Why a Pharmacist Chose Herbs Over the System

What if the very system meant to help you was missing the most powerful tools for healing? Marina Buksov, functional pharmacist, clinical herbalist, and host of The Holistic Pharmacy Podcast, shares the unconventional path that led her from conventional pharmacy into herbs, homeopathy, and plant medicine - and why so many practitioners are finally waking up to a better way. Raised in Ukraine, shaped by immigrant expectations, and trained to succeed at the top of her pharmacy class, Marina still felt deeply misaligned with the career path everyone else seemed to want. What followed was a series of unexpected turns - a job in Brighton Beach’s famous herbal pharmacy, a Chinese medicine treatment that worked after months of pharmaceuticals failed, and a personal health crisis that pushed her to question everything she had been taught about medicine. You’ll discover: Why Marina believes herbs and homeopathy are fundamentally different, and how each works in the body The real problem with over-relying on antibiotics, symptom suppression, and prescription-first thinking How quality, sourcing, dosage, and intention shape whether plant medicine becomes truly therapeutic What happened when Marina applied herbalism to her own IBS, H. pylori, hormonal issues, and stress-related symptoms Why “gentle” medicine can be far more powerful than many people realize Marina also breaks down the difference between herbalism and homeopathy, explains the safety logic behind energetic medicine, and shares how cultural differences shaped her view of health, emotions, and resilience. She and Kathy dig into the growing shift inside pharmacy, where more practitioners are starting to ask whether there’s room for integrative care, functional medicine, and herbal education inside a system built almost entirely around pharmaceuticals. If you’ve ever felt let down by conventional care, are curious about the future of functional pharmacy, or want a smarter, more grounded way to think about herbs, medicine, and healing, this conversation will change how you see the body and the plants that support it. Marina Buksov is a functional pharmacist, mind-body health coach, clinical herbalist, and educator helping practitioners expand their clinical skillset with holistic and herbal medicine. She created Build Your Holistic Herbal Practice Course, serves as a regional leader for the Functional Medicine Pharmacist Alliance, teaches at the International Holistic Health Alliance, and hosts The Holistic Pharmacy Podcast. Instagram: @marinabuksovFacebook: Marina Buksov Podcast: holistic pharmacy podcast email: [email protected]