I created this blog with the intention to chart the progress of my Herb Lab project from its genesis through completion. I have 3 projects that I've planned to complete my Herb Lab hours. Since regular Herb Lab hours are completed per semester, I'll have three semesters to complete my projects. Most of the time I will be working simultaneously on more than one project, but my aim is to have all three completed by Fall 2012.
I realize the undertaking of this project will require a great deal many more hours than the Herb Lab requires, however, I consider it a privilege to be able to work with the herbs in this way and I am very much looking forward to creating a relationship with plants. It is my hope that my connection to the plants will deepen my relationship with Mother Earth and the spiritual essence that lives within Her. Through the experience of gardening I am hoping to connect in a deeper way to the Taoist roots which are the foundation for Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The entirety of the task I am undertaking is vast, and as I creatively achieve my goals, there will sometimes be snares in the road. I wish to chart my entire progress in this blog so that, even if a part of a project does not bare fruit, this blog will serve as documentation of my progress. The three projects I wish to complete are:
1) Making a Visual Materia Medica of Individual Chinese Herbs chosen from the "Examination Single Herb List" given online from the California Acupuncture Board Licensing Exam Preparation website. I am still working on how this will manifest. I may make a tangible book or instead post it electronically through this blog. I'm also toying with the differences of media to use. I may use pictures from the Tao of Wellness's herb cd, or pictures from a Visual Materia Medica made by Sacred Lotus Arts. The book may be viewed at:
https://www.sacredlotus.com/store/details.cfm/
I may also use pictures taken of the plants of the Chinese Herbs grown in the Community Garden on Venice and Walgrove. The final product may contain a collaboration of all these images. I am still in the creative stage of this project.
2) Creating a garden of Chinese Herbs in my own backyard. I would be caring for the plants from seedlings and charting their growth progress pictorially and posting it to this blog. This will be beneficial for me because I am hoping to grow some Chinese Herbs as an acupuncturist and this not only allows me to learn how to care for plants, but allows me to build a relationship with all the living, breathing plants of the Earth.
3) In my research of Chinese herbs through building the Visual Materia Medica and working hands-on with herbs through planting my Chinese Herbal garden, I will become very educated on the herbs, what families they belong to, etc. In my final project I will study classical TCM formulas that are both required for the California Acupuncture Board Licensing Exam as well as being allergy-friendly for me. I will make a total of 10 formulas at home using different processing methods. All of this will be recorded via picture/video and uploaded to this blog. This project will most likely be achieved in my final semester of my herb lab hours, since it requires the knowledge and research gained from completion of my first two projects.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
My Journey At the Learning Garden Begins....
I am interested in starting to produce the Visual Materia Medica concept first. Having a visual guide to the herbs is important for me to identify and memorize the actions and indications of individual Chinese herbs. Having a solid herbal foundation will assist me greatly in recognizing how to construct and use herbal formulas.
My initial attempt began Saturday, September 10th at 3pm in the Learning Garden on Walgrove and Venice Avenue in Los Angeles, CA. Armed with my point-and-shoot camera, a notebook to record the herbs I would photograph, and my photographer boyfriend, I was ready to attack the project head-on. Prior to my arrival I had taken both benydryll and Zyrtec for my allergies in the garden. My allergies held up for only 45 minutes and in that time, I shot about 15 plants and recorded them.
Unfortunately, the Chinese Herbal section of the Learning Garden was in serious need of some TLC. Weeds were overgrown, the signs posting most of the herbs were illegible and printed in small, faded type. Many of the herbs were not even blooming and there were postings for the herbs, but no plant to accommodate it. I worked with what I could, and left after my allergies began to flare.
The true magic revealed itself when we returned home and my partner, Darren Murtha, downloaded the herb pictures he had taken on his professional Nikon D60. The photos were beautiful, and he was able to clearly photograph the small labels on the herbs that my cheap point-and-shoot could not clarify. So the first process of my journey was not only to take the photos, but to arrange and set up this blogger for my project.
I have worked on the blog for 3 days now to have it uploaded and running, spell checked and ready for action! I hope that you enjoy the pictures of the Chinese herbs we have included. Just click on the name of the herb on the right hand side of the blog page and the link will send you to a page where the herb is both photographed and named.
This is just an initial attempt at the Visual Materia Medica. I will send both my teacher, Julia Chambers and my administrator, Lawrence Lau e-mails updates with a link to this blog so that my progress can be charted.
My initial attempt began Saturday, September 10th at 3pm in the Learning Garden on Walgrove and Venice Avenue in Los Angeles, CA. Armed with my point-and-shoot camera, a notebook to record the herbs I would photograph, and my photographer boyfriend, I was ready to attack the project head-on. Prior to my arrival I had taken both benydryll and Zyrtec for my allergies in the garden. My allergies held up for only 45 minutes and in that time, I shot about 15 plants and recorded them.
Unfortunately, the Chinese Herbal section of the Learning Garden was in serious need of some TLC. Weeds were overgrown, the signs posting most of the herbs were illegible and printed in small, faded type. Many of the herbs were not even blooming and there were postings for the herbs, but no plant to accommodate it. I worked with what I could, and left after my allergies began to flare.
The true magic revealed itself when we returned home and my partner, Darren Murtha, downloaded the herb pictures he had taken on his professional Nikon D60. The photos were beautiful, and he was able to clearly photograph the small labels on the herbs that my cheap point-and-shoot could not clarify. So the first process of my journey was not only to take the photos, but to arrange and set up this blogger for my project.
I have worked on the blog for 3 days now to have it uploaded and running, spell checked and ready for action! I hope that you enjoy the pictures of the Chinese herbs we have included. Just click on the name of the herb on the right hand side of the blog page and the link will send you to a page where the herb is both photographed and named.
This is just an initial attempt at the Visual Materia Medica. I will send both my teacher, Julia Chambers and my administrator, Lawrence Lau e-mails updates with a link to this blog so that my progress can be charted.
Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. ~John Muir
Monday, September 12, 2011
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