How Learning About Herbal Monographs Inspired Me To Write About Food

I've been drawn to indigenous botany and the broad spectrum of potential benefits since I was young. Growing up in Costa Rica instilled in me a deep affinity for herbal remedies, how they work in the human body, and, most fascinatingly, how they can promote health. I learned that while many herbs (plants, seeds, roots, trees, or fruits) may soothe the mind and the body, lifestyle habits and optimal nutrition are equally powerful in advancing well-being. 

Still, it wasn't until I started learning about and drafting my own herbal monographs that the power of food became even more clear. More than an organizational and informative tool, herbal monographs allowed me to tune into my passion for food—or should I say, the potential of food as medicine—informing both what and why I write in the well-being space. For my highly visual, organized mind, reading an in-depth piece on a single herbal topic helped me deepen my understanding of plants and food alike.

In other words, herbal monographs are a thorough, detailed look at a specific botany subject (also thought of as comprehensive scientific references2), covering herbal uses, actions, dosage, efficacy, energetics, and safety, to name a few.

Although categories vary between botanical systems, herbal monographs typically involve the following sections:

Consequently, I was inspired to start my own personal food monographs with specific categories (historical background and taste being two of my favorites), photos, and recipes. These records help me find inspiration for my work as both a nutrition coach and food writer. And I have to say, I take great pride in my ever-growing collection of both food and herbal biographies.