herb of the month
Ginger
Zingiber officinale
family:Asteraceae
the plant: a tropical perennial with a large, fleshy spreading underground rhizomatic stem that sends up vertical shoots around 12" tall in spring, with long, narrow lily-like leaves and white or yellow flowers. Likes regular moisture, well drained soil, part-sun and warm temperate to tropical climates. Can propagate by planting sprouting piece of rhizome. Native to Asia, Ginger is now grown in most tropical countries, especially Jamaica, who produces ultra-high quality, and India, who produces half the ginger of the world.
parts used: rhizome.
medicinal actions: stimulant, carminative, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, emmenagogue.
preparation: many! fresh infused or decocted as tea or concentrate, juiced; grated in food; dried & powdered; candied in syrup or honey, pickled in vinegar or sherry.
indications: a spicy, warming, aromatic spice famous for relieving nausea & indigestion, warming the body, and promoting appetite. In this way ginger is a potential remedy for motion sickness, flatulence, and chemotherapy-induced nausea.
As an anti-inflammatory circulatory tonic, ginger may provide relief from rheumatoid arthritis, joint or muscle pain, & bad circulation or cramps - taken internally or applied as a poultice.
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2012 Classes
Body Systems and Herbal Wellness 9 month weekend course Begins March 31, 2012
Intermediate Herbal Therapeutics meets 2 Mondays a month from March 12 - November 5, 2012
about CSHS
Located two miles west of Forestville, in beautiful Sonoma County, the California School of Herbal Studies is one of North America’s oldest centers for herbal education. Founded in 1978 by Rosemary Gladstar, and led today by School Directors Rebecca Maxfield and Jason Miller, along with Program Coordinator Autumn Summers, CSHS continues in the spirit in which it was created.
Our mission is to help create sustainable communities by providing Earth centered, community based herbal education. CSHS works to empower individuals with the skills, experience and confidence needed by the community herbalist. Our school teaches from the tradition of western herbalism, with a materia medica primarily made up of North American and European herbs. Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine perspectives and herbs are used to complement the Western tradition.
Our full-time, 8-month intensive offers students a broad-based foundation in herbal medicine. For those who can't make a fulltime commitment we also offer a broad range of weekend series courses and one-day workshops. Successful graduates of our intensive program leave here with the knowledge they need to enter and contribute to the field of herbalism. Upon graduation students receive certificates of completion that are highly regarded by the herbal community.
CSHS is located on a lovely, rustic 80 acre sanctuary known as Emerald Valley. Our campus includes a classroom with an adjacent kitchen, a one-half acre garden with over 400 herb species, a medicine making building and forested hiking trails. Forestville is an hour and a half drive north of San Francisco. Visitors to the school are welcome, but please call first so we can be sure someone will be available to greet you! We look forward to meeting you and sharing friendship and herbal experiences.
herb of the month: Ginger (continued from left)
indications (cont'd): As a diaphoretic, ginger can bring on a good sweat to help progress a fever, with its antimicrobial powers helping to fight off an invading cold or flu.The relaxing effect of ginger on the abdominal area can also relieve cold menstrual cramps and promote menstruation.
Ginger has been used around the world as one of the most versatile herbs for medicine, food, and food preservative for thousands of years. Traditional Asian medicine uses it in varied forms for for all constitutions, and differentiates the medicinal qualities of dried and fresh ginger - dry being warmer and more stimulating, and fresh being more diaphoretic, antimicrobial and grounding.
contraindications: Large doses may acffect blood-clotting in immune compromised people; use caution with dosage for nausea during pregnancy.
note: This information is not a replacement for a trained herbalist. Please consult your medical professional before treating yourself or others with this or any other herbal remedy.