I recently had the pleasure of stumbling upon an old herbal presentation that Rosemary Gladstar gave to a group of people at a local library. It was filmed January 7th, 2015; at the Ilsley Public Library, with the help of Middlebury Community Television.
Her presentation was on the development of herbalism in America, and how herbs play a role in healthcare today. Rosemary also shares a couple of her favorite recipes for keeping her and her community’s immune system in tip-top shape during the long, cold winters in Vermont.
This video is about an hour long, but jam packed with so much wisdom; and even remembrance. Which in this day in age, I find so important to nourish and cherish the history of the ones who came before us. Preserving history isnt an easy task anymore.
Ancestral Wisdom –
What I found to be one of the most important statements she made was when she reminded us that in Europe; Elderberry is the primary medicine of anything sold for flu prevention. Because it has broad spectrum anti-viral properties. Its smart! Its going recognize lots of different flu bugs, because its been evolving here on planet earth longer than we have.
in Europe; Elderberry is the primary medicine of anything sold for flu prevention. Because it has broad spectrum anti-viral properties. Its smart! Its going recognize lots of different flu bugs, because its been evolving here on planet earth longer than we have.
You can watch the video in full here.
Who is Rosemary Gladstar?
Because I could go on and on over the insightful wisdom and cheerful energetic presence she brings, I thought I’d spare you, and get to the point. I took this bio from the webpage of Traditional Medicinals.
If the 19th century had Johnny Appleseed, our era has Rosemary Gladstar, “The Godmother of American Herbalism.” Like Johnny scattered seeds, Rosemary has created fertile ground throughout North America, where herbalism has thrived. In the late 1960s, Rosemary reignited herbalism in America and helped us tap into ancient notions of wellness. She’s written 12 best-selling herbal books, taught generations of herbalists, started non-profits, two herb stores and a school, and she co-founded Traditional Medicinals (TM). Given so many of her ventures have blossomed and endured, it’s clear she has the magic touch.
Her vocation came from her Armenian grandmother, Mary Egithanoff, a survivor of the Armenian Genocide. Feeding her family and keeping them well with plants and herbs when food was scarce, Mary knew how to live off the land. In the folk herbalist tradition, she shared her knowledge with Rosemary, teaching her about herbs and how to collect and use them.
I was delighted when I found this photo of Rosemary’s mother on Traditional Medicinals webpage. I just had to include it, and pay homage to such an important woman who in my opinion– help shaped herbalism today. Without Mary, or Jasmine we wouldnt have our beloved Rosemary.
As a child of Seventh Day Adventist dairy farmers in Sonoma County, California, Rosemary also learned the importance of kindness, self-reliance and social justice. Undoubtedly influenced by those ethics, the scope of her work has revolved around healing, education, and advocacy.
On a trip by horseback from Northern California to the Oregon border in her 20s, Rosemary lived entirely off the land. When she returned, she grew more interested in practicing herbalism and giving back to her community. Soon after, she joined with community activist Drake Sadler. Watching Rosemary care for people out of her own home, often exchanging services for produce or eggs, Drake and other friends encouraged her to open an herb store. So in 1972, she founded Rosemary’s Garden, an herbal apothecary that remains a Sonoma County cornerstone to this day.
With much thanks to the Ilsley Library for hosting such a lovely and insightful event.
Other refrences are
Traditional Medicinals and Ilsley Public Library.
