I started “Medicinal Plants” outdoor workshop at Merrihew’s Sunset Garden in Santa Monica near my house last June!
In the last workshop, I introduced at least five medicinal plants you can grow in your garden, infused tea and taste them.
The link from the last workshop.
https://sanaesuzuki.com/2022/06/12/medicinal-herbs-and-plants-tea-workshop/
This month’s workshop will be this coming Sunday August 28th.
Learn how to make three different herbal infusions.
1. Oil for skin (moisturize)
2. Toner for skin (refresh and hydrate)
3. Tea for supporting stomach/spleen/pancreas (late summer organs in Chinese medicine)
I will introduce at least seven different medicinal plants to support Late Summer Five Elements organs: Spleen, stomach, etc., and how to make organic plant-based skin remedies: infusion oil for moisturizer and infusion toner for refreshing and hydrating skin.
During summertime, our skin receives hot intense sunlight and needs care and nurturing.
Skin is the largest organ and often shows the first signs of your health and inflammation.
The skin may not like vital organs compared to internal organs like the liver, kidney, heart, lungs, or brain. After all, the skin is with us always, and we can see, touch, and feel the skin. In this workshop, I want people to realize how much skin is working hard to protect us, and the skin deserves the best care from us.
Commercial skin care products are so harsh; many have unhealthy ingredients and are not sustainable for the environment.
Even natural skin care products are not the best for our skin. Even if they use organic ingredients to make the products, they have to use activation materials, so the production can be done in a short time, so they sell quickly. And they have to add preservatives to last a long time.
Homemade botanical skincare takes time (6~8 weeks) to make. It needs to be patient to make and let natural power add organically to infusion. Gentle and nourished—one of the best ways to care for and nurture the skin.
Skin organs are autumn: Lung and large intestine, but I recommend starting late summer organs: spleen/pancreas and stomach; that is a more proactive way to take care of the skin.
My favorite herbs to infuse oil and toner for skin care are calendula, lavender, helichrysum, chamomile, rose, and more. In this workshop, I will use calendula to infuse oil and helichrysum to infuse toner.
I will also introduce six different ingredients to make blending medicinal tea for late summer.
These are ingredients and their actions (REFERENCES from Five Elements with Western Herbs- Kate August at California School of Herbal Studies)
Workshop:
Sunday, August 28th, 3~4:30pm
1526 Ocean Park Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90405
– outside classroom next to the chicken coop
$40/person
Here is the link to join the workshop.
This workshop medicinal plants energies and actions:
1. Bee Balm –
Energetics: aromatic, acrid, bitter, warm
Meridians/Organs: spleen, stomach, urinary bladder
Herbal Actions: diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antispasmodic
2. Licorice-
Tonify Qi
Energetics: sweet, neutral- often used as a harmonizing herb
Meridians/ Organs: heart, lung, spleen, stomach – enters all 12 channels
Part used: the root
Herbal Actions: qi tonic, expectorant, demulcent, mild sedative
3. Tangerine Peel –
Regulate Qi
Energetics: acrid, bitter, warm, aromatic
Meridians/ Organs: Lung, Spleen, Stomach
Herbal Actions: carminative, aromatic, expectorant, tonic
4. Fennel Seed-
Warm the Interior- expel Cold
Energetics: spicy, sweet, warm
Meridians/ Organs: spleen, stomach, liver, kidney
Actions: stimulant, carminative, antispasmodic, expectorant
5. Ginger-
Warm Acrid Release Exterior
Energetics: Spicy, hot
Meridians/ organs: heart, lung, spleen, stomach, kidney
Herbal Actions: stimulant, antispasmodic, carminative, emmenagogue, diaphoretic
6. Cardamom-
Transform dampness
Energetics: acrid, warm, aromatic
Meridians/ Organs: Lung, Spleen, Stomach
Herbal Actions: carminative, expectorant
Here is the link to join the workshop.
Love, Sanae ❤️