Blazing Star Herbal School

Beginner/ Intermediate Apprenticeship 2009

* Now taking applications*

apprentice (uh pren' tis), n., v., -ticed, -tic*ing.-n.

1. a beginner, a learner who is bound by contract/agreement to work for another for a specific amount of time in return for gaining practical experience and instruction in a trade or art.
2. one who is committed to working with a small group of people, over an extended period of time, delving deeply into the heart of herbal knowledge.

ABOUT THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

Immerse your heart & soul in the exhilarating world of herbs! The seasonal cycles here are exceptional. Winter is sparkling white, roots are waiting deep below the earth. In Spring, new shoots poke up from the earth, the lilacs & forsythia bloom; we begin work in the garden. Summer is abundant with fresh herbs, weeds, vegetables & bright fragrant flowers. We are busy planting, harvesting, wildcrafting. The Fall brings us pumpkins & roots to harvest, herbs to dry, wreaths of sage & lavender. Learn by immersing yourself in the green world of plants, reclaiming your ancient roots. Apprenticeships are designed to focus on your particular areas of interest and to support & empower the Wise Woman/Man that you are. Whenever you choose to apprentice here, you will find open hearts, enthusiasm & a bountiful way of life.

10 month program Beginner Week-Day Apprenticeship 
with tony(a) lemos

Begins Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - February 2010
Every Tuesday, 9:45am - 4pm for beginner and intermediate students
Cost: $1750, deposit $250
Partial Workstudy option, Monthly Payment Plan 

Course of Study Includes:

Herbal Preparation
Study of the Organ Systems
Medicinal/Botanical Terminology
Wild Foods Preparation
Developing Diagnostic Skills
History of Western Herbalism
Determining Herb Quality
Chronic Ailments
Herbal Tonics & Supplements
Herb Gardening
Herbal Spring Tonics
Herbal Formulation
Ethical Wildcrafting
Herbal First Aid
Herbal Bibliography
Herbs for Children Herbs for
Women’s Health Care
Intro to TCM
Flower Essences
Natural Cosmetics & Skin Care
Herbal Business Practices
Herbal Field Trips
Herbal Projects
Doctrine of Signatures
Plant Culture & Cultivation
Earth Ceremony
Herbal Case Histories
Creating an Herbarium
Herb ID Walks
Intro to Ayurvedic Medicine

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.

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.

Class: Herbal Remedies For Summer Maladies

Herbal Remedies For Summer Maladies

at Blazing Star Herbal School in Ashfield

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

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. Extensive handouts will be provided.

Pre Registration Required.: In order to register please send email to  tlemos (at) noho (dot) com. 

Paypal  or checks accepted. 

A Tuesday apprenticeship in photos

Week 5 Sunny and stormy 80 degrees and humid

Planting the Buddha: Garden Blessing and Peace Ritual

Oh, Great Spirit

Earth Sun Sky and Sea

You are inside

And all around me .....

the little people joined us today

for a Garden Blessing and Peace Ritual. Who are the little people you may be wondering? They are the fourteen friends at Zoe's homeschool collaborative. It had been hot and humid all day until a few moments before their arrival when the wind whooshed and the thunder roared and the rain came down. Quickly we moved the furniture created an alter of stones, and greeted them indoors.

First we cleared the space and ourselves with a white sage smudge, most of the little people are familiar with this ritual. Brief introductions followed using a dandelion. One friend hands it to a friend as they look into his/hers eyes, and says, “Blessings (name).” The child responds by looking into the face of the one who handed it to her/him and responds. The friend who handed the dandelion off, folds arms across her/his lap. Those friends who haven’t had the dandelion kept their hands outstretched.

Once introduced one of the apprentices Christina Gabriel taught the group The Spirit of the Plants (Lisa Thiel, ©1984). This is one of my favorite songs and was timely as the apprentice group has really been focussed on finding/picking their personal green ally and homework last week was to draw the plant spirit that comes to them.


The Spirit of the plants has come to me
In the form of a beautiful dancing green woman
Her eyes filled me with peace
Her dance filled me with peace
The spirit of the plants has come to me
And has blessed me with great peace.
Her eyes filled me with peace
Her dance filled me with peace.
The spirit of the plants has come to me
In the form of a beautiful dancing green woman.

Next I read a story....my latest greatest book. Am I the last to discover this one? Our Big Home. You can't help to love this book, the simplicity of prose with detailed illustrations, typical of Elisa Kleven- a favorite illustrator of ours. Here is a PDF study guide from the illustrators website.

Next everyone drew / wrote / decorated "Blessings" onto a river stone....to be put around the Buddha......our wishes, hopes and dreams. The storm cleared and we were able to walk down to the river to collect some water to "Bless" our newly transplanted Hawthorne tree. While down by the river Christina taught the group another favorite song

My Roots Go Down
words and music by Sarah Pirtle, © 1979 

Chorus:
My roots go down, down to the earth.
My roots go down, down to the earth.
My roots go down, down to the earth.
My roots go down.

Many new verses have been created:
* I am a pine tree on a mountainside.
* I am a willow swaying in a storm.
* I am a waterfall skipping home.
* I am a wildflower pushing through stones.
* I am a dolphin leaping high.
* I am white pond lily healing you.
* I am a mouth tasting life.

The wonderful Sarah Pirtle is local to us and many of our children have the opportunity to study with her at Red Gate Farm where she runs the Tree of Life School. Zoe regularly comes home with a new Sarah Pirtle song. If you are not local I recommend her children's CD's also.

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 senkirkineto 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

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!

Weekly Photo Essay

Tuesday May 6th
Sunny, Breezy 66 degrees

Podophyllum peltatum is most commonly known as the mayapple,other common names include Devil's apple, hog apple, Indian apple, umbrella plant, wild lemon, and American mandrake ( not be confused with true mandrake, Mandragora officinarum, an unrelated Old World plant whose roots have been used throughout history for medicines and potions). The mayapple northeastern woodland perennial plant in the barberry family (Berberidaceae).Each plant has a single stalk topped with one or two broad, deeply divided leaves that vaguely resemble umbrellas. The two-leaved plants normally produce a single, small white flower (usually in May, thus the name) from the fork in the stem. The flower develops into a pulpy, lemon-yellow berry which ripens in late summer and is the only part of the plant that isn't poisonous (however, the berries should only be eaten in moderation, if at all).

The plant's long, thin rhizome (a horizontal underground stem from which the roots grow) is the most poisonous part, also the most useful because it contains high concentrations of the compounds podophyllotoxin and alpha and beta peltatin, all of which have anticancer properties. The rhizomes have a long history as a medicine among Native North American tribes.

The compounds/alkaloids in it are much too toxic to attempt self-medication with this plant. The FDA rates the use of this plant as "unsafe."

Beginner/Intermediate Apprenticeship 2008

* Now taking applications*

apprentice (uh pren' tis), n., v., -ticed, -tic*ing.-n.

1. a beginner, a learner who is bound by contract/agreement to work for another for a specific amount of time in return for gaining practical experience and instruction in a trade or art.
2. one who is committed to working with a small group of people, over an extended period of time, delving deeply into the heart of herbal knowledge.

ABOUT THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

Immerse your heart & soul in the exhilarating world of herbs! The seasonal cycles here are exceptional. Winter is sparkling white, roots are waiting deep below the earth. In Spring, new shoots poke up from the earth, the lilacs & forsythia bloom; we begin work in the garden. Summer is abundant with fresh herbs, weeds, vegetables & bright fragrant flowers. We are busy planting, harvesting, wildcrafting. The Fall brings us pumpkins & roots to harvest, herbs to dry, wreaths of sage & lavender. Learn by immersing yourself in the green world of plants, reclaiming your ancient roots. Apprenticeships are designed to focus on your particular areas of interest and to support & empower the Wise Woman/Man that you are. Whenever you choose to apprentice here, you will find open hearts, enthusiasm & a bountiful way of life.

10 month program Beginner Week-Day Apprenticeship
with tony(a) lemos

Begins Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - February 2009
Every Tuesday, 9:45am - 3:30 pm for beginner and intermediate students
Cost: $1750, deposit $250
Partial Workstudy option

Course of Study Includes:

Herbal Preparation
Study of the Organ Systems
Medicinal/Botanical Terminology
Wild Foods Preparation
Developing Diagnostic Skills
History of Western Herbalism
Determining Herb Quality
Chronic Ailments
Herbal Tonics & Supplements
Herb Gardening
Herbal Spring Tonics
Herbal Formulation
Ethical Wildcrafting
Herbal First Aid
Herbal Bibliography
Herbs for Children Herbs for
Women’s Health Care
Intro to TCM
Flower Essences
Natural Cosmetics & Skin Care
Herbal Business Practices
Herbal Field Trips
Herbal Projects
Doctrine of Signatures
Plant Culture & Cultivation
Earth Ceremony
Herbal Case Histories
Creating an Herbarium
Herb ID Walks
Intro to Ayurvedic Medicine