Min 5/Max 25
Castine Conference Room
Instructor: Sharon Murphy

Herbs for Beginners is a recommended prerequisite for these classes.
Each class requries a seperate registration.

Are you curious as to how herbs might benefit your health? Plants have been used to help people stay well and at times regain their health since the beginning of time. Ancient cultures revered the medicine man of the tribe for his knowledge of which plants would make them well again. Since the industrial revolution this knowledge has become almost extinct. Fortunately for us, those who still use plants as medicine have been sharing what they know. People now know what herbs can do as preventive measures and which herbs will benefit them when they are sick. In the past 25 years this knowledge has been refined, laboratory tested and used on a daily basis to give us a better knowledge of HOW they work.
Ms. Murphy graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, Louisiana, 2004, with a BA in Psychology. She is certified in Gestalt Therapy, Psychogenetics, Hypnotherapy, Herbalism, and is a Reiki Master. Ms. Murphy has grown and sold herbs to the public. She is a speaker at Herb Festivals, garden clubs, organic growing groups and has taught Herbology courses for 4 years. Pelican Park is offering a once-a-month series of classes to teach us how herbs work for certain body systems.

CIRCULATORY SYSTEM:                    June 27th    1:00pm  and/or   6:30pm
What about maintaining good health and preventing the development of heart diseases in the first place? Can we do more for ourselves than eating well and exercising? Herbal tonics aid in the practice of preventive medicine. In modern medicine for the cardiovascular system, there is a place for the gentle toning to be complimentary, not adversarial.

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM:                          June 6^th          1:00pm   and/or  6:30pm
Much of digestive system illness in our society is simply due to abuse. Today's average diet has overly processed foods, a high proportion of chemical additives of differing function and the direct chemical irritation of alcohol, carbonated drinks and tobacco. In this context, it is easy to see why herbal remedies are so helpful in the various inflammations and reactions that plague such abusers. 

 URINARY SYSTEM:                               September 19th   1:00pm   and/or   6:30pm______
This is one of the ways the body gets rid of its waste material. The kidneys work in conjunction with the liver, lungs, skin and bowel to keep the entire body functioning properly. It also regulates the pH of the body, which keeps us from getting too acid or alkaline. When the pH is out of balance, the whole body shows signs distress. This class will consider some of the common problems with the urinary system.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM:                    July 17th     1:00pm  __and/or    6:30-8:30pm 
We are not only what we eat, but also what we breathe. The lungs are one of the organs of elimination. Over the centuries, herbs have been used effectively to help those who suffer from upper and lower respiratory imbalances. With industrialization, many pollutants have been introduced into the air we breathe. Any problems with breathing will not only affect other organs and systems, but may also cause disease in these systems. Herbs are beneficial for the respiratory system because of their regulatory properties.

MUSCULO-SKELETAL SYSTEM:       April 9^th  at  6:30pm  
Anti-inflammatories, analgesics, anti-spasmodics and anti-arthritics are only a few of the herbs that will be discussed during this class. How can we maintain the structure and function of our bones and muscles in the lifestyle we currently live? From someone who sits all day at a desk to the avid runner….our muscles and bone need to be at their best.   Diet and metabolism are discussed as integrative parts of a therapeutic approach. Inner harmony is our goal.

NERVOUS SYSTEM:                     May 14^th   10:00am       August 15th  1:00pm and /or 6:30pm 
Nowhere is herbalism more evident than in problems related to the nervous system. Stress, anxiety, tension and depression are intimately connected with most illness. We also find successful results when herbs are taken to reduce the tension that accompanies ‘normal’ life.   Herbal medicine helps to free the body from the vicious cycle of worry and nervousness that takes its toll on otherwise healthy systems. Herbs have much to offer to help the body relax. It is critically important to select which herbs are most effective by the actions each plant has to offer.

Call (985) 626 - 7997 To Register