Black Women Are Returning to Plants for Ancestral Reconnection and Healing

Get the Full StorySixteen years ago, Jen West's life changed forever.

She was at a family wedding reception, when her mother, 48, was dancing and suddenly collapsed from cardiac arrest. From that moment on, West became her mother's caregiver, and for the next eight years, her mother remained incapacitated living with a severe brain injury before eventually passing.

Watching her mother struggle with chronic illness propelled West into a deep exploration of the human body and fueled her commitment to improving Black wellness, all while honoring the matriarchs who nurtured her. What she discovered was both empowering and infuriating: The wealth of ancestral knowledge Black communities once held about healing had been systematically erased or stolen.

West's journey of embracing community-centered and holistic practices was deeply shaped by this realization. While many have spent years believing traditional wellness approaches were enough, West learned mainstream wellness couldn't alone address the generational trauma impacting Black folks. She also realized plants had long been a form of resistance in Black communities, serving not only as a tool for healing, but also as a means of reclaiming autonomy.

How do we fight back against a system that was never built to protect us - and still doesn't?

For centuries, plant medicine had been integral to Black survival and resistance. Enslaved Africans brought with them not only physical seeds but also knowledge of medicinal plants. From remedies to treat wounds inflicted by overseers to teas for soothing labor pains, plant medicine was a vital tool for survival. This knowledge, often passed down orally, became intertwined with spiritual practices, forming a holistic approach to healing.

West sees a direct link between these ancestral healing practices and modern struggles for liberation. "Plants have always been a part of asking ourselves : 'How do we become the resistance?'" she says. In other words: How do we fight back against a system that was never built to protect us - and still doesn't?

Over the past five years, the toll of existing as a Black woman in America has become increasingly evident - from the racial disparities laid bare during the COVID-19 pandemic to the relentless cycles of racial violence. The weight of stress, anxiety, and trauma disproportionately affects Black women. And the consequences are staggering: Black women are more likely than white women to develop heart disease and have nearly twice the risk of stroke. For Black LGBTQ women and femmes, these stressors are compounded by the added burden of homophobia and transphobia, leading to even greater mental, emotional, and physical health disparities.

For Black women, like West, reclaiming ancestral practices that offer solace, healing, and resilience has offered up a solution. Plant medicine and herbalism, once integral to Black communities, are experiencing a renaissance as Black women turn to nature for emotional, mental, and physical well-being.

Ancestral Wisdom as a Form of Resistance

After her mother's passing, West spent the following years grappling with the trauma and lingering grief of caregiving, which sparked her exploration of Black women's health and wellness. This journey led her to further her education, earning multiple degrees, and in 2019 she founded Plant Mama Alchemy - a community-centered wellness platform helping Black people reconnect with ancestral plant medicine. "I created a space where we could actually put a plan together to support our wellness," she says. Through this work, West is not only hoping to address individual healing, but foster a movement toward collective liberation.

And she's not alone in her efforts. Black women like holistic nutritionist Afya Ibomu and herbalist Brianna Cherniak are also leading a resurgence in herbalism and holistic living. Ibomu, founder of Home Ec Honey, blends plant-based nutrition, herbal wisdom, and traditional home economics to empower Black women in reclaiming their health.

"I feel like because we live in a society where everything is convenient, especially the millennials - they're coming up in a space where a lot of us don't know how to cook healthy whole foods," she says, highlighting increased reliance on food delivery services and convenience foods like microwave meals. "It's important for us to really get back to learning how to cook healthy whole foods with the rising rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease, especially among Black women." Ibomu also emphasizes the importance of growing our own food, much like previous generations did, to ensure access to nutrient-rich, organic produce.

For Cherniak, founder of Moss Medicine, an herbal apothecary dedicated to community and education, herbalism is about more than just individual healing - it's about re-education and reconnection. "A lot of people don't know the basics because we are living very far away from the land," she explains. But incorporating a simple practice into your life, like gardening or caring for a small herbal plant, can reintroduce you to the potential resources.

Lavender, for example, can reduce anxiety and promote restful sleep, while hibiscus - steeped into a tea - lowers blood pressure and evokes a sense of calm. "Saffron has actually been shown in studies to help reduce stress hormones and nourish adrenal glands," adds Ibomu.

According to Cherniak, herbs like holy basil tulsi , catnip, and lemon balm can help regulate the nervous system. She shares that plants have been essential in her own journey toward feeling safe in her body. "A lot of people don't realize this, but nervous system regulation is the root of so many things in our lives," she says. "Everything that we want comes from having a balanced nervous system." And research agrees: the nervous system regulates nearly every aspect of our health, from emotions and stress to movement, memory and healing. Its role in everything from brain development to digestion shows why a balanced nervous system is essential for overall well-being and achieving the healthy and successful lives we seek.

For many Black women, the return to herbalism is also deeply personal. I've found my own solace in plant medicine as both an Ayurvedic educator and a meditation facilitator. After years of navigating anxiety and burnout while living in New York City, I began integrating herbal infusions into my daily life, from sipping passionflower tea to calm my nerves to burning rosemary at my altar. These practices have not only supported my mental health but also deepened my connection to my ancestors, who relied on these same plants for guidance and strength.

A Call to Collective Healing

At its core, the resurgence of herbalism among Black women and femmes is about reclaiming our narrative. Mainstream wellness often fails to acknowledge the unique ways systemic oppression has impacted Black health. "We've tried so many times to model ourselves after mainstream approaches, and we have gotten nowhere," West says.

Integrating ancestral practices into our lives is about rejecting the commodified wellness industry that often excludes us and instead returning to practices that honor our history, our culture, and our bodies.

But despite the growing popularity of plant medicine, accessibility remains a concern. Cherniak highlights the importance of ensuring these practices remain affordable and community-centered. "I think it's really important for people to have access to knowledge and for people to return to the roots of who we really are," she says. "Sometimes community is the healing."

For West, Ibomu and Cherniak, the mission is not just about reviving ancestral practices - it's about ensuring that Black people have the tools, knowledge, and community support they need to thrive. "We have to do this together," West says.

As Black women continue to navigate an often hostile world, plants offer not only a means of survival but also a pathway to joy, resilience, and empowerment. By turning to nature, we're not just healing ourselves; we're rewriting what it means to exist as whole and thriving beings in a world that has too often sought to diminish us.

Steph R. Long is a Chopra-certified Ayurvedic health educator, meditation instructor, and well-being coach. She's also the founder of holistic wellness and coaching practice SRL Well-Being and the former Deputy Director of Enterprise for Refinery29 Unbothered, where she oversaw health, wellness, and spirituality content. For more wellness insights, follow her on Instagram and YouTube, and subscribe to her podcast.

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