bo·tan·i·cal:
Relating to the science of plant life
cul·ture:
A way of life intended to ensure collective survival and the ability to thrive
We have relied on plants to feed, clothe, and care for ourselves since our ancestors plucked the first fruit and flowers they admired on this beautiful blue-green globe. From how we replenish and heal, to the metaphors we use everyday, plants are part of us. We plant, take root, grow, and thrive (or we wilt, wither, and rot — your call!) Plants offer us more than food and medicine. They give us meaning.
Cultures around the world have cultivated and revered the power of plants, passing down stories and accounts of their use for millennia. According to the World Health Organization, traditional medicine has been defined as “the sum total of the knowledge, skill, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures… used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness.”
Herbal medicine is one of humanity’s longest-standing pursuits and greatest gifts. Botanical Culture is grounded in this rich heritage. We draw insight from cultures around the world, bringing together traditional knowledge with advances in the art and science of nutrition and healing. In combining the wisdom of people with the ways of plants, we offer time-tested natural remedies and fresh perspectives on an ancient art.
Become a Member to Support Building a Free Online Herbarium
Join our membership program to support our most ambitious project: building an online herbarium free to the public and focused on health and wellness.
Though the world’s vast repository of botanical knowledge may never be fully accessible, we’re also working to create a people’s herbarium. This botanical compendium of herbs with useful, vetted information from trusted sources has just launched and will be expanded throughout 2022.
Currently, our team is also volunteering with Preserving Plants Through Digitization, a project of the U.S. National Arboretum Herbarium that is working to digitize 800,000+ plants. Learn more about this awe-inspiring effort and volunteer.
