24ME08 - African American Herbalism: A Practical Class on Healing Plants and Folk Traditions

Speaker: Lucretia VanDyke, Herbalist and Author  This lecture provides a deeper look into African American history and use of herbalism. Participants will dive into the role of the "Granny midwife" as the center of community health and wellness in order to understand the importance of the practitioner in their own communities. We will review the African American influence on holistic health protocols through food, herbs, and lifestyle from an integrative perspective. We will discuss native herbs such as Sassafras Presl. (Lauraceae) and American Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana L.) while reviewing foraging techniques to provide more information on ethical sourcing and how to implement them into your clients' lifestyles. We will utilize historical as well as research-based information for this class to provide a better understanding for providing care for the underserved as well as key factors on working with clients of different racial backgrounds.