herbal medicine

Natural Approaches to Optimal Health

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Natural Approaches to Menopause

In this class we will discuss what to expect during the menopausal life transition. The risks of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) will be presented along with the best alternatives (herbs, supplements, food, and lifestyle practices) for easing the transition to menopause, reducing hot flashes and vaginal dryness and maintaining strong bones.

Schedule of Classes

 Vibrant mature post menopausal woman

Vibrant young woman free of PMS and menstrual cramping

Natural Approaches to PMS and Menstrual Issues

Gain a better understanding of your monthly cycle and learn what foods, herbs and supplements will reduce cramping, moodiness, weight gain, headaches, breast tenderness, and other cyclical changes associated with the menstrual cycle.
Schedule of Classes

Top 10 Ways to Prevent Cancer, Heart Disease and Diabetes

Being healthy doesn’t have to be hard. Understanding the basis of some of our most dangerous diseases can help you choose healthier habits and age gently.

Schedule of Classes

 Vibrant mature woman jogging
Two people doing chi gung on the beach

Holistic Stress Reduction

"75 to 90% of all visits to primary care physicians result from stress-related disorders"
--Paul Rosch, MD, President, American Institute of Stress.

Find out what stress does to your body and what you can do to reduce its harm. Lifestyle interventions, herbs and supplements to combat the effects of stress will be discussed. Learn HeartMath's Quick Coherence technique to reduce stress and improve vitality.

Schedule of Classes

Plant Spirit Medicine for Dummies

This class is designed to give some tips and tools for those that can not imagine being able to talk to plants. A former dummy details her path to enhanced sensitivity and encourages others to work with plants energetically for greater health. The medicine is not just in the chemicals within the plant! In addition, cultivating enhanced sensitivity allows one to access information directly from the plant instead of relying on books or others to tell us that the plant is energizing, uplifting and dispersing, etc. We will be doing a simple interactive activity with the live plants.

Schedule of Classes
Person showing respect for the spirit of plants

Herbs and Bodywork

This class addresses both the use of herbs and supplements on clients as well as self.
  • Medicated oils and liniments
  • Herbal foot baths
  • Herbs to reduced muscular tension and enhance overall relaxation
  • Valuable nutritional supplements

Schedule of Classes

Colds and Flu: Physiology, Prevention and Treatment

You don’t have to ever get sick again! In this class we will explore the way viruses and bacteria infect the body and how herbs block this process. An understanding of the process allows one to prevent the common cold as well as lessen the symptoms.

Schedule of Classes
Mother taking care of child with fever

Path through the forest

Schedule of Classes

Herb Walks

Medicinal plants are all around us. Come find out more about the medicinal and edible plants at Helen Putnam Park, Point Reyes and other bay area locations.

Helen Putnam Park Spring Walk
Let’s take a 2.5 to 3.5 mile stroll through Helen Putnam Park and pick some of the spring plants for salad. There is plenty of miner’s lettuce and chickweed about, but I can also show you cleavers and sorrel. We meet on the “free” parking side of Helen Putnam Park on Oxford court. Plenty of parking in this residential neighborhood. The first hill is a steep one, but the rest of the walk will be rolling hills through oak woodland. My plan is to hit the Filaree Trail for the best tender plants and then loop around the Panorama Trail for some splendid views and back on the Pomo Trail. That gives us the 2.5 mile option. If the weather is nice we can do any one of the other loops. The South Trail has a lovely view and there is a sweet fish pond we could walk to as well.

Meditation

The benefits of meditation are numerous. Regular meditation practice can balance the immune system, reduce anxiety, normalize blood pressure, and more. Courses include ongoing practice groups and special topic discussion groups.

Schedule of Classes
Dorena Meditating with Dexter

Elderberries

Food as Medicine...Medicine as Food

Consider the possibilities of Elderberry syrup on pancakes and St. John's Wort oil for stir fry. This class covers both the use of medicinal herbs and foods in cooking as well as foods that can be used to treat or prevent disease.

Schedule of Classes

The Safety and Efficacy of Comfrey

Comfrey banned by the FDA?! The evidence used to ban or restrict the use of comfrey in Europe, Canada, Australia, and the US will be presented. You decide what constitutes safe use.

Schedule of Classes
Comfrey

Potted Herb Plants

Garden Medicine 1

Growing and harvesting herbs in Sonoma County.
  • Deciding what plants to grow
  • When to plant and harvest
  • How to care for herbs
  • Sources of medicinal herbs
  • How to take advantage of weeds

Herb Garden

Garden Medicine 2

Only offered concurrently with Garden Medicine 1 (above)
  • Medicinal actions of plants that grow well here.
  • Medicinal actions of select California natives
Schedule of Classes

Herbal Medicine Making 1

Making your own herbal preparations is really quite easy. This class covers the basics.
  • Herb selection - purchasing
  • Warm and cold infusions
  • Tincture making (both dry plant maceration and fresh plant techniques)
  • Salve making
Schedule of Classes 		Herbal Medicine Making Class - Salve Making Demonstration

Herbal Medicine Making Class - Percolation Demonstration

Herbal Medicine Making 2

This class expands on the techniques from Herbal Medicine Making 1.
  • Percolation
  • Creme making
  • Cough drops
  • Hydrosols

Schedule of Classes

About Dorena

Dorena Rode has been studying and using plant medicines since 1981. She has taught herbal medicine classes at the California School of Herbal Studies, Dry Creek Herb Farm, Northern California Women’s Herbal Symposium, and the Sutter Integrative Health Center in Davis. She has a BA in chemistry and her graduate research (funded by NIH) focused on herbs used in female reproductive issues. She loves plants and promotes sustainable growing and harvesting. In addition to offering health education classes she maintains an active massage practice, teaches physiology at Santa Rosa Junior College and offers private coaching sessions to individuals seeking to optimize their emotional, physical, and spiritual health.

January 2009 Class Schedule

Each class is 2 hours long
$30 with a one week prepay.($35 at the door)

(Suggested Herb Walk Donation $15)

Class Registration Form


Dorena (707) 291-7731











© 2005-2009 Dorena Rode         Visit my informational site on comfrey