The Village Herbalist

The Village Herbalist is a multi-part audio course that  explores herbs in a relation to different body systems, as well as some important foundational herbal knowledge, such as constructing an herbal first aid kit, medicine making techniques, and healing with nutrition.

Last summer I had the fortune of meeting herbalist Heather Nic an Fhleisdeir, an herbalist from Eugene, Oregon. Heather is the proprietor of Mrs. Thompson's Herbs, Gifts & Folklore, as well as director of the Academy of Scottish Herbalism. Her main web site, CelticHerbs.com, links to her store, school and other sites.  We are honored to have Heather as our intructor for these lessons.

The Village Herbalist will teach about herbs and our bodies from a simple, practical and lay persons point of view. Our hope is that HerbMentor inspires you to become the herbalist for YOUR village.

Your classroom for our audio lessons

Listen to classes below...

(These will be posted bi-weekly, through Fall, 2008.)

Class Descriptions (These are subject to change)

• Herbs for Home & Hearth: Seasonal homecare for health & pleasure
• Botanical Pharmacy: 
Focusing on how to make herbal preparations. A hands on ‘how to’ of techniques, tools & supplies 
• Herbs for Hay Fever & Allergies:
  ‘An  ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’ and now is the perfect time to start. We’ll discuss preventative measures, dietary and environment considerations as well as pre-season formulas and remedies to help during acute phases.

• Colds & Flu: 
Colds, coughs and flu are the immune system flexing it’s muscle.  When they linger too long or come too frequently they can lead to being run down and turn into more serious conditions.  Learn how to identify the first signs of infections and to make simple remedies to rebuild, revitalize, prevent re-infection and contagion and keep yourself in good spirits.

• Digestive Harmony:
 Explore simple solutions to most digestive problems; nausea, indigestion, gas, diarrhea, constipation and ‘cleansing’ to name a few. We will also discuss the making of specific preparations for digestive health and harmony.

• The Blood is Strong:
 And the heart never rests... Learn the herbalists’ secrets to strong, clean blood and a healthy heart. We will cover blood cleansers and tonics, antibody enhancers, blood pressure and cholesterol regulators, heart tonics and help for those varicose veins and hemorrhoids.

• Herbal Healthcare For Men and Boys: 
Learn preventative measures, dietary considerations and herbal remedies specific to male reproductive health concerns.  Many issues such as prostate and sexual health, hair growth, aphrodisiacs, and fertility awareness will be covered. The perfect class if you are a man, are living with one or are raising one. 
 
• Women’s Health Ways: 
Discover preventative measures, dietary considerations, aromatherapy and herbal remedies specific to female reproductive health concerns. We will cover many topics such as sexual, menstrual and breast health, cysts, endometriosis, fertility awareness, and menopause.
• Blood Sugar!:
 Herbs and food for maintaining stable blood sugar, mood, and energy.
• Oh Baby!:
 Improve the quality of life for you and your baby with botanicals. Learn soothing recipes for diaper rash, colic, teething, colds and fevers, pickeye, and other handy remedies. Safety precautions and age/body weight herbal usage instructions will be included.

• Herbal Medicine Chest: 
Constructing an herbal first aid kit, and how to use it.
• Kids, Herbs & Health:
 Explore in this class, some of the tasty herbs & foods for troubles common to kids from 2-12 years old. Getting kids involved with their own health, Correct amounts to use, and safe usage will also be covered.

• Healthy Skin: 
Protect & sooth outbreaks, burns, poison oak & fungus with preparations you will learn to make.
• Less Stress: 
Herbal repair for stress, anxiety, depression & sleeplessness.
• Botanicals for Aches & Pains: 
Support  & repair for bones, muscles and connective tissue. 
• Healing with Nutrition: 
Utilizing food as medicine & herbal formulation for nutritional supplementation.
• Kidney & Bladder Health:
 Foods, herbs & habits for health.
• Herbal Oils: 
Science and technique; creating & using herbal infused oils and  therapeutic uses.
• Pearly Teeth & Vibrant Gums: 
Herbs & foods to strengthen, protect & enhance dental health.

The following articles contain mp3 audio files. Transcripts are currently being worked on.