Blazing Star Herbal School

I am so excited about this class that we are hosting in a few days

Anyone who has ever taken a class from me knows how deeply I respect and how much I have learnt from Amanda McQuade Crawford over the years. I am so excited that she has agreed to return to BSHS. She was last here in 2002 (6 years ago!!!) and taught an unforgettable workshop. I am still receiving letters from those lucky people who attended wondering when she'll be back.

Monday August 25 2008

The good news is that this class will be inspiring, educational and informative to the advanced student and beginners alike. So here is the scoop......The class still has a few openings.


What Herb Books Don't Tell You
A Day in the garden with Amanda Mcquade Crawford

Monday August 25
10 am to 4pm (lunch included)
$125

The power of plants to call our deep healing potential to the surface is a gift. Spend the day deepening your connection to the medicinal herbs you know. How the chemistry works with physiology is fun to learn, like learning the back story of your new friend's first home. But the mystery between any two friends, including our connection to our green allies is
rooted below the surface of matter and molecules. Join me for a happy mix of focused meditation and the newest research on healing herbs.

In the second part of our day, studying the people we serve brings case studies and your herb knowledge to life.


Amanda McQuade Crawford herbalist and author of of two popular books on women's health, "The Herbal Menopause Book" and "Herbal Remedies for Women."  She earned her degree in Phytotherapy from Britain's College of Phytotherapy   She is a regular on *What A Relief*,  a show on herbs for Veria, a holistic cable television network. Previously she was in private practice formany years in Beverly Hills, and Ojai, California, where she grew, gathered, and made most of her plant medicines surrounded by orange groves, oaks and avocados. She was appointed the Senior Clinical Tutor at Canterbury College in Christchurch, New Zealand, where she spent 2005 integrating their curriculum, new research and clinical practice.  Her most recent adventure has been caring for family elders while hunting urban weeds and growing an organic garden in the wilds of Los Angeles, California.



Please email me ASAP if you think you might like to attend this class blazingstarclinic (at) gmail (dot) com

A Tuesday apprenticeship in photos

I have not posted class photos fora few weeks so here I am playing catch up by expressing my gratitude

Much gratitude for our magnificent tuesday lunches:





For the Pollinators:





For Seeds and Roots

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) (Special thanks Marcelle for giving us the heads up before bulldozing)

Blue Cohosh Berry (Caulophyllum thalictroides)

Early Spikenard flowerhead (Aralia racemosa)

Oats Milkyhead(Avena sativa )

A Tuesday apprenticeship in photos

Week 12

July 15 2008
Sunny Hot Hot

A Garden in Bloom


Bee Balm, Monarda dydyma

Bee Balm, Monarda fistulosa

California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica



German Chamomile, Matricaria chamomilla

Elecampane, Inula helenium


Echinacea purpurea

A Tuesday apprenticeship in photos

Week 11
Tuesday July 8th
HOT HOT HOT

We took a short walk to explore a stand of Mullein which I had noticed a few days ago.



Mullein flowers (Verbascum thapsus)

.........and while the Mullein was glorious there were a few other plants in their golden glory.

St Johns Wort flowers (Hypericum perforatum) (other common names include Tipton's Weed or Klamath weed)


Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) flowers -up close
(other common names include Common Yarrow, Gordaldo, Nosebleed plant, Old Man's Pepper, Sanguinary, Milfoil, Soldier's Woundwort, Thousand-leaf), Thousand-seal)

And here is my favorite photo of the afternoon

A Wild Columbine (seed pod)
(Aquilegia canadensis ) Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae)




Columbine nectar and pollen benefit hungry birds and insects, such as hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. An edible flower.

A Tuesday apprenticeship in photos

Week 9, Tuesday June 24, Dark and Wet



Self Heal Prunella vulgaris Breaking it down.......

Laminaceae (mint) Family

Other names: Prunella, All-Heal, Hook-Heal, Self Heal, Slough-Heal, Brunella, Heart of the Earth, Blue Curls, Carpenter-weed, Common Selfheal, Consolida Minor, Lance Selfheal, Sicklewort, Woundwort, Xia Ku Cao Dragonhead, Hercules' Woundwort, Hook-Heal, Xia Ku Cao

Prunella Vulgaris is found just about anywhere.....growing in waste ground, grassland, woodland edges, usually on basic and neutral soils.

Taste: mineral salt, mild bitter
Energy: Cool and Dry

Prunella Vulgaris is an edible and medicinal herb, she can be used in salads, soups, stews, or boiled as a pot herb.

Over the centuries she has been used as medicine, on just about every continent in the world, and for just about every ailment known to man, Prunella is something of a panacea. This last line makes the apprentices and many herb students crazy. I hear them all saying "how will be ever learn the best way to use this herb? How can Self Heal be good for sooooo many things. Most apprentices over the year find it easier to use herbs that have fewer and more specific uses such as Boneset. Again and again I urge them not to give up on these herbs that seem to be used for everything. The best way to learn is to just slowly familiarize your self with the herb: collect information, draw the herb, sit with the herb, try every recipe you can find, if it is an edible eat it raw, eat it cooked.....keep a journal.

Western Classificationa: alterative, antibacterial, anti viral, antipyretic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, anti-oxidant, astringent, carminative, diuretic, febrifuge, hypotensive, nutritive, stomachic, styptic, tonic, vermifuge and vulnerary. (It is really important to familiarize yourself with these terms, hint hint)

Prunella is an astringent herb that has been used extensively in the healing of internal and external wounds. There is a simple use that everyone can try!

Plant Constituents are Betulinic-acid, D-Camphor, Delphinidin, Hyperoside, Manganese, Oleanolic-acid, Rosmarinic-acid (more than in rosemary!!) , Rutin, Ursolic-acid, and Tannins. (It is worth noting this info though in the beginning it really does not mean a lot unless you are a chemistry buff)

Prunella is taken internally as a medicinal tea in the treatment of fevers, diarrhea, sore mouth and throat, internal bleeding, and weaknesses of the liver and heart. Prunella is thought to be effective in treating Grave's disease and has also been used as an immune system booster. Clinical analysis shows it to have an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of pseudomonas iatragenic hospital infections) , Bacillus typhi, E. coli, Salmonella, Mycobacterium tuberculi, which supports its use as an alternative medicine internally and externally as an antibiotic and for hard to heal wounds and diseases. It has also shown promise in research for cancer, AIDS, diabetes, and more recently the Herpes Virus. The research done for herpes shows that salves made with Prunella are useful in stopping outbreaks.

Simple ways to start using Prunella:

Gather flowering tops, and dry in small bunches for later herb use. Store in cool, dry, dark, place for best shelf life. Alternatively you can tincture it fresh.

A cold water infusion of the freshly chopped or dried and powdered leaves is a very tasty and refreshing beverage.

A weak infusion of the plant is an excellent medicinal eye wash for sties and pinkeye.

Medicinal tea or infusion: Add 1 oz. dried or fresh herb to a pint of boiling water, steep till cool, take in ½ cup doses, sweetened with honey, as a general immune strengthener. Can be used to help recover strength after illness.


If you are interested in furthering your study of individual plants our Materia Medica class will be starting up again in September. Just email me and I will put you on the list.


Please be aware that this information is provided is meant to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice.

Blazing Star Herbal School Class

Blazing Star Herbal School (founded 1983)

Herbal Remedies For Summer Maladies
(at BSHS just outside of Shelburne Falls, MA)

June 29th, 12:30-4:30pm $50


In this hands on medicine making class we will focus on creating a home first aid kit for summer maladies. We will address the following conditions:


Cuts and scrapes
Burns (sun and fire)
Bug bites (ticks and other infestations)
Contact rashes
Muscle aches (Sprains/strains)
Bleeding and Bruises
Poison Ivy and Poison Oak rash
Dehydration (sun poisoning)


We will talk about safety and effectiveness of various ingredients as well as child friendly dosages. We will also discuss simple homeopathic remedies.

Extensive handouts will be provided.

Pre Registration Required.: In order to register please send email to tlemos (at) noho (dot) com or call 413 625 6875
Paypal or checks accepted.

For more infomation on our upcoming classes check out http://blazingstarherbalschool.typepad.com




__________________________________________________


Tony(a) Lemos is a graduate of Natural Therapy at Raworth College in England. Tony(a) teaches at conferences and colleges throughout New England including Ct Institute of Herbal Studies, International College of
Herbal Medicine, Flower Essence Conference and the Womens Herbal Conference. She has also maintained a herbal medicine and massage practice in the Valley since 1994.


Blazing Star Herbal School is dedicated to teaching traditional herbal medicine in a way that supports a more sustainable future for all members of the green world and shows respect for the integrity of nature. We offer a unique perspective on herbalism, weaving social and political aspects of health and healing through the study of medicinal herbs and food
practices. We inspire students to find their own healing path by creating a personal relationship with the plant world. The school also serves as a local and national resource for education and networking




Please note that Blazing Star Herbal School events, classes, photos and recipes are always listed here That Blog is still a work in progress! getting all the book links to work and the photos the right side up!

A Tuesday apprenticeship in photos

Week 8 June 17 Sunny and Cool
Juliette of the Herbs


I look forward the first rainy rainy tuesday as an excuse to do a showing of my dear friend Tish Streeten's film" Juliette of the Herbs" But they were wrong! When I checked the weather yesterday it called for a stormy day- a stormy week infact! When I woke up it was bright and the sun was shinning.



Juliette of the Herbs is a beautifully filmed lyrical portrait of the life and work of Juliette de Bairacli Levy: herbalist, author, breeder of Afghan hounds, friend of the Gypsies, traveller in search of herbal wisdom and the pioneer of holistic veterinary medicine. For more than 60 years Juliette lived with the Gypsies, nomads and peasants of the world, learning the healing arts of these people who live close to nature, and learning from nature herself. Now 85 years of age, Juliette’s life story is as colourful and exciting as her tremendous wealth of herbal knowledge.

Filmed on location in Greece, Spain, France, Portugal, Switzerland, England and America, and interwoven with Juliette’s vast collection of archival photographs, together with scenes of Gypsies dancing and Bedouins with their herds, Juliette of the Herbs is an inspiring portrait of a remarkable woman.


about Tish Streeten - Filmmaker
Tish Streeten has been making documentary films for more than 15 years. She has been studying herbal medicine for more than 30 years. Juliette of the Herbs, a feature length documentary portrait of the grandmother of today's herbal movement, has won many awards and has been shown in festivals and theatres across the country and internationally. The success of this film is a result of Tish's deep understanding of the subject matter and her talent as a filmmaker.


Tish Streeten was born and grew up in Oxford, England. She studied agricultural botany at the University College of North Wales and then decided she could learn more from practical work in the field. For the next ten years she worked throughout Europe and America as an organic farmer, gardener, fruit picker and herbalist. In 1979 she went to work with Danilo Dolci in Sicily as the resident gardener for the Centro Studi e Iniziative. Tish was in Sicily for almost three years.

In 1982 Tish came to New York to make documentary films, studying for one year at New York University with George Stoney and Brian Winston. Here she made her first film, Community Dig, a short documentary about an archaeological excavation in Greenwich Village, which aired on public television. Tish has since worked as producer, editor, researcher, post-production supervisor, sound editor, sound recordist and assistant editor on many independent, cable and public television documentaries. Recently Tish produced, directed and edited Sicilian Sojourn, a 20 minute documentary on responsible tourism and the cultural traditions of Sicily. She also co-produced and edited Ecological Design: Inventing the Future, which has won many awards and was shown at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. She was researcher and co-producer of Sangoma, a film for Canadian television about traditional healers in South Africa. A few years ago Tish worked on the highly acclaimed television series, Healing and the Mind with Bill Moyers. She is currently producing two series - one called Green Witches, on women herbalists and traditional healers world wide; and another, Trees That Heal, about medicinal trees world wide. Juliette of the Herbs is Tish's first feature length documentary.

Tish formed her production company, Mabinogion Films, to produce and distribute documentaries on women, the environment and the cultural traditions of the world. The Mabinogion are a collection of mediaeval Welsh romances of Celtic origin. The word mabinogion means storytelling. Tish's films are made with an intimate knowledge, caring and respect for her subjects. Sicilian Sojourn grew out of three years living and working with the people of Sicily. Juliette of the Herbs was seven years in the making. For Tish, the film making process is one of organic growth. Tish produces, directs, writes, edits and records sound for her films. She also does the research, fund-raising and distribution.

Here is a great article on Juliette

Grandfather Pine

This post is a follow-up to yesterdays on trees

Here is a picture of the Blazing Star Herbal School Apprentices of 2008 (minus 1) in a wonderful tree house at one of their homes. The tree it self is magnificent........

A Tuesday apprenticeship in photos

Week 7 June 10th 90 plus degrees (hot and unbearably humid)

Sacred Smoke Bowl Blessing

Every morning for the past few weeks as I finish cleaning/organizing our space for the day Zoe smudges. A few weeks ago she asked it she could "do the smoking" I admit I was a little confused, it turned out that she wanted to do the smudging. I gave her the light smudge stick and she walked through every room and outside saying, "I bring Blessings and Peace" She then came in and smudged herself and then me.

It has been a few years since I made Smudge Sticks which are simply a bundle of dried herbs. So I decided that it was time to make some.



Smudge sticks are the most natural form of incense—they’re just wild plant trimmings, nothing else.

Mugwort was the herb I chose to use because of its abundance, it surrounds us, It was also my first plant ally. As a class we have been talking a lot about finding and connecting with our plant allys and exploring the dream realm with our allys. Mugwort smudgestick seemed like the perfect ritual aid.

Botanical name: Artemisia vulgaris

Common names: Mugwort, Moxa, Traveler’s Herb, Artemis Herb, Felon Herb, Muggons, Old Man, Sailor’s Tobacco. Cingulum Sancti Johannis aka St. John’s plant (NOT St. Johnswort).


Smudging has been used as a cleansing technique from the Native North American Tradition. Smudging calls on the spirits of sacred plants to drive away negative energies and restore balance. It is the art of cleansing yourself and your
environment using simple ritual and ceremony. Traditionally white sage is burnt in order to clear space, cleanse aura, purify or change the energy or when in need of grounding.

While White Sage is known to be spiritually cleaning, and purifying Mugwort , also known as "Dream Weed" is known for its unique ability to stimulate dreams, and aid in trances and visions. It has been associated with the Full Moon and with the Summer Solstice since ancient times. Use mugwort for awakening the higher mind, enhancing intuition, psychic awareness, and visualization. It is said to assists divination, lifting the veil between the higher realms of consciousness.


Common Herbs Used in Smudge Sticks

White Sage
Cedar / Pine
Lavender
Sweet Grass (Sweetgrass which grows in high elevation alpine meadows throughout the West. Its unique vanilla-like scent and centering, relaxing energy)
Mugwort
Copal (commonly used in Mayan medicine)


Next up.....

A Solstice Mugwort Crown & Wreaths: A garland crown, or ritual head wreath, can be easily made from one or more freshly cut Mugwort stalks. Select a young, supple stalk at least 2 feet in length. Begin forming the circle of the crown by gently bending the stalk at its midpoint and then interweaving it upon itself. About halfway through the interweaving process, try your crown on and then adjust it so that it fits comfortably on your head. When you are done, trim off any excess leafless stalk. If you prefer to have lots of foliage on your crown, make the initial circlet a bit bigger, and then weave several more additional stalks around it, one at a time. Start each new stalk at a different point along the circle in order to distribute foliage equally around the perimeter. Wreaths for decorating doors, shrines, deity images, and altars can be made in a similar way, and can be any size. Dried wreaths, hung on or above doorways, are wonderful house blessing charms.

A Tuesday apprenticeship in photos

Week 6: June 3rd Sunny mid 70's


A Heart to Hearth with Mother Earth




Separating seedlings:

Tulsi, Boneset, Feverfew, Spilanthes and Scullcap





A performance to review by the Piti Theater Company Elmer and the Elder Tree which will be performed at RiverFest this year on Sat June 14th in Shelburne Falls, MA.

Elmer and the Elder Tree is described as "A clown-dance-theatre fable for all ages inspired by Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree" and Jean Giorno's "The Man Who Planted Trees." Featuring original music by Aaron Sherwood (saxophone), Peter Buchanan (guitar) and Wayne Smith (cello). "





Colorful costumes, and inventive set design set the scene for this nature fable, expressive dance to senseful music, and few heartfelt words tell the tale of Elmer and his Elder Tree




Jonathon and Godelieve Mirin (past apprentice 2006-2008) make up the Piti Theatre Company which is based right here in Shelburne and also in Les-Ponts-de-Martel, Switzerland where Godelieve hails from.

Tutorial: Making a DECONGESTIVE SYRUP

Please read yesterdays post on Coltsfoot prior to making this remedy



Respiratory Decongestant Syrup


1 part coltsfoot leaves
1/2 part marshmallow root
1/2 part ground ivy
1/2 mullein leaf
1/8 part licorice
1/8 part Orange Peel
1/2 cup of Black Cherry concentrate
4 cups (1 liter) water
1 Ib (1 kg) natural honey

Simmer the herbs in 4 cups water until reduced to 2 cups. Strain and add 1/4 lb natural raw honey. Gently melt, simmering at low heat for 20 minutes. Add 1/4 cup Black Cherry concentrate. You can add a splash of lemon juice as well if you have it. Cool before bottling. Store in refrigerator. Consume within 3 months. If you would like to extend the shelf life add 1/4 cup of good quality Brandy.

Dosage: Take 1 T , 2 to 3 times a day. Even children will enjoy it!

A Tuesday apprenticeship in photos

Week 4
Partly Sunny, Sixty something


The life of Tussilago

Family: Asteraceae
European native

"the son before the father" Very early in the spring, coltsfoot develops flat orange flower heads, but only after they eventually wither do the broad, hoof-shaped, sea-green leaves develop. Since the flowers and leaves appear at different times, they are collected separately. Coltsfoot is found along brooks and in wet places and moist clayey soil along roadsides

The flowers should be gathered before they have fully bloomed (end of February to April) and dried carefully in the shade. The leavesare best collected between May and June. They should be chopped up before theyare dried and stored. The fresh leaves can be used until autumn.









Constituents: Coltsfoot contains flavonoids, about 8% mucilage (consisting of polysaccharides), 10% tannins, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, vitamin C, and zinc. There are useful levels of zinc in the leaves. This mineral has been shown to have marked anti-inflammatory effects. The pyrrolizidine alkaloids may have a toxic effect on the liver, but are largely destroyed when the parts are boiled to make a decoction. The polysaccharides are anti-inflammatory and immunostimulant. The flavonoids are anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic.


Doctrine of SIgnatures: Coltsfoot, the dried leaves and/or flower heads of Tussilago farfara L., is one of those plants whose botanical name reflects its medicinal application. Tussilago derives from the Latin tussis, meaning cough, and coltsfoot has long been used to treat that affliction.

Coltsfoot combines a soothing expectorant effect with an anti-spasmodic action. Coltsfoot may be used in chronic or acute bronchitis, irritating coughs, whooping coughs and asthma. Its soothing expectorant action gives Coltsfoot a role in most respiratory conditions, including the chronic states of emphysema. As a mild diuretic it has been used in cystitis. The fresh bruised leaves can be applied to boils, abscesses and suppurating ulcers.

A note regarding smoking of this plant: Since the principal active ingredient in the plant is a throat-soothing mucilage, smoking coltsfoot is not rational therapy. The mucilage would be destroyed by burning, and the effect of smoke on already irritated mucous membranes would be increased irritation. Inhaling the vapors from coltsfoot leaves placed in a pan of simmering water s again without value. The useful mucilage is not volatile and would not reach the affected tissues.

It combines well with licorice, thyme, and black cherry. In China, coltsfoot is classified as a "warming" herb that helps relieve coughing and wheezing.

Safety
Over the years, coltsfoot has been a very popular folk remedy for coughs and bronchial congestion. As early as the first century, coltsfoot was recommneded for dry coughs and for breathing problems by the Greek doctor Dioscorides. However a study carried out in Japan revealed that the hepatotoxic (poisonous to the liver) pyrrolizidine alkaloid senkirkine to be present in relatively small amounts (0.015 percent). Continued or prolonged exposure to these pyrrolizidine alkaloids may have a cumulative effect. For some time it was hoped that the rest of the plant might be devoid of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. However, a subsequent investigation of coltsfoot leaves showed senkirkine to be present in them as well.

Here are some safety considerations:

-Coltsfoot flowers should not be used.
-The herb should not be taken by pregnant or breast-feeding women.
-It should not be given to children under age 6.
-Some countries have legal restrictions regarding coltsfoot availablity and usage. The USDA classifies coltsfoot as an herb of "unknown safety" due to the pyrrolizidine alkaloids. The amount of these alkaloids is extremely small, though, and the beneficial effects are generally believed to outweigh the risk.
-It is recommended that coltsfoot tea or syrup not be used for more than 4-6 weeks at a time.

If readers prefer to try alternative very safe herbal demulcent (soothing agent), try slippery elm bark or marshmallow root

A Tuesday apprenticeship in photos

Tuesday May 13th
Sunny 70 Degrees

Ladys Mantle Unfurling
Alchemilla vulgaris (Rosacea family)

In mediaeval Latin it was called Leontopodium (lion's foot), probably from its spreading root-leaves, and this has become in modern French, Pied-de-lion. Two common English local names, 'Lion's foot' and 'Bear's foot.

Alchemilla has lime green leaves and dainty star shaped flowers, and has been in gardens since before the 16th century and I'm sure in the wild much before then. The entire plant is covered in very fine hairs that cause dew or soft rain to gather in it's leaves. This liquid was known as "celestial water" and used in alchemy. These tiny jeweled drops inspired poetry and magic over the years.



The herb became known as Our Lady's Mantle because the scalloped shape of the leaves, were thought to resemble the mantle (cloak) of the Virgin Mary. Later, politics intervened, and the "Our" was taken from the name.




Some medicinal uses.....of the herb and roots.......

Lady’s Mantle was once a widely prescribed treatment for gynecological problems. This herb is commonly used as a cure for excessive menstruation and is taken internally as an infusion ( 1 OZ. of the dried herb to 1 pint of boiling water) in teacupful doses as required. It is thought to help the uterus return to its natural size after childbirth. Decoctions made from the lady's mantle can be used as vaginal douches or as a lotion - it can be mixed with rose water as well. These decoctions can help reduce vaginal discharges, minimize irritation and infection in the vaginal cavity. A strong decoction of the fresh root, by some considered the most valuable part of the plant, has also been recommended as excellent to stop all bleedings. It has also been used externally for wounds and skin irritations, as well as a compress for treating puffy eyes. In Sweden, a tincture of the leaves has been used in cases of spasmodic /convulsive diseases.

Lady's Mantle has astringent and styptic properties, on account of the tannin it contains. It is 'of a very drying and binding, and has been considered one of the best vulneraries or wound herbs. Disorders such as diarrhea and gastroenteritis are easily dealt with by the strong astringent action of the herb, the herb is also rich in salicylic acid and this induces a rapid reduction in the inflammation affecting the digestive system as well as the reproductive system of patients.

In folklore it is thought that if placed under the pillow at night, the herb will promote quiet sleep.

The herbal lady’s mantle decoction can also function as an excellent skin lotion for the treatment of rashes in diseases such as eczema, it can be used to heal cuts and wounds, as well as external sores and insect bites of all kinds. The herbal decoction can also be used as a mouthwash and gargle in cases of bleeding gums, to treat mouth ulcers and to minimize the symptoms of sore throats in patients.