Herbal Medicine 201: Medicinal Plant Constituents and Herbal Actions

Through thousands of years of evolution, our digestive system has developed to identify, eliminate, or metabolize plant constituents. Plant constituents can be defined as the active ingredients in plants that are responsible for their effects.

From our ancestors, we have inherited powerful abilities to recognize basic plant qualities and their potential reactions by using our senses. Modern science has enabled herbalists to gain insight into individual plant constituents, their synergistic relationships, and their contribution to the healing aspect of the entire plant.

In this intermediate herbal medicine workshop, we will explore plant constituents, their actions, and methods of extraction. We will use our taste, botany knowledge, and awareness skills to learn how to identify various qualities in common plants.

This workshop is intended for anyone who has previously worked with extraction methods such as tinctures, vinegars, infusions, made their own remedies, and has a familiarity with local plants. Each participant will bring home a remedy made during class.

For ages 18+. Space is limited, please register in advance. Light refreshments will be served.

About the instructor: Alexandra Radoaca is an herbalist, wilderness guide and sound practitioner. She focuses on building health through nourishment and working with local, accessible, abundant plants. She believes that herbalism is accessible to everyone. All we need is to follow our curiosity and get our hands in the dirt, the plants teach us the rest! She is the founder of Mindful Wilderness, an organization focused on herbal education and Vulgaris Herbs, an herbal shop in Sugar Loaf, NY with a mission to serve our community with herbal supplies, small batch herbal remedies, botanical art, workshops and consultations. She is a New York State-certified camping and hiking guide and a Wilderness First Responder.