Workshops
2025 Workshops at the Weald and Downland Living Museum, West Sussex
In 2025 New Workshops will be co-hosted and tutored by Christina and Ruth Mannion-Daniels in the Cotswolds
Workshop
Health & Herbal Medicine in Roman Britain
Tuesday June 17th 9.30a.m.- 4.30pm. £75.
Archaeology is constantly providing more information on this subject, up and down the country. From stone stamps describing eye ointments and giving us the oculist’s name and often main ingredients, to the lay-out of a military hospital. Also votive offerings in temples of healing. Written sources are available, from the wooden writing tablets found at Vindolanda fort on Hadrian’s Wall, to the recipes of Scribonius Largus, a surgeon who was stationed in that same area in the first century.
The focus of the day will be wide, taking in living conditions and common health problems, beliefs about health and making recipes from the period. Herbs will include myrrh, saffron, frankincense, pepper, long pepper, stoechas lavender, parsley, juniper, wild carrot, orris root and cumin.
Recipes will concentrate on treatments for common problems of the period, for the eyes, throat, coughs, stomach pain etc.
Dental care will also be considered from toothpowders to treatments.
Workshop
Herbs in Healthcare Supporting Vital Health
Wednesday June 18th. 9.30a.m.- 4.30pm. £75.
In Ancient Greece three ‘capacities’ were understood to govern the patient’s body. These are the brain, described as the reasoning capacity, the heart, or vital capacity providing innate heat and the liver, providing the nourishing capacity. They would be given first consideration and, if necessary, they would be strengthened with treatments before giving strong medication, purging or letting the blood of the patient.
We still recognise the importance of the health of the brain, heart and liver and this day will be devoted to looking at conditions affecting those three organs, together with herbs in recipes to support them.
Some herbs on the day for the brain will be rosemary, Spanish sage, betony, ginger and ginkgo. Conditions discussed will include poor memory, trigeminal neuralgia, headaches, dementia from various causes and Parkinsons disease.
Some herbs for the heart and circulation are hawthorn, limeflower, bilberry, motherwort and rose. Advice on conditions affecting the heart will include high and low blood pressure, high cholesterol and some common problems arising from poor circulation. For the liver, some herbs will be dandelion, milk thistle, artichoke, agrimony and vervain. Liver conditions will include jaundice, cirrhosis and gall stones.
Workshop
Herbs and Climate Change
Friday 19th July. 9.30a.m. - 4.30pm. £75.
The changing climate gives us longer periods of heavy rain and consequent flooding, while at other times it is abnormally warm, or hot and dry conditions pose other challenges. Guidance will be given on plantings to combat the worst effects. Harvesting times are altering and it is being noted that the more successful birds and insects which depend on plants for food, are beginning to adapt to these. Herbs suitable for wetland conditions such as meadowsweet, willow, marshmallow, gypsywort, bogbean, sweet gale, sweet flag and medicinal ferns will be included in the suggested herbs for bog gardens, ponds, and damp, shady areas.
Although until now herbs have coped well in a variety of conditions, observation has revealed that some may do better if not planted in traditionally helpful sites. Certain herbs, such as marigolds, formerly set in full sun may do better if planted in partial shade. There will be discussion and sharing of experience as to what may be helpful as we face each new year. Thought will be given to supporting herbs suited to the hotter climate and drought resistant herbs such as houseleek and orpine, as well as to soil composition and health. Organic pest control in the absence of frosts is an added feature.
