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October 21, 2014

Herbalism is NOT a Spectator Sport

athletes and spectators

This is the shortest lesson in this course but it one of the most important.

The key to being a successful family herbalist is to be your own best testimonial.

That is: be your own example of what herbs can do for people, and that means using herbs yourself.

This sounds obvious, but sometimes people just want to study herbs and not really experience their life-changing health benefits.

Maybe they don’t have the courage to take the herbs and try them out, or to really change their life in terms of food intake and physical exercise; maybe they don’t enjoy the taste of some of the herbs, so they’re afraid to really commit to the daily quantities necessary for a positive change.

But studying herbalism is not a spectator sport.

You have to really get into your herbs. Find ways to make them work in your life and then observe what happens in your own body, physically, emotionally and energetically; because you will undoubtedly experience a phenomenal shift in your health.

You will experience a transformation.

It is inevitable because herbs deliver such potent healing nutrients and energies that they can’t help but alter your level of health. If you just tune in to what’s happening in your body and become an observer of your body, you will notice some phenomenal changes taking place.

Take Action

  1. Find ways to use herbs on a daily basis. A good starting point is the crafts like herbal bath salts, culinary herb and spice blends, growing herbs for fun and profit.
  2. Commit to mastering the art and science of herbal therapeutics.
  3. Share your ideas for starting in a Reply below.
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  1. Rhiannon Mitchell says

    October 22, 2022 at 3:55 pm

    Yes, couldnt agree more! I am so excited to get started growing some herbs and foraging and concocting my own tinctures and teas! My immune system has been extremely low since having Covid so I’m eager to see how herbal medicine can help

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  2. Elsa du Preez says

    September 14, 2022 at 9:00 pm

    I already use herbs and essential oils daily. They work!

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  3. Jessica Bryant says

    April 22, 2022 at 6:19 pm

    I am not a pro yet, actually, I am barely a beginner but I have been making tea blends for myself as practice. At the very least I have started to learn what the herbs taste and smell like.

    I have also been trying to grow some herbs that I really like but that is going….intermittently well; I end up killing a lot of plants. But I am also learning a lot too!

    I will definitely be taking the Growing Herbs for Fun and Profit course when I am through this one.

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  4. dheeonline says

    April 20, 2022 at 10:50 am

    No need yo convince me on the personal benefits of herbs or plants. It makes up 3/4 of my diet. I eat them, juice them, drink them, bath in them and recommend other people to use them, too. I am looking forward to be able to have my natural food store sooner.

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  5. dheeonline says

    April 20, 2022 at 10:49 am

    No need yo convince me on the personal benefits of herbs or plants. It makes up 3/4 of my diet. I eat them, juice them, drink them, bath in them and recommend other people to use them, too. I am looking forward to be able to have my herbal store sooner.

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  6. Colin Jardine says

    March 8, 2022 at 1:43 pm

    I am already sold on herbs. I grow them, eat them, drink them, and will hopefully sell them sometime soon.

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  7. Anjanette Segura says

    February 6, 2022 at 4:11 pm

    I’m very interested in herbal bath salts. And I’ve already grown herbs on and off for a while

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  8. Roy Brewer says

    December 20, 2021 at 3:47 pm

    I am interested in making and using culinary herbs and spice blends. I also want to start growing herbs for fun.

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  9. ÖMER AYDIN says

    August 31, 2021 at 7:04 pm

    Genel olarak , bitkilerin ilaçlardan daha güvenli olduğu, ancak güçlü ilaçlar olduğu ve onları kullanan herkesin bunu dikkatli ve sorumlu bir şekilde yapması gerektiği yeterince vurgulanamaz . Neyse ki, şifalı bitkileri güvenle kullanmak için usta bir bitki uzmanı olmanıza gerek yok. Tek ihtiyacınız olan biraz bilgi ve biraz sağduyu.

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  10. Sithembile Makhombothi says

    August 11, 2021 at 9:56 am

    I’m quite interested on making the bath salts but it will be great to also grow herbs for fun and it helps me a lot to work on the garden . I just feel so refreshed after the whole exercise.

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  11. Megan Martin says

    August 3, 2021 at 5:08 am

    I use Chamomile, skullcap, mint, valerian and lavender in my bedtime tea. It’s pretty effective most of the time. There are other tea preparations I’d like to try with different herbs.

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  12. JR Malan says

    July 29, 2021 at 2:28 pm

    “A good starting point is the crafts like herbal bath salts, culinary herb and spice blends, growing herbs for fun and profit.” I am SO excited about this prospect. My mother was an enthusiastic gardener and my father a farmer with a deep sense of reverence for nature and an extra-ordinary knowledge of trees and plants. My great great grandfather George Thom was a well-known botanist. I am glad to follow in their footsteps.

    Currently I am using garlic, tumeric, black pepper, oreganum and ginger for my own health and excited to learn more about others.

    Will also want to start to create a preparation like herbal bath salts. Also starting to grow my own herbs and am looking in my own neighborhood to get to know and relate to the trees and plants in this area.

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  13. patricia. [email protected] says

    September 4, 2020 at 9:54 pm

    I have used curry. Turmeric. Cinnamon, garlic. Ginger, Cayenne pepper. Aloe. I still need to learn how to use them broader. I’m new in herbs. Planting, I have not stated. I need to be more knowledge

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  14. debbieadedeji says

    August 26, 2020 at 4:17 pm

    henceforth, I will begin to cook healthier and herb based food. I will also begin to harness the use of Spices in my Cooking better than before and make Smoothies daily for my family. I will use these herbs and Spices more often

    Thyme
    Curry
    Stevia
    Lemon
    Spinach
    Bay leaves
    Horsetail
    Garlic
    Ginger
    Tea Tree
    Parsely
    Paprika
    Black Pepper
    Cloves
    Mint
    Basil
    Celery
    Cinnamon

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  15. Joshua Crotty says

    August 26, 2020 at 2:14 pm

    I use herbs in my day to day routine in the way of infusions almost every day. I make rosemary/lavender infusions for my hair and scalp

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  16. Maureen Duvenhage says

    August 11, 2020 at 9:45 pm

    I am growing and harvest some of my herbs already, and using it!

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  17. Mari Stebbing says

    June 23, 2020 at 4:31 pm

    Herbs are part of my everyday life for my rare disease. I constantly try different treatments to find the best for me.

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  18. Marietjie Van der Walt says

    June 14, 2020 at 8:26 pm

    After qualified in aromatherapy, and got interested in herbs and the medicinal value of herbs. I make my own remedies to treat different ailments. My latest remedy is to help Autistic children. I love the taste of my different herbal teas that I buy from the grocery shop. After my Practical Cooking with Herbs Course I did with you in 2007, I was hooked on herbs and wanted to know what else herbs can be used for.

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  19. Tebogo Pooe says

    May 22, 2020 at 9:23 pm

    I am looking forward in making myself herbs and i cant wait to see my herbal bath salt how will it turn out to be

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  20. Cornelius Foord says

    May 19, 2020 at 2:58 pm

    i am already using herbs, its a healthy mix of ginger, cinnamon, turmeric and ca yen pepper. It heats up your body temperature but also boost your immune system

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  21. Amy Barnett says

    May 14, 2020 at 5:59 am

    I currently sell many herbal products, from tea blends to blends used in cleaning, to skin care products. But i started out by making things for myself.

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  22. Joy Hoskin says

    May 2, 2020 at 4:34 am

    Already having a small herb garden, and using teas, my start will be to add more herbs into daily life. To learn about all the benefits of the herbs I have already. To use herbs in the kitchen and home that will enhance the lives of my family and document everything.
    To research and use herbs in place of traditional over the counter remedies.

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  23. Detlev Friemelt says

    April 14, 2020 at 1:41 pm

    Herbs have been part of my entire life, starting as a youngster exploring my grandmothers herb garden.
    Apart from cooking with culinary herbs, I am always researching medicinal herbs in particular African Herbs. I love making tinctures. I love collecting my own herbs.
    I found, when researching my family tree, that I have a line of herbalist/homeopath in my line of ancestors. I was not surprised.

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  24. shdoan1 says

    April 14, 2020 at 4:12 am

    Have been growing herbs for two years now
    Have used them not as a form of healing but for taste and aroma and pest control

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  25. Riana Beneke says

    April 2, 2020 at 2:18 pm

    I often use various herbs in my food, they are amazing and bring amazing flavours and other goodness to meals.

    I also make soap and other body products in which I utilize herbs because of the benefits they have for the body and the mind.

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  26. Jennifer Lewis says

    February 19, 2020 at 11:28 pm

    I have been using herbs for health for many years but have only used relatively common herbs, peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary etc to help during colds, muscle strains etc. I want to learn to use a wide variety of herbs to improve my family’s overall health

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  27. Ann Pappas says

    February 8, 2020 at 6:37 am

    One of my favourite remedies is for minor burns. First ice and then neat Lavender oil applied directly onto the burn.

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  28. Kerry Burrows says

    February 7, 2020 at 1:45 pm

    Aside from cooking with herbs, and drinking a lemon, honey and ginger tea to sooth a sore throat or to relieve a cold, I currently don’t use many herbs in my daily life. I have therefore enrolled in the herbal bath salts module, the meal planning masterclass, and the growing herbs for fun module; and am really looking forward to using more herbs in my daily life.

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  29. Nicole Hobkirk says

    December 14, 2019 at 12:28 am

    Stinging Nettle is my go-to. It helped me cope with depression. And I even took it during pregnancy. Never did I take any other supplement and I didn’t have any deficiencies either. I barely suffered any sinus related problems and gave it to my baby to relieve allergies as we live in a “hayfever” part of the country. He has not had any serious ailments other than a bit of gastro that was making the rounds.

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    • Deziree Taylor says

      December 14, 2019 at 11:01 am

      I am taking Turmeric, Clove and Black Pepper as an anti-inflammatory for Hashimoto’s. I also drink Dandelion tea daily for fluid retention and plantain tea as a digestion stimulant.

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  30. Sarie Potgieter says

    November 25, 2019 at 7:58 am

    I have planted and played with a few herbs before. A few fizzy bath balls with flower pedals, magnesium sulphate bath salt with essential oils and peddals. Knowing herbs is medicine I’m trying to stay on the save side drinking herbal teas. Not having green fingers keeps my herbs planted list small but I love the few tough ones hanging in!

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  31. Mariska Joubert says

    November 20, 2019 at 9:14 am

    Other than using some herbs and spices in my cooking, I have not yet embarked on the journey of using herbs for medicines and remedies, I am however very excited to try some of these suggestions that have been given. I am also looking into using Tea Tree and a variety of other herbal mixtures, to take care of my acne. I have done some research into it, but since I still do not know enough, I would like to gain a bit more knowledge on the matter.

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  32. Linda Janse van Rensburg says

    November 8, 2019 at 2:31 pm

    I am already growing my own herbs and have dried and used some of them in herbal teas. My daughter and I love Sage tea, Thyme tea and have recently added Oregano tea to our collection. Mint tea is also a favourite. I’m excited and can’t wait to learn more.

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    • Linda Janse van Rensburg says

      November 8, 2019 at 2:33 pm

      Oh and let me not forget my Tea tree and charcoal soap, which is an absolute hit.

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  33. Anthony Smida says

    November 5, 2019 at 3:00 pm

    I was forced to make my own meds after being diagnosed with MRSA in2011. A bacterial infection with no known medical cure. After years of abuse and a amputation. A promise of another amputation. I had a dream. With some research I made my own Cannabis oil. 4 months later I was heald. Its been 5 years now. I must understand the rest to. Developed a range of my own med for wellbeing.

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    • Motlogelwa Gaboutloeloe says

      April 20, 2020 at 6:12 pm

      I just love herbs. I cook with them, make teas and in my bath. I am excited to always learn new ways of using them.

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  34. Motlogelwa Gaboutloeloe says

    October 26, 2019 at 5:02 pm

    I am already incorporating herbs in my bathsalts. I use calendula and lavender as an addition to my homemade bath salts with Epson salt and sodium bicarbonate.
    I also plan to start a herbal garden in my back yard. I already bought organic seeds.

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  35. carla.schoe says

    October 24, 2019 at 9:04 am

    For my Household the key is immune boosting.
    I have been using off the shelf herbal remedies up till recently but I have started a garden and working on herbal cosmetics (hair rinses etc), Tinctures as well as essential oils are next.

    I want to start making my own remedies and use during the times when flu and cold season is active. My daughter and I love our herbal teas as well.

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    • carla.schoe says

      October 24, 2019 at 9:05 am

      Just to add, I have big plans in this department. My family and I are working to a more healthy balanced life by focusing on a better natural lifestyle.

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  36. lizette Haasbroek says

    October 5, 2019 at 7:14 pm

    I’ve been dabbling in essential oils a it up to now. Made black drawing salve adding tea tree, frankinsence. It’s amazing treated boils, spider bites, removed splinters ect.
    Made a salve for my hubbies feet he struggled with fungal issues, peppermint, clove and cinnemon worked amazingly.
    Also others but I can’t wait to learn more.
    I want to plant my own herbs and do it all from scratch. It’s so exciting

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  37. Shani Moushon says

    September 2, 2019 at 5:36 pm

    I have already taken the Bath Salts Course, yet I can’t use it, since I have high blood pressure. I do plan on taking the Cooking with Herbs Course and trying those recipes. I still haven’t decided if I want to try my hand at growing my own, or buying them at first. One experiment at a time.

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  38. ajernigan51 says

    August 20, 2019 at 5:16 pm

    I have used herbs in the past. I have always explored the idea.

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    • Eimear Duffy says

      August 29, 2019 at 5:38 pm

      Many herbs can be used in cooking. I use basil thyme rosemary parsley and garlic. Herbal infused teas is another good way of using herbs. There are so many herbalist infused teas you can make my favourites are chamomile tea, mint tea, ginger tea and lemon verbena tea.

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Basic Herbal Medicine Making
Module 1 Principles of Herbal Medicine Making-
Unit 1 The Battle for the Body  - Preview
Unit 2 Types of Healing
Unit 3 How the "Green People" Came to Our Aid (a Cherokee Tale)
Unit 4 The Irony of the "No-Result" Result in Herbal Medicine  - Preview
Unit 5 How To Use Herbal Medicine Safely  - Preview
Unit 6 Herbalism is NOT a Spectator Sport  - Preview
Unit 7 Quiz 1: The Principles of Herbal Medicine Making
Module 2 The Folk Method of Herbal Medicine Making-
Unit 1 Setting Up A Basic Herbal Apothecary At Home
Unit 2 The 5 Rules of Herbal Medicine Making
Unit 3 The Folk Method of Preparing an Infusion
Unit 4 The Folk Method of Preparing a Decoction
Unit 5 The Folk Method of Preparing a Poultice
Unit 6 Quiz 2 - The Folk Method of Medicine Making

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