If you read my recent post on nurturing the senses, you’ll know about the release of the updated version of Herb Energetics, the multi-media course I created with John Gallagher of learningherbs.com teaching my take on the essential elements of sense-based herbalism. The course details have now been released and signup is open over at the Herb Energetics site.

In case you missed that post but are interested in the course, here’s a quick definition of energetics from my perspective:

Herbal energetics are generally defined as a framework of understandings of how to best match herbs to the individual and/or situation. Spectrums (such as cool/warm) and properties (such as astringent) are associated with herbs based on our observation of their effect on the body. For example, when we choose the moistening, mucilaginous root of Althaea to treat a dry, hacking cough where there is a burning pain in the chest, we’re using basic herbal energetics.

I consider this topic fundamental to the skillful and effective practice of herbalism, whether we’re just trying our immediate family and friends or working in a full time clinical practice. Learning the subtle (and not so subtle) nuances of how a plant can tend to work in the human body can greatly enhance our existing studies or understandings of herbalism.

Systems of herbalism such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, Unani tibb, and Ayurveda can offer an existing and well-developed approach to herbal energetics but for some of us, the concepts may seem out of context or difficult to understand if we weren’t raised in those traditions. Herb Energetics is my attempt to pare energetics down to an easily understood system with familiar terms and concepts that give us the ability to deepen our intimacy with the plants as well as giving us tools to better understand human constitutions and patterns of pathology.

To me, herbal energetics are all about recognizing the the wisdom of our bodies and our ancient relationship with plants as medicines as well as food, poison and beyond, in a way that allows us to have a greater understanding of how to help each other through hands on experience – through tasting the plant, understanding what it does organoleptically, with our sensorial bodies – and then directly applying that knowledge. This isn’t just head knowledge, it’s whole body knowledge that results in an ever more whole and effective approach to healing and herbalism.

Herb Energetics 2.0

It’s important that Plant Healer Magazine not have so many columnists that room runs out for contributions from others.  Last time we announced the addition of quarterly contributions from Susun Weed… and this round, we found we couldn’t resist adding just one final column:

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Mountain Medicine: Traditional Healing Folkways

by Phyllis Light
Phyllis D. Light (http://phyllisdlight.com) is [...]

Plant Healer – Spring Sneak Peak!
And A Call For Your Submissions
Plant Healer consciously casts a wide and inclusive tent, giving voice to folk herbalists of every age, gender, ethnicity, and level of experience or education.  If you are interested in the study and practice of plant medicine,  its culture and development, you’re welcomed.  Welcomed [...]

“The simple act of nurturing the senses might well do far more for healing of the world than all our programs and inventions.” ~ Cheryl Sanders
Being an herbalist is a constant exercise in balance – with so much being given out in the work of helping others we also need the pleasure of finding and settling into [...]

Last night while I laid back in our old wood-fired clawfoot tub and felt the giant snowflakes falling on my face in the dark I was entirely consumed by how beautiful and precious these long nights and cold air are to me. All around me in the evergreen forests of my home, the snow fell [...]

Now Seeking
Outreach, Advertising & Media Helpers
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for Plant Healer Magazine
& Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference
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http://TraditionsInWesternHerbalism.org
http://www.PlantHealerMagazine.com.org

Custom Bear painting by Andrea Gutierrez of http://www.mylittlebighead.com/ & medicines from Susan Hess of Coventry Farm

Seeking staff these days for several aspects of conference, magazine and school efforts, as well as On-Site Helpers at our N.M. sanctuary…. beginning with [...]

PLANT HEALER MAGAZINE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
www.PlantHealerMagazine.com

A Celebratory 265 Pages In Length!!
Winter – Volume II – Issue I
Available For Download Dec. 5th
“Enlivening the practice, culture and art of folk herbalism”

•Table of Contents Sneak Peak
•New Susun Weed Column & More
•Lengthy Interviews With the Awesome Phyllis Light & Fascinating Susun Weed
•New Bonuses to Download Including Audio Classes
•$115 [...]

This is a post by both myself and Loba for the Wild Things Roundup which is focused on Acorns for November

From Kiva

Our family had a wonderfully wild foods infused Thanksgiving this year that was especially rich in roasted Acorns and White Fir, as Oak and Fir trees are common plants in the canyons and mountains [...]

Registration Opens Dec 1st – & Teachers Confirmed For The
2012 TRADITIONS IN WESTERN HERBALISM CONFERENCE

Sept. 13-16 in Arizona’s Beautiful Coconino Forest
www.TraditionsInWesternHerbalism.org
“An amazing conference, resurrecting the spirit of Western Herbalism.” -Paul Bergner
30+ Teachers and 40+ edgy & innovative Classes at our awesome new event site, with topics like nowhere else!
2 full Nights of dance-making music, [...]

On this windy November afternoon I brought a thermos of my favorite smoky chai and a crisp mcintosh apple with me to a small copse of Alder trees and Wild Roses by the river. Listening to the breeze keening through the Pines on the mountain above, I sat down in the soft leaf litter and [...]

“I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can’t see from the center.” – Kurt Vonnegut
Herbalist. The term can make the role we fill sound as if it’s a single job rather than the multitude of [...]

My readers will all likely be very familiar with my fondness for any and all Rosa species, and most especially for my local wild Rosa woodsii. There’s no doubt that Rose is a popular plant among herbalists across the globe. Often though, I notice that it tends to be primarily known for emotional issues. While [...]

Growing At-Risk Medicinal Plants

Photos and Text by Juliet Blankespoor

Growing our own medicine creates an intimate connection with healing plants as we watch them emerge from the ground, and grow leaves, flowers, and fruits. I tend to be more curious about the plants around me, as I see, smell and feel them throughout the [...]

Now Ready To Ship – For Yourself or a Gift: THE ART OF PLANT HEALER (BOOK)
After its introduction at the Traditions In Western Herbalism Conference, the full color Art of Plant Healer is now ready for shipping to anyone interested, whether you’re a magazine subscriber or not… a full color soft cover book containing some [...]

2012 Traditions In Western Herbalism Conference
New Dates & Location

Search & Criteria
It seemed we would never find the “right” place, and yet we just couldn’t give up!  Weeks we spent on our site search in 2010, to no avail.  And weeks again since we got home from the 2011 conference, filled with long days that stretched [...]