Healing Trauma through Plant Medicine and Polyvagal Theory
Explore a deeply integrative approach to nervous-system support through the combined wisdom of herbalism, polyvagal theory, and somatic practices.
Healing Trauma through Plant Medicine and Polyvagal Theory offers more than 100 hands-on activities designed to help readers better understand their bodies, recognize stress responses, and build greater resilience through gentle, body-centered practices.
Elizabeth Guthrie, PhD, guides readers through ways botanical allies may complement practices intended to encourage calm, connection, and nervous-system regulation. Paired with therapeutic exercises, these plant-centered approaches offer a thoughtful framework for exploring stress, emotional patterns, and the body’s responses to difficult experiences.
Inside, you’ll explore:
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Polyvagal theory and the nervous system
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Somatic and body-awareness practices
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Herbal allies traditionally associated with calm and emotional support
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Breathing exercises and grounding techniques
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Guided meditations
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Journal prompts and reflective practices
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Building a greater sense of safety and connection
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Developing resilience and body awareness
The book also encourages readers to become more attentive to the body’s own “sensation language”—the physical cues and responses that may offer insight into emotional states and patterns.
Featuring plant allies such as rose and dandelion, this guide brings together botanical wisdom and modern therapeutic concepts in a compassionate, accessible way. The focus is not on forcing change, but on developing awareness, creating supportive practices, and reconnecting with the relationship between body, mind, and spirit.
A thoughtful addition to collections focused on herbalism, plant medicine, somatic wellness, nervous-system education, mindfulness, and personal growth.
Format: Paperback
Pages: 264
Publication Date: August 2026
Author: Elizabeth Guthrie, PhD
Featuring: Arielle Schwartz, PhD
