Herbal Medicine for All: A 5 day course over 6 months
Sunday 9th September 2018 at Edibles Permaculture Centre, West Slaithwaite, Huddersfield FULLY BOOKED
(9th Sept, 21st Oct, 25th Nov 2018, 20th Jan 2019 & 3rd March 2019)
Next 2019 courses starting:
Sunday 15th September 2019 at Ivy House Botanicals, 16 Bondgate, Otley LS21 3AB - NOW BOOKING
(15th Sept, 20th Oct, 17th Nov, 12th Jan 2020 & 9th Feb 2020)
£100 deposit required to book your place. 8 places max. Contact me on 07775920079 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to book.
I'm very excited to bring you this course aimed at those of you wanting more in-depth knowledge of herbal medicine whether to treat yourself, friends and family and/or for health professionals wanting a better understanding of the subject.It is taught in 5 one-day sessions over 6 months. Each session is a good balance of theory and hands-on practical learning experiences to keep you fully engaged, entertained and eager to learn more. While homework projects are suggested, they are not obligatory although some self-study in between sessions will enable you to get the most out of the course especially for useful feedback!
The courses are currently run on Sundays and, although no longer in my herb kitchen, I am thrilled to run it from the fully accessible Learning Centre at RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate, Edibles Permaculture Centre in Slaithwaite, Huddersfield and Ivy house Botanicals in Otley. Each session starts at 10am and finishes at 4pm. Each group is limited to 8-10 places (dependent on venue) so its a great learning environment. Weather permitting, we spend some time outside every session to at least stretch our legs and re-energise our minds and do some herb gathering for medicine-making on a couple of sessions. Its a really wonderful way to spend a Sunday!
Please note I also run this course for private groups with their own venues and it can also be run in half day sessions over a longer period. Please do contact me if you would like to organise something for your group.
Course outline:
1st session: Feed me! Digestion, Blood and Energy tonics
2nd session: Protect me! Respiratory and Immune systems
3rd session: Balance me! Nervous system and Endocrine system
4th session: Understand me! Hormones continued and Herbs specific for male and female health
Final session: Cleanse me! Skin, kidneys, joints and lymphatics system
Theory covered:
Basic holistic anatomy and physiology for the key body systems (this will be fun honest!). I recommend fellow herbalist and Anatomy and Physiology teacher Pip Waller's Holistic Anatomy book which is very accessible and ask you to read a couple of chapters before each session. This way we get maximum time to spend on the herbs while ensuring everyone has a good overview.
Understanding the key actions of 25-30 herbs and their constituents and how they work synergistically both within the plant and the body.
Herbal therapeutics for the key body systems i.e. how to know what herbs to use when and where both safely and effectively.
Practical exercises:
Making infusions, decoctions, tinctures, syrups, vinegars, poultices and macerated oils.
Getting close up and personal to the herbs we explore at each session and practice at making up your own formulas and discussing treatment ideas as we go along.
Mini herb walks/field work (weather dependent).
Experiential herb tastings and advice on keeping your herb journal. You'll take away some herb samples every session to work with at home.
The whole course costs £250. A minimum of £100 non-refundable deposit is required to book your place and the remainder is payable by the start of the course. If you know you are unable to make a specific the sessions at the time of booking, I will try to book you in on a future session on a first come, first served basis subject to spaces available. Otherwise please note there will be no refund available for any missed sessions. Handouts will however be available.
To book your place, please call or email me to confirm availability. Payment can then be made online.
Bel x
Testimonials:
"The worst thing for me about Bel's 5 day "Herbal Medicine for All" course is that it had to come to an end. Since we started last September I have looked forward to meeting every few weeks at Bel's home on the edge of Otley Chevin to explore holistic health and herbal medicine with Bel and a small group of enthusiastic learners from varied and interesting backgrounds.
Bel's approach has been to take one or two themes in human physiology for each session (e.g. Digestion, Respiration, the Immune System), to review the interrelationships between our bodily systems, and to consider various herbal preparations for maintaining and regaining health. As part of each session we have also ventured on to the Chevin through the changing seasons, identifying plants with health benefits and simply taking in the beauty and wonder of nature.
I've been especially inspired by Bel's understanding and appreciation of the environment where she lives and her focus, wherever possible, on the gifts that the locality offers for our health and well-being. This has greatly increased my confidence in working with plants that I can find for myself in the wild or with plant products that are readily available in my kitchen cabinet. More than that, Bel's experiential learning approach encourages us not only to use all our senses to really get to know the plants we are working with in their natural habitat but also to try for ourselves the herbal products prepared for and during the sessions; tasting and smelling them, feeling their effects on our minds and bodies. It makes me wonder to what extent conventional medical practitioners have personally familiarised themselves with the effects of the drugs and treatments they prescribe to their patients!
I would recommend Bel's course to anyone wishing to learn more about natural ways of healing and the plants that can help strengthen and protect our health." Rob, Leeds April 2017
