Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism Community Herbalism Workshops

All workshops are at Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism (252 Main St., Montpelier)

pre-registration is required for all workshops; register online at: https://www.vtherbcenter.org/community-classes/workshops/

Herbal Allies To Address Anxiety and Depression
with Kelly McCarthy, VCIH clinical intern
Monday, September 15th 6-8 pm
$12/$10 for members

Our mental health requires care just as our physical health requires care. This class will cover herbs that can support us through the immediate symptoms of anxiety and depression. We will also talk about herbs that can help shift the underlying imbalances that allow anxiety and depression to affect our lives.

Kitchen Medicine: Building Winter Immunity
with Lisa Masé, Harmonized Cookery
Wednesday, September 17th 5:30-8:30 pm
$25 (includes materials fee)

Many foods can be used to strengthen the immune system in preparation for winter, including promoting a healthy respiratory tract and intestinal flora. Learn creative ways to include immune-supportive foods in your meals to stay healthy and warm during the colder months, including baked winter squash, medicinal mushroom and allium stock, warming and anti-microbial spices, and lacto-fermented vegetables.

Herbs to Support Restful Sleep
with Emily Peters, VCIH clinical intern
Monday, September 22nd 6-8 pm
$12/$10 for members

Ever wondered why you might have trouble sleeping? Or what plants you can use safely? This workshop will explore the importance of sleep, different kinds of insomnia / sleep disturbances, and how to pick the right plants to support you to sleep well and wake rested.

Kitchen Cupboard Medicine
with Anna Powell, VCIH clinical intern
Monday, September 29th 6-8 pm
$12/$10 for members

Learn the medicinal values of the plants in your spice cabinet from cardamom and ginger to fennel, turmeric, and thyme. In this class, we will go over a handful of herbs common to most households, discussing their medicinal value and some accessible ways to use them as allies in digestion and health.

Lyme Disease:
Herbs and Resources to Help Regain and Maintain Health and Vitality
with Kimberly Hotelling, VCIH clinical intern
Wednesday, October 8th 6-8 pm
$12/$10 for members

Herbs can provide invaluable support and healing when dealing with the various tick pathogens that many of us have been infected with. Come learn what the crafty Lyme bacteria do in our bodies and discover what herbs, resources  and support we can use to help maintain, regain and support our health and well-being.

Herbal Support with HIV Drug Therapy
with Vilde Chaya, VCIH clinical intern
Monday, October 13th 6-8 pm
$12/$10 for members

Are you living with HIV? Do you experience undesirable side effects from the cocktail? Come to this community workshop to learn about plant medicines that can help with undesired effects from HAART drugs. Learn which herbs are safe to take in combination with your drug regimen, which to avoid, and how to devise a supportive herbal regimen for yourself.  This workshop will also include information about Prep drugs.  We welcome those with HIV, allies and practitioners.

Herbal Adjuncts in Alcohol Over-use
with Robin Daylee, VCIH clinical intern
Wednesday, October 22nd 6-8 pm
$12/$10 for members

We’ll talk about how herbs, in conjunction with other strategies, can help us to limit alcohol use or to stop drinking altogether.  Herbal medicine is a great tool in dealing with the underlying issues of anxiety and depression that often lead to alcohol over-use. Herbs can also help to address physical addiction symptoms and can help us to heal from some of alcohol’s harmful effects on our bodies, our families and our communities.

Herbal Relief for Chronic Body Pain
with Danielle Rissin-Rosenfeld, VCIH clinical intern
Wednesday, October 29th 6-8 pm
$12/$10 for members

In this class we’ll explore some of the physiological and emotional reasons for chronic body pain, and brainstorm ways to reduce and cope with long term pain.  We’ll make salves and poultices together, and discuss herbal strategies incorporating teas, tinctures and dietary suggestions.

Herbs to Inspire Joy and Confidence
with Rachael Keener, VCIH clinical intern
Monday, November 3rd 6-8 pm
$12/$10 for members

This class offers ideas for herbal support along with simple daily practices for tuning into our inner joy and confidence.  At the foundation of true joy and confidence is a sense of self-love.  And self-love acts as a wonderful base for supporting our physical, mental and emotional health- because what we value, we care for.  Come to the class to learn, enjoy, and leave feeling inspired, empowered and supported.

Natural Beauty Workshop
with Leilani Courtney, VCIH clinical intern
Wednesday, November 5th 6-8 pm
$17/$15 for members (includes materials fee)

Learn how to support healthy skin with a crash course in basic skin care physiology, nutrition, and herbs, as well as how to create and purchase toxic free skin care products. This is a hands and face on workshop, where we will be trying many herbal applications, as well as delving into open discussions about skin health. Please bring: a towel, face cloth, hair-band and a large bowl.

GOOD SEX: Is there an herb for that?
with Linden Devoil, VCIH clinical intern
Monday, November 10th 6-8 pm
$12/$10 for members

Sex can be emotionally nourishing, deeply embodied, and FUN.  If you’d like to experience this kind of sex all the time, more of the time, or for the first time, this class is for you!

In this class, we will:

–  Explore key concepts of integrated sexuality, helping you bring your whole self to the bedroom (or anywhere else.)

– Learn about the anatomy of arousal, way beyond 8th grade health class!

– Discuss internal and external use of herbs to support relaxed, exciting and delightful sexual intimacy.

This class is hands off and clothes on; discussion only. Open to people of any gender and sexual orientation.

Sustainable Leadership: Herbal Support for Grounded Action
with Kate Westdijk, VCIH clinical intern
Monday, November 17th 6-8 pm
$12/$10 for members

This workshop is for anyone who is called to meaningful work in the world and is seeking tools to enhance and sustain that work.  We will explore ways that inspiration and anxiety fuel our efforts, and potential impacts on our body, mind and spirit.  Participants will learn about (and taste!) herbal preparations to nourish themselves and enhance their capacity for creativity, collaboration, and satisfaction in their efforts.

A Diet to Optimize Our Vital Functions
with Sila Rood, VCIH clinical intern
Wednesday, December 3rd 6-8 pm
$12/$10 for members

Come to learn a new understanding of the food groups, seasonal eating, and the assimilation of nutrients that might change your life forever. There’s a lot of information out  there in the world of nutrition that tends to change as new research arises. In this class, we will look into a traditional Chinese understanding of an individualized healthy diet that has been in practice for thousands of years.