Herbalism and Natural Remedies: Resources Ourselves and Building Resilience
An interview with clinical herbalist Marina Buksov
In these times of collapse and uncertainty, we need nourishment, grounding, and connection more than ever.
I recently sat down with Marina Buksov – licensed pharmacist (PharmD), certified holistic health coach and mental fitness coach – to talk about something so many of us are feeling right now: that bone-deep exhaustion that no amount of rest seems to fix.
I met Marina back in 2020 through a women’s business collective, and she gave me some amazing, in-depth one-to-one care around my health.
I love seeing the amount of content she puts out there, with its depth of nuance and range of topics. One of her recent articles had the line:
"Your body is not failing. The system is." - and I wanted to know more. To my joy, she agreed to do a livestream with me, which you can watch here or:
Marina's journey from conventional healthcare to traditional plant medicine began with her own health challenges. She realised that the standard model often reaches for drugs and surgery, but skips over the root of the problem.
So many of us internalise guilt or shame when we can't "bounce back." We think we're broken, too sensitive, not trying hard enough. I have spent so much time thinking: do I just need to exercise more? Maybe I need more vitamins? Will this Lion’s Mane tea fix me? Or is this just peri-menopause?
Marina named something different: we are often victims of a medical system that lacks real options and creates its own trauma.
True freedom, she says, comes from having a toolbox: diverse modalities, plant allies, and the agency to choose what actually supports our wellbeing.
She also explained why so many of us feel constantly wired and tired. Chronic overstimulation from social media, news, and the pace of modern life keeps our bodies locked in "fight or flight" (the sympathetic nervous system).
That exhaustion is a signal from your body saying: slow down, set boundaries, integrate.
Marina introduced us to three categories of plants that help rewire our nervous system and build "future reserves" of energy:
Nervines – these help you tap into rest-and-digest mode in the moment, easing worry and overwhelm.
Adaptogens – these support your adrenal system and help your body manage long-term fatigue.
Mineral-rich herbs – they act like food-like vitamins, giving your body the nutrient density it's probably starving for.
And then there's the Rose. Marina described it as a particularly versatile ally. Beyond its beauty, it acts as a gentle astringent for skin and digestion. But energetically? It helps us soften into our grief rather than suppress it.
We also talked about reciprocity. Herbalism isn't extractive like modern consumerism: it asks us to be stewards of the land, and to take only what we need. Marina pointed out that most of us are only one or two generations removed from ancestors who had basic self-care skills rooted in the earth – knowing which herb to reach for during a minor ailment, how to make a simple tea, how to listen to the body.
Reclaiming that knowledge is a deeply empowering act, which reduces the fear of being "at the mercy" of external systems.
Marina's vision is a shift from a "sick-care system" to a regenerative, earth-centred approach. By taking individual responsibility for our health – and sharing that wisdom with our communities – we can build a more sustainable, less extractive world.
If you're feeling the weight of the metacrisis, remember: you are part of a symbiotic ecosystem. Taking time to brew a cup of tea, sit in nature, or simply breathe isn't a fluffy recommendation. It's a foundational practice of remembering that we belong to the Earth.
Watch my full conversation with Marina Buksov here:https://youtube.com/live/5v-leByTMPU
