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Naturopathy and Herbal Medicine

Wellpark / Naturopathy and Herbal Medicine

Calendula officinalis– calendula | pot marigold | marigold Herb of the month:

Note: From Calendula [image], Kelly, P (2022). Calendula officinalis is a cheery and bright herb flowers all year around in most areas but grows most prolifically from late spring to late autumn. Commonly named calendula derived from the Latin kalendae, reflecting its ability to flower every month of the year. Well known to many gardeners and highly prized by famous historical herbalists such as Nicholas Culpepper, John Gerard and Maud Grieve for its wide array of medicinal uses including strengthening the heart and spirit and supporting the healing of wounds, cuts, and skin concerns (Grieve, 2021). Calendula is well known as a traditional herb supporting symptoms of minor inflammations of the skin and aiding in the healing of minor wounds. Its healing anti-inflammatory action is due largely to...

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The Journey to becoming a Naturopath – Interview with Sandy Watts

[caption id="attachment_11800" align="aligncenter" width="278"] Sandy-Watts-Naturopath-Wellpark[/caption] Being a Naturopath wasn't Sandy Watts first career choice but a desire to better understand her own health and the ailments of her family members lead her to explore natural health practices and learn more about holistic nutrition. Taking a leap of faith Sandy fare welled her previous career and enrolled to study for a Bachelor of Naturopathic and Herbal Medicine at Wellpark College. Although the degree programme was challenging it was a journey of self discovery as much as education and today Sandy runs a successful Naturopathic practice in Omaha and is a well respected member of the Naturopathic community. What first sparked your interest in Naturopathy and Herbal Medicine? Experiencing health benefits first hand, when I saw a naturopath during a stressful time in...

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Kaupapa Māori research – guest talk from Dr Anne. A Hiha

On August 11th Wellpark College was lucky to have Dr Anne. A Hiha talk to our students and staff about Kaupapa Māori research. Dr Hiha has a vast range of experience and expertise which includes pedagogy and research, in particular Kaupapa Māori research. Research methods and critical thinking are weaved through the curriculum at Wellpark College, and the students learn about different research approaches including quantitative, qualitative and Kaupapa Māori methodologies. Having Dr Hiha present was a wonderful way to deepen the students and staffs understanding of the taonga that is Kaupapa Māori research.  The first year naturopathy students compiled a list of questions for Dr Hiha in their class Introduction to Research and Critical Thinking. Topics the students were particularly interested in were sent to...

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Herb of the month – September – Sow Thistle

Sonchus oleraceus - Pūhā / Pūwhā / sow thistle A member of the Asteraceae family, this herb is one that many people consider a weed in their garden. It is flourishing at this time of year, and if you aren’t aware of its nutritional and medicinal uses, you may just pull it out (New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, 2021). Pūhā is an important plant to many Māori, while it is an introduced species to Aotearoa, it is a significant food and medicine which has been used historically. It is eaten today by many in different meals including boil-up.  Boil-up is a nourishing broth can be made from meat and bones, greens (including pūhā and watercress), kūmara and potatoes, although there are many variations (Landcare Research, 2021). Eating pūhā...

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August Herb of the Month – Thyme

August Herb of the Month - Thyme Thymus vulgaris - thyme The humble common thyme is a perennial aromatic shrub that can be found in many home gardens. Thyme is flourishing in Spring and there is plenty in the Wellpark College gardens. Medicinally, we use the whole herb which is best harvested just before or at the time of flowering.  With a wide array of medicinal benefits, this herb is wonderful to plant plentiful in your home garden. It is high in flavonoids, phenolic acids and essential oils including monoterpenes thymol, carvacrol, linalool and camphor. The presence of these plant chemicals give thyme a range of medicinal actions and it has been used traditionally for centuries around the world (Fisher, 2018; Grieves, 2021). Due to thyme’s high essential oil content,...

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Naturopathy Book of the Month – July

 Librarian at Wellpark College, Sonya’s Book of the Month -  July The Wellpark Library holds an incredible collection of rare and diverse books in the Natural Therapies field.  Sonya, our Librarian will now be offering a Book of the Month review to highlight some of the books that are not as often noticed as the required and recommended texts, but brilliant all the same! For July, the featured book is: Hildegard von Bingen’s Physica The Complete English Translation of Her Classic Work on Health and Healing (Translated from the Latin by Priscilla Troup) Excerpt - “Visionary, mystic, healer, linguist, poet, artist, musician, playwright, biographer, theologian, preacher, and spiritual counsellor – the multi-faceted Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179), twelfth-century Benedictine abbess of the Rhineland, outshines others form her period and indeed from any period.” Hildegard...

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Nasturtium

Nasturtium – Tropaelum majus Often considered a weed, this versatile plant is fantastic to have in your home garden. It is a trap plant, attracting pest bugs away from your vegetables and fruit. It is a warming circulatory stimulant, helping to improve blood flow throughout the body. There is also research which supports claims about its use as a diuretic. The leaves, flowers and berries can be eaten and have a wonderful peppery flavour. You can use the leaves and flowers on your salads or in pesto and the berries can be pickled and taste just like capers! By Patrice Kelly - Naturopathy Tutor at Wellpark College Nasturtium Pesto Recipe Ingredients 1 cup tightly packed nasturtium leaves 1/2 cup olive oil 1/4 cup pine nuts 1 large garlic clove - peeled and roughly chopped salt and freshly...

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Fennel ~ Herb of the month

Fennel - Herb of the month Foeniculum vulgare - fennel is a wonderful herb, which has been used as a medicine and a food for hundreds of years. We use the fruit/seed in herbal medicine. This aromatic herb contains essential oils which give fennel it’s antibacterial and antifungal actions. Fennel is a digestive herb that can be used to relieve flatulence, bloating, spasms and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Try adding some fennel seeds into your salads for it’s healing benefits and a delicious flavour or finish your evening meal with a fennel tea made from the seeds to aid digestion. Please seek professional advice from a qualified Naturopath before taking herbs to treat medical conditions or if you are pregnant. By Patrice Kelly, Naturopath and Wellpark College...

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September News and Updates 2021

With Auckland still in Level 3 Covid Restrictions, the campus remains closed and it has been a month of online learning for the Wellpark College students. Our new IT Support Saroj has kept everyone connected and the students have done a fantastic job of keeping up with their studies during very trying. Life on Campus Nourishing mind, body and soul with online Meditation and Yoga Classes. Luckily for Wellpark Students our Librarian Sonya is also a qualified Meditation teacher and has been running weekly online Meditation sessions. The sessions are designed to improve focus and memory & mental clarity and help students understand stress and anxiety triggers and find a peaceful and calm nature within the body. Our friends at the Yoga school at Kawai Purura have been running free weekly...

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Lip Balm Recipe

Lavender, Geranium and German Chamomile Lip Balm - By Wellpark College Naturopathy Tutor Patrice Kelly. If you came to the Wellpark College Open Day this year you will have seen Naturopathy Tutor Patrice Kelly making this soothing lip balm in her Herbal Manufacturing demo. Make it at home with this easy to follow lip balm recipe. Ingredients Enough dried lavender flowers to fill half a 250 mL jar 250 mL oil (almond or olive) 1 x capsule vitamin E oil 28g shea butter 28g beeswax 5 drops German chamomile essential oil 5 drops geranium essential oil Method Half fill a sterilised jar with dried herbs Fill the jar to the top with chosen oil and place a sterilised lid on the jar Place jar into a homemade double boiler (place a tea-towel on the base...

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