friday evening... herbs, humours & temperaments
While there has been a revival of holistic medicine in the
last decade, it's still common for individuals exploring
these areas to be lumped together and treated the same,
whether by herbs, by diet, or whatever other holistic
modality is being pursued... people ask: "What
herb/homeopathic/diet is good for this problem?" or are
told "You should do/take this if you have that problem."
But we aren't all the same, and the answers to such
questions have a lot to do with who is asking it.
Join michigan herbalist jim mcdonald in an exploration
of the four humoural temperaments of traditional western
herbalism. We'll explore the qualities, dispositions and
behaviors of the sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic and
melancholic, and see how these constitutions can
elucidate our personal dispositions, the problems we're
likely to face, our optimal dietary slant, lifestyle
necessities, and which types of foods, herbs, and
practices will serve us best to restore balance (and
we'll probably even fit in a bit on animal totems and
David Lee Roth era Van Halen...).
This friday evening presentation is available
as a stand alone class for just $15
saturday... herbs, vitalism & holistic immunity
Perhaps the most popular use of herbal remedies is to
"boost the immune system", but few really understand how
this is accomplished, or know when to use which herb for
what condition. Join herbalist jim mcdonald in a
discussion of the herbs traditionally used to improve
immune function by nourishing and supporting the body's
defenses rather than suppressing and diffusing them, or
by simply "killing bacteria/viruses". Detailed handouts
further elaborate on the herbs and processes involved,
going far beyond "boosting the immune system" and
offering a truly holistic understanding of well being.
In addition to covering the proper uses of herbs such as
echinacea, astragalus, elder & a few medicinal
mushrooms, the roles of the hypothalamus, bone marrow &
lymphatic system in the immune response are explained
clearly & concisely with a special emphasis on endocrine
immune function.
sunday... breathing botanicals
Among the most common symptoms associated with colds and
flus and late winter ailments are coughs, congestion and
other variations of respiratory woe. Most believe that
if only their cough would just stop, or their child's
nose would stop running, they'd be "all better" and good
to go. But these "symptoms" are all actually defensive
immune responses, and halting them in their tracks can
actually suppress the body's immune response... most
over the counter medications, and even many natural
supplements, do just that.
Join herbalist jim mcdonald in an exploration of how the
body responds to illness and how to use herbs
holistically to assist the body's defenses, and not
inadvertently undermine them (as often happens when
people use goldenseal to "beat" their head cold).
Special attention will be paid to differentiating
patterns of damp, dry, spasmodic, hot and cold
conditions, and understanding which herbs are
appropriate in each state. As these patterns exist in
all lung conditions, from bronchitis to asthma, the
applications of this information are extensive.
jim mcdonald
has been practicing the art of herbcraft for over sixteen
years, and offers a knowledge of herbalism that blends
western folk and indigenous views of healing with the
Vitalist traditions of 19th century western herbalism. He
has taught classes and workshops throughout Great Lakes
bioregion and the US, hosts the website
www.herbcraft.org and is currently writing
(alternately) "A Great Lakes Herbal" and "Foundational
Herbcraft". Jim is a community herbalist, a manic
wildcrafter and medicine maker, an occasional email
mangler, and has been an ardent student of the most
learned teachers of herbcraft... the plants themselves.
for details on
registration...
Contact Jess at (608) 637-8751 or send
email
here.
payment...
You can pay by mailing a check payable
to "Jess Krueger" to:
Jess Krueger
563 E. South Street
Viroqua, WI 54665
