Man looking at Wild Sagebrush growing along the foothills of the Salt Lake City valley

Herbalist Josh Williams

Areas of Specialty

Stress & Anxiety Patterns

Panic, OCD, and Mood

Sleep, Rest, and Recovery

Nervous System Regulation

Burnout, Fatigue, and Clean Energy

Chronic Pain & Herbal Pain Management

Mental & Emotional Wellness

Spiritual Herbalism, Plant Spirit Connections, Nature Spirituality

Explore Your Herbalism
A man with tattoos on his arms, beard, and short hair in a light-colored shirt, standing at a wooden table in a bright room. He is holding a jar filled with herbs or dried plants. The room has shelves filled with various jars and bottles containing herbs, dried plants, and powders, as well as scales and books. A bouquet of orange and white flowers is on the table near a mortar and pestle.

You may not be looking to fix a single symptom.

You may feel scattered, stretched too thin, wired but exhausted. You may be sleeping badly, or carrying a worry that hums in the background no matter how good things look on paper. You may feel quietly cut off… from your own body, from rest, from the natural world, from a sense that your life means something. Maybe you've felt "off" for so long it's started to seem normal.

If any of that lands, you're in the right place. And I want to tell you something at the outset that took me years to understand: these things are not separate problems. They are one thing, showing up in many ways.

The one thing underneath the many

Most of the people I work with arrive with a pretty good sized list… anxiety, insomnia, burnout, tension, low mood, fatigue, a gut that reacts to everything, a mind that won't switch off, an immune system that’s either way too sensitive or not responsive at all. It can feel like a dozen separate things going wrong at once which is in and of itself very overwhelming, scary, and stressful.

But from the perspective of traditional herbal medicine they're not a dozen different things.
They're the cascade of a single root: a nervous system that has spent too long braced for survival.

When your system reads threat, and chronic stress is exactly that, the alarm that never fully switches off, your whole being narrows around it. The body tightens, the gut clenches, sleep becomes shallow. The mind speeds up or shuts down. Your emotional range collapses toward fear, irritability, or numbness. You become harder to reach and harder to soothe, even by people who love you. And the deeper capacities for presence, for wonder, for feeling connected to something larger than yourself quietly go offline, because you cannot feel awe while your system is bracing for danger.

This is why the anxiety and the insomnia and the spiritual flatness and the exhaustion travel together. They are not separate floors of the house. They rest on one foundation. When the foundation reads unsafe, the whole structure constricts: body, mind, heart, and spirit, all at once.

And it works the other way too. When the system finally feels safe enough to settle, the whole structure is allowed to open again: the body repairs, the mind clears, the heart can connect, and meaning becomes available once more.

That felt sense of safety is the thing I work to restore. Everything else follows from it.

What I do

I'm a clinical herbalist, and I specialize in stress and the nervous system… the wired, the depleted, the burned-out, the can't-switch-off, the out-of-center.

My approach is genuinely clinical. I work from the physiology of the stress response, the energetics of the body, and the specific actions of the plants I use. Every formula I make is built for the particular pattern of the particular person in front of me whether your system is running hot and fast, or has gone cold and shut down; whether you're wound tight and bracing, or wrung out with nothing left to hold yourself together. I'm not guessing. I'm reading you carefully and responding precisely.

But I hold something alongside the clinical picture that the science alone doesn't capture: plants are not just chemistry. They are living beings, with their own intelligence and their own way of meeting a person. When I introduce you to a plant ally, I'm not only handing you a remedy, I'm beginning a relationship between you and a living thing that may walk with you for years.

This matters for a reason that sits at the center of my work. Chronic stress, underneath everything, is a kind of disconnection from your body, from rest, from other people, from the living world that we are, whether we feel it or not, a part of. And the deepest medicine for disconnection is reconnection. Relationship with the living world is one of the most direct paths back to the felt safety that lets a person come fully back to life. That's not a poetic add-on to the clinical work. It's a second medicine, working at a depth the formula alone can't reach.

So the science guides the formula. The relationship guides the rest. Both are present every time we work together.

How the work unfolds

I don't hand people a pile of bottles and a long list of things to do. An overwhelmed system doesn't need more to manage, it needs space, and a clear next step.

So we move slowly and deliberately, in a defined arc rather than scattered appointments. First, we take the pressure off, so your system can begin to settle. Then, as things steady, we go underneath the symptoms and rebuild what's been depleted. And finally, we put the medicine in your own hands… the practices, the plant allies, and the steadiness you carry forward without me.

My aim is never to make you dependent on me. It's to help you become someone who knows how to find your own way back to steady and who has, in the plants and in the living world, a set of allies you can return to for the rest of your life.

Who I'm here for

I'm here for the people who are functional on the surface and frayed underneath. The ones who keep going because they have to, and have quietly forgotten what rested feels like. The anxious, the burned out, the tired-but-wired, the ones whose stress has started showing up in their sleep, their gut, their mood, their body.

And I'm here, especially, for the people who sense that their struggle isn't only physical; who feel the disconnection underneath the symptoms, and long not just to feel less anxious, but to feel alive again, and at home in themselves and in the world.

If that's you: there is a way back, and it's gentler than you think. You don't have to figure it out alone, and you don't have to do it all at once.

That's the work. That's why I do it. And if any of this has felt like it was describing you, I'd be glad to meet you.

Burdock

The Body Physical

The plants, as physical beings, contain both an array of phytochemicals that support positive changes in the body and a deep wisdom about the ways of wellness.

Herbal medicine can bring a gentle power into the body; helping us to move further and further into our sacred center while aiding the body’s own innate intelligence in healing.

Hawthorn leaves and berries

Mind & Emotions

The ways in which herbs help us are by no means limited to the physical- and in my practice the mental atmosphere and emotional body plays a crucial part of whole-person wellness.

From stress and worry to loss and grief, connection and collective joy to releasing and renewing, the plants are our allies on even the most subtle levels of being.

Holy Basil

The Path of Spirit

Flowing from heart outwards, the herbs can also bring their wisdom, magic, and medicine to the deepest spiritual parts of who we are and to the life path we journey. The path of spirit and the living narrative of protection, success, prosperity, growth, connection, and more are all within the domain of our verdant allies.

All healing with the plants ultimately happens on all levels of being.

How Herbs Help

  • Herbal medicine has the wisdom and depth to address any wellness goal you may be working on- and one way that the plants really shine is in helping us cultivate and protect our foundational wellness.

    Stay healthy, protect the good, and navigate the many stresses of life with the support of exceptional herbal formulas made just for you!

  • It was stress and anxiety that brought me to herbal medicine in my late teen, and I am so happy to offer this incredible and supportive modality to anyone who is dealing with the negative effects of everyday stress.

    Not only can herbs help us find our center and nourish our calm, they can also help to protect us from the damaging effects of everyday stress creating more resilience, clarity, adaptability, and personal power.

  • The physical heart is so much more than just a pump! It is a gland, the seat of emotions, and even a space of ‘thought’ in the body. A healthy heart and cardiovascular system means that the things we value most can be pumped into every fiber of our being- and into the wholeness of our lives.

    The heart plays a central role in how I work with herbs- even the way we take herbal medicine is heart-centered!

  • What’s the weather like in your mind? Herbs can help chase away the clouds and let the sun shine! From motivation and passion to mindful navigation of life’s terrains, I love working with folks who are on a journey of better mental and emotional wellness.

    Oh, and I would love to make you a special tea blend to sip on during your next therapy session!

  • The plants offer us profound opportunities to reflect on the things we worry about and engage with proactive power in how we choose to invest our mental energy.

    The rituals of herbalism can also help support us in nourishing our calm and finding peace in a wild world.

  • Feeling exhausted, depleted, wired and tired, foggy and spaced out? Herbs can help restore your energetic reserves, clear energy blocks, and cultivate resilience in a world full of stressors.

    If you’ve been feeling not yourself lately, the plants see you and they can help!

  • A healthy nervous system responds efficiently to stress, gives us the energy we need to navigate the many unexpected twists and turns of life, then gets us back to our relaxed and regenerative state.

    When the nervous system is out of harmony, we can feel as though the buzz in our nerves never really settles. I love helping people cultivate a strong, resilient, and centered nervous system so they can experience the fullness of life without overwhelm or burnout.

  • If you’re navigating acute or chronic pain, you may be looking for options that either support other therapies you’re doing, mitigate some of the effects of those therapies, or can help you find your peace. Herbs offer gentle yet powerful options for pain management and can help us unwind the roots of many issues at the same time.

  • When I first started studying herbal medicine in 2000, there was very little solid material speaking to men’s wellness. I am now proud to say that we have some exceptional wisdom surrounding men’s health that covers everything from stress and immunity to sexuality and strength.

    If you’ve been feeling like there’s room for improvement and want to explore natural options, I have so much to share with you!

  • For me, working with the plants is more than just the vocation of healing- it’s a spiritual process of connecting to nature and being in the company of allies who have been part of the human journey since forever.

    My approach to herbalism is spiritual in nature because I honor the spirit of the plants and your own unique spirit in exploring disharmony and the path to vibrant wellness.

    This kind of animist spirituality is at the most ancient roots of herbalism and is just as meaningful now as it was thousands of years ago.

  • There’s so much more to working with the plants than just swallowing a pill and waiting for the magic to happen!

    I’ll introduce you to meditations, journeys, and simple rituals that will help the herbs go deeper, heal more thoroughly, and guide you to the best path for your own wellness journey.

    No fluff, very little woo- this is all back by the ancient traditions of our herbwise ways!

Schedule Here

What to Expect

If you’re new to working with an herbalist, I would love to introduce you to this ancient way of wellness and empowerment. Each client I work with gets their own session- tailored to who they are, what they choose to work on, and what their unique path looks like. With that in mind, there are a few things you can expect when you work with me- tools, techniques, and approaches I’ve developed and refined over many years of doing this beautiful work…

  • Anam cara is a modern Celtic concept of the soul friend. I strive to be a compassionate, affirming, and comforting ear and heart for you as we explore your narrative and define your personal goals in working with herbs.

  • I bring over 25 years of experience in working with the plants to every session and I experience this work as a sacred calling. I take it very seriously and give my all to each person I am fortunate enough to connect with.

  • I have three primary areas of focus for any session: getting to know who you are as a person, exploring your goals for wellness, and finding the right herbs, formulas, and protocols to support you.

  • When it comes time to bring the herbs in, I will offer you both therapeutic herbal remedies that are taken in a dose that’s appropriate for you and a single herbal ally who will act as a mirror and guide to your best self- one that reflect you at your whole and holy best rather than focusing on anything that needs to be fixed.

  • We have worked hard to create a safe, comfortable, and relaxing environment here at the clinic and I will always ensure you’re greeted with warmth and respect- we are so glad you’re here.

  • At each session you will be given: a comprehensive intake, a deep exploration of who you are and what you choose to address, a look at how the herbs can help on all the levels of your being, and no-nonsense protocols you can put to work today. I also gift you one herbal remedy at each session.

  • I am also a certified HeartMath practitioner and include immersive coherence training for all of my clients. These simple, measurable, and enjoyable meditative practices help lower your baseline of stress, cultivate more adaptive resilience, and support showing up in your life with less stress and anxiety.

Sessions & Scheduling
Cozy room with a yellow sofa, blue chair, a wooden table, and a blue cushion. The room features patterned pillows, a decorative rug, and plants. The walls have floral and butterfly designs. Sunlight filters through the windows.
Herbalist making a medicinal tea blend in an herbal apothecary
custom herbal formulations in process

The Apothecary

As a clinical herbalist with over 25 years of experience, I am one of the few traditional practitioners who will formulate and compound herbal remedies just for you as part of your consultation and refill visits. As part of your session you will receive exceptional herbal remedies written and blended just for you while you’re in the clinic.

I handcraft a wide selection of tinctures and other remedies which are here for you, and work with many organic herbs in the form of teas, poultices, compresses, soaks, and steams.

Our vibrant apothecary allows me to find the right herbs for you as a unique person rather than just giving you broad-spectrum formulas you can buy at the health food store. These custom formulations speak to who you are, what your goals are, your unique constitution and temperament, and the herbs that are the best fit for you.

I am in a deep, personal relationship with each of the plants I work with and my hope is that this respect, love, and power carries through in every formula I craft for you.

When it’s time for a refill, just book a complimentary 15-minute refill session where you can stop in, catch up, and get topped off on all your remedies.

Schedule with Me