Don’t Sleep on This Plant: Not Every Plant is Meant to Be Removed

What Kudzu Taught Me

So something shifted my perspective on Sunday… and it came from a plant I’ve seen my whole life.

Kudzu. Yes, Sis… Kudzu!

You know the one climbing over trees, covering fences, just growing everywhere like it has somewhere to be. That’s the one.

For the longest, I didn’t really think much of it…I saw this plant as something that kept showing up everywhere I looked.

But after hearing Shamika speak as a guest panelist at the Platinum Wellness Spa Women’s Empowerment Retreat, I had to pause… because this plant isn’t just growing wildly for no reason.

It’s purposeful.

Kudzu has traditionally been used to support the body in ways like helping with inflammation, circulation, and overall balance. And hearing Shamika speak about how she works with it in tincture form really gave me a new perspective.

Because instead of seeing Kudzu as something invasive… I started seeing it as something abundant.

Something that shows up fully.
Something that gives a lot.

And when you really look at how it grows, it tells a story.

It doesn’t hesitate.
It doesn’t shrink back.
It grows boldly and consistently, even in places where other plants might struggle.

And that made me think…
How often do we overlook what’s right in front of us?

One thing I’m learning as I go deeper into herbalism is that so many of the plants our elders used weren’t rare or hard to find.
They were right there. Growing along the roadside. Climbing through the trees. Waiting to be understood.

And what really stood out to me was hearing Shamika talk about creating a tincture to support women dealing with fibroids from this very plant.
That moment connected everything for me. Because it wasn’t just about the plant… it was about how that plant is prepared, understood, and used to support the body in real ways. It’s one thing to walk past a plant every day. It’s another thing to understand how it can be used with care, knowledge, and intention.

And even on a deeper level, when you look at kudzu through the lens of spiritual herbalism, it carries its own kind of message.

A reminder of strength and determination.
Of growing even when conditions aren’t perfect.
Of expanding and taking up space without hesitation.

In many ways, it reflects the same resilience we’ve seen carried through generations especially by women who had to keep growing, building, and holding things together no matter what was in front of them.

If you’re new to working with herbs, tinctures are one of the most traditional ways to begin.

They’re concentrated herbal preparations that allow you to work with plants like kudzu in a consistent and accessible way while you’re learning, foraging, and growing herbs on your own. A few drops is often all it takes.

And seeing how herbs are turned into tinctures like the way kudzu is used in Shamika’s Fibroid Support Ticture to support pelvic circulation, hormonal balance and overall uterine wellness, tincturing is a beautiful way to deepen your understanding of herbal practice.

If you’re interested in learning more about tinctures and the foundations of herbalism, the What Grandma Said Herbalism Level 1 class is a great place to start.

Join me and take a step toward increasing your knowledge, deepening your understanding, and building confidence in how you work with herbs.

I think what stayed with me most is this:

Not everything that grows wildly is something to remove.

Some things are growing because they have something to offer.

And maybe the real question is…

What have we been walking past that could actually support us?