Seemed like the best place to ask this, occurred to me this week to look into herbalism courses, or specifically online courses as the alternative is taking years out to study it which I don't fancy doing. Was just curious if anyone in the bushcraft community has done such a thing, what their views are on these online herbalism courses (or views of others who have considered them) and what uses they can have besides just expanding one's knowledge.
Herbalism courses
- Thread starter SeanKelly
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Well, since nobody has answered your question...
I imagine you are better off getting a couple books. An online course would be in theform of a lecture, so basically somebody talking.
Easier to read a book, imo!
When it comes to actually preparing ointments and such, then the visual internet might be useful.
I imagine you are better off getting a couple books. An online course would be in theform of a lecture, so basically somebody talking.
Easier to read a book, imo!
When it comes to actually preparing ointments and such, then the visual internet might be useful.
I know Keith and Maureen. They set up the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine in the 1990's.
Very able, capable and sound people. Excellent teachers who practiced what they preached and did so with a community spirit that is often missing from the commercial vested interests.
I know that the school is now more or less closed now, but I believe that Keith and Maureen still run courses from their home farm on the Isle of Arran.
An email might gain you more information. Herbal use is an interest to me, one that enriches my life, but it's not a major focus for me, so I have not done any courses. I have friends who have though, and they all rate the Robertsons very highly.
http://www.herbalmedicine.org.uk
Very able, capable and sound people. Excellent teachers who practiced what they preached and did so with a community spirit that is often missing from the commercial vested interests.
I know that the school is now more or less closed now, but I believe that Keith and Maureen still run courses from their home farm on the Isle of Arran.
An email might gain you more information. Herbal use is an interest to me, one that enriches my life, but it's not a major focus for me, so I have not done any courses. I have friends who have though, and they all rate the Robertsons very highly.
http://www.herbalmedicine.org.uk
I have a copy of "The Modern Herbal". It is interesting. Something you notice as you read herbalist literature is that they have a large, grandiose-sounding vocabulary that is never defined. I have not seen a concordance of herbalist terms related to ... looking for a word that won't tip my hand... "objective", "repeatable", "verifiable", "testable"... Nope, can't find a word that will be non-judgemental. "Herbalists" are self-absorbed granfalloons. That is a pity, because there are a lot of really useful plants out there. Yarrow! I really like yarrow.
I recommend researching topics under the heading "ethnobotany" instead of "herbalism".
I recommend researching topics under the heading "ethnobotany" instead of "herbalism".
Thanks for the tips guys, I was toying with the idea of trying to find some practical or even career use in it, but realistically as much as they might try to dress them up online herbalist courses probably aren't going to go anywhere in that sense. It would just be for my own personal growth I suppose. Thanks for the tip Toddy, I will still look into some online ones. It might be worth doing eventually.
And Ascobis I will keep ethnobotany in mind. Recently I have actually had in mind to start writing a book myself with foraging/survival in mind, and try to gather as much scientific information as possible. The books you see that do this tend to focus on fewer plants in a lot of depth.
And Ascobis I will keep ethnobotany in mind. Recently I have actually had in mind to start writing a book myself with foraging/survival in mind, and try to gather as much scientific information as possible. The books you see that do this tend to focus on fewer plants in a lot of depth.
There's a lot of mince talked about herbalism, and an awful lot of disdain from those trained in purified chemical extracts.
Thing is though that there's also an awful lot of really good herbalism, and an awful lot of scientific stuff already out there.
Just because some don't seem to hold herbal medicine, or it's practitioners, in high regard does not mean that this is so elsewhere, and there is no shortage of literary resources.
Europe
http://www.koop-phyto.org/en/medicinal-plants/pharmacopoeia-europaea.php
UK
https://bhma.info/index.php/british-herbal-pharmacopoeia-1996/
Germany
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Herbal-Drugs-Phytopharmaceuticals-Third-Wichtl/dp/0849319617
America
https://www.crcpress.com/American-H...lliffe-Langer-Williamson/p/book/9781420073263
And....does this one not strike you as a tad peculiar...a hardcopy of how to search online effectively ?
https://www.crcpress.com/The-Herbal...bal-Medicine-Online/Owen/p/book/9780789010520
https://hmc.usp.org
Africa
https://www.aamps.org/african-herbal-pharmacopoeia
India
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4840792/
I have four of these volumes, and the list was compiled in a couple of minutes on google.
It's not rocket science, but it is often very good science
M
p.s. edited link to American volume
Thing is though that there's also an awful lot of really good herbalism, and an awful lot of scientific stuff already out there.
Just because some don't seem to hold herbal medicine, or it's practitioners, in high regard does not mean that this is so elsewhere, and there is no shortage of literary resources.
Europe
http://www.koop-phyto.org/en/medicinal-plants/pharmacopoeia-europaea.php
UK
https://bhma.info/index.php/british-herbal-pharmacopoeia-1996/
Germany
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Herbal-Drugs-Phytopharmaceuticals-Third-Wichtl/dp/0849319617
America
https://www.crcpress.com/American-H...lliffe-Langer-Williamson/p/book/9781420073263
And....does this one not strike you as a tad peculiar...a hardcopy of how to search online effectively ?
https://www.crcpress.com/The-Herbal...bal-Medicine-Online/Owen/p/book/9780789010520
https://hmc.usp.org
Africa
https://www.aamps.org/african-herbal-pharmacopoeia
India
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4840792/
I have four of these volumes, and the list was compiled in a couple of minutes on google.
It's not rocket science, but it is often very good science
M
p.s. edited link to American volume
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... "Good" is the key. Those excellent links (CRC is broken link) report quantitative, reproducible data.
Clicking "Like" wasn't enough applause for your post of links.
I have a massive distrust for the non scientific way that much of Herbalism seems to be conducted by some well meaning idiots but a genuine interest in the repeatable, quantifiable (not just the Placebo Effect either) way that it can and to me should be done.
I have a few books on the subject but really don't feel they are trustworthy, especially any that mention the sheer bunkum that is Homeopathy.
I have a few books on the subject but really don't feel they are trustworthy, especially any that mention the sheer bunkum that is Homeopathy.
I hope people realize that there is not much research done in interactions between the compounds, in the toxicity and the possible allergens.
Carcinogens?
Just as an example, it is not a terribly good idea to prepare your own infusion from the beautiful Foxglove.
Thread carefully. Read several books, compare. Read books written by people from different countries.
Which ailments would you like to herbally medicate?
Carcinogens?
Just as an example, it is not a terribly good idea to prepare your own infusion from the beautiful Foxglove.
Thread carefully. Read several books, compare. Read books written by people from different countries.
Which ailments would you like to herbally medicate?
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Are Cannabis Sativa and Papaver Somniferum classed as herbs ?
I tried and tasted the sap from P. Somniferum some years back.
Fresh, I scored a bunch of the seed capsules, then scraped off and put in my mouth
Horribly, hortibly bitter.
I tried and tasted the sap from P. Somniferum some years back.
Fresh, I scored a bunch of the seed capsules, then scraped off and put in my mouth
Horribly, hortibly bitter.
My don swears by Aloe when he fries his epidermis in the sun.
Which he does every oitside party. We grow it in the garden.
Some herbs can be taken orally too safely.
An alcohol extraction of Wormwood is a classic Swedish med against depression.
The French Impressionists swore by it too, it gave them better ideas.
Which he does every oitside party. We grow it in the garden.
Some herbs can be taken orally too safely.
An alcohol extraction of Wormwood is a classic Swedish med against depression.
The French Impressionists swore by it too, it gave them better ideas.
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