"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 each 2:00 - 6:30 p.m.

Target group: Adults, max. 15 persons

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

Registration binding 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 of the city of Witzenhausen.

You would like to work together with others, learn new things and exchange ideas about 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 become active together.

Plants can help to heal diseases! People knew this many thousands of years ago. A distinctive tradition of herbal medicine has developed in all cultures of the world. Even today, medical care for about 80% of the world's population is based exclusively on herbal remedies. Much of the traditional knowledge is in danger of being lost here and elsewhere. In the seminar we will deal with medicinal plants from all over the world, the local ones and those from 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 hands-on work, stories and small experiments. During the breaks there will be suitable delicacies and time to exchange with each other about your own experiences and knowledge.

Friday afternoon begins with a journey through the history of medicinal herbalism in different cultures. On a journey to the equator we will encounter known and unknown plants: How can the passion flower contribute to relaxation? How did the Chinese bark, which does not originate from China, get its name? We meet a periwinkle from cancer therapy and the plants from the birth control pill. It's about marketing for individual "super plants" and about biopiracy. At a tea bar, the participants examine the herbal ingredients, mix and enjoy their drink with literary "nibbles". Small herbal delicacies help to get to know more unknown aspects of the world of medicinal plants.

Saturday afternoon appeals to all the senses: the local medicinal herbs are to be explored with the eyes, nose, tongue and sense of touch.  Which plant is behind the name "goutweed"? Effects and uses will be discussed as well as species protection projects such as the one for Arnica or the problems of cultivation and wild collection of medicinal plants. We also want to become artistically active and design medicinal plant themes as collages. A look at the industrial production of medicines will show what is behind words like "extract" or "excerpt". A homemade traditional ointment is then to 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 . Upon registration, participants will receive applicable Corona virus containment notices and rules. Please note that we have to react flexibly to current rules and regulations!