Guest guest Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 Cara, 'Just my quick 2 cents worth--when I was in school taking herb courses, our instructor had us specifically go down to Chinatown, and part of our weekly test included physically getting about ten herbs for herb identification. I see three purposes that came from this directive: one, it allowed us to see, smell and handle the herbs, rather than just read about them and rely on pictures, two it encouraged us to connect to the various herb sellers in order to develop relationships for our future practices and three it enabled us to become familiar with Chinatown and to absorb the sights and sounds of the culture(s) that intersect our medicine. Perhaps this is only feasable in a city with a large Oriental population like Los Angeles, but this was what allowed me to get connected to the vendors I regularly use. And, BTW, I still get a kick out of going to Chinatown and being known and recognized there. , Cara Frank <herbbabe wrote: > > This is a question directed at students and teachers, > > How do other programs deal with the issue of studying herb identification? > In past classes, I had students prepare large books of herb samples, with > labels on one side. This activity is time consuming and I am not sure it was > an effective teaching tool. > > Are people using the flash cards that can be purchased now? Do you prepare > your own samples? Take your own digital pictures? > > I would appreciate feedback from you. > -- > Cara O. Frank, R.Ac, Dipl Ac & Ch.H. > President China Herb Company > Program Director of the Chinese Herb Program > Tai Sophia Institute for the Healing Arts > office: 215- 438-2977 > fax: 215-849-3338 > Www.chinaherbco.com > Www.carafrank.com > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 Yehuda, One of the ways I studied Chinese herbal medicine was to go watch herbalists diagnose patients and fill prescriptions in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York Chinatowns . I'd look at the script, recognize the herbs, and try to figure out what they were treating. A very enjoyable experience. On Feb 28, 2006, at 6:39 PM, yehuda frischman wrote: > Cara, > > 'Just my quick 2 cents worth--when I was in school taking herb > courses, our instructor had us specifically go down to Chinatown, > and part of our weekly test included physically getting about ten > herbs for herb identification. I see three purposes that came from > this directive: one, it allowed us to see, smell and handle the > herbs, rather than just read about them and rely on pictures, two > it encouraged us to connect to the various herb sellers in order > to develop relationships for our future practices and three it > enabled us to become familiar with Chinatown and to absorb the > sights and sounds of the culture(s) that intersect our medicine. > Perhaps this is only feasable in a city with a large Oriental > population like Los Angeles, but this was what allowed me to get > connected to the vendors I regularly use. And, BTW, I still get a > kick out of going to Chinatown and being known and recognized there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2006 Report Share Posted March 1, 2006 Thanks Yehuda. I appreciate your comments. Not everyone in my class lived near a Chinatown, so this is not feasible for me. Cara > Cara, > > 'Just my quick 2 cents worth--when I was in school taking herb courses, our > instructor had us specifically go down to Chinatown, and part of our weekly > test included physically getting about ten herbs for herb identification. I > see three purposes that came from this directive: one, it allowed us to see, > smell and handle the herbs, rather than just read about them and rely on > pictures, two it encouraged us to connect to the various herb sellers in > order to develop relationships for our future practices and three it enabled > us to become familiar with Chinatown and to absorb the sights and sounds of > the culture(s) that intersect our medicine. Perhaps this is only feasable in > a city with a large Oriental population like Los Angeles, but this was what > allowed me to get connected to the vendors I regularly use. And, BTW, I still > get a kick out of going to Chinatown and being known and recognized there. > > , Cara Frank <herbbabe > wrote: >> > >> > This is a question directed at students and teachers, >> > >> > How do other programs deal with the issue of studying herb > identification? >> > In past classes, I had students prepare large books of herb > samples, with >> > labels on one side. This activity is time consuming and I am not > sure it was >> > an effective teaching tool. >> > >> > Are people using the flash cards that can be purchased now? Do you > prepare >> > your own samples? Take your own digital pictures? >> > >> > I would appreciate feedback from you. >> > -- >> > Cara O. Frank, R.Ac, Dipl Ac & Ch.H. >> > President China Herb Company >> > Program Director of the Chinese Herb Program >> > Tai Sophia Institute for the Healing Arts >> > office: 215- 438-2977 >> > fax: 215-849-3338 >> > Www.chinaherbco.com >> > Www.carafrank.com >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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