- Date: 20 – 28 June 2015
- Location: Nea Makri, Attika, Greece, Greece
- Language:
- English
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Herbal Medicine workshop
June 20-28th 2015 – one week live-in course in Nea Makri, Greece hosted by Nea Guinea
Course outline
The course aims at guiding the participants through an inspiring journey of observation and experimentation with herbs, that will give them an opportunity to become familiar with plants as healing mediums and also develop confidence in managing common health conditions based on their own knowledge and skills. The participants will be involved in a process of identifying, cultivating, harvesting, preparing remedies, researching, working in groups and sharing skills and experiences, that will provide them with the means of regaining access to the vast healing potential of their local environment. The theoretical sessions consist of detailed descriptions of the different body systems, including basic anatomy and physiology and in-depth discussions of specific ailments and herbal treatments related to them. During these sessions, we will be focusing on specific herbs for each condition, explaining how and why they work, and we will be explaining the development of different herbal formulas. Practical sessions also provide concise practical information on growing and processing herbs. The participants will have the chance to develop their skills in preparing simple, safe and effective herbal remedies, cosmetics and soaps, as well as designing their own garden and growing their own herbs.
The instructor
Fotini Georgousi has studied biology, herbal medicine and organic farming and has also been trained in permaculture and alternative healing practices such as Ayurveda, yoga and Thai manual therapies. During the past 10 years she have been involved in different projects in the fields of herbal medicine, organic farming and community activism, while living and working in eco-communities, participating in community garden groups and grass roots initiatives related to health and food sovereignty.
She is a co-founder of the Nea Guinea non-profit organization, where, since 2009, she has been coordinating projects related to the re-appropriation of health and food, including designing educational activities on herbal medicine and other natural healing practices, sustainable organic farming and permaculture. She has been designing and building sustainable food and herb production systems, and she has been involved with the design of community gardens as well as educational herb gardens. She is the author of a radical herbalism manual in Greek called “On the self-management of health” and she is currently working on the creation of a medicinal plants” web based database that will provide information on plant identification, properties, uses, cultivation and propagation details.
She is organizing courses, seminars and open informative events on the re-appropriation and the self-management of health, while promoting herbal medicine as a tool for increasing the self-reliance and resilience of people and communities. She has a teaching experience of over 30 courses and seminars on herbal medicine, aromatherapy, soap and cosmetic making. In addition, she has organised more than 30 raising awareness activities in schools, ecofestivals and social centers. Currently, she is working as a herbal medicine consultant and she has been part of the “Drogeria” working group that used to operate within Nea Guinea, which was involved with the production of herbal remedies and the provision of herbal medicine consultations free of charge.
Since 2008, she has been operating a small business producing organic herbal remedies, cosmetics and soaps that are distributed through solidarity trade networks, markets and ecofestivals. For more information visit: www.naturalcollection.gr, f/b page: Natural Collection
The venue
The course will be held at Nea Guinea’s quarters in Nea Makri, 45 minutes by public bus from the city center of Athens, and at the field of Nea Guinea, just a 15 minute walk from the living quarters. Both theoretical and practical sessions will be conducted outdoors, on these two different sites:
– in the garden of Nea Guinea’s living quarters, under the shade of pine trees, amongst herbs and fruit shrubs.
– in our educational herb garden in the field of Nea Guinea, that consists of groups of cultivation beds specially designed to host our full collection of medicinal plants, shrubs and trees.
The program
Day 1 (20/6)
Arrivals – introduction
Herbal medicine as a tool for increasing the self- reliance and resilience of people and communities
Day 2 (21/6)
History and practice of herbal medicine + Herbal actions and their therapeutic applications
Identifying, collecting, drying and storing herbs
Day 3 (22/6)
Herbal medicine for the digestive system + Herbal medicine for the respiratory system
Water based preparations: cold-hot infusion, deccoction, syrop, compress, etc.
Day 4 (23/6)
Herbal medicine for the nervous system + Herbal medicine for the immune system
Alcohol based preparations: tinctures, medicated wines and vinegars
Oil based preparations: medicated oil and balms
Day 5 (24/6)
Herbal medicine for the skin + Herbal medicine for the circulatory system + Herbal medicine for the muscular system
The use of essential oils in the preparation of homemade remedies
Day 6 (25/6)
Herbal medicine for the reproductive system + Herbal medicine for the urinary system
Herb nursery visit
Day 7 (26/6)
Grouping herbs in botanical families
Herb gardening – propagation, cultivation, companion planting, etc.
Herb garden design
Day 8 (27/6)
The use of herbs in the preparation of skin care products
Making herbal cosmetics: creams, balms, oils and deodorants
Soap making using herbs
Day 9 (28/6)
Review and reflection: looking back over what we’ve learned and reflecting on our experience
Departures
Practical information
Food:
The food for the course will be provided by Nea Guinea and its cost is included in the course fees. The food provided is of a vegetarian cuisine and includes breakfast, tea breaks, branch and dinner. Fresh organic vegetables will be provided from Nea Guinea’s garden, which is located at a walking distance from the quarters, were we will all have a chance to do a bit of gardening and gather our veggies! Other food not produced by the garden will be sourced locally from small farmers and, whenever possible, organic food will be used in every meal. Those with a big appetite will be happy to find traditional tavernas located within walking distance (or a short bicycle ride) from the living quarters.
Accommodation:
The Nea Guinea living quarters are equipped with two dormitory style rooms with bunk beds, with capacity of six and eight people respectively. There is also space for setting up a camping tent in the garden or sleeping in hummocks. Bathrooms are shared, with one indoor bathroom with toilet and bath and one outdoor shower with a washing basin.
Recreation:
During all days of the workshop, there will be afternoon and evening breaks during which a swim or a bicycle ride will be a great escape from the workshop’s activities. A few bicycles will be available for all to use in order to discover the area, and the seaside is at a walking distance from the living quarters. There will be some fun nights with gatherings at the beach so do bring musical instruments and anything creative that you can share with others.
Who is this course for:
The course is for people that are considering an alternative approach to health and are interested in using herbal medicine as a tool for getting actively involved in the healing process, based on their own knowledge and their own resources. The course is intended to be suitable for all levels of experience and abilities, so no prior theoretical or practical knowledge is required.
People new to herbal medicine will be given special attention and support throughout the course so that they will be able to develop a basic level of understanding of the theoretical foundations as well as the practical applications of herbal medicine. People who are already familiar with the use of herbs, will be provided with valuable information, both in theory and in practice, which will help them deepen their understanding and further immerse into the practice of herbal medicine.
Course fees
475 Euro – Waged
425 Euro – Low Waged
375 Euro – Unemployed/Students
Course fees include food and accommodation, tuition and materials for the course.
Payments: A 150 Euro deposit is required to secure your place in the course. The deposit is refundable until the 20th of May. The balance of the course fees will be made during the beginning of the course.
For more information, please visit the event website.
