Transcript Laughing Buddha Gardens

Welcome to these calm gardens in the heart of Coquitlam, BC
This is an introduction to container gardening
medicinal herbs.
“Let thy kitchen be thy apothecary; let thy foods be thy
medicine.” - Hippocrates
The purpose of this presentation is to share information, with
like-minded individuals who are interested in Herbalism. None
of this information given today is intended to be used in place
of sound allopathic medical advice. Everybody who visits my
garden must take personal responsibility for their own
research, and wellbeing. I am simply sharing what
has worked for me.
What is a Herbalist?
An herbalist is someone who specializes in
handling herbs for medicinal purposes. In
some cases, an herbalist focuses on growing
herbs, while others may harvest or collect
herbs in the wild, and some offer herbal
prescriptions and advice. In many cases, an
herbalist performs all three tasks, managing
his or her own stock of herbs to ensure that
they are of high quality.
My path towards the Heart of Gaia
“We hear and we forget. We see and we remember.
We touch and we understand.”
Herbalism is the world of possibilities: to overcome
chronic health situations, health maintenance, safe
bath & beauty products, clean home environment, and
a nutritious way to eat. I have been using herbs for
over 30 years and I have peace of mind, as I know what
is in the product and how it will affect my health. By
learning more about herbs, going deeper into the
botany, chemistry, wild crafting, and increasing my
knowledge and experience of other certified organic
herbs that I have not grown myself, I hope to be able to
help myself & others even more.
SW Coast of British Columbia
The wild beauty of the southwest corner of BC
has consistently captured my heart. I love the
plant life around me. I talk and sing to all
plants. When I collect herbs, I chant Om to the
Mother plant. Gaia is my earth Mother who
takes care of every one of my physical needs
including my medicine. Source looks after my
spiritual and energetic needs. The direction
I’m heading in will allow me to write, teach,
and help others via consultations.
Louise Silver
My most memorable herbal event to date is the
discovery of Calendula in 2002. My Spiritual Mentor of
26 years passed away in September 2001. As we were
leaving her property for the last time, my husband
reached down and took a couple of handfuls of seeds
from one of her plants and stuck them in his pocket. We
didn’t know what it was, we only wanted something of
hers to live on with us.
We planted these seeds in early spring. When the flowers
bloomed, our neighbour identified them as Calendula. I
did research on this beautiful plant and began to make
Calendula Balm in 2002. I made ten jars and those same
first customers keep coming back for more.
Laughing Buddha Gardens
A walk through our Culinary, Aromatic,
and Medicinal collection of loving and
healing plants; from how it all begins
through to Heart of Gaia product line.
Seedlings
it all begins with a single seed and life springs forth in great
abundance.
Greenhouse
tender herbs are transitioned & protected in the green house before going outside in
bigger pots
Container Garden
Dehydrator
dried fresh from the garden to ensure top quality and retain medicinal value
Jars
dried then cooled and placed into sterile jars for short-term storage
Herbs in the Herbarium
stored away from light, heat, and moisture
Calendula
ready to be dried. It retains its bright colour and distinct aroma throughout the
process
Flower Essences
Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is for those who lack emotional and physical
flexibility, and is beneficial in aligning one's spinal energies.
Herbal Eye Pillows
the soothing comfort of chamomile and lavender relaxes the eyes.
Herbal Capsules
deliver the whole herb and are used for herbs that are hard to take, in order
to achieve compliance from the client.
Herbal Hand Cream
many herbs soothe and heal damaged skin. Natural creams help to revitalize our
breached shields.
Herbal Oils
are useful as ingredients in natural cream bases and for massage oils.
Herbal Ointment
Calendula petals combined with Jojoba oil and bees wax makes a healing
salve/ointment for many first aid situations.
Sprays
tincturing the aromatic herbs in alcohol produces a product that can be added to
purified water in various combinations and used as room sprays, throat sprays, and
sprays that uplift and add comfort to your day, easing stress and pain.
Herbal Syrups
wild cherry bark, combined with other respiratory herbs, helps to ease sore throat and
clear chest conditions.
Herbal Teas
single herbs such as ginger, mint, and lemon, or medicinal combinations of herbs, in
the form of teas, helps with many of our everyday requirements
for healing and nutrition.
Macerating
herbs, singly or in combination, are macerated in alcohol for several weeks to extract
their medicinal properties.
Herbal Tinctures
can be made from many plants and can be used singly or in combination with other
tinctures. They are easy to take and can have a base of alcohol or glycerin.
Herbal Tub Teas
at the end of the day, our body is crying out for relaxation. Soothe yourself in a herbal
bath. Great for all body systems.
Culinary Herbs
Cooking with herbs is a true blessing .
When we can eat our medicine, that is as good as it gets.
Materia Medica
• These are the plants with which I work and
have a personal relationship. There is nothing
like the feeling of going out into the garden,
harvesting the herbs then creating the remedy
right there and then. You can’t get much
fresher than that. All of our herbs come from
organic stock and are grown organically.
Ashwagandha - Withania somnifera
Adaptogen, tonic, used to increase vitality, energy, endurance,
stamina, promote longevity, and strengthen the immune system
without using the body’s resources
Basil Ocimum basilicum
Acne, asthma, anxiety, bronchitis, colds, constipation, coughs, depression, diarrhoea,
dysentery, exhaustion, flatulence, headache, nausea, rheumatism, stomach ache,
vomiting, induces sweating, stimulates menstruation, increases milk
secretions, use in salads; pesto; sauces
Betony Stachys officianalis
Nervine, general tonic, relieves headaches, sedative, calms kids, astringent, and
antiseptic
Calendula Calendula officanalis
heals wounds, treats chronic infection, great for all skin conditions, good for kids,
calming to the digestive system, detoxifying, crush a live flower to place over bee
sting, increases peripheral circulation.
California Poppy Eschscholzia californica
used to help toothaches, bronchitis, colds, coughs, insomnia
Catnip Nepeta cataria
helps control fever, colic, pain, great for kids, chronic bronchitis, diarrhoea, sedative
Chamomile Matricaria chamomilia
Nervine, tummy issues, irritable bowel, reduces inflammation, antispasmodic,
sedative
French Dandelion Taraxacum officinale
cleans the blood, stimulates the immune system, strengthens kidneys,
diuretic, increases bile to the intestines, helpful with ‘lack of appetite’.
Leaves are edible in salads.
Dusty Miller Senecio cineraria
the fresh sterile juice is useful in clearing cataracts
Feverfew Tanacetum parthenium
used for migraines, to reduce fevers, for digestive issues, and headaches.
Golden Seal Hydrasis Canadensis
fights infection, heals gastro-intestinal tract, tonic to spleen, cleanses urinary system,
heals bruises and wounds
Gotu Kola Hydrocotyle asiatica
Nootropic (complementary herbs for Adaptogens) revitalizes brain cells and helps to
retard the aging process, great for wounds, scars, helpful with connective tissue
issues. Leaves are edible in salads.
Heartsease Viola tricolor
helpful for epilepsy, eczema, asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough, rheumatism, and
cystitis. Flowers are edible in salads.
Irish Moss Chondrus crispus Rhodophyta
is a natural gelling agent used to thicken creams, desserts, drinks. Due to its
mucilaginous qualities, it is helpful for conditions of the digestive tract.
Lavender Lavandula angustifolia
Nootropic, helps with stress headaches, relieves gas, calms muscle spasms, gentle for
kids, stimulates blood flow, antiseptic, antibacterial, depression
Lemon Balm Melissa officinalis
Nervine, proven effective against herpes zoster, which shows itself as cold sores on the
lip; relieves muscle cramps and spasms, nerve tonic, helpful for headaches,
depression, good for kids
Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria
useful for gout, rheumatism, arthritis, fever, contains salicylic acid, anti-inflammatory
Mint Mentha × piperita
used in many toiletries, confectionaries, first aid, foods, and cosmetics;
soothing to the digestive tract and good for reducing fevers.
Motherwort Leonurus cardiaca
Nervine, strengthens the heart, calms palpitation, good for circulation, helpful for PMS
symptoms and menstrual pain, calms the entire nervous system
Nasturtium Tropaeolum minus
the whole plant is antibiotic, antiseptic, diuretic and expectorant; useful in chest
conditions as it breaks up congestion in the respiratory system, promotes the
formation of blood cells
Passionflower Passiflora incarnata
Nervine, reduces anxiety and relieves depression, great for kids, expels worms, lowers
blood pressure, increase urine output, allays pain, enhances libido
Periwinkle Vinca minor and Vinca major
oxygenates the blood, good for those suffering from a brain injury, anti-cancer
properties, memory enhancement for those with Alzheimer's disease.
Rosemary Rosemary officinalis
Nootropic, refreshes the mind, good for memory, stimulates blood flow, anti-oxidant,
anti-cancer, anti-fungal, antibacterial, antiviral – Auntie Rosemary
Sage Salvia officinalis
relieves excess mucus, astringent, lowers blood sugar in diabetics, eases mental
exhaustion, soothes the nerves, good for sores, sweating, styptic
St John’s Wort Hypericum perforatum
used to treat nerve pain, neuralgia, multiple sclerosis, trauma,
concussions, bruises, and shingles.
Senna Cassia marilandica
expels worms; taken with coriander or ginger, it is an effective and immediate laxative
Sheep Sorrel Rumex acetosella
anti-cancer, fever, inflammation, diarrhoea, expels worms, astringent, good for proper
liver function
Skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
Nervine, good for headache, neuralgia, insomnia, restlessness, great for kids, hysteria,
and convulsions.
Soapwort Saponaria officinalis
rinse for skin irritations or itchiness, shampoo; rinse for delicate clothing
Speedwell Veronica officinalis
useful for coughs, catarrh, slow-healing wounds, and skin eruptions, relieves itching
Stevia Stevia rebaudiana
This is a tremendously under-rated herb and I invite you to do extensive research on
it; herbal sweetener, free of calories, does not affect the blood sugar adversely,
inhibits dental caries and plaque, useful in the treatment of diabetes, candida, obesity,
high blood pressure, reduces tobacco/alcohol/carbohydrate cravings, useful with kids
Lemon Thyme Thymus x citriodorus
a culinary herb that can be added to food dishes
Uva Ursi Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
cystitis, kidney stones, urinary/kidney system issues, infections, bedwetting,
Blue Vervain Verbena officinalis
Nervine; good for fever, ulcers, gravel, pain in the bowels, expelling worms
Sweet Woodruff Galium odoratum
gravel and bladder stones, calming to restlessness, insomnia, hysteria, diuretic,
jaundice
Zuta Lavana tea leaves Micromeria fruticosa
useful in the treatment of stomach ulcers, wonderful minty tea. Do not take this herb
if you are trying to conceive.
Lyn Ayre, Ph.D., Herbalist
is currently following her dream of becoming a Master Herbalist,
specializing in stress-related issues and concerns.
Write to [email protected] for more information.