You want me to bring what to an Herbal Preparations class???!!! ARGH! I couldn't go! Update,...

[grahamsmom98]

I signed-up for a "Making Herbal Preparations" class (no credit, one-night) at the local community college. The class is presented by a local, "certified" herbalist.

I've already taken one course (Winter Immune Defense) with the same instructor (again, one-night only) a couple of weeks ago.

She didn't impress me too much with her knowledge, such as being unable to answer a number of basic questions regarding herbs (she's a certified herbalist??). She even got some things dead wrong (she called the Varivax vaccine the "Vermicelli Vaccine" and said it was okay to give honey to newborn infants). :

I honestly didn't learn anything from her except she was anti-vaccine .

Anyway, I figured for the price of the one-night classes, $5.00 each, it would be a fun evening out. It wasn't exactly fun, but it was different!

I just received the supplies list for the 2-hour Herbal Preparations class. She wants us to bring:

A blender
A crockpot
Assorted measuring cups and spoons
A hot plate
Candy thermometer
Strainer (no size listed)
Double boiler
Glass or Stainless steel pan

Tincture bottle
Oil bottle with dripper top
Ointment jar
Pint jar with lid

12 different herbs, as listed (no amounts, however, nor whether they are to be whole, driy, fresh, ground, etc, and no suggestions as to where to purchase them prior to the class): Mullein, Burdock Root, Hawthorne, Yellow Dock Root, Plantain, Red Raspberry, Lemon Balm, Lobelia, Marshmallow, Chickweed, Sarsparilla & Peppermint.

Olive oil, First Cold Pressing (no amount)
Apple Cider vinegar (no amount)
Garlic (1-2 bulbs)

Say what??!! How in the hell is a person supposed to carry all this stuff into a class?? I would need a shopping cart!

She does offer to provide the herbs to be used that evening and asks participants to bring $3.00 to cover the cost. If you don't want to make anything that night (just to observe), bring $3.00 and zip-loc baggies to carry the herbs you'll be buying!

I figure I'll go and take notes. I have no desire to lug all the equipment into the class, so I won't make anything. And, I'm not going to buy the herbs and bag 'em myself. I have all the ones she mentions, so I will be set if there are any of her recipes I wish to make at home (I already make a lot of my own herbal medicines and such).

Anyway, I just couldn't believe the big list!

Can't wait to see the other "students" waiting for their crock pots and hot plates to cool before being able to leave at the end of the evening (ouch!).

[earthmama369]

That's...uh...special.

The local community college offers classes like that here, and I looked into teaching a few. I was impressed by how much they break down the steps of class preparation and what's reasonable to expect people to bring or pay toward a session, especially considering that most of the teachers are professionals, but not trained teachers.

Still...you'd think she'd have an inkling of the logistics involved. Did she read her list at all after writing it? Think about it at all? Yikes.

[1growingsprout]

laughup

you made my evening with that list

[lindberg99]

Originally Posted by grahamsmom98

the "Vermicelli Vaccine"

As opposed to the "Spaghetti Vaccine"?

Personally, I'd be bringing $3.00 and some zip-lock baggies to the class. You'll have to let us know how it went.

[gypsyhips26]

what a great & crazy list! It just made me

curious to see how the class goes..... have fun!

[Ruthla]

WTF???

I think she should provide all the equipment, and list the herbs to be used (giving you the option of bringing them yourself or buying them from her at the class- or maybe just charge more for the class and let her provide everything?)

[TzippityDoulah]

good grief! I wouldn't know where to start! all great herbs, but what form and how much is pretty necessary!

[ian'smommaya]

soo how did it go?

[grahamsmom98]

Thanks for all the replies. It's nice to know I'm not the only one that thinks this is a bit much stuff for the student to bear.

The class is tomorrow night (Nov. 6th). I'll let everyone know what happens.

I keep imagining the other participants arriving with something like laundry baskets and wagons stuffed with assorted appliances, pots & pans, measuring cups & spoons, jars, bottles and herbs (in all probability, the herbs will be in greater amounts than needed).

I will bring my notebook and a pen. That's all I need (I've made my own herbal preps before). I hope it more educational than her first class I attended......

In any case, it should prove to be an entertaining evening!

[larablue]

How did it go?

[grahamsmom98]

After all the discussion about it, I couldn't go to the class!!

Yesterday, my 88 year old Mom broke her foot, but I didn't find out anything was wrong with her foot until 1o pm. So, a trip to the ER. It was great, nobody else was there, we were seen immediately (I love living in a small town! : ). X-rays confirmed the break. They wanted to put her in a removeable walking boot-type cast. I had to explain that was a no-no as she would take it off as soon as I was out of her sight (or, my back was turned!).

In the midst of all this, I had a doctor's appt because of this damned cough I've been fighting since September. I'd been on antibiotics once, for a week, and it helped somewhat, but the cough returned with a real vengeance last week and I was losing sleep, so..........

So, my darling, wonderful husband came to the ER and stayed with Mom while ds and I went to my appt. The doc is 99% sure it is probably pertussis, but gave me a different antibiotic, just in case it is bacterial. She is a wonderful doctor, reads Mothering and is not exactly pro-vax!! : How lucky am I?!

Okay, now back to the ER (and, Mom & dh). They said she had to go to the clinic for a regular cast (not sure why).

Give dh the RX to fill and ds to escape (!), take Mom to the clinic to get her casted.

But, they had kindly called ahead for us and we were seen immediately by the ortho nurse and she put a nifty, lime green, fiberglass cast n Mom with a removeable little shoe, so she could walk with less difficulty. She can shower or bathe in it without wrapping it up tight in plastic!! But, best of all, she can't take it off!!!! Yippeeeeeeeeee :

Mom & I then headed to our house. I wanted her to spend the first night with us, as she was getting used to the strange walking (pretty unbalanced).

Dh had picked-up my RX and a pizza . He is a GEM!

It was now 5:30 and, as we were eating, dh asked if I was going to the class?

I was tired, stressed & upset that we weren't going to the city today (90 miles away) to celebrate Dad's 88th birthday. Not like crying upset, just sad, you know? I don't think he'll see 89 or, for that matter, the Spring. He'll understand when I tell him about Mom (he didn't answer the phone last evening, must have gone to bed early again). And, we'll celebrate a few days from now. But, still........

So, I said "No" to attending the class. Honestly, I was more excited about telling all of you about how comically it went, than I was about any potential educational experience!!

I am sorry, no funny stories for you.

But, there is another class in two weeks (same gal, last in the class series) on Herbal First Aid. Ds & I will be there, maybe that one will be funny (let us hope!).

Today, instead of going to the city for an elder version of craziness ( ), I am going to buy a nifty wlaker for Mom to use while she wears this cast. She heals fast, so I am thinking it will be for just 2-3 weeks, not the 6 they suggest. We shall see. She has a follow-up with our doctor in 2 weeks.

Thanks, again, for all your replies and desires for the class results. Maybe next time, okay?!

[ian'smommaya]

thanks for sharing. and sorry baout your mom. breaks in older people are scarey. is she getting enough D and calcium?