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Having a visual demonstration makes all the difference in the world! I liked Shoshanna's fun and cheerful personality, but what I found even more helpful was her clear explanations. She takes nothing for granted and yet doesn't talk down to the viewer. The only negative thing I could say is that there's not a volume 3 and 4!
Thanks to Abby Jo at Forgotten Way Farms who offers these DVDs for sale, I decided to give them a try... and I'm so glad I did! Even though Shoshanna doesn't cover every single herb out there, I felt like I learned enough basics to venture out a bit further. For example, knowing what a tinture is and how it is basically made, I feel like I could now read a recipe for another herbal tincture and make it successfully.
I liked this series so much, I started researching Shoshanna's Bulk Herb Store and found other things that were helpful such as her weekly YouTube lessons - 40 episodes so far! I'm looking forward to working my way through these.
If Obama Care really comes to pass, I suspect we'll all be finding ways to cure at least simple issues on our own. Perhaps it's a good idea we get started.
I have started to collect medicinal herb books too plus various seeds. We have a neighbor who is a nurse and one who is a chemist so they may also be able to offer some advice. The DVDs look interesting, I'll give it a look after work. The thing I am most wondering about is how to make pain killers. I know that willow bark is like taking an aspirin but what if there is ever a time where you can't just run to the doctor when you need something a bit stronger? Also, antibiotics. I need to read up on those too.
ReplyDeleteHello Amy,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this information about the Bulk Herb Store; I grow a lot of herbs in my backyard but have been searching for a good source of additional organic herbs. I will be placing an order soon for some beet root powder and other goodies. I love adding organic herbs to my handmade soap.
Smiles, Paula
Sounds very interesting! One day I would love to check this out. I have so many other things I would like to do at our homestead but we may be traveling soon so everything is on hold. I will have to learn how to homestead while traveling because I believe as you do, we, as individuals, need to make it our responsibility to be self-sufficient especially the way things are going in this country!
ReplyDeleteYes! Shoshanna's site and videos are a WONDERRUL resource for everyone, but expecially beginners! She really shows the simplicity of herbalism and makes it seem so very "do-able". (That's because it IS!)
ReplyDeleteSometimes taking responsibility for your family's health, can be daunting...but if you ease yourself into it and take the time to learn and do it...before you know it - it becomes as second nature to you as making dinner! Just like learning to cook, everything is intimedating at first, so you follow recipes to the letter without understanding. Than after some time, experiance and study, you start to see patterns and similarities. You get familiar with your ingrediants and methods, then the next thing you know you are "more comfortable" and making your OWN recipes/remedies!
The truth is YHVH (God) has provided all we need in His Creation for us to remain healthy and treat sickness...we just need to learn how to be good stewards of the things He has already given us to use. :-)
If you don't have someone to teach you in person, it seems to me that videos are the next best thing. Another GREAT place to learn is www.HerbMentor.com They have lots of videos, forums, classes and places to ask questions. It is so much nicer than just trying to figure things our from a book alone, if you crave that interaction.
Be encouraged! You will never see "weeds" the same again!!
Pamela (HomeShalom.blogspot.com)
I'm glad you reviewed these. They had piqued my interest as well and it's always nice to hear from someone who's actually viewed them.
ReplyDeleteI will have to check the youtube videos out...we have so many wild herbs growing here on the farm along with what we planted and I definately prefer the natural herbal approach to traditional medicine anyday...the main reason why more herbal remedies are not actual medications sold on the shelves is only because pharmaceutical companies have a hard time patenting the herbal remedies so they don't bother if there is no money in it...
ReplyDeleteIn our neck of the woods, we have Will Endres, "Wills Wild Herbs" whose from West Virginia (40 yrs experience) who, I think is probably influenced by the traditional Cherokee approach to plants and medicines. He does walks, talks, consultations, and really respected in our area. WillsWildHerbs@gmail.com if you have questions; I'm sure he could help. Highly respected in this area. I think he's in Hillsborough, NC now. Good source for you. I love checking in you. Thanks for all the information. Debi
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this info. I will be checking out the links.
ReplyDeleteohhhh I have been itching to get more into this myself! Thanks for the info. I will have to check Shoshanna's stuff out!
ReplyDeleteMy dad is/was 1/2 Native American - Potawatomi. He grew up on a reservation in northern Wisconsin. He use to tell us a story of when he was really sick as a young boy and his dad took him to see the "medicine woman - yep woman" she examined him. She went outside, searched for certain items from the woods and garden came back in and made a poultice for his chest. He said it was really stinky - but, he believes it saved his life. My aunt still lives near the reservation and practices all types of herbal remedies. As far as Obama Care - you are right! I have a t-shirt that says "Sure you can trust the Government - just as an Indian" Blessings from Wisconsin!
ReplyDeleteYou know, I think you may be on to something here. I have always tried to do every last home remedy I could find (or tolerate) before, seeking traditional medical resources. This book looks very interesting. Thanks for sharing the resource.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Kori
As a Canadian, I don't know much about "Obama Care". Therefore, your closing comment really piques my interest. Why would a proposed system of universal health care mean you would be home-treating instead of going to the doctor like you used to? In Canada, we have government-funded universal health care, and one of our biggest problems is people use it to go to the doctor when their problems are so trivial they *should* be home-treating.
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting these and wondering about how beneficial they would be. I'm glad to read your review. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Rashel
Thanks everyone! The comments from you ALL are so informative!
ReplyDeleteLisa H. - good question.... government healthcare bothers me on so many levels it's hard to state it all in a small comment box, but let me just say that Americans are a bit independent and don't take kindly to the government telling them how they should be treated and with what. Second, our government can't even run a postal system very well, so we have no confidence in them running our health care. And third, people already treat their insurance and the hospital emergency room like you mentioned and thus the need to reform the system in SOME way, but government healthcare is not the answer in most people's mind. If Obama Care actually begins, I want to stay HEALTHY and as far away as possible from the government as I can!
By the way, forgive me for all you postal workers who work VERY HARD... it's the fact that they can't manage it on an administrative level without running into debt that's the biggest issue, not the individuals in it!
ReplyDeleteAmy - I'm so glad to hear that you reviewed these! I've been thinking about purchasing these so it's good to know that you foud them so helpful!
ReplyDeleteI also wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your blog. You are very inspiring to me! Thanks for your committment!
I was just posting about finding a DVD series called Homestead Blessings.... they also have a dvd specific to "The Art of Herbs"... Can't wait to get it at my library and I'm definitely going to check the you tube videos you recommended as well! Thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteI have done experiments in the lab making antibiotics out of plants. This post reminded me that we need to pay attention to the natural remedies first. I'm going to re-post this in my blog. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. I think we are supposed to learn to do some of this ourselves. It takes effort (thought it's extremely interesting and worth it, IMO!), but I believe that the only reason we THINK it takes effort is that our society is so used to being handed everything and not having to think for ourselves. (not everyone! just a general statement) I know so many people around me who fit that bill (who at the same time, treat me like I'm strange because I DO think for myself, and that's often "outsdie of the box"), and it makes me scared and sad for them because they are people I love and care for.
ReplyDeleteWhether we end up "needing" it or not, I think learning herbal medicine is a very valuable skill, and for me, it just goes to show how God really has provided us with what we need, and we don't necessarily have to resort to a man-made medicine for healing!
I agree on the health care aspects of this post. I love growing herbs to eat but have not used them medicinally. Great post.
ReplyDeleteI'm off to check out the videos, Amy....I tend to eat the herbs, but the French of course are super into homeopathic cures and it sure does work there. I'm with you, Govt can stay out of my health care, puhlease!
ReplyDeleteAndrea, I new that the French used herbs for cooking, but didn't know they were into homeopathic cures! Very interesting...
ReplyDeleteWhat a great resource! In early America, it was usually midwives and other medical women who used herbs to treat the sick. These healers used medicinal herbals and recipe books of the era and also called upon their own inner knowledge regarding herbs and plants that had been passed down through the generations (you can still find these recipes in period books at various universities and libraries). Doctors were only called upon for "emergency" situations and the male medical establishment did not become common for regular ailments until the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Childbirth always took place in the comforts of home until the 1930s and 40s when hospitals began attracting women with a drug called "twilight sleep" during labor. What used to be common herbal knowledge known by every housewife has been lost through the years due to the rise of chemical treatments, drugs, pharmaceuticals, etc. Scientific advancement in medicine is certainly not a bad thing by any means, rather it has saved so many lives that otherwise would have had no chance, but has come at the expense of self-treating with herbal remedies.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Megan, good point about the scientific advancement. I definitely appreciate some of the technology we have and don't want to go back, BUT... we need to do what we can as naturally as possible and save the pharmaceuticals for the "no other option" times.
ReplyDeleteI've done a little bit of video watching... on making Tinctures. I'm very interested in it. I've read Back to Eden and studied up on some things to eat for health reasons. But have never delved very far into the medicinal herbs.
ReplyDeleteI'm terrible with names, but I think last week before my internet --got hosed up--- I may have watched a video by Shoshanna about the sleep tincture(?) ... I found it fascinating. I learned about the glycerin and alcohol, etc. I still need to do more research.
We have been buying from The Bulk Herb Store for about a year. We have been very pleased with their products and service. If you have a question, they are prompt to answer it. And, Pamela is right; you will never look at your weeds the same again. The stinging nettle that my son-in-law is allergic to is helping my husband fight his health issues, the yarrow has abatted our allergy problems and flu issues, the dandelion, amaranth, spider wort, and wild onion are edible (though we are not very adventurous), the thistle can be used as rennet, the goldenrod in teas, and others like horsemint, the composites, and other wildflowers are important to our bees.
ReplyDeleteSara, you've give me some great information here! I didn't know thistle could be used as rennet. Great to know!
ReplyDeleteAs a woman who has lived in both Canada and England (my two children were born in each country) I have appreciated the healthcare they provided. It was when I moved back to America that I began trying to "take care" of myself and my family, so I find it interesting that you would feel that Obama will necessitate your desire for self-care. I just think that it is a wise way to live no matter where we live on the planet. Thanks for sharing the You Tube info!
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