Getting to know herbs is both a thinking and a feeling process. It requires a balanced approach. Both halves essential to a whole understanding.

The thinking part requires some reading, or listening and learning from others. However, the big secret to working effectively with plants is to experience their unseen nature, their chemistry, for yourself. How? By using your senses.

Seeing, smelling, tasting, feeling is an age old way of becoming aware of a plant’s nature and effects. In herbal medicine this way of knowing herbs is referred to as organoleptics. Using your senses is a direct way to learn about plants, and one that may allow all animals to decide what plants to like, or not like depending on how they are feeling at the time.

Today organoleptic testing of herbs to assess quality is still used in most of the non-industrialised parts of the world. In the industrialised nations high volumes and technology now mean herbs are usually quality tested in laboratories. But this doesn’t mean we, and our animal companions, are not equipped with highly complex sensory equipment ourselves. With a little practice it can open up a new world of experience and a new way of relating to plants and other animals for those that are curious.