by Shayla Woodson As a student herbalist learning my craft, I’m always excited to venture out into the world and gain valuable field experiences. I’ve travelled and explored herbal gardens and habitats locally, within the United States, and abroad. I recently had the opportunity to travel to Freeport, Grand Bahamas to conduct field research on…
It is time to change the tendency in modern societies to discriminate against the health-based wisdom of People of Color and Indigenous people.
RACE, RIGHTS, AND RESEARCH IN CARIBBEAN ETHNOBOTANY by Rachel Thomas It was almost twenty years ago when I first arrived in Costa Rica. Already a student of herbalism in a classroom setting, I was attracted to the possibility of learning about plants directly from those who used them ancestrally. Lucky for me, and many…
Los Poderes Mágicos del Agua de Arroz La primera vez que viví en Costa Rica, fue con la familia Fonseca, bien adentro en la jungla. Rosa y Albino hacían casi todas sus propias medicinas en casa utilizando simples ingredientes y plantas de su jardín. Aquí fue donde aprendí por primera vez el…
¿Qué es la Herbología Tradicional Latinoamericana? Utilizar plantas para restaurar la salud es una tradición común en las culturas alrededor del mundo. Algunos sistemas de medicina herbaria son más prominentes y mejor documentados que otros. El Comercio de Especias popularizó el uso de hierbas de uso culinario y medicinal como el romero, el…
A Botanical Story of Slavery and Survival Some of the stories about the most massive forced migration in history are hard to come by. Contrary to popular belief, there was a great variety in how Africans experienced human trafficking and the ingenious ways that they developed to survive the inhumane conditions. After decades of…
The Complicated History of the Smilacaceae Family The first time I met a member of the Smilacaceae family was fifteen years ago. At that time I was using Mayan medicine to destroy my ovarian cysts, with the help of Dr. Rosita Arvigo. Red China root was one of the plants she suggested because of its…
The Magical Powers of Agua de Arroz When I first lived in Costa Rica, it was with the Fonseca family, very deep in the jungle. Rosa and Albino made almost all of their own medicine at home using simple ingredients and plants from their garden. This was where I first learned the term refresco,…
Herbal Traditions of Costa Rica We each have our favorite part about Tico culture – the gallo pinto, the soccer games, the connection to nature, the vida pura. After 17 years of living in Costa Rica, I can tell you mine – the herbal traditions. Costa Ricans are remarkably health conscious and many of the…
Traditional Latino Herbalism Course Latin America has a rich herbal history, combining the ancient wisdom of four cultural traditions – Indigenous, European, African and Asian, into one holistic yet diverse system of healing. Meet with more than ten local folk medicine practitioners, ethnobotanists and conservationists who are working with medicine plants and explore with them…