Blog Archives

Late Fall Classes

10/26/2015

There are still so many herbal classes happening throughout the rest of the year -- we live in an area of herbal abundance! Check out our list of New England events and classes below. And don't forget that our next Herbstalk event is the Wintergreen Herbal Market taking place on November 28th -- we are so looking forward to seeing you there!

Poses & Plants: A Yoga & Herbal Workshop on Autumn Immunity
October 31
Bow Street Yoga, Somerville, MA
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Tammi Sweet: Stress, Relaxation, and the Heart
Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1, 2015
CommonWealth Center for Holistic Herbalism
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Quit Smoking with Herbs!
Wednesday, November 4th 2015 6-8 pm
Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, 252 Main St. Montpelier, VT
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Herbal Cordials and Wines
Nov. 5; 7 - 8:30pm
Mass. Hot Society, Wellesley, MA
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Herbal Ecology; Landscape As a Key to a Plant’s Character
November 5, 6:30-9:30 p.m. $25 (Webinar)
12 Pelham Terrace, Arlington, MA
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Herbs for City Dwellers: The WELL Summit
November 6-7
Boston, MA
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Herbs for Children and Picky Eaters
Monday, November 9th 2015 6-8 pm
Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, 252 Main St. Montpelier, VT
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Herbal Approaches to Autoimmune Disorders
November 10th, 6:30-8pm
Northampton, MA
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Fun With Ferments: Learn The Basics of Lacto Fermentation
Wednesday, November 11th 2015 6-8 pm
Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, 252 Main St. Montpelier, VT
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Herbal Infused Wines & Cordials
November 12th: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Craftworks, Somerville, MA
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Wisdom for the Childbearing Years
November 15th; 10am - 12:30pm
Somerville, MA
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The Beauty of Bitters: Everyday Herbs for Digestive Health
November 15th; 7:00 - 8:30pm
Cambridge Naturals, Cambridge, MA
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Mushrooms, Roots and Berries: Immune Stimulating Remedies for Winter
Monday, November 16th 2015 6-8 pm
Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, 252 Main St. Montpelier, VT
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Herbs for Winter Immunity
November 19th; 6:00 - 7:30pm
Boston Public Market
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East Meets West Medicine Fest
November 20th & 21st
New York, NY
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Wintergreen Holiday Herbal Market!
Nov. 28; 11am - 5pm
The Armory, Somerville, MA
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Herbed Up! Winter Wellness from the Kitchen
Monday, November 30th 2015 6-8 pm
Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, 252 Main St. Montpelier, VT
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The Many Gifts of Medicinal Mushrooms

10/8/2015

by Patrice Green

Fall is a time to traditionally hunt and harvest mushrooms, and an appropriate time to learn more about a specific group - the medicinal mushrooms. Specifically, let's take a closer look at Reishi and Chaga.

Reishi: (Red Reishi / Ganoderma lucidum / Ling Zhi)

Known as the King of all medicinal mushrooms, Reishi is well known for its immune-enhancing properties. An herbal adaptogen, Reishi's goal is to restore the body to homeostasis. Safe to take daily over a long period of time, Reishi is one of the most revered herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine, earning it the nickname The Mushroom of Immortality. Known to help balance the endocrine system, Reishi helps with thyroid disorders. A powerful Shen tonic, Reishi has a profound affect on the nervous system, calming the spirit and helping the mind to focus. Reishi grows on decaying trees, preferring maple. Not recommended for use in conjunction with chemotherapy or other treatments designed to reduce the immune system, Reishi is particularly suited to helping re-build the body, mind and spirit post-treatment.

Chaga: (Inonotus obliquus)

Chaga grows on birch trees and can be found in cold climates over most of the world. Long known as a folk remedy to the people of Siberia, Chaga is quite unique in its appearance, looking more like a chunk of tree bark than what one would normally think of as a mushroom. It is brown with blackened outer surface, much like charcoal or like it has been exposed to flames, but not completely burned. In other countries and cultures, Chaga is known as a powerful anti-tumor and anti-carcinogenic remedy, as well as a longevity tonic. Like Reishi, it is adaptogenic. Chaga is also a powerful anti-oxidant. In the human body there is a group of enzymes responsible for protection against free radicals and random oxidation called SuperOxide Dismutases, or SOD. As we age, our levels of SOD decrease. Chaga tea is known to stimulate our body's own production of SOD. Chaga and Turkey Tails in combination often offer relief to those undergoing cancer treatments.

I was first introduced to the benefits of chaga when my mother was undergoing treatment for lung cancer. After vetting the herbs with the doctors at Dana Farber's Zakim Center, she began a daily habit of drinking three to four cups of chaga and turkey tails tea. Her doctors were amazed by how well she responded to treatment. Her tumor continued to progressively reduce until it disappeared. She did have a recurrence after stopping the tea for several months. However, she resumed her chaga regimen, in conjunction with acupuncture and has been cancer free for over 15 months. Recently my father, who has had pre-cancerous prostate issues for several years, went for a check up. He has also been enjoying the tea along with my mother. His physician was amazed that his PSA levels were normal for the first time in years. Is it the chaga? I don't know. I do know that my dad will be 90 in a few weeks and still has a spring in his step.

Chaga normalizes blood pressure and cholesterol levels, optimizes the immune system, is both anit-inflammatory and anti-viral. A wonderful source of further information about this powerful medicinal mushroom can be found here. As always, consult your physician before taking any supplements.

If you're interested in learning more about Reishi, Chaga and other medicinal mushrooms, I recommend reading anything written by the amazing Paul Stamets.

Patrice Green is an Herbal Educator, Certified Aromatherapist, Energy Medicine and Reiki Practitioner and founder of Green Aromatics. She received her herbal training at the Boston School of Herbal Studies, where she now teaches, and shamanic training from Isa Gucciardi, Ph. D. at the Sacred Stream in Berkley, CA. Inspired by time spent among the coastal Redwoods of Muir Woods and its beach, Green Aromatics strives to imbue its products and services with the same resilience, joy and equanimity of these majestic beings. Patrice may be reached through the Green Aromatics website.

Late Fall Classes

The Many Gifts of Medicinal Mushrooms

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