As a result of this book, many admittedly normally thinking people suddenly came out of the closet and confessed to talking to their plants.

Healing Wise, by Susan Weed was published in 1989.

In this book she contrasts what she calls the „heroic method“ of healing (allopathic medicine) with the „wise woman“ ways. Basically, what this says is that instead of fighting or controlling physical symptoms, we see them as allies and helpers for our understanding to get back to wellness.

In the second half of the book, she presents messages from seven healing plants, chanelling their voices, and then, giving the practical physical world instructions about how to use these medicinal plants. The last part of the book consists of recipes, including one for nettle beer.

On her website she writes:

"I trust the chaos of the universe. Herbs can change their constituents dramatically in response to being grazed, overgrazed, attacked by insects or molds, experiencing drought or flood, suffering from lack of nutrients, poisoned too much or a host of other variables.“

"To the healer/artist/herbalist, the active part of the plant is that part which can be used by the right brain to actively, chaotically, naturally "jump the octave“ and work a miracle. This active part is refined away in standard products, for the real active part is the messy part, the changeable part, the subtle part, the invisible part.“

Eliot Cowan's book, Plant Spirit Medicine was published in 1995. To my knowledge, it was the first english language written account from the point of view of a healer working with the spirits of the plants, as the healing medicine. Cowan started out talking to plants in his own backyard and then pursued studies with Mexican and South American shamans. Cowan has subsequently established several retreat centers offering a program to teach and certify interested healers to use plant spirit medicine. They are engaging in the plant communications through the process of shamanic journeying.

There are many stories and testimonies and advertisements on websites on the internet by people healed and trained and certified as a result of Cowan's programs.

Some speak eloquently of the healing effects of plant spirit medicine. Chris Griffin writes:

"The great gift of this class was a gradual transformation in which I became much more aware and connected to everything around and within me... I began to see and experience the devine in many new ways, most especially in connection to the natural world.“

Further more, in using plant spirit medicine for healing others, he says:

"It is very satisfying to help someone receive what they need at a deep level, to see and share the bliss of reconnection, the arising of courage and willpower, the arrival of new growth and the unfolding of one's vision, the blossoming of joy and laughter and the deep nourishment and fullness of life that plant spirits bring.“ 

Though Cowan is the most publicized advocate of plant spirit healing in the United States, there are a number of other people doing this.

In fact, it seems as if Cowan's conversations with plants began around the same time as did many simultaneous conversations with plants by many people who are now coming to public awareness with their stories about this.

Since the people did not collaborate with each other in doing this, I can only assume that it was the plant worlds who were making the initial effort to be noticed. In fact, Pine Spirit told me during one of our conversations, that plants choose their people.