Avena Winter 2012 (NZAMH)

vena A Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists

Winter 2012

Volume 12 Issue 2

NZAMH Conference & AGM Distillation Techniques with Jill Mulvaney Donna Kerridge: Rongoa Medicine Medicine Making with Rixt Botello

Quality Herbal Medicines from New Zealand

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vena A Winter 2012

CONTENTS

Volume 12 Issue 2

F E AT U R E S

6 A Flying Visit: Jill Dunn meets with AHG president

9 Hydrosols & Hydro-Distillation A photo tutorial in the art of hydro-distillation with Jill Mulvaney.

6 NZAMH Graduate of the Year

14 Herbal Manufacturing with Rixt

A grassroots herbalist, Rixt brings herbal medicine to life, as she gets you out in the garden harvesting fresh plants and into the kitchen mixing up the medicine.

CONFERENCE 2012

22 Introduction to Rongoa Maori

18 NZAMH Conference & AGM

NEWS

Donna Kerridge

32 CAM Professionals Survey

Conference MC, Asti Renaut, brings you a summary of the weekend highlights at this years Conference & AGM.

Abstract from Jill Dunn

8 Whangarei Branch visits Ginny Clayton's Herb Farm 34 A Pioneering Vision MediHerb

Herbal Manufacturing With Rixt

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Feature Article

22

F R OM T H E C OM M I T T E E

Rixt Botello, a “grass roots” herbalist, has a deep affinity with the plant world and gathers her medicine when needed. She lives with her husband Leon and their family on a 50 acre farm with native bush in the far North.

Here she gathers many of her medicines to manufacture herbal healing products, creams, oils and herbal medicines.

a nu f a c t u r i n g you r own medicine ca n be very adventurous and rewarding. Some believe incorporating your own healing energy with the process of making your own herbal rubs, creams and tonics adds to the “strength” of the product made. Growing and harvesting your own herbs add even more to the equation.

where, when and how the herb was harvested, and the percentage of alcohol for the herb to be steeped in.

W hether while steeping the sun, moon, temperature and/or energetics such as prayer and/or intent is included all has an effect on the tincture’s final strength.

Strength is not only measured as a 1:15, 1:10, 1:5, or 1:2, but also in energetic terms due to its production.

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REGULARS

Rixt has been a practicing Medical Herbalist, Aromatherapist and Bach Flower Practitioner for twenty four years. She has tutored in many subjects in Natural Medicine nationwide at Herbal (as HOD), Naturopathic, Community and Massage Colleges and at University for midwives. She also shares her knowledge in the community for plunket, associations and kindergartens, primary, homeschool and high school groups.

3 President’s report

There are many and varied approaches to making herbs into medicine and I have learned over the years that all these approaches have their own merits.

The fascinating part about manufacturing is that there are so many, many ways to make our wonderful medicines.

To commence the manufacturing of herbs it is important to have good tools of trade - it is advisable to purchase the correct equipment.

35 Business management

4 President's Farewell

Take for example tincture manufacturing, there are numerous

Craig Rhodes conclusions to steep a tincture in an

Rixt specializes in the treatment of mental health problems as well as pregnancy, childbirth and childrens health. She also treats many other conditions or ailments.

alcoholic menstruum and reach the same outcome - an herbal tincture.

37 Viewpoint

4 PR subcommittee report

It is the intention of (A)the Herbalist and (B) the need that matters how the process eventuates.

So too the quantity of herb, whether the herb is fresh or dried,

The list on the next page includes a general guide of what would be beneficial to start with.

It also includes merchants where one can purchase these items inexpensively.

'Detoxification' by Sara Hamer

Rixt believes that the healing of our selves lies within us - and with support and guidance, everyone can empower themselves to a healthy state of balance.

4 Education subcommittee report

38 Book Review

Rixt Botello is Co- Director of The Nomadic School of Health together with her husband Leon Botello. The Nomadic School of Health is the school that travels to you to give you the education you desire or need. Rixt can be contacted by email bachnz@ps.gen.nz

5 Committee Contacts & Notices

8 NZAMH Branch Meetings

'Women, Hormones and the Menstrual Cycle'

39 NZAMH Community The Yahoo chat-group

40 Treasury Report 42 2012 AGM Reports

M

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45 Poetry

AVENA Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists Winter 2012

'Peace' by Richard Whelan

COVER PHOTO: Jill Mulvaney, NZAMH Conference & AGM 2012. See page 9. (Production Plus © 2012)

Editorial AVENA Editor: Mary Allan Layout/Design: Mary Allan Printer: GEON CIRCULATION The Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists (NZAMH) is published quarterly and is available to paid members of the NZAMH, and other interested subscribers, libraries and institutions.

ADVERTISING Please contact the editor at avena@ nzamh.co.nz for a copy of Information for Advertisers.

CONTRIBUTIONS Please send contributions by e-mail in an attached Microsoft Word document. Pictures should be high resolution jpg, gif, pdf or TIFF format. Please include full name and contact details. Contact the editor at avena@nzamh. org.nz for further enquiries.

DISCLAIMER Any statement of fact or purported statements of fact contained in this publication are published without prejudice, and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Editor or the NZ Association of Medical Herbalists. Any liability in respect thereto is limited accordingly. Publication of an article or advertisement does not constitute endorsement by the Editor or NZ Association of Medical Herbalists. The information contained in this publication is not intended to replace appropriate professional healthcare.

The Editor and NZ Association of Medical Herbalists take no responsibility for the use of information in this publication. Avena contents cannot be reproduced without permission.

NZAMH PO Box 12 582, Chartwell, Hamilton 3248

w w w. n z a m h . o r g . n z

Hi Everyone, The frosty fingers of winter have crept into our house with formidable persistance. As I recover from an intense but enjoyable Conference & AGM weekend, putting this Avena together has given me time to reflect on the incredible diversity of our organisation and profession. This issue goes some way to reflect that diversity - it is a bumper issue - a whole 44 pages, the Mary Allan, Editor largest one I have put together since I became editor four years ago. No wonder it felt like it took forever to complete!

Conference & AGM 2012 WIth ever graceful poise & prose, MC Asti Renaut has written a multi-page summary of the Conference weekend, reminding us of the highlights & contrasts that made it such a colourful event. It was great to catch up with members from around the country, as well as get a feel for where our organisation is at, what's driving it, and what needs to be done to keep us on track.

New Manufacturing Columns We have two new contributors - Rixt Botello & Jill Mulvaney, both of whom have a practical approach to herbalism that I am sure will be appreciated by readers.

Jill Mulvaney, who gave an awesome presentation at the NZAMH Conference by doing a demo with her Portugese copper stills is in this seasons article, delights in sharing her passion for making herbal hydrosols & essential oils with aromatic plants. This issue she explains how to make a hydrosol using fresh Rosemary.

Rixt Botello is a very experienced grass-roots herbalist, and an inspiring & enthusiastic teacher. She makes almost all her own medicine for her patients, and has very kindly offered to share some of her wisdom in these pages over the coming issues. Her recipes will be in tune with the seasons, and get you into your gumboots and outside. I love the accessability and the call of the wild that this system of herbal medicine engages one in, it is a connection to tradition & nature that is true nourishment for a herbalists soul! This issue Rixt has chosen to share a couple of her recipes suitable for winter: a Joint Rub, and a Cough Medicine.

So, a big huge welcome to you both!

Feedback for Writers Writing is largely a thankless task. Many of Avena's writers never hear from any of you, and they will never know how much you like their writing if you don't tell them. Let's encourage them, and let them know they're appreciated! If you really enjoy an article, or find it useful, or, have any questions about an article please let them know. You can simply email me, and I will pass the message on - either anonymously, or with your name. They will really appreciate it.

Now you have some new and herbalicious ways to keep busy and stay warm this winter. Happy medicine making everyone! I hope you have lots of time to unwind and read the following pages.

Mary 3

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AVENA Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists Winter 2012

Committee Reports

President’s Report Thank you to those of you who attended the NZAMH Conference and AGM. As newly elected president I am very aware that we work for the benefits of our membership. I am really excited about representing and leading NZAMH forward and consider contributions from our membership to be essential to guide us on the path that most benefits you as members.

Conference & AGM The conference was fantastic, inspiring, energetic, heady, Leanne Halliwell hands on, full of confidence and smiles. To those that did not attend – save up now for next year! It is our 30th Anniversary, it would be amazing to have you all with us to Celebrate Herbalists in New Zealand.

Looking Ahead My main aim is to continue to follow the path of registration for medical herbalists, no matter how turbulent the process may continue to be. A central goal is to ‘activate’ the membership into action - if you have some interesting ideas on this let us know.

The education sub-committee expects a busy year ahead, with plans for college reviews and ongoing discussions in regards to education standards.

2012 will also see the development of an interactive web site. One you might WANT to visit, and will be proud to point your clients/colleagues towards. We aim to make it more inclusive of members, with your own personal page that you will be able to enter information on, and add media to.

Integration is a controversial subject. To increase our numbers we will need to recruit from areas of our health community that are actively practicing herbal medicine. Who do you know in your area? Do they know about NZAMH? Would they come to a herb focused conference? YOU need to be part of this active recruitment.

Our progression through all these intensive projects rely on volunteer work by your committee. I thank them in advance for their commitment to herbalism in NZ.

A little about your new President I have an active practice in Whitianga. I have two great children who are schooling in Hamilton, a loving partner, and a fabulous lifestyle. In a past life I have been a busy bee in corporate Auckland, a science geek, and a perpetual student. I am a young herbalist, who has been mostly brown bottle. I am starting to explore and learn more of our land, and what it has to offer. The path of learning is forever widening, rather than narrowing. I am humbled daily by my child like steps through the world of herbalism.

I am available to contact – enter my e-mail into your addresses NOW: herbladywhiti@gmail.com

NZAMH Committee Roles 2012/13 President: Leanne Halliwell Vice President: Craig Rhodes Treasurer: Sue Rubie Secretary: Kimberly Taylor

Sub-committees Political Jill Dunn (Convenor) (Phil Rasmussen: co-opt) Publicity and Promotion Moana Hutana (Convenor) Hannah McMenamin Conference & AGM Linda Jones (Conference Coordinator) Education Jesse Summers (Convenor) Robyn Carruthers Jill Dunn Kate Robertson Student Representatives TBA NHC Representative Jill Dunn

Non-committee roles Administration Val McArthur Avena Editor Mary Allan

For all administration or membership enquiries please contact Val McArthur: Phone (07) 855 6724; (027) 618 3573 E-mail val@herbaltouch.co.nz

Leanne Halliwell

Winter 2012 Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists AVENA

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NZAMH Committee Reports

2011-12 President’s Farewell Well this is my final Presidents report… for those who weren’t there, following a hectic personal and business year I’ve stood down as president at the AGM. In 2011 I was pretty much titular president only, being far too busy in ‘my life’ to give enough attention to the NZAMH Presidential role, and therefore not really attaining many of Craig Rhodes the things I sought to achieve, so this year I’ve stepped back and passed the baton.

Then thanks to Leanne Halliwell for putting her hand up to be President in 2012/13 I’m sure you’ll do an awesome job.

And finally, thank [insert your preferred deity here] that there was very little in 2012 that needed my urgent attention.

I look forward to continuing to work with the committee to further herbal medicine and help to create a vibrant and successful modality going forward.

Craig Rhodes

So firstly, thanks so much to those on the committee in 2011/12 for taking your roles and jobs and really running with them without needing to be pushed, and for all your efforts and achievements.

PR Sub-committee Tēnā koutou katoa, I look forward to a year of service to the members of the NZAMH, I hope to expand upon the great efforts of past PR convenors who have heightened the awareness of medical herbalism in our local communities and nationally.

I would like to extend a warm welcome to Hannah McMenamin who Moana Rei Hutana has joined the PR committee. For those who did not attend AGM, Hannah’s thought provoking presentation on ‘Clinical Supervision in Natural Health Professions’ is a

testament of her passion, and her attributes will be invaluable in the coming year.

To my predecessor, mentor and friend Mary Allan, I am truly grateful for your many hours of mentorship, your ‘All Seeing Editor Eye’ for detail and endless endeavors towards perfection and elevating our profession.

We bid you a prosperous and adventure filled farewell, and appreciate your continued role as Avena editor.

Kia Mauri Ora, PR Convenor Moana Rei Hutana.

Education Sub-committee The two areas that have dominated the activities of the education subcommittee this year are the membership applications and the consultation process with the Colleges.

Each time that we think we are “there” with our membership admission processes we have a new applicant that stretches our parameters, so it is an ongoing process and often a caseRobyn Carruthers by-case process of looking at each person’s individual circumstances. I would be the first person to acknowledge we still have room for improvement in this

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AVENA Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists Winter 2012

area particularly with regard to the time it takes to process applications.

Our second task is our current consultation process with the Colleges. Jesse Summers is undertaking this process and to date she has received feedback from one College and is waiting to hear from the other three.

I have decided with my current commitments to step down as convenor of the Education sub-committee, although I will remain a member. I am delighted that Jesse Summers has agreed to take over this role.

Robyn Carruthers

Notice Board

2012/13 NZAMH National Committe Contact Details McARTHUR, Val Admin. Assistant (07) 8556724 (027) 6183573 admin@nzamh.org.nz CARRUTHERS, Robyn Committee member W: (09) 5269276 E: robyncarruthers@xtra.co.nz DUNN, Jill Committee member (09) 4159732 E: jilldunn@iconz.co.nz HALLIWELL, Leanne President (07) 866 0607 (027) 4588626 E: herbladywhiti@gmail.com HUTANA, Moana Committee member (06) 8733518 E: moanahutana@clear.net.nz JONES, Linda Conference Coordinator, Committee member (03) 3133591 (027) 5713968 E: linda.jones@xtra.co.nz

McMENAMIN, Hannah Committee member (027) 4266018 E: hannmac@gmail.com RASMUSSEN, Phil Co-opt member (Fellow & ex-officio) (09) 834 8041 E: philrasm@ihug.co.nz RHODES, Craig Vice-president M: (021) 272 3357 E: craigr@practicepro.co.nz ROBERTSON, Kate Committee member kate@nectar.co.nz RUBIE, Sue Treasurer (09) 443 1848 M: 021 075 1981 E: sue_rubie@hotmail.co.nz SUMMERS, Jesse Committee member E: jessejsummers@hotmail.com TAYLOR, Kimberly Secretary H (04) 9719639 M: 021 421 380 E: kimberly@zestnaturalhealth.co.nz

NZAMH Email Forum Simply email Val at info@nzamh.org.nz to sign on to the Yahoo chat group. You will then receive an invitation to join the group. Once you have joined, you will be able to respond to emails from members of the forum. This is a good way to keep in touch with other practitioners about political and professional issues and share advice with herbal colleagues.

NZAMH Practitioner Resources NZAMH has a variety of resources to help support you in your practice as well as promote the NZAMH and herbal medicine. These are non-profit items available only to NZAMH members. Items may be viewed in the members section on our website: www.nzamh.org.nz ITEM

PRICE INCL. GST

Patient Guides Tri-fold brochure to give to patients explaining herbal medicine.

Free

Prescription Pads 50 pages

$2.00 each or 6 for $10.00

Bumper Stickers “New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists” “Herbs The First Medicine” “Herbal Medicine Natures Longest Clinical Trial”

$1.50 each or 4 for $5.00

Bottle Labels

$10.00 per bundle of 100

N/B - Prices do not include P & P, please add $5.00 to your order Please contact Val if you would like to order: email: admin@nzamh.org.nz or phone: (07) 8556724

Winter 2012 Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists AVENA

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NZAMH News

NZAMH News

A flying visit:

Jill Dunn meets with AHG President In May this year, Jill Dunn and Phillip Cottingham (MNZAMH) visited the USA to present their recent CAM research project.

Jill and Phil presented a poster for the CAM survey “Mapping the Natural Health Landscape: CAM Professionals Survey” at the Integrative Medicine and Health Conference 2012, Portland.

Flying in a day early Jill (our newly elected NZAMH political sub-committee convener) was able to meet with the American Herbalists Guild (AHG) President Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa - or "KP" for short. They had a fruitful 2 ½ hour meeting about what is happening in terms of herbal medicine in USA, and the visit opened discussion for possible collaboration between our two associations in the future. Watch this space for updates. 3

ABOVE: American Herbalists Guild (AHG) President Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa (KP) and NZAMH Political Subcommittee convener Jill Dunn

NZAMH Graduate of the Year Award At this years AGM in Auckland Keita Rasell was awarded the NZAMH Graduate Herbalist of the year award.

Tēnā koutou katoa, It is with absolute amazement and gratitude that I receive this wonderful award in its second year of inception.

What big shoes I have to fill, following in the footsteps of Donna Kerridge, 2010 Graduate Herbalist of the year.

Thank you to the NZAMH Committee for creating an award that acknowledges the hard work, commitment and passion that we as emerging medical herbalists hope to share with the world.

I wish the best of luck and success to all my fellow graduates.

My journey began as a sickly child, where my grandmother would take me regularly to see a healing practitioner who would check my state of health from head to toe and send us away with bottles of brown liquid, strange roots for me to chew or powders to add to my food.

At home if we complained of minor symptoms, my mother would direct us toward the medicine cabinet, showing us how to look up our symptoms in the

Homoeopathic Materia Medica, to match them with a remedy which most aligned to how we were feeling. Amazingly nine times out of ten, our symptoms were relieved and we carried on as normal.

Despite this early training, I remember that I wished I could have just been taken to a normal doctor like all the other children and given a ‘normal’ tablet or cream. Yet, today I am grateful that I was not smothered with steroidal creams, and immune depressing medications.

As an adult, I utilised the mainstream health system with vigour, to address any chronic conditions. I sought out the expertise of specialists, where I was given either an antibiotic or hormonal treatment which left me in a worse state of health than when it began.

In 2008 I packed up our family and moved to Hastings from Whanganui, in order to study Naturopathy and Herbal Medicine at The Lotus Holistic Centre. It was a leap of faith that paid off. My first day made me feel like I had come home and that I was exactly where I needed to be.

In the four years that I studied at Lotus I had never been so intellectually

ABOVE: Keita busy learning dispensing techniques at Lotus's on-campus Herbal Dispensary in Hastings. (2011) and physiologically challenged. I had to look at myself in detail, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically.

As fate would have it, I had become my own patient. All my ailments required a remedy. A herb from my garden, a flower essence to sort my head out, a

NZAMH News cntd.

NZAMH News homoeopathic remedy, a herbal formula from the college dispensary or a complete dietary overhaul. This is where my learning became ingrained through experience.

It was not easy, yet I was completely supported by the amazing team of staff, who were always available to provide support and wisdom in my flailing moments. If I needed to see a doctor I was instructed to do so. As students we were encouraged to utilise healing methods that were necessary to keep us safe, and to work in tandem with the allopathic world.

Today I have emerged with an excellent state of health and a holistic understanding in how we are one with humankind, all aspects of nature, and the unseen world. Through the Lotus Holistic Centre, I was taught to treat everyone as an individual, that safety in prescribing is of utmost importance, to show compassion for my clients and to

respect my fellow health practitioners.

My dream is to work towards creating a pathway for qualified Herbalists and Naturopaths to be integrated into the mainstream health system. I would like to see how we as a profession, can provide a system of internship, to support and build confidence in our new and emerging graduates. I feel that our skills and knowledge as health professionals should be recognised as being legitimate, and necessary in providing holistic treatment methods, alongside Doctors and Nurses in order to be of service to the public at large and those in need.

I am excited to begin this new journey within the NZAMH movement toward attaining professional recognition and registration as Herbalists, and to be part of a group mindset that works toward the promotion of synergistic healing methods.

Tēnā Koutou, Tēnā Koutou, Tēnā anō tātou katoa (Greetings to you all, greetings to you all, greetings to us all again). 3

ABOVE: Keita Rasell, proud recipient of the 2011 NZAMH Graduate of the Year Award

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Northland Contact Shirley Belcher (09) 438 3144 shirley@wtp.co.nz Auckland Central City: Contact Ange Haldane E: ange@naturalange.co.nz Harvest Natural Health Centre, 407A Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn.

South Auck: Contact: Maureen Verrill E: healinghands.herbs@gmail.com North Shore, West Auck., Volunteers needed Waikato Contact Val McArthur H: (07) 855 6724; M: (027) 618 3573 E: val@herbaltouch.co.nz Te Aroha Contact Tina Brown: (07) 884 4018, E: vanbrown@xtra.co.nz Tauranga Contact Jenny Ager-Pratt (07) 552 0697 E: dreams@eol.co.nz Hawkes Bay Contact Thelma Metcalfe (06) 856 8664, M (027) 696 3100 E: sanctuary.sounds@gmail.com or Fiona MacDonald (06) 870 1046 E: fionamacdonald@clear.net.nz Meetings will resume in Spring when it's warmer Whanganui Contact Glenda Wright (06) 3487092 E: glendawright@slingshot.co.nz Manawatu/Horowhenua Contact Ros Arnott (06) 355 4556 or Sara Hamer (021) 064 6187 (06) 362 7227 E: affinity@slingshot.co.nz Wellington Contact Kimberly Taylor M: (021) 338603, (04) 9719639 E: Kimberly@zestnaturalhealth.co.nz Nelson Contact Anni Tekotua (03) 5488158 E: tekotua@slingshot.co.nz Christchurch Contact Richard Whelan (03) 356 1118 E: herbalist@rjwhelan.co.nz

IMAGE: Mary Allan © 2012

IMAGE: Alchemilla vulgaris

NZAMH Branch Meetings

Whangarei NZAMH HerbalGroup Visit to Ginny Clayton’s Herb Farm

On the 21st April the Whangarei Herbal Group met for a field trip at the Herb Farm of Ginny Clayton, a local author and supplier of potted herbal plants. It was a great get together for us all, even if it was left until late in the growing season.

Ginny is very knowledgeable in the culinary and growing side of herbs and I am sure we all took away a wise bit of knowledge or two about some of the herbs we love. We saw arrowroot growing (instead of ground in a packet), two types of lemongrass, one being the Indian more leafy type and the other being the more rootstock Thai style lemongrass. I was delighted to see herbs like Withania, Skullcap, Marshmallow, many other herbs and lots of heirloom vegetables that Ginny has saved.

Even though I knew I had to find the time to dig some ground when I got home for a special place for my purchases, I came home with about 10 plants that I just had to have.

If we as herbalists don’t have or take the time to grow the herbs we love to use as tinctures, even just one plant of some of what we use, just to know it well, we do miss a side to herbalism our forefathers/mothers held close.

At the school of Phytotherapy in England, in the late 1980s, back in the days when it was run by Mr Hein Zylestra, there was a beautiful herb garden at his home, mostly cared for by his wife and the students would go to learn and help look after it. I remember how she loved the worms in the compost and this is one love I have kept going. We were able to see the plants “alive and kicking” and got an appreciation of the kind of plant it was. By kind of plant – I mean for example take Alchemilla vulgaris (Lady's Mantle). It’s delicate feminine nature, the way it nurtures the drop of dew in its leaf. The silky rounded leaves with little jagged edges. All these aspects reflect its therapeutic use. To be reminded of the essence of the plant, I can remember to keep its image in mind, when choosing it for someone (not just the active constituents and actions).

Before attending the School I got a job on a Herb Farm in England growing and selling culinary herbs to restaurants in the Lake District. This was a great way of learning the culinary side of herbs and being connected to “the old ways” before learning the medicinal side.

Nearly 30 years on and I suspect I am not alone in this, but I realise how I drifted away from the grassroots of herbal medicine - a bit like forgetting to go outside clinic and smell the Rosemary. It’s nice to be reconnected again. I have had bouts of growing some herbs, losing them to kaikuia, slugs, frost or drought... getting busy with life and realising they are not there any more.

I would like to encourage you (if you are not actively growing your own already) to visit a Herb Farm near you and take the time to reconnect again with your herbs.

Suzanne Chappell achesaway@xtra.co.nz

Feature Article

Hydrosols and Hydro-Distillation

By Jill Mulvaney

What is a “Hydrosol”

A

herbal infusion or tea is made by pouring boiling water onto the plant. The heat of the water softens the cells releasing the constituents of the plant into the water.

The parts that are water soluble and the highly volatile micro molecules of essential oils are caught in the vapour. The hot steam hits the cold lid of the container – forms droplets and falls back into the tea. These precious droplets are “hydrosol” – a name coined by Jeanne Rose back in 1990.

“Hydrosols are real aroma-therapy. You might consider them the homeopathy of aromatic therapy. Just as herbs are to homeopathy so are essential oils to hydrosols. Hydrosols represent the true synergy of herbalism and aromatherapy.”

(Jeanne Rose The Aromatic News, 2003)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jill grew up on a New Zealand farm and after spending some time living abroad, moved to Waiheke Island in 1998 with her partner in life and business, Charlie.

Whilst living in Perth, WA, Jill set up and ran a natural skincare business for many years which found her importing raw materials, manufacturing, and teaching.

Jill & Charlie are now both avid distillers of hydrosol, essential oils and spirits.

Together they run workshops and demonstrations throughout NZ and sell alembic stills worldwide.

They enjoy sharing the knowledge of this ancient process, using natural organic seasonal botanicals and beautiful handcrafted copper stills to the householder, gardener, lifestylers and small business and to those passionate about food and aroma.

Go to www.alembics.co.nz for more information, to purchase an alembic still or see if there's a workshop coming up near you.

Up until the Middle Ages the distillation of herbs and flowers was primarily for hydrosols for therapeutic and cosmetic applications.

Essential oils were extracted by oil infusions and maceration. It was much later the techniques of distillation changed to produce greater quantities of essential oils. Of course as they became more popular and commerce and trade was on the move, a tiny vial of an intense aromatic essential oil had a much greater value than a gallon of heavy water!

Mostly the hydrosols have been considered a waste product of the distillation process and discarded. Lavender, Rose and Orange Flower waters have lasted the distance. Many commercial products are synthetic, bearing no relation to the plant or any of its healing properties. Many others are essentials oils dissolved in alcohol or glycerine and added to

water. However, there is now a growing trend that recognizes the intrinsic value of a true hydrosol.

Practical Applications Hydrosols contain all the therapeutic qualities of both the plant itself through its watersoluble properties (herbal therapy) as well as the therapeutic properties of the essential oils, which are present in the hydrosol in tiny microdrops (essential oil therapy). They can be absorbed by the skin or through the gut or any mucus membrane.

They can be used: ΏΏ Internally - add 30ml to a litre of water for a therapeutic refreshing drink ΏΏ Externally as eardrops, nose drops, eyewash, douche or suppository ΏΏ Most are appropriate for the highly sensitive, elderly and the young. ΏΏ Use them as an active ingredient in the aqueous part of creams shampoos and skin tonics ΏΏ Added directly to baths, foot baths and compresses ΏΏ Topically for direct application to affected or infected skin or cuts, scratches, any injury ΏΏ In the kitchen as a beverage or cooking ingredient ΏΏ Environmentally in the home as a cleaner, or bug repellent, room freshener, linen spray ΏΏ Pet care

Winter 2012 Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists AVENA

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Hydrosols and Hydro-Distillation

1. My still sits on a gas ring, my sterile beakers are ready to catch the distillate and the oil separators are clean and ready. I have prepared a bowl of rye flour paste and have my pH reader for taking regular pH readings of the hydrosol. I have filled the pot 2/3 water and set it to boil.

The Distillation Process

2. While I wait for the water to boil I strip the leaves off the stems and discard any damaged or woody parts of the plant. I have a fragrant pile of flowers and fresh sticky leaves. The twigs are set aside to dry. I can use them as skewers for kebabs or throw in the pizza oven. While they are still pliable I plait some for smudge sticks – for cleansing.

ever use it in the morning, never after an evening bath or shower.

No, it’s part of the rising, morning, settling into the day routine.

Plants or flowers are put into boiling water or subjected to steam I call it “daily self care and maintenance”. or both. If the plant is in boiling water only – its called a 'HydroOn a more pragmatic note why does this work for me? distillation'. If the plant is steamed and is above or separate from Rosemary is considered to be an anti-oxidant, a circulatory the water it’s called a 'Steam Distillation'. stimulant, a mild diuretic; it promotes healthy shiny hair, tones normal to oily skin, helps relieve chest tightness and congestion, Making Hydrosol eases muscular pain, stimulates digestions and has a tonic effect We have had a long warm and mostly dry autumn: it’s on the nervous system. made up for the lack of a hot summer. The Rosemary I know where there is a neglected uncultivated hedge of in the garden is covered in blue flowers and the leaves Rosemary vigorously growing on a steep northern facing rocky hillside looking out to the sea. It will be swept by the prevailing have a fresh waxy sticky oily feel. There is plenty of salty wind and receives the full arc of the sun. I think of the workers vibrant growth as it strikes upward. It’s been bothering in Tunisia, lugging steel drums on their donkeys and backs up the me of late, I wake at night ...it’s in my thoughts, the hillsides to harvest Rosemary and distil it in barrels over open fires aroma washes by me unexpectedly; I see the blue in in the heat of the day. many places. Yes, time to replenish the jars and the Thankfully for me it’s a stroll up the hill, harvest the plant, empty essential oil bottle before the moon wanes, the thank and bless the Rosemary, return home to set up my still in the garden. chill comes in; the flowers turn to seed and the juices I'm planning to do two types of distillation to compare results, of the plant retreat to the roots bedding down for the steam distillation – for essential oil and a hydrodistillation for winter. Last chance before spring. hydrosol. I use a Traditional Copper Alembic for the task.

Rosemary is a hydrosol I use daily and the essential oil preciously.

After showering I spritz my hair, face and underarms. After my teeth are clean a quick spray in the mouth – set for the day! I only

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AVENA Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists Winter 2012

IMAGE: Mary Allan © 2012

Feature Article

IMAGE: Mary Allan © 2012

3. When the water is boiling I carefully remove the onion dome (copper gets hot!) and place 5 good handfuls (approx. 100 g each) in the bowl – about 500 g in total in approximately 7 litres of boiling water.

4. I place the onion dome on the pot and quickly seal the joins with my rye flour paste. It’s important to prevent any steam from escaping as it has the bulk of the volatile essential oils especially in the first flush of steam.

So, the water in the pot is at a rolling boil. The joins are sealed with rye flour paste so no steam escapes. In moments the hot water will soften and burst the cells of the rosemary leaves and flowers releasing the volatile essential oils and water soluble constituents.

Steam fills the onion dome and spirals, any particles and dust will drop back into the water. The steam travels quickly along the copper pipes to the condenser bucket.

“

I am always asked “why rye flour? ...I have known people who have tried plumbers tape, silicon and putty. The copper becomes extremely hot during the process and will melt glues and plastic, they invariably make a mess of the copper and are difficult to remove.

The rye flour is organic, we are not introducing any synthetic complex chemicals, although it bakes on firm, it stays pliable enough to easily remove for a second distillation. It also keeps the copper clean.

”

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Hydrosols and Hydro-Distillation 5. The condenser bucket must have cool running water flowing through it during the entire process. This is to cool the coil so the steam condenses to become hydrosol. If the hydrosol feels warm, the coil is too hot, increase the flow of water.

As we are on tank water I use an outdoor shower unit which runs off a 12 volt battery. It sits in a large bin of cold water and recirculates. I have a hose attached to the outlet to drain the water back to the bin. You could have a garden hose trickling into the bucket if water is in good supply.

6. This hydrosol soon trickles out into the beaker and the garden is filled with the aroma of Rosemary.

When I have collected 100ml I take a pH reading. Good hydrosol has flavour, aroma and a pH between 4.5-5.5. From 500 g of Rosemary I only expect 500ml of Hydrosol. I know when to stop the distillation by checking the pH every 100ml. As soon as it starts rising above the initial reading I know I am getting mostly water. I also check the flavour and aroma throughout the distillation. Less is mostly better than more.

However, every distillation is different, depending on the season, soil types, weather, moon, how much rain, how much sun…..its nature. For me that’s what makes distillation so interesting.

The pH has settled at 5.5.

7. I have 500ml of hydrosol with a constant pH of 5.5, and a strong, grassy, green, herby flavour of Rosemary. It’s pleasant to taste.

When I distil Rosemary in the height of summer before it flowers, the aroma is predominantly of camphor and quite unpleasant to taste. In this instance the aroma is sweet, grassy and pleasant to taste. This suggests it will be great in skin and hair care, and internal use. If the camphor is predominating it’s a useful decongestant, antiseptic, cooling skin tonic on hot days.

I use both types to mist a leg of lamb before it arrives at the table or added to a herby risotto at the last minute.

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AVENA Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists Winter 2012

Feature Article 8. The hydrosol is poured into an oil separator flask. A little oil, hardly worth separating. I often leave it in the hydrosol.

The water acts as a sponge, it absorbs a finite amount of the volatile essential oil, what it can’t absorb and keep in solution is released as millions of tiny bubbles which I watch spiralling to the surface. This is the essential oil being released. The specific gravity of the essential oil is lighter than water so it floats to the top.

I have observed the distillation process. It has given me insight into how valuable and potent hydrosols are. In some way, essential oil is the by-product of distillation, that which cannot be held in suspension. Hydrosols by their nature have a greater complexity than essential oils. Suzanne Catty describes them in her book Hydrosols: The Next Aromatherapy as “holograms of the plant”.

When my distillation is done I transfer my hydrosol to clear glass sterile jars labelled with: Plant Type Date Moon Phase Tide (if coastal) Type of distillation pH I then decant to 100ml spray mister bottles or 500ml Amber Glass bottles for daily use. When I decant I check that

there is no sediment or cloudiness in the jar. This may indicate yeast and microbial blooms. I also test the pH, if it has risen from that on the label I know there may be microbial activity so I discard the hydrosol.

As long as hydrosol has a pH between 4.55.5, and is kept in a cool sterile dark place and in sterile containers you can expect them to last for at least 6 months and mostly 12 months. This varies depending on plant type.

I distil plants throughout the year and expect different results depending on the season. Eucalyptus in the middle of a hot dry summer yields double the essential oil compared to a winter distillation, but the winter distillation is softer and sweeter and even makes a pleasant addition to drinking water. The same applies to Rosemary. Some plants I expect a barely noticeable sheen of essential oil – Melissa, Kawa Kawa, Cornflowers, Calendula, Rose and yet they are fragrant, acidic and have flavour.

It’s important to remember when you are doing a hydro-distillation it’s not about achieving a high yield of essential oil, it's about capturing the whole plant in balance.

Next issue I will go through the Steam Distillation process which is primarily to yield essential oil. 3

ALEMBICS WORKSHOP SCHEDULE JUNE JULY 2012 Thames

Hamilton

Auckland

Thames Community Centre

Whatawhata: Herbs NZ Cafe/Nursery

Henderson: Aromatics & More

Saturday 23rd June

Saturday 14th July

Saturday 28th July

www.alembics.co.nz 13

Feature Article

Herbal Manufacturing With Rixt

M Rixt Botello, a “grass roots” herbalist, has a deep affinity with the plant world and gathers her medicine when needed. She lives with her husband Leon and their family on a 50 acre farm with native bush in the far North.

Here she gathers many of her medicines to manufacture herbal healing products, creams, oils and herbal medicines.

Rixt has been a practicing Medical Herbalist, Aromatherapist and Bach Flower Practitioner for twenty four years. She has tutored in many subjects in Natural Medicine nationwide at Herbal (as HOD), Naturopathic, Community and Massage Colleges and at University for midwives. She also shares her knowledge in the community for plunket, associations and kindergartens, primary, homeschool and high school groups.

Rixt specializes in the treatment of mental health problems as well as pregnancy, childbirth and childrens health. She also treats many other conditions or ailments.

Rixt believes that the healing of our selves lies within us - and with support and guidance, everyone can empower themselves to a healthy state of balance.

Rixt Botello is Co- Director of The Nomadic School of Health together with her husband Leon Botello. The Nomadic School of Health is the school that travels to you to give you the education you desire or need. Rixt can be contacted by email bachnz@ps.gen.nz or phone

a nu f a c t u r i n g you r own medicine ca n be very adventurous and rewarding. Some believe incorporating your own healing energy with the process of making your own herbal rubs, creams and tonics adds to the “strength” of the product made. Growing and harvesting your own herbs add even more to the equation.

the herb was harvested, and the percentage of alcohol for the herb to be steeped in. Whether while steeping the sun, moon, temperature and/or energetics such as prayer and/or intent is included all has an effect on the tincture’s final strength as well. Strength is not only measured as a 1:15, 1:10, 1:5, or 1:2, but also in energetic terms due to its production.

There are many and varied approaches to making herbs into medicine and I have learned over the years that all these approaches have their own merits.

The fascinating part about manufacturing is that there are so many, many ways to make our wonderful medicines.

Take for example tincture manufacturing, there are numerous ways to steep a tincture in an alcoholic menstruum and reach the same outcome - an herbal tincture.

It is the intention of A the Herbalist, and B the need, that guides as to how the process eventuates. So too the quantity of herb, whether the herb is fresh or dried, where, when and how

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AVENA Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists Winter 2012

To commence the manufacturing of herbs it is important to have good tools of trade - it is advisable to purchase the correct equipment.

The list on the next page includes a general guide of what would be beneficial to start with.

It also includes merchants where one can purchase these items inexpensively.

Feature Article

Herbal Manufacturing Equipment NEEDS

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Stainless steel or enamel bowl to fit pot

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Stainless steel or enamel cooking pot for water bath (available at Farmers)

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Quality soft spatula (Farmers)

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Rubber gloves

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Glass measuring jugs 125ml, 250 ml, 500 ml or 1 cup, 2 cup and 4 cup measure (Warehouse)

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Accurate kitchen scales electronic or manual

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Jars & labels

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1 x glass 100ml measuring cylinder

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Stainless steel or ceramic measuring spoons (these are available at Farmers)

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Funnels large and small

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Large glass jar 4 litres

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Bleach free filter paper (Available at Bin Inn)

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Mortar and pestle

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Butter/Cheese or Mutton Cloth (these are all the same, cream stretchy material, usually available in bulk, up north here in Whangarei at Arthur’s Emporium or Empire Mart, or suppliers for Cleaners)

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Labels

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Bottles and jars or containers for medicines

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Electric jug

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Tea Infuser or Tea pot

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Large and small strainer, stainless steel

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Grease proof paper

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Sterile gauze

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Scissors

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News paper

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Sharp knife

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Secateurs

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2 Wooden spoons used solely for medicine making (write on them for Herbal Use)

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Stainless Steel Thermos

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Old Towels

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Blender

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Colander

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Empty glass jams jars and/or large jars

Winter Medicine Making With winter approaching I have included two recipes to start your own manufacturing. Both recipes are my own and have been used effectively over time.

Feature Article

Rosemary Herbal Joint Rub

Ingredients Fresh Rosemary 1 cup stripped or 2 packets of 20 gms dried Rosemary 1 cup Olive Oil Approximately ¼ cup Apple Cider Vinegar Approximately ⅛ tsp Cayenne Pepper ĨĨ Harvest fresh Rosemary, make sure it is dry and the plant is honoured and respected, pull off the small stalks with leaves gently only and put the woody stalks back with the plant later. ĨĨ Rosemary Rub can be made in two ways. ĨĨ Put the herb in an empty jar (I use lots of jam jars, which I recycle to make tinctures with or healing oils). Pour over the oil. Put in a place away from direct sunlight but somewhere warm, especially in winter. ĨĨ Shake two to three times weekly over the next 6 weeks while the oil is steeping. After 6 weeks strain through the cheese cloth and funnel. Squeeze the cloth (while wearing rubber gloves) and store in dark glass bottles or containers. Do not store in plastic as the essential oil content of the Rosemary can break down the plastic. This in turn will filtrate into the oil defeating the purpose of having healing oil. ĨĨ Once the oil has strained to make the rub, measure the oil and to every 100 ml of oil add 30ml (2 Tbsps.) apple cider vinegar and a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Shake vigorously until the oil and vinegar is well blended.

Another method of making the oil and rub is the Bain Marie or water bath method but this method will be covered at a later date. ĨĨ The Rosemary Rub is excellent for sore joints, muscles and arthritic pain. Apply to sore joints and muscles, taking care not to rub near eyes or nose or rub eyes with hands after application. ĨĨ Slightly heat the rub, rub the blend vigorously into the affected areas or add a bandage to the warmed oil and then apply to the affected area. Cover with glad wrap and then cover with a towel or heat pack to allow the herbs to draw into the skin and joints. ĨĨ It can also be useful for migraines or headaches (apply to forehead and back of the neck), and is wonderful for chilblains and bad circulation. This application is recommended to be applied two times daily, especially before bed. ĨĨ The Rosemary oil before blending with the apple cider vinegar and cayenne pepper can also be used for cooking and to add to foods as a delicious herbal healing oil that supports the liver and circulation. Very flavoursome, healthy and yummy.

The next recipe is one of my favourites as it changes with every season, and seems to have a greater effect with the herbs growing at that time.

Feature Article

Herbal Cough Mixture

Cough Mix Makes about 10 x 100 ml bottles

Ingredients Herbs in season Manuka honey Mineral or spring water Echinacea tincture Marshmallow tincture Brandy Equipment needed Unbleached filter paper Funnel Stainless steel pot Cheese cloth Spoon Amber 100ml bottles and lids Labels Harvesting Basket Measuring jug Measuring spoons ĨĨ Take your Herbal Basket for harvesting and with a bright demeanor and good intentions wander outside to pick whatever bronchial, nasal, throat or influenza herbs are in season such as Yarrow, Peppermint, Red Sage, Plantain, Comfrey (leaf and root), Daisy, Thyme, Violet Leaf, Horehound, Calendula, Balm of Gilead, Lemon Balm, Red Clover flowers to name just a few. Depending on where you live in New Zealand this would dictate on what you would harvest.

ĨĨ Pick about 2 cups of herbs and cover with mineral or spring water in a 1 litre cooking pot. ĨĨ Cover with a lid and bring to the boil. Once the boil has been achieved turn off the fire and leave to sit with lid on for 10 minutes. ĨĨ Tap on the lid before opening, so to get those vitamins and oils that have condensed on the lid. Wet the paper filter with water and place in a funnel. Then strain the herbal liquid through the paper filter. This can take some time. ĨĨ Measure the hot liquid and for every 1000ml add 15 tablespoons of Manuka honey. ĨĨ Stir until all the honey is dissolved. ĨĨ Then add Herbal tinctures 2 tsp of Echinacea and 2 tsps of Marshmallow and approximately 100ml Brandy as a preservative. ĨĨ Pour into 100ml bottles and label Dosage/Label Instructions Cough Mixture (Shake Well) Infant ⅛ tsp, 2-4 yrs ¼ tsp, 4-8 yrs ½ tsp, 8-12yrs ¾ tsp, Adult 1 tsp Contains Alcohol Refrigerate upon opening Enjoy your herbal cooking as to manufacture your own medicine can be very adventurous, rewarding and healing.

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NZAMH Conference & AGM 2012 May 26 - 27th Novotel Ellerslie, Auckland

By MC Asti Renaut How do we honour our past and our traditions as herbalists as we move forward individually and collectively with new tools and technologies, into a new environment of modern politics and pressures, while maintaining our integrity and vision? This was one of the emergent themes of our AGM Conference Weekend in Auckland, a thread that ran through much of our discussion and many excellent presentations.

The weekend was opened with a thoughtfully chosen and beautifully sung karakia from Moana Hutana. This helped us all clear away the clutter of our lives and make a new space for learning and connecting for the weekend ahead.

Our first speaker, and our international guest speaker, was Dr Reg Lehmann. Reg spoke twice during the weekend, and his first topic was Quality and Chemistry Concerns with Herbal Products. Here Reg outlined the many methods and techniques used for the testing of plant materials in his work with MediHerb to ensure the quality of the raw materials and the finished products. Reg spoke of the increasing need for this in a world where plant substitution and adulteration is rife, whether by accident (wrong species or subspecies supplied) or with blatant profiteering intent (eg. the addition of food dye to bilberry extracts). The need for quality manufacturing has never been greater, and it is a good reminder to us to use suppliers whom we can trust absolutely to provide medicines we know to be true to label.

Reg’s second presentation on the Sunday focussed on Interpreting Clinical and Pre-Clinical Results, an eyeopening reminder to us of the importance of looking very closely at research and how we apply it to our practice and understanding of herbal medicine. Reg gave examples of all the ways in which research on herbal medicine can be dodgy; often the plant is not identified thoroughly in the research, nor is the part of the plant used, the type of extract, the form of administration etc. Also the research models often do not reflect the manner in which we typically use herbs as herbalists. He encouraged us to question research: in vitro or in vivo? What can we extrapolate from this? Are they using human cells? What are the time frames? What placebo was used? What is the research methodology? So many questions, and so much that can be done wrong. He also encouraged us to ask whether the research we are basing our understanding on actually corresponds to the product we are using. Thank goodness there are researchers such as Reg out there who are doing relevant, quality research, because there are many who are not, and we all know which kind gets headlines!

Sandra Clair shared with us some of the fruits of her ongoing research in her talk Renaissance Plant Medicine: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science. The Materia Medica of Tabernaemontanus, first written in 1588, forms the basis of Sandra’s research, and this book alone contains over 3000 plant monographs and detailed uses for these herbs. Sandra pointed out that many of us only learn about approximately

18

PHOTO: Dale Farnsworth 2012

PHOTO: Dale Farnsworth 2012

Conference Speakers This page from left: Dr Reg Lehmann, Sandra Clair

AVENA Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists Winter 2012

NZAMH Conference & AGM 2012

200 herbs these days, what a difference! Sandra gave first an overview of Papaver somniferum (opium poppy) and it’s incredible analgesic properties, before giving an extremely detailed review of Arnica montana (arnica) and its uses over the past 400 years. We have been scared away from using arnica internally, despite the fact that arnica has been used internally for hundreds of years, the key being to give the right (low) dose. The message from Sandra is that we have had many of our most powerful cornerstone plant medicines taken away from us, for no real good reason, and that we should campaign to get back these valuable tools if we are to truly thrive as herbalists.

Tony Brook from the Natural Health Council (NHC), came in to speak to us briefly about the NHC (of which we are all members) and its present configurations and direction.

For those who are unclear on this, the NHC is an umbrella

organisation which represents the interests of many natural health bodies, including the NZAMH. More information can be found at www.naturalhealthcouncil.org.nz.

Dr Nicky Baillie’s talk Digestive Health: The Long and the Short of It was an inspirational journey through the digestive tract, filled with gems of clinical insight and reminders of the healing powers of herbal medicine. Nicky gave an excellent account of the increasing use of Losec in infants for ‘reflux’, outlining the potential damage this can do not only to digestive function but also importantly to immune function, and then gave examples of herbal alternatives which may be effectively used. Nicky used many case studies to illustrate her approaches to a variety of digestive complaints in people of all ages, as well as addressing the role of the cultural, historical and social environments in which our eating and digesting takes place.

PHOTO: Dale Farnsworth 2012

PHOTO: Dale Farnsworth 2012

Conference Speakers This page from left: Dr Nicky Baillie, Donna Kerridge

Winter 2012 Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists AVENA

19

NZAMH Conference & AGM 2012 In her presentation The Current State and Future Direction of Herbal Medicine in New Zealand Jill Dunn shared with us the results of the survey which we were all asked to complete (along with other CAM bodies) last year, of which 45% of us responded. The results were fascinating and gave an interesting snap-shot of where we are as a professional body. How many practice full-time? (about 20%) How well-educated are we?

(Very) How many of us feel registration is essential? (90%).

We use many different modalities, we treat many health conditions successfully, we refer to other health professionals and are also referred to, we actively contribute to public health care and discuss national health strategy objectives with our patients (such as reducing diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease etc). Jill identified specifically the need for us to engage actively in more research, to be taught to use standardised clinical outcome measures, and that a more formalised integration with other modalities will benefit both us and our patients. As Jill said, the report raises as many questions as it does offer conclusions, and also lays the path for some work be done!

Due to some very sad circumstances Valmai Becker was unable to present her scheduled talk, and so asked Jill Mulvaney from Alembics to step in and talk in her place.

This proved a fascinating presentation as Jill showed us how to make a hydrosol in her hand-beaten Portugese copper alembic still. Jill made a kawakawa hydrosol before our eyes as she described the process of essential oil and hydrosol distillation and shared her thoughts on the benefits and therapeutics of hydrosols as the forgotten history and potential future of aromatherapy.

Donna Kerridge, last year’s inaugural NZAMH Graduate Award recipient, presented a moving and thoughtful Introduction to Rongoa Maori. Donna outlined some of her own journey of years of learning about native plants, cycles of harvesting, specific tikanga, only to discover that this was

“merely the tip of the rongoa Maori iceberg”. She says “I was both at the beginning and past the point of no return simultaneously”. Donna went on to talk about many other aspects of rongoa Maori, especially the importance of an understanding of taha wairua, the world of connections, bringing to mind her teacher Rob McGowan’s talk at our AGM two years ago. Connections between us all, between ourselves and nature, ourselves and community, and that the breaking of these connections is the essence of dis-ease. For this reason care for the land (this land) is as important as care for each other. Donna talked about some questions she is commonly asked about rongoa Maori, and then went on to outline some key aspects of what rongoa Maori is, while also emphasising that while we may have different tools and tikanga, all healing traditions in essence share the same beating heart.

Hannah McMenamin presented on the topic of Clinical Supervision in Health Professions. Hannah is a current student at Wellpark College in Auckland and the daughter of a counsellor and a midwife, both of whom are in professions that have clinical supervision. Hannah presented her research into different models of supervision used by different health professions, and made clear the differences between clinical supervision and any of the other things it can get mistaken for, including mentoring, counselling, and peer review.

Hannah outlined the benefits of clinical supervision as identified in current research, and plans to continue her own research into how we may move forward with our own model of clinical supervision within the NZAMH in the future.

After Hannah’s talk, there was overwhelming consensus that this is something we would benefit from.

The NZAMH Graduate Award this year was presented to the very deserving Keita Rasell who finished her studies at Lotus Holistic Centre last year. She gave a wonderful acceptance speech acknowledging those who had supported and inspired

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PHOTO: Dale Farnsworth 2012

PHOTO: Dale Farnsworth 2012

Conference Speakers This page from left: Tony Brook (NHC), Jill Mulvaney

AVENA Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists Winter 2012

NZAMH Conference & AGM 2012

As you will know from the reports elsewhere in this Avena, several people stepped down from their committee roles at the AGM, and were replaced by other willing members, who as ever we thank enormously for their time and dedication.

The nature of this voluntary work is that it is endless, arduous, mostly thankless, and very occasionally extremely satisfying. It can be a slog, but from my experience you are slogging alongside some amazing people, and the support and collegiality is not only inspirational but sets a strong foundation for a sense of community. I encourage everyone to serve some time on the committee. Since doing so I have felt that the NZAMH is like a family, one where I belong.

Like any family, it is what you make it. Like any family too, there are differing opinions and we like a good debate! The member’s discussion revolved primarily around the question of education standards and the relevance and necessity of these for us as a profession. We also discussed the current situation regarding registration, how progress is being held up, and what we can do to push forward.

Thanks to Linda Jones and the organising committee for all their hard work making the weekend happen. It is always a wonderful thing to be gathered with a hundred other herbalists, to see old friends and colleagues, to catch up, to learn together, to actively involve ourselves with our collective vision and growth.

And so the big question is, where will next year’s AGM weekend be held? As you all know, traditionally we have the weekend in Auckland every alternate year. As last year’s was in Wellington, we have made an executive decision that it’s time for a South Island seminar weekend again. The last South Island conference was in 2009 in Christchurch, and prior to this the 2007 weekend was in Nelson. There has never been a weekend held in Dunedin, and opinion is divided quite evenly between Dunedin and Nelson at present (based on feedback forms). The number of people who said to me while we were in Auckland “I’ve never been to Dunedin” made me think that it would be doing everyone a great service to give them the chance to see such a beautiful city for the first time! I love Nelson too, don’t get me wrong, but we need to spread the love around, right down to the Gothic toes of our nation. Please make your opinions known on the Yahoo group, and Linda will be investigating venues and flight costs in the mean time to work out which location has the best options for a winning and celebratory gathering for our 30th birthday. I look forward to seeing you all, here in the South, 25-26th May 2013. 3 Asti Renaut MC (2012 NZAMH AGM and Seminar Weekend)

PHOTO: Dale Farnsworth 2012

PHOTO: Dale Farnsworth 2012

Conference Speakers This page from left: Jill Dunn, Hannah McMenamin

Winter 2012 Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists AVENA

All images in this article kindly provided by Prduction Plus Ltd www.proplus.co.nz

her along the way and outlining her hopes for her future work in creating a place for herbal medicine in our national health framework through her relationships with various DHBs and other organisations. It must be noted that after hearing from a current student (Hannah) and two recent graduates (Donna and Keita), I think we all felt that the future of herbal medicine is in very good hands indeed.

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...the circle of life and energetic flow that is Taha Wairua.

RONGOA MAORI Rongoa Maori is the holistic healing practice of this land that not only includes the diagnosis, preparation and dispensing of herbal remedies, but also the healing energy of all things and the restoration and management of our natural resources. xx

Do I have to be Maori to learn and practice Rongoa Maori?

xx

How do mirimiri techniques, etiquette and processes differ from other forms of massage?

xx

How do I learn about the plants unique to Maori herbal medicine and how to prepare them using traditional practices?

xx

What special karakia or incantations do I need to learn?

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How do I offer these things in a culturally sensitive way so as not to offend anyone?

xx

Can I charge for my services?

I N T R O D U C T I O N TO R O N G OA M AO R I B Y D O N N A K ER R I D GE N Z A M H 2 012 CO N F ER EN C E & AG M “ T H E MAORI WORLD VIEW IS ESSENTIALLY H O L I S T I C ; TA H A WA I R U A I S A B OUT THE WORLD OF CONNECTIONS THAT F L O W S F R O M T H AT W H O L ENESS, THAT BASIC UNITY, that brings all of creation together... ...This web of connections is what makes a person who he or she is, in relation to the world of which they are a part. It is much more than one’s human whakapapa… as the whakapapa of man connects him to the whole family of Tane and back to Rangi and Papa… all things on the face of the earth are connected” (Robert McGowan)

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AVENA Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists Winter 2012

These are questions often asked of rongoa Maori practitioners.

When I started out, there seemed to be so many rules to follow, some of which made very little sense to me. Not only was I afraid of forgetting them and then offending someone, things seemed impossible to co-ordinate.

NZAMH Conference Presentation 2012 Like all good herbalists I learned: xx which native plants were good for what ailments, xx which plants would best suit a specific person, combined with the relevant ailment, xx which times of the year each of the plants were available, xx where were the best places to find them and what grows alongside them, so I could identify them quickly, xx which days of the lunar cycle were best for harvesting xx what time of day was best for harvesting specific plants. xx which side (north, east, south or west) of the plant was best to harvest from and why? xx which direction was actually north anyway? xx what was the optimal weather for harvesting and why? Things don’t generally work for me unless I know the why. xx how to manage these practices alongside my own cycle & associated needs, xx how to calm myself despite all the busy-ness in my life so that I could focus on the task at hand, xx and finally how to best co-ordinate all of this with the random and often immediate needs of those who ask for my help.

My rational mind figured that by the time I had: xx eliminated all the hours between lunch and first light next morning, when harvesting wasn’t so good, I had automatically lost 75% of the hours available in the year for harvesting Rongoa, xx halved those remaining hours to reflect the lower vitality in a waning moon, a less favourable time to harvest, xx subtracted a further allowance from the remainder to account for the 130 days of rain projected in Auckland per year, xx and lastly subtracted a further annual provision for menstruation, half of which were probably when it was raining or the moon was waning anyway.

After all these considerations, I was left with a total of 6.5 quarter days each month that were perfectly aligned as optimal for harvesting most plants. This of course assumes that I would have nothing else planned on those exact days, can travel and that I would be in a suitably relaxed and focussed frame of mind for harvesting respectfully.

This is maybe where the term ‘Maori time’ has its origins. Even the best-laid plans are subject to Maori time. A time when all the stars are perfectly aligned for certain activities and nothing else seems

to matter. Io (the creator) himself could have been waiting, but if you didn’t tend to certain activities at specific times, you might risk starvation, substandard shelter for the upcoming wet season or no new clothes for another year.

What actually seemed like a very haphazard way of going about things on the surface may in fact have been time management at its finest! The tide, seasons, weather and female menstrual cycle bow to no man or woman.

Clearly rongoa practitioners must be the queens (or kings) of perfect time management, extremely opportunistic, tuned into Maori time and the master of improvisation, I thought.

Not a hard ask at all, if rongoa Maori was all you did. Fortunately in days of old rongoa practitioners didn’t hunt and gather, prepare food, build houses, go to war or raise a family. The rest of the whanau took care of those things so that you in turn could take care of them when the need arose. But alas today we do it all, or at least we try to. In doing so we risk burning ourselves out and have little time left to stay in touch with nature.

How many of us know where North is, which phase of the moon we are currently entering and what time the next low tide is? This may well be the root cause of our dis-ease with living, our lack of connectivity and appreciation for the lore of Mother Nature.

After a few years of thinking I was on the cusp of getting rongoa Maori sorted, I was pulled up short when someone

RIGHT: DONNA TEACHES RONGOA MAORI FOR A VARIETY OF ORGANISATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

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NZAMH Conference Presentation 2012 explained to me that everything I had learned to date was merely the tip of the rongoa Maori iceberg.

“You have to ‘feel’ the inter-relationship that exists between all things, animate and inanimate.

By observing and developing a kinship with nature you will learn the true essence of rongoa Maori. By incorporating rongoa Maori into your daily life, not just calling upon it when needed a greater understanding will develop”.

This was a humbling moment on my learning journey but also a beacon that lit the way forward.

I knew which trees were good for this or that, how to apply many of the tikanga practiced by my tupuna and now I was learning I had only just begun to open the door on this practice called rongoa Maori. All this wonderful knowledge that had been so generously shared with me was the beginning not the destination. With that knowledge came a responsibility to continue to care for nature and share the learning that had been entrusted to me for the benefit of others.

I was both at the beginning and past the point of no return simultaneously.

I give you advance warning, be careful what you wish for should you choose embark on the learning that is rongoa Maori.

There are no short cuts. Rongoa Maori is all encompassing and it will take at least a lifetime to master. So why do we do it?

We do it for the benefit of our grandchildren and their future generations the way our tupuna did for us, keeping this sacred knowledge alive, however difficult the challenges.

What I had been focussed on was native herbal medicine, an important but very small component of what constitutes rongoa Maori. I was confronted with the realisation that the life long journey I was embarking on was a continuum of the lifelong journeys of all those that had gone before me - another humbling moment.

Traditional Maori knowledge (matauranga Maori), which also governs the practice of rongoa Maori, was preserved by past generations through language, myths & legends, genealogy (whakapapa), the calls of the birds, carvings and other arts. All of these things had now been added to my ‘to learn’ list. The sheer volume of knowledge I would need to acquire to really understand rongoa Maori was just starting to sink in.

Nonetheless this is where I started my journey and the realisation that if I am to die happy clearly I am going to have to temper my need to rationalise everything. I either accept the knowledge handed down by my ancestors as a given, or find a way to live a very very long time.

Before I continue, l would like to acknowledge that what I am sharing with you is not new, nor can I claim it to be mine.

Much of what I share is knowledge that has been shared many times over many generations. I cannot claim copyright of that knowledge. My thoughts are based on the teachings I have received from a variety of sources, historical books, wonderful wise old people, practitioners from other fields, college & university tutors, scientists, patients, my peers, my students and especially my adversaries. I am grateful to them all for leading me to this place.

However my greatest and most treasured teacher is Rob McGowan who has nurtured my learning and that of many others in the practice of rongoa Maori. I am eternally grateful for the gift of his teachings. Our subsequent friendship and

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knowledge I have gained from him, has had a profound effect on my appreciation for life and experience of taha wairua. Much of what I share here is the result of our many discussions and the challenges he encourages me to embark on in order to progress my learning. Writing this piece is one of those challenges, as I present to you the gifts I hold in my heart and my head, which house the essence of who I am and who I hope to become.

What is Rongoa Maori?

Rongoa Maori is about having an intimate relationship with Nature.

Rongoa Maori is a set of practices (tikanga) unique to individual iwi (extended family groups), whanau (family) and practitioners.

It is a mix of tangible and intangible things - recipes, techniques, rituals, massage, herbal medicine, karakia and incantations.

There are a number of rules around harvesting plants for medicine like: xx harvesting from the eastern side of plants where ever possible to support on-going healthy growth and viability of the plant, xx taking no more than is immediately required or than the plant can bear in order for it to continue growing without a struggle, xx ensuring the plant’s continued health by inoculating it with soil from its base after harvesting bark, xx taking the time to acknowledge the sacrifice the plant is making for our benefit.

There are pre requisites to learn before touching the body of another like: xx ensuring that we are still in ourselves, focussed on the task at hand and no other and therefore clear to work with the wairua (spirit) of another, xx acknowledging the existence of both our and the other persons ancestors who contribute to the healing process.

There are rules to learn around the preparation of linen for mirimiri such as ensuring that towels are not laundered with items associated with food preparation or items that may have been in contact with the bodily fluids of others.

The consumption of food in and around a place of healing is usually frowned upon as healing is a tapu practice (sacred), food is noa (common) and they are equal opposites that do not mix.

Understanding the role of patients as active rather than passive participants in healing is important too, such as: xx the patient’s desire to bring about change, xx the notion that patients bring to the table not only themselves but their ancestors who also warrant acknowledgement, xx patients may be required to participate in certain activities such synchronicity of breathing and promoting dreaming.

Humility and respect for the patient and self is also important to learn about, for example: xx the healing process is mutually beneficial for patient and practitioner alike

NZAMH Conference Presentation 2012 xx it is a privilege to have a skill to share with others who so readily give of their skills for the benefit of the community and others also.

However, there is more to rongoa Maori. Some say you are born to these things, or not. Others say it is something only experience can teach us depending on our choices in life.

The ability to offer wise counsel and to recognise loneliness or estrangement from ones sources of individual power such as whanau or turangawaewae (having a place to stand) as the cause of a person’s imbalance requires maturity, which should not to be confused with age.

Trust is another important factor in the delivery of rongoa Maori. A sense of familiarity through reputation or whanaungatanga (belonging) can evoke an element of trust that favourably connects patient and practitioner in the healing process.

For me rongoa Maori is essentially a way of living, a way of communing with nature in order to restore the natural balance or wellness in ourselves as human beings and as inhabitants and caretakers of this land.

It assumes man’s place as junior to and therefore dependant on all other elements in nature. It differs with the notion of humankind as separate from or superior to nature. This kaupapa (key principle) is what governs the practice of rongoa Maori and in fact is the basis for all traditional Maori knowledge.

Tikanga are rules, customs, practices or behaviour, considered ethical in relation to a particular kaupapa. Tikanga are the right way of doing things when measured against the basis for the practice in the first place, in this case, to live or exist as one with nature.

Dr Charles Royal says, “it is by sharing a common kaupapa that the individual and their community find the answers to life’s great questions and also by which they are able to find inspiration and validation for the actions one takes in one’s life”i.

In order for Maori to maintain balance with their natural community, practices were devised that provided direction on how best to go about their daily living. As a result, rongoa Maori practices evolved that included five categories of healing which were carried out in combinationii.

There are physical treatments such as herbal remedies, massage and the use of uncontaminated water from natural springs set aside specifically for healing. There are metaphysical treatments such as karakia (prayer) and incantations that enhance our connection to the healing powers of our greater community, our ancestors, each other, the plants and all other things of heaven and earth, a thing we call, taha wairua. No one aspect of rongoa Maori is considered effective on its own but taha wairua the invisible or spiritual connection between all things is considered the most important.

For every action there is a reaction. If we can accept that all things, which are clusters of energy, are connected and can i

Royal Charles, Kaupapa and Tikanga, presented draft (Te Wananga O Raukawa, 2000), p1

ii

Mason Durie, Whaiora: Maori Health Development, 2nd ed (Auckland: Oxford University Press, 1998), p7

exchange energy, then we understand the kaupapa (principles) upon which rongoa Maori is practiced.

THE ESSENCE OF RONGOA MAORI IS TAHA WAIRUA. WITHOUT TAHA WAIRUA MIRIMIRI BECOMES MASSAGE, WITHOUT TAHA WAIRUA RONGOA RAKAU OR WAI RAKAU ARE NEW ZEALAND PLANT MEDICINES, WITHOUT TAHA WAIRUA KARAKIA & INCANTATIONS ARE PERFORMANCES.

Rob McGowan says, “The Maori world view is essentially holistic; taha wairua is about the world of connections that flows from that wholeness, that basic unity, that brings all of creation together. This web of connections is what makes a person who he or she is, in relation to the world of which they are a part. It is much more than one’s human whakapapa… as the whakapapa of man connects him to the whole family of Tane and back to Rangi and Papa… all things on the face of the earth are connected”iii.

This was never more obvious to me than when I visited a small village in Africa. The people wore virtually no clothes, lived in skin and stick huts with mud floors and owned little in the way of possessions. Their entire purpose for being was about managing the resources in their environment and preparing for the migration of the animals through their lands.

Ensuring the wellbeing of the animals and providing for their needs was everything in terms of their own well-being. In doing this they were assured of sufficient food and shelter for the upcoming year. Their symbiotic relationship with nature provided their medicine for maintaining and ensuring the wellbeing of the tribe.

There was a stark contrast between what I observed as their markers of health and our own. Their well-being was reflected in the incessant laughter and gaiety of the children, their oneness with nature, their sense of community and the many celebrations they shared together, their gratitude for even the smallest things, their hospitality & humility and their genuine love and respect for the animals, which provided their most basic needs.

The existence of ‘mauri’ is another key concept in the practice of rongoa Maori. All things have a mauri – it is what gives form to energy. People have a mauri. It begins at the time of our conception and remains in us until death. It is what connects the physical body and our soul. When that connection dissolves or disappears, we die. Some cultures refer to that bond between the physical and the spiritual as Qi, life force, prana and liken it to a light that shines within us.

Helping to strengthen the mauri or physical/spiritual bond is a key step in initiating the body’s innate healing potential.

When we curse, criticise or belittle others, feel guilt for our actions or the thoughts we have, fail to nourish or treat our body respectfully or for one reason or another have no sense of belonging, our light or mauri begins to dim. iii

McGowan Rob, Rongoa Maori, a practical guide to traditional Maori medicine (Tauranga: Author, 2009) p24

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NZAMH Conference Presentation 2012 Often this dimming is reflected as a physical, emotional or mental imbalance which if allowed to continue will eventually smother our light, extinguishing our mauri. Helping to rejuvenate the light in others by using herbal medicines, physical therapies, offering kindness & respect and channelling healing powers of taha wairua is what is at the heart of rongoa Maori.

Disrespectfully treating the land and all that contributes to her beauty, dims the mauri or beating heart of Papatuanuku (mother earth) diminishing her ability to provide what we need in order to heal. So we must not only care for each other but contribute what we can toward healing our land, which so many of us have taken for granted.

When we are at peace and quiet within ourselves, are of good intention without envy or judgement (good or bad), the flow of wairua through us strengthens, perhaps enough to help restore the mauri of our land and our fellow citizens.

As our wairua is imparted in the actions we take, the kindness we share, the medicines we make or the laying on of our hands and we simply give of ourselves it becomes effortless and we cannot but help brighten the light or mauri of all things. We too benefit from this energising flow of wairua through ourselves.

Rongoa Maori cannot be patented or become the object of intellectual property rights for how will the law makers isolate wairua, the essence of all things in this world.

Holding onto the knowledge and keeping it secret was our old people’s way of protecting the integrity of our healing practices from those who would inevitably bring its practice into disrepute through lack of care, greed, exploitation or simply as a means to elevate themselves within their community.

The old people would also ensure the safety of those who they chose to nurture the knowledge, by enriching their spiritual preparedness for the temptations of power and pride, fame and fortune, instilling humility a quality that served as one of their greatest protectors.

Although today we are fortunate that we get more of a say in whether we want to learn rongoa Maori, that choice comes at a price. We must be sure then, that we make strong our circle of protection and nurturing previously bestowed upon students of rongoa Maori by the old people. We must draw close, value our support structures and whanau as they will be the ones we hold fast to when we become weary or times are difficult. We must invest in developing qualities such as humility and respect for all things.

The only way we can truly learn these things is to begin at the beginning. So this brings me back to the questions others wanting to learn rongoa Maori often ask me.

Do I have to be Maori to learn and practice rongoa Maori?

No you don’t, but it certainly helps some Maori ease a little more effortlessly into the learning because there is a sense of familiarity about it and some of the language used to explain rongoa concepts maybe a little more familiar to us, but don’t let this deter you from learning.

How do mirimiri techniques, etiquette and processes differ from other forms of massage?

Learning mirimiri is similar to learning other new styles of massage. Like other styles it can differ from practitioner to practitioner or iwi to iwi. No one style fits all however some more general Maori tikanga may apply such as not putting feet on pillows used for the head which is sacred to Maori.

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How do I learn about the plants unique to Maori herbal medicine and how do I prepare them using traditional practices?

Many of the principles associated with using plants in Maori herbal medicine are common with those applied by many other herbalists such as harvesting times for medicines. However Maori protocols require that additional sustainability practices are followed when harvesting barks or plants from certain areas. As a rule of thumb it is not acceptable to harvest or make medicines while menstruating.

Having said that it is also important to remember that herbal medicines work best in conjunction with other rongoa Maori practices and that from a rongoa Maori prospective the most effective remedies often involve good company, quiet moments of solitude and enlightenment, having a place to stand and knowing where and how you belong. Making our connections with the natural world a priority can sometimes negate the need for physical remedies. How well do we each connect with the natural world today?

What special karakia or incantations do I need to learn?

How do I offer these things in a culturally sensitive way so as not to offend anyone?

In rongoa Maori karakia is a personal practice that does not always require words. It is about clearing ourselves and those we are working with in preparation for the work ahead. It is about uniting everyone involved to bring about a greater good; it is about setting intention and providing protection. This is done in the most appropriate way according to those present. Reciting ancient karakia verbatim without a true appreciation for their origins or context is not helpful and to some extent, disrespectful.

Can I charge for my services?

Traditionally healing services were paid for by koha (donation in kind). This could be in the form of food or clothing or anything else that a healer may require in order to sustain them while they worked. Remember their contribution to the community was healing, those with other skills balanced the scales according to the skills or resources they had available to them.

Some practitioners today will not accept any payment for their work, others are happy to accept koha and others charge a set fee reflective of the fact that the power company probably won’t accept food (kai) in exchange for the electricity they use.

A fellow rongoa practitioner, Tania Waikato, answers the question of charging this way, “Money is simply a medium of exchange and as a medium of exchange it is not the problem that tikanga seeks to guard against. The problem is its potential to incite greed and exploitation in those who are spiritually unprepared for the temptations money provides at the expense of authenticity of practice”.

If the thought of rongoa Maori speaks to you and you want to learn more I encourage you to seek out good teachers, learn from as many different sources and perspectives as you can so you can establish your unique way of incorporating rongoa Maori and Maori herbal medicine into your life and practice.

Like learning to read and write we first must learn our ABCs. The ABCs of rongoa Maori is getting to know the plants, their likes and dislikes, their relations, their peculiarities and who their friends are.

NZAMH Conference Presentation 2012 I acknowledge that we cannot live a life of times past. We must continue to evolve and adapt to find new ways to exist as one with the world and each other that incorporates the ever changing set of priorities in our lives. But nor should we ignore the learning of the past generations which serves as our unwavering foundation for the future.

The birth of my mokopuna (grandchildren) motivated me to learn the ways and philosophies of our ancestors so that they would be able to benefit from this knowledge. No longer can I take it for granted that someone else will be around to teach them, should they ask. With knowledge comes responsibility and it is my job now to protect that knowledge, its integrity and to share it respectfully for the benefit of these future generations.

Rongoa Maori is less about the do’s and don’ts of Maori herbal medicine or mirimiri or providing ancient karakia for practitioners. It is more about recognising ways of helping to restore the mauri of another using care & compassion, the natural resources surrendered by Papatuanuku in order to lessen suffering, insightfulness and the energy that is taha wairua, the beating heart of all in the heavens and here on earth.

These things will not come to us quickly. They reveal themselves a little bit at a time as we become more confident and begin to trust our hearts. They are skills that evolve with time.

We all have the capability even if we don’t realise it. Our rational thinking leads to learning, learning to knowledge, knowledge to trust, trust to intuition and intuition to wisdom.

It is a long process - little by little is not only a good thing but safe practice.

It is helpful to know that our healing work (mahi) and our persona (ahua) is beautiful and that we each have much to share with one and other.

Restoring our pride and appreciation for our respective communities is a good place to start. It begins by caring for our families first and foremost, then moves to the care of our wider relations and then onto our immediate communities and then the world. Many of us are focussed on healing the world when our families are those most in need of our support. Trees that grow in isolation are exposed to the mercy of the elements, however as part of a bush family they thrive bracing and nurturing one and other finding their natural order. Perhaps that is why many of us prefer to live in towns or small communities rather than as hermits. Our individual strength is best realised when we know we belong and because we have a purpose beyond that of our own immediate needs.

You may have noted that many of the things I have described are not too different from those in western herbal medicine.

Rongoa Maori philosophies and practices have similarities with many other traditional healing practices and parallels can be drawn on almost every level with practices and concepts applied in other lands.

For example, let us look at what I call the “wheel of universal truth” for holistic traditional healing practices. Here we can see that when we are new to another way of thinking, be that religion, traditional healing modalities or even a different culture, we all start at the circumference of the wheel. As we move closer to the centre of the wheel we learn what is at the heart of these doctrines or kaupapa. The bulk of the population dabble on the circumference of the wheel venturing just deep enough to secure inclusion in the group or flit between teachings until we find one that really speaks to us.

On the circumference we notice all of the things that make our choice special and what differentiates it from other choices in the wheel. We extol with passion our choice, are enthusiastic about this unique way of doing things, encourage others to join us in our pursuit and espouse theories about why this way is different or perhaps better!

But for some who choose to delve deeper into their section of the wheel they become more focussed on learning about the kaupapa or principles that are the foundation of their particular choice. As they move deeper and deeper toward the centre they see less and less of the differences between other sections of the wheel and more and more commonality between them as they move forward. Eventually as they progress their learning they arrive at the centre of the wheel, the heart of their kaupapa, to find that others from other sections have arrived at the same place.

No matter which language, doctrine or path that has survived the tests of time that you chose to follow, the centre will always be a universal truth, a common kaupapa.

Tikanga, the right ways of doing things, are less obvious in the centre of the wheel, are necessary to keep us from rolling around like a loose stone – eventually directing from us the circumference toward the centre. Tikanga are what define us, kaupapa is what unites us. If we focus less on our different modalities and more on our shared purpose we are in a much better position to learn from each other and move with more ease towards the centre of the wheel no matter which section we chose to enter at.

Different tikanga, ignite passion in the hearts of people differently, but the hearts themselves are the same not better or worse. So when I am asked "What is the point of difference for rongoa Maori?", I refer to tikanga Maori because I suspect the kaupapa of rongoa Maori differs little from other holistic traditional healing practices such as Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine and some religions.

There also are some key qualities that are useful when practicing rongoa Maori: HUMILITY, knowing our place in nature and sharing in the intimate details of our patients’ lives can be a very humbling experience. Once we elevate ourselves to the status of an expert then we deny ourselves the opportunity for growth by remaining virtually closed to the possibility of learning anything else worthwhile from others or from our own mistakes.

OPENNESS, is the willingness to share. It is only through sharing with others that we are rewarded with the learning associated with their experiences and knowledge as well as our Holistic Healing Practices own.

Holistic Healing Practices Aboriginal Healing

Native American Healing

Yoga

Rongoa Maori

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Ayurveda

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NZAMH Conference Presentation 2012 NON-JUDGEMENT, recognises us all as equals, each with our own qualities and contribution to make to our community and shared kaupapa.

CUNNING, there are times when practitioner cunning will help a patient recognise their situation for what it is and therefore buy-in more willingly to problem solving it.

PRACTICAL, the ability to think quickly and modify treatment protocols to accommodate patient limitations or exploit opportunities available to them in order to progress healing is not uncommon.

MATURITY, Maturity brings with it fortitude in times of difficulty and the wisdom to avoid responding in haste, fear or anger. Maturity reflects the range of experiences we have had, the quality of guidance we have received, a willingness to learn from our mistakes and those of others and the courage to act when required trusting our intentions even when we are unsure of the path ahead. If we are afraid of these things, or lack courage in tough situations how will we know the true potential of healing?

“When intuition replaces intellect, knowledge turns to wisdom” Assets useful in the practice of rongoa Maori are: COMMUNITY AND WHANAU SUPPORT, without this it is very difficult to devote ourselves to our practice or gain the trust of our patients, A GOOD TEACHER, will not only share their knowledge in a way that works for you, they will guide you towards other opportunities to learn and do what they can to protect you from harm such as professional jealousy and help you stick to the kaupapa until you are spiritually mature enough to manage these things for yourself, AN AFFINITY WITH NATURE and the ability to recognise the plants in their natural environment which will give us the confidence to the do the work we aspire to and frees us to learn about tikanga, THE ABILITY TO SET ASIDE OUR ‘STUFF’ and the busyness of today’s living before working with patients. Failure to do so invites mistakes, introduces static into the healing process and is disrespectful to the patient. Karakia is used to help patients, practitioners and others present to let go of their busy-ness and unite everyone in the common purpose of the task at hand.

The ability to do this authentically requires practice. In today’s fast paced living the ability to multitask is considered a quality however rongoa Maori requires a paradigm shift to value complete focus on the task at hand and nothing else. For the benefit of patient and practitioner, it is important to ensure that all other taps are turned off completely before opening the healing tap.

And clearly the ability to speak Maori would help, but it is not a necessity when starting out, it will come with time.

The key points of difference for rongoa Maori, as I see them are that: xx the practice utilises the nature of this land to heal the illnesses that frequent this landscape and its people. It does not depend on the importation or exploitation of the natural resources of other lands.

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xx Rongoa Maori was traditionally taught in wananga.

Believe it or not it was Maori not the military that invented boot camps. Students were removed from society for long periods, sometimes years, and resided in specific training camps with their tutors, the very best in their field. They were released from many every day duties in order to focus their learning. Learning was a mix of spiritual and physical exercises and the only way out was through graduation or expulsion. In these camps they were taught rongoa Maori without many of life’s distractions. A modern version of wananga or residential schools would be a real asset in progressing the sharing of this knowledge in a respectful and efficient way today.

Rongoa Maori is not something we turn off or on in a classroom or our practices at predefined times, it is a way of living! xx Rongoa Maori recognises the ancestors of everyone involved in the healing process. All of those in the room contribute to the healing process in some way through their presence. Those in attendance as the representatives or the living embodiment of their ancestors also bring with them the spirits of their ancestors to participate in the process. Although not always obvious, a room can be quite full of healing potential. You could say that rongoa Maori enlists the power of many generations and it can quite literally be a case of when ‘your people (as supporters of the patient) and my people (as facilitators of the healing process) combine forces’ what an awesome healing energy we create.

This is why so many of us gather around our dying in hospitals. We bring with us our tupuna and our combined love to help the patient transition smoothly along their journey. Even though someone may be dying, healing is still required to provide comfort and support to the patient and their immediate family during this process. I can see that this might be a cause of angst for some, at what many might consider a very private and personal moment. But not for many Maori who muster courage to be able to grieve openly knowing that they are surrounded by others who love and will catch them should they fall.

It is also the reason why no one person can take the credit for any healing that occurs. Without humility and acknowledgement for other forces at play - healing is compromised, “...the kumara does not sing of its own sweetness.”

While some may think we are a people with a lot of nonsensical rules and traditions, we can in fact be quite a practical bunch.

Generally if you poke a little deeper to get to the bottom of why we have certain tikanga there is often a logical explanation for them.

For example the requirement for women to rest during menstruation was an important tikanga to be adhered to. The gathering of plant medicines or digging of gardens was prohibited at this time. In part this was recognition of low energy levels experienced during menstruation and the need for women to take this time to restore themselves. Also the distraction of cramping and other associated symptoms meant that it could be difficult to give focus to certain tasks and lead to mistakes or the spoiling of precious medicines or food.

NZAMH Conference Presentation 2012 Other tikanga are no longer so widely practiced today due to the breaks in maintaining traditional practices over the last 150 years or changes in the way we live today.

An example of this would be the practice of placing harakeke (flax) remnants at the base of the bushes they came from. This was a good way of giving back to the land and helping to restore the plant. This was fine when most of our flax grew in areas that flooded and washed away bugs that harmed the flax.

Today we plant flaxes in areas that don’t flood so when we put our discarded flax back under those bushes we provide a great home for the harmful bugs that destroy our plants. As a result you will see many practitioners placing their flax remnants near to rather than under flax bushes.

Another example of a rule that may seem nonsensical is when men carving meeting houses are made tapu (which means set aside for that task alone or made special). As such they were forbidden from having sexual relations during that time. Why you might ask? Among other things this rule freed carvers from distractions and ensured the speedy completion of many works.

It proved a great motivator for young virile carvers, who were keen to return to normal living. If we scratch the surface just a little with regard to tikanga we may discover some hidden wisdoms in them.

Another point of difference in the practice of rongoa Maori is the importance of storytelling, waiata (song) and whakapapa for the transfer of knowledge between practitioners and across generations.

Today science is broken down so much, and we have created such a huge range of specialisations, that many scientists don’t even speak the same language any more. As these very intelligent, caring and committed people learn more about their individual specialisations they need to create new words for their discoveries and talk almost exclusively to their peers about their developments. As a result they can become isolated from the very communities that their great work benefits.

Our current health care systems are no different. We have amazing, caring, committed specialists for every body system and then specialists within each of those body systems as well.

They have their own languages and specific areas of focus. It’s no wonder we as consumers or as practitioners sometimes have trouble deciphering what is best for us or our patients given the range of health silos we have created. Natural health practices are no different.

Professor Lloyd Spencer Davis, Director and Stuart Chair in Science Communication at the University of Otago explains, “pure science is inherently narrow in focus….it’s the way you do science. You can’t understand the world all at once, so you focus on just one little bit at a time.

The problem is science races ahead of society’s ability to understand it. It’s partly the sheer volume but also scientists are becoming more specialised and [their research] more difficult to understand….. Science unfolds the truth that exists in the universe”iv.

A universal truth perhaps?

In 2008 the University of Otago established its Centre for Science Communication which specialises in film making, online digital media and public exhibitions in order to popularise science. iv

Davis, Lloyd, Deciphering Darwin, November Issue ( North & South Magazine, 2007), p35

Maori on the other hand simplified a lot of their knowledge gained over multiple generations into stories, songs and proverbs (whakatauki) in order to communicate them effectively to ordinary people.

Coming up for air from our work occasionally, keeps ourselves grounded in everyday living and enables us to see if we are still in sync with our original kaupapa and helps us to improve patient outcomes.

In my view today we are a little too focussed on evidence based research that proves remedies for ‘control groups’. Rongoa Maori on the other hand is an outcome based health practice that recognises outcomes for individuals that do not necessarily form part of any predefined or controlled group. I think a healthy balance of both approaches in an effort to enhance outcomes, would be of greatest benefit to our patients.

I have heard it said before that no Maori ever migrated to Aotearoa. They were Pacific Island people who became Maori.

Maori are born of these Pacific Island peoples who arrived here in search of a better life. They found the climate, the flora and fauna, the stars and many other things different from those in their homelands. I am sure this sounds familiar to many of you.

In order to survive they were forced to evolve many of their traditional practices to accommodate their new surroundings.

Many of the traditional rules associated with the uses of some medicinal plants, tools and preparation methods had to change but not so the underlying principles for the way they worked with the plants and the respect they afforded them as precious gifts from Papatuanuku.

Consequently and in order to survive, Maori culture was born of this land. Not THE land, but THIS land. It did not exist before this time nor does it exist anywhere else. Everything about Maori culture relates to this land, the people who have lived and died on it, the plants, the stars, the mountains, the rivers, the rocks and the animals. Our language, songs, carvings, prayers, stories, food and our medicines all relate to and are of this land.

Maori are of this land and the land is who we are – we are inseparable. If the land is unwell then so too are we. Without it we are nobody, we have no culture, our language is no longer relevant, our songs & stories become disconnected, our children will have shallow roots, insufficient to sustain them in times of bad weather. It is also the land that calls us home when we die.

Rongoa Maori is a way of reconnecting with the land in order to restore wellness not just to the many peoples who now reside in our land but first and foremost to the land itself so that in turn it can nurture and provide for us our most basic needs as it did for those Pacific Island peoples so many years ago.

THE NEXT TIME YOU FIND YOURSELF OUTSIDE IN A PEACEFUL PLACE CONSIDER FOR A MOMENT THE WONDER AND PURE BEAUTY OF PAPATUANUKU, MOTHER EARTH. HER BEAUTY IS PUNCTUATED BY HER FLOWING LANDSCAPE OF MOUNTAINS, CREVICES AND VALLEYS, HER CYCLES ARE SUMMER, A TIME OF PRODUCTIVITY AND AUTUMN A TIME FOR HARVESTING AND STORING NUTRIENTS FOR THE WINTER MONTHS, WINTER A TIME OF HIBERNATION, RESTORATION AND PURIFICATION AND SPRING A TIME OF REJUVENATION AND FERTILITY

Winter 2012 Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists AVENA

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NZAMH Conference Presentation 2012 THE RAIN IS RANGINUI’S TEARS OF PURE LOVE FOR PAPATUANUKU, THE KAKANO OR SEED GIVING LIFE TO ALL THINGS, HER WATER WAYS ARE HER ARTERIES DELIVERING NUTRIENTS TO EVERY PART OF HER BEING, WATER IS HER LIFE’S BLOOD, HER WETLANDS ARE HER KIDNEYS FILTERING THE WATERWAYS OF OUR LAND, THE MICROBES ARE HER LIVER CLEANING AND REMOVING TOXINS, HER SOIL IS HER WOMB, HER MOKOPUNA ARE THE CHILDREN OF TANE, PROTECTING HER FROM THE ELEMENTS – THE TREES, THE PLANTS, THE BIRDS, THE INSECTS AND THE YOUNGEST OF THEM ALL, HE TANGATA, HE TANGATA, HE TANGATA (THE PEOPLE) HER MAURI IS ENERGISED BY THE LOVE OF HER WHANAU AS SHE IN TURN LOVES AND PROTECTS THEM. OUR BODIES, ARE A MICROCOSM OF, PAPATUANUKU WHO GIVES US LIFE, AND OUR MAURI IS ENERGISED BY THE LOVE AND RESPECT WE GIVE TO AND RECEIVE FROM ALL THINGS IN OUR WORLD.

1

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ko Karioi te maunga Ko Waikato te awa Ko Tainui te waka Ko Waikato te Iwi Ko Ngati Tahinga, Ngati Maniapoto me Ngati Mahuta i nga hapu Ko Donna Kerridge toku ingoa Qualifications & Memberships: xx Bachelor of Health Science in Complementary Medicine xx Diploma in Naturopathy xx Diploma in Herbal Medicine xx Advanced Diploma in Massage Therapy xx Member of New Zealand Medical Herbalists Association xx Member New Zealand Society of Naturopaths xx Member of the Natural Health Council (NZ) Inc. Donna operates a small natural health clinic in Helensville where she specialises in using rongoa Maori philosophies and principles in the delivery of her services. She teaches rongoa Maori for a variety of private training organisations around the country and is a weekly presenter on the television series Maara Kai. She is married with two children and four beautiful mokopuna who remain her motivation for her passionate journey.

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AVENA Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists Winter 2012

The kaupapa behind rongoa Maori reflects the laws of nature and the world’s natural order. The reason we even exist is because of the intricate integration or connection between all things. Again it is based on the premise that humankind are part of and not separate from nature and that we, as children of Tane, have a rightful place on this earth. Although, should we overstep that place or become out of sync with the rest of our community, for example by taking more than we reasonably need to survive from other members of our natural community, imbalances will occur that will ultimately affect our health and well-being.

As a result much of our tikanga is based on the protection and preservation of nature, which brings us back to restoring the mauri of the land and its inhabitants through the circle of life and energetic flow that is Taha Wairua.

In conclusion I would like to share with you this poem written by Heather Delamere Thomsonv, “Koro, what is wairua?” the child asked, eyes wide.

Wairua, my moko is what gives us life, Handed down to us from a time past.

At the moment of your beginning, You shared with me the wairua of our tupuna; For I am your link with the past, You are my place in the future.

The aroha of the whanau has wairua.

And their words, their laughter, their tears, The marae, tangi, waiata and whakapapa, Have a wairua that strengthens us, gives us pride.

So too the sunrise and sunset, The soft summer rain, the raging storm, The song of the birds in the trees, The waves on the beach, The mist rising from the bush, The moonlight on the water, And the embracing darkness of the night.

To sit quietly in the wharenui or the urupa, And feel the presence of your tupuna is to feel wairua.

Your arms about my neck , your breath on my cheek, Fills me with a special wairua.

For there is wairua in all things that give meaning to life, To love, to the future.

So moko, open your mind, Let your heart love, Your eyes see, Your ears hear Your hands feel.

Give of yourself, my moko, For in giving you receive And the wairua grows.

(v) Pharmac, Te Ara Poutama, reference book (Wellington:Author, 2009), p9

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Winter 2012 Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists AVENA

31

NZAMH Conference Presentation 2012

The Current State and Future Direction of Herbal Medicine in New Zealand Clinical practice, Regulation and Integration issues based on CAM Professionals survey Presented by Jill Dunn MHSc (CompMed), Dip Nat, Dip Herb Med, MNZAMH Ram Vempati1, Jill Dunn1, 2, Phillip Cottingham1, David Sibbritt3, Jon Adams4 1. Wellpark College of Natural Therapies, Auckland, New Zealand 2. The NZ College of Massage, Auckland, New Zealand 3. Associate Professor, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Australia 4. Professor, Faculty of Nursing Midwifery and Health, University of Technology Sydney

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Purpose:

Herbal medicine is currently unregulated, although the NZ Association of Medical Herbalists (NZAMH) previously applied for registration under the HPCA Act, and in 2004 the Ministerial Advisory Committee for Complementary and Alternative Health (MACCAH) advocated that higher risk CAM practices such as herbal medicine should be regulated. As public interest and use of herbal medicine grows, safety concerns are increasingly topical. Empirical data on herbal medicine practice in NZ is scant. The survey reported here provides a direct response to this important research gap and examines key aspects of herbal medicine practice.

Methods:

An online survey examined CAM practice, demographics, attitudes and beliefs held about integrative medicine, CAM regulation and CAM research and attempted to quantify CAM contribution towards public health in NZ. CAM practitioners were contacted via their professional bodies. Herbal medicine practice was nested within this CAM survey.

Results:

From a total population of 1,070 CAM professionals contacted to take this survey a 30% response rate (n=320) was achieved. Eighty six out of 192 NZAMH members (45%) responded. The majority were self-employed, aged 35 -54 years (62%), predominantly female (92%) and NZ European (88%). Most common area of employment was clinical practice (81%). At least 76% of Medical Herbalists practise multiple modalities, mainly herbal medicine, nutrition, naturopathy and massage. Twenty per cent were in full time clinical practice and 67% part-time, many with other CAM related employment. Thirty five per cent also had employment in the CAM products sector, 21% in CAM education, 14% in CAM related administration and 9% in management related to CAM. Acute and chronic conditions were believed to respond to herbal medicine. Conditions most effectively treated and checked were: acute colds, influenza and infections, depression, stress and anxiety, fatigue, infertility, digestive and urinary system related conditions. Chronic health conditions such as: arthritis, cardiovascular and immune related disorders and life stage related complaints such as premenstrual syndrome and menopausal symptoms were considered to be effectively managed. Cancer and management of pain were believed to be palliated through use of herbal medicine.

Medical herbalists are well educated, 56% hold a CAM related bachelors degree or higher. Sixty per cent have understanding of research findings although limited ability (69.2%) to conduct research.

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AVENA Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists Winter 2012

NZAMH Conference Presentation 2012 The contribution made to public health and health care in NZ is substantial. Eighty per cent actively discuss within clinical practice 8 of 13 national health strategy objectives, 30% utilise health education and health services pamphlets and are involved with at least one Ministry of Health community health service programme. The majority (96%) believe integration into mainstream health care is important with 37% referring to GPs at least 1-5 times per year and 34% vice versa. Registration was considered essential by 90% with most (73%) favouring statutory regulation.

Conclusion:

Medical herbalists provide a wide range of CAM-related clinical practice skills. Medical herbalists actively treat acute, chronic and life stage conditions and psychological disorders. High levels of integration are currently present although non-formal referrals may not be captured by the national recording system.

Client safety is paramount and therefore statutory regulation of medical herbalists and the sharing of patient information are pressing. Development of research capacity is essential and the study of research methods should be highlighted for continuing professional education. CAM educators need to incorporate use of validated clinical outcome measures in training to support undertaking clinical research. Local and national health care authorities need to recognise patient safety issues related to non-regulated CAM practice and to acknowledge and support its contribution to NZ health care. cntd from p. 39

NZAMH Herbal Community The Yahoo chat-group

2. If you're not very computer savvy, once you've got the invitation, get someone to help you join.

Trouble-shooting

3. If you're running a Google account or gmail, sign out and close it for now - they seem to conflict.

Some members explained to me they were having great difficulty trying to join the Yahoo chat-group, so I decided to investigate.

This chat-group is a major source of NZAMH support and learning, and it seemed very unfair that some members couldn't access it.

4. Go to mail.yahoo.com and set up a Yahoo account. Close, then reopen. You will need to verify your account. Remember your Yahoo ID and password. (Alternatively, you can start the Yahoo Group process immediately by responding to the invitation first, and set up a Yahoo ID along the way).

On two separate occasions I sat with different members at their computers, in an effort to get them joined up. Unfortunately Yahoo doesn't make it easy, and our patience was truly tested!

Both of the members commented "This is ridiculous, I would've given up by now if you weren't here", ...it was difficult and time consuming, but with a lot of persistence, deep breathing, and humour we got there in the end.

5. Now open the invitation, and click Join This Group. Another window will open, and you will need to again click Join This Group.

Neither of them had Yahoo email addresses - despite the system saying you can join via Facebook or Google - we couldn't figure out how to do this. We found the fastest way to set up is to actually set up a Yahoo email account, then once you're on the Group, you can switch it over to your preferred email address.

If you are having trouble joining, and you're not very experienced with computer 'stuff' I recommend you find someone who is, to guide you through it. Even then, you can expect it to take anywhere from 45 mins - 1 1/2 hours. Bearing in mind there will be variations in systems, the following is what we did and it worked. There are bound to be other ways though. In a nutshell, this is what I suggest you do: 1. Contact Val McArthur via email to receive your invitation.

6. You should be able to use your new Yahoo ID to join reasonably effortlessly now by following the prompts. We did have to do a bit of to-ing and fro-ing between the joining process, and the email window. The verification also seemed to take a while. Use your refresh button, it might speed things up a bit.

7. Once you're in, you can go to 'edit membership', add a new email (your preferred one) and then switch to whichever address you want to receive your messages in. Ensure your SPAM blocker doesn't block Yahoo.

Further help can be found online. I hope this article helps you either join Yahoo, or if you're already signed up, discover some other features of belonging to the Group. It really is an awesome way to connect to other herbalists around the country. 3 For more info either Google Instructions for joining Yahoo Groups or go to groups.yahoo.com (Mary Allan, Avena Editor)

NZAMH Members Yahoo Group!

1. E-mail Val at info@nzamh.org & request to join the NZAMH Yahoo chat-Group.

2. When you receive an invitation to join, click on 'Join This Group', and follow the prompts to join.

3. You will then be able to post and receive messages and be part of our interactive Yahoo community!

Winter 2012 Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists AVENA

33

MediHerb: Celebrating 25 Years

A Pioneering Vision of the Potential of Herbs

F

ounded in 1986 by Kerry Bone, MediHerb was born out of his desire to provide health care professionals with efficacious, superior quality herbal treatment solutions.

In just 25 years, MediHerb has grown to become Australia’s largest purchaser and processor of raw herbs. Their dedication to quality sets a standard for herbal medicines that is unsurpassed, making MediHerb the first choice for practitioners in Australia, USA, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

A first class honours graduate from the Melbourne University, Kerry Bone won the Masson Memorial Prize as Australia’s top chemistry student. He worked as a research chemist and studied naturopathy at the Southern School of Natural Therapies, before undertaking a four year Diploma of Phytotherapy at the worldrenowned School of Phytotherapy in England.

Returning to Australia, Kerry became increasingly frustrated at the poor quality of available herbal extracts. The products simply weren’t delivering the results he expected.

Realising that the only solution was to manufacture his own extracts, he began investigating better ways to extract herbs. This led to the development of his unique manufacturing method, 1:2 Cold Percolation.

Basing himself in Toowoomba in regional Queensland, Kerry Bone started making extracts in a converted goat shed.

Word of these high quality herbal extracts spread quickly, igniting demand and MediHerb was born – co-founded in 1986 by Kerry and his wife Patricia, with other investors.

MediHerb’s unique 1:2 Cold Percolation process is unlike any other herbal extraction method. Extensive scientific testing proves that it sets the benchmark, producing the highest quality extracts. The fragile nature of herbs means that heat can damage their healing properties and change the way they work.

MediHerb’s revolutionary 1:2 Cold Percolation uses no heat or concentration, ensuring the herb’s constituents remain intact.

In 1992 MediHerb received a pharmaceutical manufacturing licence from Australia’s Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA), the first herbal extract company to do so. The change to Pharmaceutical GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) in the early 1990’s was a shake up for the herbal industry in Australia, although the end result was to redefine its complementary medicine industry as arguably the best in the world. Manufacturing under Pharmaceutical GMP is more complex than for conventional drugs due to the varying constituents in a herb’s biological matrix. Even as a young company at the time, MediHerb met the challenge.

In 1996 MediHerb formulated a unique method for manufacturing superior quality herbal tablets. The difference is in the process. By concentrating their own 1:2 liquid extracts, they are able to produce a superior quality concentrated extract which gives them the ability to make stronger more efficacious tablets that have improved stability.

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AVENA Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists Winter 2012

ABOVE: Pat and Kerry Bone outside the converted goat shed, Toowoomba, where he was making herbal extracts.

MediHerb have invested extensively in research and development to ensure their tablets are as effective as their liquids, with the full phytochemical profile retained. With the success of the tablet range practitioners began to ask for more products which led to the development of the MH Enhance range in 2004.

MH Enhance is a core range of premium quality nutritional products specifically designed to complement MediHerb’s herbal range.

Kerry Bone’s international reputation as a leader in herbal medicine has paved the way for MediHerb’s global achievements.

In 1991 MediHerb started distributing to New Zealand, working exclusively with ProHerb. In 1996 MediHerb became the leading company supplying health professionals in New Zealand.

By 1994 MediHerb was also available in the USA where an exclusive distribution partnership was established with Standard Process in 2001. In 2005 they expanded into the UK and South Africa. Canada came next in 2007. Developing and expanding in export markets plays a vital role in the future success of MediHerb. It’s a growth engine that will allow them to continue to invest in research to advance the herbal industry.

Over the last 25 years MediHerb has been built on the vision of Co-Founder and Director of Research and Development, Kerry Bone, to become an internationally respected company whose pioneering manufacturing and extraction processes have revolutionised the herbal medicine industry.

Established by practitioners for practitioners, MediHerb is passionate about continuing to invest in the future of herbal medicine. They are passionate about innovation and the discoveries to come, advancing knowledge and excellence through the latest scientific evidence and centuries of traditional wisdom.

Most of all, MediHerb is passionate about partnering with you to give your patients health solutions that work. 3

Business Management

Business Management:

Helping your practice succeed

By Craig Rhodes MNZAMH

4 Smart & Simple Ways to Improve Your Practice Times have been tough for a while now for most Practitioners, so it makes sense to make the most of the resources and money you have to sustain and grow your practice.

So what are your resources and how do you make the most of them?

1. Customers

Probably the most overlooked resource your practice has are your customers, yes that’s right your customers.

When I talk to the practitioners I help to get their practices back on track to growth and sustainability, one of the first things they complain about is a lack of customers, so one of the first things I check is how they manage their existing customers. a.

Are you offering value to your customers, i.e. what they want, not what you think they should have. b.

Are you offering all the possible products and services you can provide to a particular customer, e.g. if a client is coming to you for massage to help them relax, have you talked to them about how you can help with stress management, suggested herbs, or even simply offered a ‘recovery tea’ instead of simply saying thanks at the end of the massage.

By ‘tagging on’ (what an awful phrase) products or services that are appropriate and useful to a client, you make yourself more useful to them, help them have better health outcomes and help your bottom line.

For example, if you were to do 10 massages a week at $75 each, and only 1 in 5 took you up on the ‘offer’ of ‘recovery tea’ for $10 a packet, that’s an extra $1000 a year, or more if the client likes it and keeps buying it. c.

Customers come and go, but do you stay in touch with the clients who have stopped coming? Most of the practitioners I work with complain they don’t have enough clients yet totally ignore their extensive list of ‘old clients’.

Your old client list is the most valuable resource you have. They know you, they’ve seen you before, and they will (whether they know it or not) need what you have to offer again.

So I encourage all my clients to get in touch with their old clients. At a minimum, regardless of whether they are currently seeing you or not all your clients should be getting your monthly newsletter (unless they unsubscribe). For those you haven’t seen for three months or more, give them a phone call to ‘see how they’re doing’; no hard sell, just get in touch to see how they are going. If they have a need, offer to help and (hopefully) hey presto, you have your client back seeing you again.

2. Pricing

Even in these hard times most practitioners don’t charge enough – they are too cheap.

I encourage my clients to look at what they are offering their customers – the value they provide and charge accordingly.

Especially in regards to healthcare, people will buy based on value more often than price (within the limits of what they can afford), in particular they need a reason to see you, they need to see the value you offer.

If you offer good value then you can charge a good price. In my clinic (admittedly in Auckland) I was fully booked at $195 an hour (average sale $300+), while I know other Auckland based practitioners who were ‘empty’ at $60 an hour or less.

If you need to know what you have to offer, and convey its value well would-be clients are happy to pay the price. If you don’t then even free is overpriced.

3. Credit Control

Even though most Kiwis use plastic to buy things these days, very few practitioners have or can afford EFTPOS machines, and that’s OK. But for as little as $20 a month, with an old fashioned zip zap machine you can take credit cards; or even less if you are a bit computer savvy and use PayPal. If you quote the amount before they come so that they can bring the cash, you can’t ‘tag on’ with extra products or services they need – your potential sale is limited to the money they bought, not ideal for them, or you.

Otherwise you have to offer credit, i.e. the patient leaves without paying, so you need to be on to clients like mad to ensure they pay, which in itself costs money.

So at a minimum, get a zip zap machine, and if patients are bringing cash always estimate based on the best case scenario, not the cheapest or you are limiting yourself.

4. Stock Management

One of the biggest impacts on cash flow and therefore practice sustainability is stock management. Carrying cost costs money, not just in having to buy it, but carrying ‘stuff’, both in terms of stock expiring if you buy the wrong thing, or too much of something, but also in needing shelves and therefore a bigger office to hold it.

One of the things I learned early on (and the hard way) was never carry stock unless you know you will sell it (things such as tinctures or teas are usually ok as they have long shelf lives).

As a result, other than herbal tinctures I stopped carrying stock, especially supplements.

I still sold these products, but they weren’t sitting on a shelf, tying up money.

Winter 2012 Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists AVENA

35

So how do you do it?

Simple, order products for clients as they need it (and after they’ve paid for it), and have it shipped to their door (home or office doesn’t matter).

Then to cover the freight cost, (people hate paying for freight) add $5 to the price of the products you sell – that’s right, build freight into your prices.

As a result, what happens? Well, your cash flow improves – if you order 1 product you take a small hit (although less than if you don’t charge freight), but 2 products or more equals better margin (and you can pay for stuff as you order it). Then the customer is happier as you can get them ‘anything’ they need without having to come and pick it up, you have a better margin, and you have eliminated expiring stock (that becomes the suppliers problem).

Craig is currently the NZAMH Vice President having been both Treasurer and President, and has run both a successful General Practice and Specialist Allergy, Asthma and Eczema Clinic.

He now runs PracticePro, a business helping practitioners and other small business owners run thriving successful businesses, and teaches practice management at the New Zealand College of Chinese Medicine and South Pacific College of Natural Medicine.

So, ask yourself: Are you making the most of your client list, What value do you offer, Is your credit control the best it could be, and Do you really need to carry those stock items?

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AVENA Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists Winter 2012

'Detoxification' – and why we should abandon it

By Sara Hamer MNZAMH (Medical Herbalist, and tutor for the Diploma of Herbal Medicine at SPCNM)

T

he concept of detoxifying seems to be central for many natural therapists, but I have become increasingly bothered by the use of this concept and its effect on patients.

I have been working as a herbalist for nearly 20 years. Many patients I see express anxiety and even hatred of themselves due to feeling that they are 'toxic'. They believe they are toxic, because therapists have told them they are.

When we use words such as 'detoxifying' and 'cleansing', what we are actually saying to a person is that they are dirty, that they are disgusting, that they are somehow bad.

It is not an exaggeration to say this connection happens every time. It is true that we ascribe moral judgments to dirt (see The Anatomy of Disgust, William Ian Miller, 1997). So when we tell our patients "they need detoxifying", we are making a moral judgment about them. We are telling them they are bad. And if we are telling our patients they are bad, we make them feel bad and we make them anxious.

Of course the world is full of pollutants, and these pollutants do get into our bodies and need to be removed to avoid them causing damage. So, what is the problem with helping patients to detox?

Because unhealthy substances are part of life.

“

Our plants do what they do therapeutically regardless of how we decide to phrase it

”

There is enough in our culture to make people feel bad – the beauty industry, the weight loss industry, the fashion industry – they all operate on making people feel they have to aim for ideals they can never achieve.

The detoxification industry is no different. I hate the idea of being part of an industry that causes people to feel bad about themselves. Our patients’ psychic health is just as important as their physical health.

So what can we do instead for our patients who are full of pollutants and wastes that need help shifting?

We use another concept.

We can think about keeping things moving – pollutants go in, we help move them out.

Or we can talk about restoring healthy functioning – our bodies are designed to eliminate metabolic end products and things that should not be there (pollutants).

If you re-think the idea, it is not hard to get to a place where you don’t think about your patients being toxic at all – just people in need of your help and support to help make their bodies function well.

In fact, if you did not produce toxins, you would be dead.

Apart from needing to be eliminated from the body, waste products are necessary for life – without carbon dioxide in the blood, we would not breathe, without uric acid in the blood, we would not be able to control our pH, without cholesterol and haemoglobin metabolites, we would not be able to manufacture bile, without faeces, our bowels would not move properly.

The concept of toxins and detoxifying is a construct. The world is what it is – things we consider to be toxins are just things – mercury is a beautiful liquid metal, carbon dioxide is just a gas, faeces are compost…

Because we don’t tend to kill our patients, they continue metabolising, they continue living in a world full of pollutants.

So even if you do a thorough job with your 'detox', your patient will become toxic again – and so will become dirty, disgusting and bad all over again!

But we have a responsibility to use concepts in our practices that support and nourish our patients, rather than perpetuate negative feelings about themselves. 3

Our plants do what they do therapeutically regardless of how we decide to phrase it.

This can be good for repeat business, but it is, I believe, bad for our patients, and by extension, bad for us.

Winter 2012 Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists AVENA

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Book Review Women, Hormones and the Menstrual Cycle

By Ruth Trickey Herbalist, ND, Dip Ac, FNHAA, Women, Hormones and the Menstrual Cycle (2011) 3rd Edition 1074 pages Hard Cover.

Published by Trickey Enterprises (Victoria) Pty Ltd ISBN 9780646549903 (HBK) Reviewed by Angela Haldane MNZAMH Ruth Trickey, along with other contributors of expertise including practitioners from the Melbourne Holistic Health Group, have researched and written a masterpiece of a textbook for our profession. One can draw upon this work as the absolute current information, according to research, about many conditions in women’s health (and beyond). Each condition is outlined by the definition and diagnostic criteria of each condition, the medical approach, the natural therapists approach and self care / lifestyle measures.

It is a practical text that I would not practice without.

Many patients have been reassured when I show them the chapter pertaining to their condition. Evidence based medicine also helps to eliminate the trial approach of various methods of treatment, and rather prescribe, knowing the results of the studies, and the statistics of success.

There is a brilliant chapter on chemotherapy. It is useful to the patient who is suffering the side effects and what natural therapies can help with this. It gets to the specifics of the actual chemotherapeutic drugs, the research and what the implications are.

The sections are arranged as: ĨĨ Anatomy and physiology, ĨĨ Hormonal transition ie adolescence and menopause, ĨĨ Gynaecological disorders and their treatment PMS, luteal phase disorders, menorrhagia, metorrhagia, dysmennorrhoea, endometriosis and adenomyosis, PCOS, gynaecological infections, STIs, Benign disorders of the breast, benign ovarian cysts and tumours,

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ĨĨ Cancer – breast/endometrial/cervical/ovarian cancer, strategies to reduce cancer risk, chemotherapy, radiation, the first six month after cancer treatments and palliative care. ĨĨ Therapeutics – diets, nutritional monographs, minerals, plants constituents with oestrogenic effects, herbs in womens health, drugs, and surgery & medical procedures.

ĨĨ Prevention and management of chronic disorders key factors in reducing risk of ill health, routine examinations, testing and screening, specific advice for individuals at risk, and sleep disturbance,

I am eternally grateful to Ruth for what she has contributed to the health profession. At last natural therapies are portrayed, in this book, as part of the health care paradigm, with evidence based research to support it. 3

ĨĨ Common causes of increased mortality and morbidity in Women – Cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes and Osteopenia and osteoporosis,

RRP $164.99 NZD (Pathfinder bookshop)

AVENA Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists Winter 2012

NZAMH Herbal Community The Yahoo chat-group

T

he NZAMH Yahoo chat-group was founded on June 23rd, 2005 by Joe Rozencwajg aka "Dr Joe", a professional NZAMH member. Joe ran this chat-group for many years, eventually handing it over to Val McArthur, NZAMH administration, to manage. The chat-group has been a huge success ever since Joe set it up. Membership currently fluctuates around 111-117, (I suspect there would be quite a few more if people could figure out how to sign up).

Up to this date there has been a total of 9316 posts, with November 2009 being a record month with the highest number of posts: 268 in total.

The NZAMH Yahoo chat-group is closed to non-NZAMH members thus enabling private discussions. Practitioners exercise extreme confidentiality on this group and no patient/client names are ever used. This privacy and respect is vital, because there is nothing to stop a recipient from forwarding an email on to a non-member via standard email communication (either intentionally or accidentally).

Joining the NZAMH Yahoo Chat-group Who can join?

Only NZAMH professional members and students can join this chat-group.

What are the benefits of joining?

You will have the opportunity to network with other herbalists, and ask or offer advice for tricky cases. You can also share recipes & formula's, and herbalists often arrange sharing plants & seeds etc., plus you get 2 CPE points just for being on the chat-group.

Advertising is discouraged, unless helpful or informative.

Practitioners tend to work in isolation - connecting with other practitioners via the chat-group keeps you in touch with like minded individuals who can give you a healthy dose of herbal social life, no matter how far from a main centre you live.

What do you talk about?

The topics discussed are many and varied, but all the topics revolve around herbs and clinic. The group is very supportive and educational.

Making the Most of Yahoo Groups The Yahoo Group comes to most members directly via their email.

Because of this many members don't realise that you can visit the Groups home page by going to: groups.yahoo.com and clicking on NZAMH in the left hand menu, or even easier, by scrolling down to the bottom of any of your Yahoo chat-group emails and clicking on 'Visit Your Group' (under RECENT ACTIVITY). The first option above requires you to be already signed in to Yahoo, otherwise you will need to search for our group. Actually, I have searched for it whilst not signed in, and have been unable to find it - I am guessing it must be set on private.

Search Once you get to the NZAMH Group home page, there is a search engine within our group which is fantastic - it enables you to access all the posts since June 2005. For example, you are researching anaemia, and you want to see what products or herbs or experiences other herbalists may have shared on the chat-group already. You just type 'anaemia' into the search bar.

Voila! Up come all those posts - assuming it was spelt the same way you entered the search. This is really cool. If the topic is too large, and you need to get more specific you can choose the advanced search option, and type in some more information to narrow your search. I used to keep my favourite emails from the chat-group, so I was really excited when I realised I no longer needed to file these away - instead I could go straight to our Group home page and find them!

Message Delivery You have 4 options on when/how you get your messages delivered.

Click on 'edit membership' at the top of the page, then go to Step 2 and choose which option you prefer. For example, if you're going away for a few weeks, and want to switch off messages, you can choose 'web only' so the messages don't clog up your inbox while you're away. This is also where you can add/change the email address your messages are delivered to. Remember to Save Changes before exiting.

Attachments If you are looking for a particular photo, or document, you can go to the left column and click on attachments. This will bring up in date order all the attachments ever posted to this group.

You can choose to view them as thumbnails, which makes it easy to see what type of attachment they are (pdf, jpg, word doc. etc), and who posted it, with the option of going to the original message.

Post Also in this left hand column is the Post button. Click on this to post a new message. Include the subject in the subject line to make it easier for other members to follow.

Messages You can choose how you sort and view your messages. Click messages in the left hand column, then you can choose whether you want the messages as summaries 'simplify' or full 'expand'. I often find it easier to follow a conversation if you click Group by Topic. Have a play around, and find what suits you best.

How Do I Join?

Contact our administration assistant Val McArthur via email, and she will send you an email invite to join the group. You need to respond to this within 30 days or it will expire, and you'll have to ask her again. Click "Join this Group", a new page will appear, click Join this Group again. Continue to follow the prompts & instructions... Post a Message!

Cntd on p. 33 Winter 2012 Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists AVENA

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NZAMH Treasury Report 26 May 2012 Compilation Report for the Year Ended 31 March 2012 Compilation Report to the Board Scope On the basis of information you provided we have compiled, in accordance with Service Engagement Standard No. 2: Compilation of Financial Information, the financial statements of New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists (1983) Incorporated for the year ended 31 March 2012. Except as described below, these statements have been prepared in accordance with the financial reporting framework described in Note 1 to the financial statements.

Responsibilities You are solely responsible for the information contained in the financial statements and have determined that the financial reporting framework used is appropriate to meet your needs and for the purpose that the financial statements were prepared.

The financial statements were prepared exclusively for your benefit. We do not accept responsibility to any other person for the contents of the financial statements.

No audit or review engagement undertaken Our procedures use accounting expertise to undertake the compilation of the financial statements from information you provided. Our procedures do not include verification or validation procedures. No audit or review engagement hasbeen performed and accordingly no assurance is expressed. (above: p. 1 of original doc.)

Disclaimer As mentioned earlier in our report, we have compiled the Financial Statements of New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists (1983) Incorporated for the year ended 31 March 2012, comprising pages 3-8, as per the index.

Nobilo & Co. Ltd has compiled the financial information in accordance with SES-2 Compilation of Financial Information of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants based on information provided to us which has not been subject to an audit or review in respect of either of the information provided or the financial information which is provided from it. Accordingly neither Nobilo & Co. Ltd nor any of its employees accept any responsibility for the reliability, accuracy or completeness of the compiled information nor do we accept any liability of any kind whatsoever, including liability by reason of negligence, to any person for losses incurred as a result of placing reliance on the compiled financial information.

NOBILO & CO. LTD Chartered Accountants Auckland, 18 May 2012

(p 2)

2012 AGM Reports NZAMH Treasury Report 26 May 2012 cntd.

Support Your Local Branch Meetings Go to page __ for more details

Political Subcommittee Report AGM 2012 We have been working on our new application to the Health Practitioner Competency Assurance Act (HPCAA). It is expected that the final document will be completed by the end of August this year. It will be handed in, in person to the Minister of Health Tony Ryall (if we can gain an audience).

I now hand the reins of Convener of the Political Subcommittee to Jill Dunn.

This is an optimistic deadline. But action has to be our way forward this year.

Leanne Halliwell herbladywhiti@gmail.com

I will be contacting ministers to introduce myself as your president, and to inform them of our intentions politically.

Armed with the statistics from; Clinical practice, Regulation and Integration issues based on CAM Professionals survey.

A world view will be incorporated into our approach.

A review of the HPCAA is due this year however it has not yet been started.

If there is any member who has a particular view or issue they would like to raise politically, I would be interested in hearing from you. If there is some knowledge out there that

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AVENA Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists Winter 2012

you think would be advantageous for us to be aware of please forward the information (national or world).

2012 AGM Reports PPPR AGM Report May 2012 Hi everyone, Thank you all for coming along and being a part of the NZAMH AGM. These meetings are an important part of our year and give us the opportunity to give you a glimpse of where we have been over the past 12 months.

(As I stand here, it is with mixed feelings, because after 5 years of passionately working for the NZAMH I am standing down. When I first joined the committee, it was in the spirit of selfless service, to simply have-my-turn at helping with all the hard work I knew was going on behind the scenes. It wasn’t until quite a while later that I felt the huge satisfaction that had boomeranged back to me in return for all my efforts. I have learned a lot, and I have discovered the value of working with a team of wonderful people with a common goal. I would like to say to each of you, I highly recommend spending some time on the committee, if you put the time and effort in it is a truly rewarding experience.

I haven’t left completely – I will still be editor for Avena for the foreseeable future).

So, to PR over the past year.

Annual overview: 2011-12 year was an interesting year, and with perhaps not so much happening on the political front it was really a year to focus on building and strengthening herbal community at a more local level. We have had many members volunteering photo’s, and time with branch meetings. There has also been informal discussions regarding future projects such as having guest members facilitating workshops throughout the country. I encourage these discussions to continue, with the hope that this will develop into nation wide herbal tours that will benefit both practitioners and the public. Thank you all who have joined this conversation, it is this spirit that ensures our future survival.

Student Talks & Benefits of Belonging Thank you to Moana Hutana for initiating and developing new resources for promoting NZAMH to herbal colleges.

The powerpoint we have both spent many months developing is dynamic, colourful, and includes plant photo’s from our members.(Hannah, Mary, Glenda). A pdf form of this will be up on the website next week. In 2011 Hannah and Kate gave talks in Auckland, while Moana and Fiona presented in Hastings. This year, Moana and I ran pilot talks in Auckland and Hastings with the new powerpoint and are really pleased with the results and it appears it is really inspiring students to join us.

Website: The website is an extremely important interface between us, the public, and our members. Because of this I believe there is a lot more potential to use this platform to greater benefit.

Continued content is always being added, but there are plans to update the website to a more user friendly and modern format that will enable even more content to be added as well as adding links to other NZAMH content such as past Avena issues.

NZAMH Resources Lots of resource stores have been replenished the past year including letterhead, Patient guides, Benefits of Belonging brochures and member practicing certificates. These resources are expected to last a few years.

Conference/AGM Thank you to Linda Jones for putting on such a fantastic event, I am happy to say she will be organizing the next one too. Linda has been a real pleasure for me to work with, and I am confident the next Conference/AGM will be even better!

I wish the incoming PR convener and sub-committee all the best for the future.

Kind regards, Mary Allan MNZAMH PR Convener 2011-12 Avena Editor

Membership Report May 2012 Our Professional Membership currently stands at 205, a slight increase from last year at 199, with another 1 awaiting approval. 7 so far have taken the new Professional non practising option. 31 new members have been accepted since last AGM. These are mostly graduating students. We now have seven Fellow members.

Only 2 last year did not fully comply with the professional requirements and qualify for practising certificates. These members have promised to come up to speed this year. All members were fully paid up. So our tougher approach has paid off.

26 so far have taken advantage of the half yearly payment option.

115 Members are now currently fully compliant compared with 127 last year. So some are still slow getting in their hours.

Our Associate Membership stands at 47 (last year 56).

Of that, 25 are complementary memberships. 12 still outstanding with subs.

Student Register is now 73 (91 last year). So probably holding up well despit the closure of WCHM and CCNM. The annual visit by NZAMH committee members to the colleges to talk with the students is important in raising our profile.

Winter 2012 Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists AVENA

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2012 AGM Reports My hours worked remains within the 10 hours a week budgeted for or 520 per year. Hours claimed from 1/4/10 to 31/3/11 was 390, (400 last year). With the greatest concentration of work hours over the Feb – May period leading up to the AGM. There is daily attention to email questions from members. I am endeavouring to direct questions as much as possible to the web site hopefully to get members to use that facility for information.

The video DVD library is now being managed by SPCNT on our behalf.

The yahoo group continues its lively service to all members.

Thanks to the committee for being such a great bunch to work with.

Val McArthur, Admin Asst.

Web Report May 2012 The Committee is looking into a web site upgrade with the possibility of members having their own profiles which they can keep up to date. This would be huge jump from what we can now offer. I have gone through the members listing and set up live links to those who have web sites which is now probable the majority.

I see the primary purpose of the web site is for public information on who we are as a professional organisation and the listing of updated professional practitioners. Also breaking news on the political front and press release information, which is not easily covered, in the quarterly Avena publication. The members area covers all membership requirements and information, library listing and resources for members, such as publicity assistance, clinic aids.

Information that members may require from time to time and know that they can access as required and not have to file individually.

The articles currently on the site are now well out of date.

Not sure this is important, as there are many sources of information available via professional publication and Google etc. Also the yahoo group provides an up to date platform for discussion.

I try to keep the events section updated with local branch meetings and seminars if the information is sent to me.

The decision has been made to change the password each year to protect the security of the members area to current financial members. The new password will be circulated by email immediately after the AGM to financial members only.

Generally a quiet year with just updating as required.

Val McArthur, Admin Asst.

Avena AGM Report May 2012 Dear NZAMH members and guests, I won’t tire you with a long-winded report – Avena has the advantage of speaking for itself every season!

First of all I would like to thank our contributors: the members who have donated photo’s over the past 12 months – Glenda Harris, Hannah McMenamin, Sandra Walsh, and the many authors (too many to name) who have given large amounts of their time to write articles. In particular I would like to give thanks to Vanessa Hart who has written Phytotherapy for Animals for many years and has moved on to other things. I wish her all the best for her new projects. Her contribution to Avena was unique, and valuable for many readers. Thank you Vanessa. Also, a big thank you to our advertisers whose financial support helps keep Avena rolling and the bills paid.

There has been some exciting developments for Avena over the past year including new Avena contributor - Angela Hywood. Angela is a world class herbal medicine presenter and author who specializes in endocrine disorders and has kindly offered to contribute articles to Avena on a regular basis.

I am also excited by a project I have recently begun, that of indexing our past journals. This will enable longer term members to more quickly find topics from old Avena’s, but

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AVENA Journal of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists Winter 2012

for those who do not have a library of Avena, we are planning to make articles available online to members on the members section of our website. Also in regards to past issues, members have asked if it was possible to buy back copies of Avena. We have gathered a fair stock of some past Avena’s, so hopefully this will be available for you to access in the next six months (that is if we can find someone to manage the task of posting out the Avena, and processing payments). Much of this is dependant on website compatibility, I am looking forward to seeing how this develops – the internet technology for this type of thing is becoming very user friendly and I hope to be able to present an easy to use interface that anyone can manage.

Some of you will know that I am going over to Australia for an undetermined length of time. Although I am standing down from committee, I will maintain strong connections to the NZAMH committee, and will continue to work as Avena editor. I look forward to new herbal experiences in the future and am sure that these will benefit my work with the NZAMH. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Kind regards, Mary

Peace

By Richard Whelan you cannot medicate your way to peace alcohol, drugs, the many substances will not make it you cannot puff your way to its perfection stretching, straining, the many self-improvements only make it harder you cannot earn your way to its security accounts, position, the many material things more is never enough nevertheless, there it is peace , so needed, so necessary, so elusive the tiniest disturbance, a pain, a worry and it’s nowhere where did it go?

IMAGE:Vusa doing handstand, Otago Peninsula (M. Allan © 2012)

more to the point, how marvellously strange it is how in this world, in nature, where everything eats everything else where ‘survival of the fittest’ means the hardest worriers survive that peace beautiful, abundant, love-filled, endless peace comes, always to whoever stops trying to find it

New Liquid Extracts from MediHerb Over 25 years ago Kerry Bone, chemist and herbalist, began making his own herbal extracts after becoming increasingly frustrated with the poor quality of herbal extracts available at the time and the resultant effects for his patients.

By applying his scientific training he developed a unique method of extraction known only to MediHerb, termed 1:2 Cold Percolation. The result is MediHerb’s range of premium quality herbal extracts which have set a standard for quality that is unsurpassed in the world today. In just 25 years MediHerb has grown to become Australia’s largest purchaser and processor of raw herbs, exporting our products around the world.

Now in our 25th Birthday year as we celebrate our proud tradition, we are pleased to present you with a ‘gift’ for your dispensary, three new premium quality herbal extracts: Kava 1:1, Nigella 1:2 and Saffron 1:20.

Crocus sativus