Experience Qi through Plants and Herbs
12th May 2024
A Unique day in
The Bristol Chinese Herb Garden
The Bristol Chinese Herb Garden
A perfect hands on introduction to Chinese herbal medicine for aspiring herbalists and horticulture enthusiasts
- Take a guided tour of the garden with founder Tony Harrison
- Taste and smell herbs and learn how they influence our Qi
- Learn how everyday culinary herbs can enhance Qigong practice
- Learn how to make moxa from the plant to the herb we use in our clinics
- Discover the herbal and yangsheng flavour logic from the Yellow Emperor's Classic with RCHM CEO, Alex Jacobs
- Learn powerful Chinese medicine self-help techniques using plants and herbs
- See the peonies in bloom
A day provided by the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine to connect with herbs and plants
Location
University of Bristol Botanical Garden
Churchill Hall, Stoke Park Road, Bristol, UK
Churchill Hall, Stoke Park Road, Bristol, UK
Date & Time
May 12, 2024, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
An unmissable interactive day
Take advantage of this unique opportunity to not only be guided through the garden with Tony's deep knowledge of plants but to experience the Qi of the medicine yourself. Smell and taste plants and herbs, learn how they can transform your qi, and once you do qigong, how you can sense the qi of the plant in return. The flavour theory from the Yellow Emperor's classic will help you deepen your understanding and enable you to apply therapeutic principles straight away in cooking and dietary therapy.
Activity Highlight
Moxa-Making
Chinese Mugwort or Ai Ye is arguably the most miraculous of herbs. It can be refined to make moxa to burn for therapeutic effect or boiled to make a decoction to be taken internally. In China it is hung on the doorstep to ward off evil spirits. The energy of Chinese mugwort holds a special place in the heart of the medicine.
Take advantage of this unique opportunity to make moxa from plant to herb
Moxa-Making
Chinese Mugwort or Ai Ye is arguably the most miraculous of herbs. It can be refined to make moxa to burn for therapeutic effect or boiled to make a decoction to be taken internally. In China it is hung on the doorstep to ward off evil spirits. The energy of Chinese mugwort holds a special place in the heart of the medicine.
Take advantage of this unique opportunity to make moxa from plant to herb
Schedule
10:00 AM
Chinese Herb Garden Tour with Tony Harrison
To kick off the day, Tony will guide you through the garden sharing his knowledge of plants, from their unique personalities, to horticulture, to western pharmacological properties to how they are used in the clinical practice of Chinese herbal medicine.
11:00 AM
Qi Gong Using Herbs & Plants to Experience Qi with Alex Jacobs
Every herb has a flavour dynamic and a 'Qi' temperature. Alex will show you how different herbal teas can affect your Qi flow and support your Qigong practice. Alex will lead you through a Qigong session in the garden with herbal teas to taste.
11:30 AM
Tea Break
Herbal tea and herbal snacks available!
11:45 AM- 1pm
Yangsheng Flavour Logic from the Yellow Emperor's Classic with Alex Jacobs
A powerful herbal logic is deeply embedded within the Yellow Emperor's classic. Understanding this logic is like cracking a code which unlocks a powerful understanding of seasonal dynamics and how they match with both physiology and pathology. Learn the hidden secrets of the five flavours and how to implement it straight away with food and herbs. Alex will also talk about the path of a herbalist and how you can tread on this path.
1PM - 2PM
Lunchbreak
Bring your own packed lunch or food available to purchase at the Bristol Herb Garden cafe.
2pm-3pm
Glasshouse Tour with Tony Harrison
The glasshouses enable plants from different climatic zones to be grown in the garden. The glasshouse collection contains some of the most exotic and unusual plants that often have surprising properties.
3pm-4pm
Moxa - Making Session with Tony Harrison
Take advantage of this unique opportunity to make moxa for yourself. Gain a deep connection to the plant which will stay with you and forever deepen your appreciation and connection to moxibustion. Please note, this session depends on the Chinese mugwort plant being ready for harvesting. It should be ready at this time of year but it cannot be guaranteed.
4pm-5pm
Herb Tasting and Learning to Use Culinary Herbs for Self-Help with Alex, Charlotte and Martine
Building on the other sessions in the day, we will taste more herbs and see how our subjective experience of their effects relate to what is written in the ancient classics. Learn how they can be used for simple recipes for your own self-healing.
Speakers
Tony Harrison
Founder of the Bristol Chinese HErb Garden
Council Member OF
THE REGISTER OF CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE
Council Member OF
THE REGISTER OF CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE
Tony is one of the UK's foremost Chinese herbal medicine horticulture experts as well as a clinical practitioner. He is knowledgable about every aspect of Chinese herbal medicine from the traditional knowledge to western pharmacology.
Alex Jacobs
CEO of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine
Alex is a Chinese herbalist, acupuncturist, tuina massage therapist, dietary therapy teacher and qigong teacher. He has a passion for yangsheng and Chinese medicine self-help and has been teaching the public regularly for 15 years.