Workshop Spotlight: The History of Domestic Medicine and Its Modern Relevance by Stephany Hoffelt, B

Domestic medicine is a term which refers to healing work and self-care that took place in the home. Historically, physicians were the province of the very wealthy and only called to most homes as a last resort. Self-care and physick work was part of the subsistence work of females dominated healing practices until the late 19th century. Women grew medicinal herbs and used them to care for their family and neighbors, yet historically the common woman’s role contribution to healing has been overlooked. Happily, there are manuscripts, which document their contributions to the history of healing which. There are archived still room books, receipt books and family healthcare manuals that accompanied this work. I have cataloged many of the preparations in these works and looked for modern research to support their uses. I then applied these remedies in my clinical work. In this class, I will explain this history, provide scientific support of folk remedies and talk about my experiences utilizing some of the preparations.

Stephany is an herbal educator and consultant in Iowa City, IA with a Bachelor's Degree in Health Arts and Sciences from Goddard College. Her clinical focus is herbal therapeutics and she has been working with clients since the late nineties. She teaches herbal self-care classes at various venues in her community including is an associate academy educator with The Herbal Academy. Conferences she has presented at include the Midwest Women’s Herbal Conference, The Midwest Herb Fest, The AHG Symposium, Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference, and Good Medicine Confluence. The Essential Herbal, Plant Healer Magazine, Natural Herbal Living Magazine and The Herbal Academy's Herbarium have published her writing and she has maintained her own educational website at www.naturallysimple.org, since 2004.

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Join us for the 12th annual

Midwest Herb Fest: Returning to Our Roots

August 3-5, 2018

Glastonbury Institute of Sustainable Living, near Culver, Indiana

Learn: History of folk medicine and modern use of medicinal plants,

alchemical spagyrics, tinctures, restorative yoga, and more

Explore: Herb walks, tree walks, herb, mushroom, and vegetable gardens

Entertainment: Live music, fire spinning, belly dance

Open Events: Drumming, bonfires, auction fundraiser

Get Back to Nature: Primitive woods camping with hot showers and flushing toilets

Workshops and activities for adults, teens, and children

Register today at midwestherbfest.com