April Preparedness Workshop - Herbal Medicine

The April Preparedness workshop will be on Herbal Medicine.

• Medicine during an emergency
• Local herbs & how to use them
• Preserving herbs for long-term use
• Growing herbal medicine at home
• Health benefits of natural herbal compounds
• Samples and exhibits; Q & A

Location: 5885 Holly Way, West Richland.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Join with other herbal enthusiasts for a 'herb wildcrafting' experience in the canyon above Milton Freewater, Oregon. Practice plant identification, gather herbs for personal use, and learn how to prepare herbal medicines. 

• Start time at the park: 9am. Meet at parking lot.
• Wear long pants, long sleeves, and sturdy shoes
• Bring paper bags, gloves, hand pruning clippers, black ink marker
• Bring sack lunch and water bottle
• Bring a field guidebook for plant ID, if you have one (note: there is no cell service at the park. Plant ID phone apps will not work.)
• 12:30 optional workshop - making herbal medicine. Bring $5 cash to cover costs of tincture, and a sanitized pint-sized mason jar with lid & ring - if you want to make your own
• Cost at Park - Free (unless you camp there the night prior) Info here

Location: Harris State Park, Milton Freewater, OR. 

78689 S Fork Walla Walla River Rd, Milton-Freewater, OR 97862 

Map & Directions: Click Here

Plant scientist Dr. Kevin Price and essential oil's expert Dana Young discuss the historical, sourcing, use, and medicinal properties of Spotted Bee Balm, found at the 'Zarahemla' site and in various locations in the American Heartland. Click here or on the Bee Balm image to view this fascinating webinar on an old medicinal plant, made new again. 

 Dr Kevin Price presents how to germinate seeds and grow Spotted Bee Balm seedlings. Lee Ostler and Kevin discuss the technique of starting SBB, as well as some of the medicinal and other characteristics related to this medicinal plant. Click here to watch tutorial. 

What would happen if you could not get your medications? If pharmacies closed or could not get your drugs? If the supply chain is broken or the drug makers stop producing or are isolated by political or trade barriers? What will you do? 

Visit and read the blog post discussing the reasons why learning about herbal medicine makes sense. 

In the mid 1800s Brigham Young (a forward-looking leader in building out the western United States) stated that there would come a time that Five Herbs would be needed in the 'last days' to support health. These are Yarrow, Mullein, Brigham's Tea, Comfrey, and Chaparral. Current herbalists would add a few more to that list to expand the broad reach of conditions. These additional herbs are Usnea, Echinacea, Horsetail, and Stinging Nettle. 

Of course, in the field of herbal medicine, every herbalist has their own 'favorites,' but these five (plus four) represent an excellent start to having a herbal medicine bag that can deal with the effects of pandemics, flus, and injuries - and preventing disease and promoting wellness. Sourcing these herbs can come from herb stores and online retailers, but it especially is rewarding when you acquire them to the extent possible, from your own efforts to identify, collect, and prepare these herbal medicines - (definitely a skill worthy of learning and having).

Since Brigham Tea (also called "Mormon Tea") is difficult to source due to its habitat, a good source for Brigham Tea (pictured at the right) is here. [Note, I am not affiliated with this provider nor do I benefit from this recommendation). When I order it, I dry it then repackage it into fist-sized amounts in small Mylar bags with a small oxygen absorber and store those all together in a 5-gallon bucket or plastic bin with a secure lid. 

To learn more about this special herb, click here.

For those interested in basic courses that teach principles of herbal medicine, consider Dr. Pat Jones' "Home Grown Herbalist" program. Click here to see slides of a presentation on herbal medicine (representing the ideas of mid 1800s herbal medicine thinking - still relevant today). Visit the Home Grown Herbalist website, or his YouTube Channel for more information about Dr. Jones' School of Botanical Medicine. [Note: Not affiliated with nor compensated by Dr. Jones in making this recommendation.]