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Herbalist and teacher Nathaniel Hughes works at the intersection of intuitive plant communication, traditional healing lineages, and contemporary Western herbalism. Founder of Ruskin Apothecary and author of several books on relational herbal practice, including ‘Intuitive Herbalism’ (2014), ‘Weeds in the Heart‘ (2018), and ‘Wild Enchantments‘ (2024), Nathaniel’s path bridges early training in organic chemistry with a deep commitment to experiential, spirit-led plant study.
In this conversation, Nathaniel shares his transition from academic science into a more embodied, animist understanding of the vegetal world shaped by apprenticeship, personal revelation, and an openness to plant intelligence. Together, Nathaniel and Dr Simon Ruffell consider how herbalism has been marginalized through colonial and reductionist histories, why conventional scientific models struggle to capture the complexity of human–plant relationships, and how reconnecting with ancestral approaches can restore a sense of reciprocity and reverence.
This episode also explores the ethics of respectfully engaging with Indigenous science, the nuances of cultural appropriation, and the resurgence of interest in traditional healing practices, emphasising the importance of cultivating direct experience, listening beyond the measurable, and honouring the relational field that plants invite us into.
Nathaniel is a practitioner, writer, and educator at The School of Intuitive Herbalism, advocating for an herbalism rooted in humility, curiosity, and deeper connection with the living world.
Ways to engage with Nathaniel’s work and to learn from plants directly:
Insight Herbalism’s WhatsApp Group for event notifications
The School of Intiutive Herbalism’s Newsletter
Engaging with plants respectfully is a core tenet of Onaya's six month Psychedelic Mentorship Training - next cohort starting January 20th, 2026. In the spirt of this we're thrilled to offer the Intuitive Herbalism community a 15% discount to join the course, with the checkout code: INTUITIVE15
18 episodes
