belong to the people?

How many women use herbs to care for their families health?

Do men do that?

From a PubMed study published online 2017 Jun 5.

A total of 26,157 eligible respondents were included in the study. The 71% of the participants were female, 81% were white, 77% had greater than a high school education, 82% had insurance coverage, and 79% had an annual household income less than US$80,000.

More than one-third of respondents reported using herbal supplements. Older age and higher education were associated with a higher use. People with chronic diseases are more likely to use herbal medicines.

Who said: "Why would anyone study herbalism if they can't make a living from it?" Man or woman?

What does it mean to make a living from herbalism?

Is that different than caring for your loved ones with herbal medicine?

We know women, especially old women, are the primary caregivers worldwide.

Another PubMed study (published online 2013 Jul 1), tells us: "It is estimated that 80% of the world population uses herbal medicines. It is estimated that the usage of herbal products is increasing annually at a rate of 10-20%." I would surmise that most if that 80% is women caring for their families. That's people's medicine.

Who said: "Herbalists ought to be licensed. If they were, I could charge tens of thousands of dollars for my courses and trainings."

Man or woman?

What is the point of a license?

Who benefits from licensing?

The patient or the practitioner?

What is the Wise Woman Tradition?

How has this idea changed our understanding of medicinal herbalism?

Who said: "Susun Weed represents everything that is wrong with herbalism"?

Man or woman?


My goddess sister Heather Nic An Fhleisdeir and I will answer these questions and lots more tomorrow night, Thursday (from 9pm east coast time until 10:30) during our teleseminar: Matriarchy & the Descent of Herbalism.

Heather says: "Brought to us by a woman, carried forward by women and still practiced by women, regardless of who uses it, herbalism is of matrilinal descent. So controversial, some say a matriarchy has never existed, while they do indeed exist around the world and in our own realities, including with herbalism.


"Unlike patriarchy, matriarchy has a subtle, more ephemeral quality, a living changing entity of it's own. Join Susun and clinical herbalist Heather Níc An Fhleisdeir on a clarifying journey through human ecology to discover matriarchy within our everyday life, in the practice of herbalism, rekindling a sense of belonging to the environment, improving our practice and transmission of herbalism."

It's sure to be lively, hilarious, thoughtful, and deep. Recording available if you can't make it in person. Your questions answered if you do make it in person.

Let us walk in beauty as our mothers did.

Let our hearts beat as one with the Mother's heartbeat.

Let us breathe the giveaway dance of the motherline.

Showered with green blessings.

With our arms laden with green blessings.

Festooned and decorated, nourished and eased by green blessings.



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