SWIHA Blog

Shannon Stapleton

Born a plant lover, Shannon spent her childhood mashing up twigs and berries to make "potions"—a fitting start to a life shaped by herbalism. With years of hands-on experience in wildcrafting, formulation, and running an apothecary, Shannon now directs the very herbal program from which she graduated. Doing what she loves the most- teaching about plants and mentoring budding herbalists. With nearly 15 years of study, Shannon believes plants are more than medicine—they're our teachers, helping us reconnect with the Earth.

Recent Posts

Turning a New Leaf: Introducing SWIHA’s New Director of Western Herbalism Shannon Stapleton

Posted by Shannon Stapleton on 2/7/25 8:00 AM

Connection to the Natural World

My connection to the natural world began in childhood, as is often the case with many herbalists. Having spent countless hours turning over rocks to uncover bugs, gathering plants from the garden, and concocting my own “potions”, I found peace, creativity, and joy in those moments.

It wasn’t until my teenage years that I began to recognize the essential and medicinal qualities of plants. I stumbled upon a book of natural remedies, and it felt like being let in on a grand secret. That discovery sparked a deep passion, and at 16, I began my self-study of herbal medicine, eagerly absorbing every resource I could find.

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Topics: western herbalism, Great Graduate, Herbal Medicine, Herbalist, JoAnn Sanchez

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