Online Exploration of Ancient Desert Medicine - Creosote Bush Lecture & Medicine Making.

Join Bioregional Herbalist, Naturalist Christina Sanchez of Every Leaf Speaks Botanical Studies for an Online interactive class that will delve into the world of Larrea tridentata commonly known as Creosote Bush. This is a two part series with a plant monograph and a at home optional hands-on herbal medicine making course. Please read below for more information  

Larrea is a genus of plants commonly known as Creosote Bush, an endemic shrub of the American Southwest deserts (L. tridentata) and is also found occurring in arid regions of South America  where it is commonly known as Jarilla  (L. divaricata ). This TWO PART workshop is taking place at Cactus Mart in Morongo Valley, CA read below for course description.

  Part I  TIME 11:00 am - 12:15 pm   Is an in-depth exploration of the North American species L. tridentata, Creosote Bush dating back to the Pleistocene ice age (11,700 years ago). We will explore the unique wonders of this resilient desert evergreen shrub from botanical description, phytochemical compounds, ecology and exploration of the Creosote Gall Midge, you know those green leafy round growths found occuring on the plant. We will take a closer look at the galls and learn more about what these galls are. 

 PART II: TIME 12:30PM  - 3:00om Is an exploration of the traditional uses of this ancient plant medicine along with modern uses in herbal medicine and skincare. I will be sharing my own discoveries working with Creosote Bush and sharing some of my own herbal preparations. Our second portion of the class is part of the  Foundational Herbalism Series  a eight week herbal apprenticeship that I will open the first class to those not registered for the series. In this portion we will delve into Aromatic herbs, how they work and why we would use aromatics. Participants will explore and learn a new way of approaching herbal teas, we will sip on a tea made with Larrea  and learn how to utilize other senses that will define sensation, temperature (cooling/warming) and texture. From here we will learn how to use our powerful sense of taste to help match what type of herbs to use for imbalances in the body. We will review Materia Medica and learn the  solubility of Larrea , closing the day with Hands-On Herb Lab where students will learn and how to make herbal infused oils and make their own 8 ounce jar of Creosote Bush Oil.

If you live in the Morongo Basin, Coachella Valley or surrounding communities please contact Christina for Curbside Pick-Up of Creoste Bush upon purchase of ticket at 760.617.9171 

Deadline to be mailed the herb for class participation is June 1, 2020. You can also purchase your own Creosote Bush dried leaf here STARWEST BOTANICALS 

 NEEDED MATERIALS FOR PART II

• 1 - 8 ounce jar with matching lid. It is important to have the right size jar, if you do not have an 8 ounce jar I will have some on site for $2
• 10 ounces of Olive Oil (organic if possible)
• 1 - Medium to large mixing bowl
• Scissors 
• 1- Wooden spoon or chopstick
• 1 - Cloth towel or rag
• PEN/PAPER
• Cup
• Creosote Bush tea
• CREOSOTE BUSH CAN BE ORDERED HERE IF YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR OWN SUPPLY 

AT HOME PREP FOR HERBAL TEA DISCOVERY 

Prepare a tea made using the leaf and stems are okay to add into the tea the morning of the class. Take 1 teaspoon of leaf add to a mason jar or a 8 ounce mug, bring water to a boil and pour over plant material covering the top of the mug or jar with a lid or a saucer, allow to steep for an hour then strain and compost or return the plant material to the Earth. 

Classes are non refundable, transferable and will not be recorded.