I’ve been working on developing some courses I want to teach. I plan to teach them online, via an extension of Deepest Health, but also some using the Gift Economy model at my clinic – Watershed Community Wellness. Some of these courses will be geared toward Chinese medicine students and practitioners who are having a difficult time resonating with herbs, or already resonate and want to go deeper. I’ve worked hard over these last few years to deepen my own relationship with herbs, so I’ve tried pretty much every technique one could dream of – in some ways, this suits me ideally to teach classes about the topic. However, it’s been a while since I’ve taught formally. The last time I taught was in the context of academic Philosophy, quite some time ago. So, it’s taken me some time to get into the flow of thinking about exactly how to teach something like this.
Recently, on a walk, I came to understand how I want to move forward. It’s going to take some time to develop the flashes of inspiration into a course that would be really beneficial for others, but I feel like I’ve taken some significant steps. I would like to share my process with DH readers, as I develop the insights into more fully fledged teaching flows. I think this material could be beneficial even rough and slightly haphazard. Hopefully, you think so, too! Further, maybe – just maybe – it will whet your appetite for the full courses! :) Finally, I hope that people will offer their thoughts and critiques so that I might improve my own understanding. In the end, we are all working together to elevate the understanding of the group – so please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
Herbs are not tools
When I learned Chinese herbs in school, I fell in love. In part, that was because the teacher used the Shennong Bencao Jing as part of his teaching materials. This connected me to the larger stream of my tradition while also adding some interesting flavor to the information – those of you who have perused this text will know what I mean. I have seen class notes from other herbs classes, and what I see there helps me to understand why so many people don’t enjoy learning herbs. The herbs are reduced to a series of bits of data : flavor, nature, channel affinity, primary indications, maybe some formulas or combinations. The students are then asked to absorb a huge number of such bits of data, in preparation for the even more data heavy formulas class. Many students leave this experience feeling more than a little dismayed and disillusioned. That is true even for those who come to school really excited to learn this stuff. I can’t even imagine what it must be like for those of you who don’t like herbs to begin with!
While knowing the basic information is important (flavor, nature, etc) dwelling too long in the lap of this information without moving beyond is deadening. It causes one to relate to the herbs as tools, as objects, as things to be manipulated. Theories and ideas come to the foreground and drown out the mutable, messy relationship that has been the experience of herbalists for centuries. All of you know that I’m a sucker for data (and databases) and also have a deep and abiding love for theory. However, I know their place, and I know their peril.
Ultimately, I see herbs as Beings with which I can have a relationship. This relationship has many of the same facets, and requires many of the same skills, that I use in my relationships with human beings. When I come into this fully, I am more easily able to understand herbs, remember herbs and – most importantly – accurately and effectively prescribe herbs to my patients. Yep, folks, this is clinically relevant stuff. Seriously!
Even if you don’t believe it is TRUE, try thinking of herbs as Beings with a capital B
What would it be like if you were to think of herbs as something with which you can have a relationship? I mean a real relationship. I’m talking about “getting to know them” and “developing rapport” and “sharing experiences” and “building memories” and all the rest. What if you thought about herbs as multi-faceted Beings with likes, dislikes, a home, a family, preferred activities, favorite places, present, past and future? What if you used the same skills you’ve learned in building relationships to get to know herbs? It’s possible, it’s powerful and it’s what helped me to learn herbs so deeply that they infiltrate my dreams on a regular basis! :D
I would like to share some best practices about this, and some stories about how it has helped me move into a whole different world with regards to my herbalism. I’ll break it down into bite-sized chunks, however, and release it over the next few days. So, please read tomorrow to learn more about building your relationship with Chinese herbs. As always, I’m interested to hear what you have to say in the comments. Have you done something similar to what I’m describing, either with Chinese herbs or something else? Has this post stimulated any thoughts or discussion? Let us know – it’s easy to leave a comment on the post – no sign up is required.
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Excited!
Very much looking forward to it. At my college herbs were a nightmare.
Could you adopt the same approach to standard formulas?
Yes, And!?
GMR-prepare to go through this process with all of Dr. Shen’s favorites: if you’ve got “the nerve!”
You mean the Nervous System-Tense?
I don’t often comment on things that I read – but all I can say to this is “I’m in!!!!”
I first learned about Western herbs in the ’80’s, from someone who calls them “our green allies” and also relates to them with their individual personalities.
I’m very much looking forward to your explorations here, and *very excited* about the online course.
( Living here at the contra-lateral point of the country, I don’t have the same access that the Portland crowd has. )
:-)
Wonderful Eric! Now that I am almost out of school, I too am going through my herbs and doing a renewed ‘meet and greet’ based on family and personality.
In schools’ defense, they are trying to transmit a huge amount of material in a very, very short time. Human beings never learned in this factory way until quite recently and I contend that it does not do well at all. The most one can say for it is ’speedy’ but if left at that level can lead to mediocrity.
Thanks for your offering of a more sane continuing education. I’m in!
Allyndreth
I think the factory method of teaching is such a waste of time. You end up having to go back and then really learn the stuff when you begin practice. Better to teach the basics well and how to find out what else you need to know. It’s quicker and easier.
Greetings all,
I think it is very important to develop relations with herbs in order to understand them on a deeper level. Really, the way you describe getting to know the herbs on this level of Being is the exact same way we should get to know our patients. It really isn’t all that different from my perspective. Then again, I resonate with plants as people, so maybe that isn’t true for others, but I suspect it is so.
If we understand the soul archetype of the plant through deeply engaging with the herbs, you will understand them in a more complete, holistic way, and also will not ever forget them. No need to spend hours upon hours memorizing, the information will always be inside of you.
I was very fortunate to learn about how to interact and engage with theses Beings from the very first Western herbalist I studied with over ten years ago now. I will never forget the importance of what she taught me. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed in Chinese medicine school that we were not really taught to learn about ther herbs in this way. We did have one class that worked on developing these skills a bit, but it wasn’t in herbs or formulas class with the Chinese herbs. Chinese medicine schools give a more academic/textbook approach to learning herbs, but leaves out the crucial underlying essence/nature of studying herbs that I consider to be primary. It is a bit more difficult to do on our own since, being a Westerner, I can’t just go out into nature and find most of these herbs growing to study their characteristics and environment and so forth and meditate with the living plant. It is a bit more challenging for me to learn Chinese herbs in this way, so I feel I have a much better grasp on Western herbs in that sense.
Having said that, Chinese herbal classifications and Chinese herbal formula knowledge is far more developed and complicated because the ancient sages were able to learn the herbs on this deepest, archetypal soul level. Thus, they were able to create tightly woven formulas that were composed so eloquently and with complete mastery. Unfortunately, we are just left the results of this process and are able to get information out of books, and so most people think that is enough since it seems to be what we need to know to use in clinical practice. A true herbalist is one who knows herbs on the deeper level, while those who just memorize information are not really what I consider herbalists, but more just trained to be clinicians who are educated in the practical application of herbs.
Does that make sense ?
Yes please! I am in. I love herbs, but I have a hard time with the subject. Anything that can help would be greatly appreciated!
Delli, you write very eloquently. I am interested in learning more about the relational method. What you and Eric wrote about formulas and single herbs really resonates with me. The composition of classical formulas is like an art form. I agree that the approach that many schools have is so academically focused. My herb teacher really knows her stuff. The amount of knowledge she has is astounding. However, she promotes rote memorization as the way to “know” herbs. This is fine for cramming for exams, but everything I learn slowly slips away. Initially, it was herbs that I was most excited about. But after having my ego and confidence battered by exams and such, I’m not as enthusiastic. I want to get back to that place where I found herbs to be “soooooo cool”. Haha.
Anyway in short, I too want to get to the essence and soul of herbs. I’m excited.
Looking forward to you posts Eric!
Teaching online is a great idea. Not only are their those like myself who need to learn more but there is a void of well presented, educational material.
I love seeing that someone else came up with this too! When I was in school here in Austin TX, I had the good fortune of getting to fill raw herb scripts for a senior herbalist. His scripts were in Chinese as he didn’t speak English (he worked through a translator) so I had to learn to read the character names. It was an invaluable immersion, especially for being in the heart of Texas of all places. I couldn’t imagine learning herbs otherwise: Seeing the organization of formulas over and over + the sensory experience of handling them + the pharmacy wasn’t arranged by textbook categories but rather relationally and ergonomically – what was used most often was within easy reach, and things that were used together were in proximity to one another. So one day it occurred to me that on a certain level, learning herbs doesn’t have to be any harder than getting to know a person. Looking at herbs as beings, the thing is that you familiarize yourself with them very much as you would a person. When you get to know someone you get more of a sense of their spirit on initially: you see their shape, the color of their skin, their eyes, their voice – then you gradually get to know more about them. Same with the herb beings. This really helped me put things in perspective when I was in school. Yes, you have to study for tests, but that’s essentially a different skill set than getting to know the herb beings. And to get to know the herb beings, like people, it is imperative you spend time with them.
I have always wanted to get into Herbalism! This is exciting, i cant wait! Thanks
I like the point about herbs not being tools. I view them as being more like an aide. Used to give the necessary push into the situation.
Looking forward to it. I have been acupuncturing for 10 years and am only now starting to do herbs and am at my first year of study. Indeed what you share will be totally useful, as has what you have already said.