Author Erin Masako Wilkins’ new book, Asian American Herbalism: Traditional and Modern Healing Practices for Everyday Wellness brings her knowledge to your home.
By Jen Hyde
Erin Masako Wilkins’ path to becoming an herbalist began while she was studying Japanese acupuncture
in Berkeley. She soon realized that herbalism was a profound component of this discipline and quickly fell in love with their healing powers. The more she learned about herbalism, the more Erin realized that many medicinal herbs grow abundantly in the San Francisco Bay Area. Herbs such as chrysanthemum, mugwort, rose, and various mints became essential ingredients in her practice. After school, she was eager to bring her knowledge to her community.
At first, herbal workshops served as a platform for sharing knowledge and breaking down barriers to herbal medicine. Erin believes that herbalism is not just about healing the body but also about 
reconnecting with cultural traditions and the earth. She often highlights the concept of “food as medicine” and encourages participants to explore their own cultural connections to herbs and food, fostering a sense of belonging and pride in one’s heritage.
Erin’s workshops have attracted a diverse community, a testament to her dedication to inclusivity and the power of online platforms during the pandemic. Her online presence has allowed her to reach a broader audience, leading to greater Asian representation in her classes and workshops, and eventually a book deal.
Her new book, Asian American Herbalism: Traditional and Modern Healing Practices for Everyday Wellness, explores the intersection of Asian American identity, herbalism, and cultural connections to the land. The book provides guidance for those seeking to incorporate herbalism into their lives both for wellness and cultural connection. It is one part recipe book, one part memoir as Erin delves into her family’s history, their experiences during World War II, and their role as farm laborers in Sonoma County to provide a framework.
Erin’s grandfather, Hiroshi Yamamoto, was a second-generation American from Ukiah. His family fled to Utah to escape Japanese incarceration during WWII. Hiroshi later fought in the war, and afterward moved his family to Sacramento. Erin’s mother moved the family back to Santa Rosa while Erin was in high school, a move which Erin attributes as the catalyst for her calling.
As a mixed-race individual, Erin’s journey to finding her heritage and identity has been a nuanced exploration. Before the pandemic, Erin called her business East West herbalism, a name that placed her cultural experiences side by side. This is a method of identifying oneself that is common among mixed Asians for whom preserving family histories is a crucial part of our identity formation. For us, cultural reclamation is deeply personal. Asian American Herbalism is a term Erin created for herself. Her self-realization not only aligns with her identity but also serves as a source of inspiration in the pages of her new book.
Join us on Friday, October 20th at 7 pm to launch Erin’s book: Asian American Herbalism: Traditional and Modern Healing Practices for Everyday Wellness at Copperfield Books in Petaluma! Reserve a free ticket here. Order your copy of the book at Copperfield’s Books online.
Jen Hyde is the author of Hua Shi Hua,华诗画 [Drawings & Poems from China]. She lives in Sonoma County with her family.