Herbs in Healthcare – Supporting Vital Health

The Course

In ancient Greece three ‘capacities’ were understood to govern the patient’s body. These are the brain, described as the reasoning capacity, the heart, or vital capacity providing innate heat, and the liver, the nourishing capacity. They would be given first consideration and, if necessary, they would be strengthened with treatments before giving strong medication, purging or letting the blood of the patient. We still recognise the importance of the health of the brain, heart and liver and this day will be devoted to looking at conditions affecting those three organs, together with herbs in recipes to support them.

Some herbs on the day for the brain are rosemary, Spanish sage, betony, ginger and ginkgo. Conditions discussed will include poor memory, trigeminal neuralgia, headaches, dementia from various causes and Parkinsons disease. Some herbs for the heart and circulation are hawthorn, limeflower, bilberry, motherwort and rose. Advice on conditions affecting the heart will include high and low blood pressure, high cholesterol, and some common problems arising from poor circulation. For the liver, some herbs will be dandelion, milk thistle, artichoke, agrimony and vervain. Liver conditions will include jaundice, cirrhosis and gallstones.

The Tutor

Christina Stapley BSc (Hons) MCPP is a retired qualified medical herbalist with a degree in Phytotherapy (plant therapy). She has grown, studied and used over 300 herbs and has written three books on cultivating and using herbs in cookery, fragrant recipes, wines and liqueurs, crafts and home remedies. She has also edited and interpreted a 17th century book of cookery and physic recipes.

Christina now lives in Wiltshire and teaches History of Western Herbal Medicine, Pharmacognosy and Materia Medica for the School of Herbal Medicine.

Participant Information

Please bring with you a pen and paper and suitable clothing footwear as you will spend part of the day outside. The course may take place in an historic building which can be cool, it is advisable to wear warm layers.

Fee & Refreshments

£75 per person, including tuition, teas and coffees. Please let the Museum know in advance of any dietary requirements. The Museum café will be open for lunch or alternatively participants can bring their own packed lunch.