"There's a herb for that: medicinal plants here and elsewhere" - A two-part hands-on seminar for adults.

Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21, 2022 2.00 - 6.30 p.m. each day

Target group: Adults, max. 15 people

Location: Tropical greenhouse of the University of Kassel, Steinstraße 19, 37213 Witzenhausen

Bindingregistration until 16.05.2022

Tel: 05542-72812, tropengewaechshaus@uni-kassel.de

Costs: 90 €/person incl. coffee breaks and material

A cooperation project of the Tropical Greenhouse of the University of Kassel with Bildung trifft Entwicklung, Göttingen, Bildungszentrum WeltGarten Witzenhausen and Bündnis für Familie der Stadt Witzenhausen

Would you like to work together with others, learn something new and discuss an exciting topic? Perhaps we have found the right framework for this with this hands-on seminar. Our idea is to learn from and with each other and to get active in the process.

Plants can help to cure diseases! People knew this many thousands of years ago. A distinct tradition of herbal medicine has developed in all cultures around the world. Even today, medical care for around 80% of the world's population is still based exclusively on herbal remedies. Much of this traditional knowledge is in danger of being lost here and elsewhere. In this seminar, we will look at medicinal plants from all over the world, both here and in other regions of the world. We will bridge the gap between everyday knowledge and research, art and history and ask questions about their value - both monetary and medicinal. The focus is on practical work, stories and small experiments. During the breaks, there will be suitable delicacies and time to share your own experiences and knowledge.

Friday afternoon begins with a journey through the history of medicinal herbalism in various cultures. On a journey to the equator, we will encounter familiar and unfamiliar plants: How can the passion flower contribute to relaxation? How did the cinchona bark, which does not even come from China, get its name? We meet an evergreen used in cancer therapy and the plants used in birth control pills. It's all about marketing for individual "super plants" and biopiracy. At a tea bar, the participants examine the herbal ingredients, mix and enjoy their drink with literary "snacks". Small herbal delicacies will help them to get to know lesser-known aspects of the world of medicinal plants.

Saturday afternoon appeals to all the senses: the local medicinal herbs will be explored with the eyes, nose, tongue and sense of touch. Which plant is behind the name "goutwort"? We will be looking at the effects and uses as well as species conservation projects such as the one for arnica and the problems of cultivating and collecting medicinal plants from the wild. We also want to become artistically active and create collages on medicinal plant themes. A look at the industrial production of medicinal products shows what is behind words such as "extract" or "extract". A home-made traditional ointment should then also be enjoyed at home.

With alternative practitioner and agricultural engineer Ines Fehrmann and student Tony Lindenau.

Note: Subject to all approvals - in compliance with the applicable hygiene regulations. After registration, participants will receive the applicable instructions and rules for containing the corona virus. Please note that we have to react flexibly to current regulations and requirements!