Denise Joy is a fourth generation herbalist with an herbal tradition passed from woman to woman in the oral tradition. Denise celebrates her herbal lineage from her Ukrainian Gypsy great grandmother who guided her early training, from age nine to fourteen. She has also gained knowledge through books and self-teaching and has been augmented by studying with renowned herbalists and healers in Hawaii and Washington State. Denise carries a way of life connected with place and community. For over thirty-two years she has owned and operated Mountain Spirit Herbals, where she makes, grows, and wild crafts much of the company’s product.
“Plants are like people,” Each one has a distinct personality. Without knowing their personalities it is really hard to mix them together.” Over the years of studying and learning from plants, Denise has mastered the art of combining medicinal herbs to heal and care for her community.
She has served the Port Townsend area as an herbalist, medicine maker, and healer during this time. Among her knowledge and teachings are decades of experience in the identification of herbs by sight, smell, touch, and taste. Beyond her own organoleptic abilities, she has taught over 50 apprentices throughout the Pacific Northwest, students and woofers from around the world. She is well-versed in herbal properties and their uses. Denise takes great pride in her products. All of her products are handcrafted from raw materials whose identities she can readily confirm using her aforementioned vast knowledge and resources including those from her own garden. Please visit her website: www.MountainSpiritHerbals.com. You may contact Denise via e-mail at this address: mtnspirit@olympus.net
2018 Presentations by Denise Joy
FRIDAY, AUGUST 24 ~ 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm in Classroom Building B
"A Basic Soap Making Class Hands-on Workshop"
Participants please bring $5.00 material fee
Come experience the basic processes involved in making your own handmade soaps. This class will provide you a hands-on opportunity to make your own soap. You will use only cold pressed oils, clay and lye. Learn a basic recipe for creating a shampoo soap that you will be able to take home with you. Personalized, hand-made gifts are always appreciated treats which your family and friends will adore. Learn to be the crafter of these treasured soaps.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 25 ~ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm in Auditorium A
"Herbal Nervine Tonics"
There are many different herbs for nervine tonics, which are used for the treatment of headaches, depression, body aches, sleep disorder, restless leg syndrome, etc. Each herb has its own way of working with different parts of our body make up; for example right now the most popular nervine tonic is Cannabis because Cannabis is right for many cases. Cannabis has proven itself to be the wrong herb in other situations, where the tonic you may need could be as simple as Catnip, Chamomile, or Skullcap. In this class we will cover the herbs that work for simple as well as more complex relaxation herbs, and how they relax the body and why one would choose one over another.
For example:
Lobelia: has worked for many to relax the lungs after a coughing spasm. Lobelia is also used to help tobacco smokers quit because it helps to alleviate the cravings for tobacco.
"A Basic Soap Making Class Hands-on Workshop"
Participants please bring $5.00 material fee
Come experience the basic processes involved in making your own handmade soaps. This class will provide you a hands-on opportunity to make your own soap. You will use only cold pressed oils, clay and lye. Learn a basic recipe for creating a shampoo soap that you will be able to take home with you. Personalized, hand-made gifts are always appreciated treats which your family and friends will adore. Learn to be the crafter of these treasured soaps.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 25 ~ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm in Auditorium A
"Herbal Nervine Tonics"
There are many different herbs for nervine tonics, which are used for the treatment of headaches, depression, body aches, sleep disorder, restless leg syndrome, etc. Each herb has its own way of working with different parts of our body make up; for example right now the most popular nervine tonic is Cannabis because Cannabis is right for many cases. Cannabis has proven itself to be the wrong herb in other situations, where the tonic you may need could be as simple as Catnip, Chamomile, or Skullcap. In this class we will cover the herbs that work for simple as well as more complex relaxation herbs, and how they relax the body and why one would choose one over another.
For example:
Lobelia: has worked for many to relax the lungs after a coughing spasm. Lobelia is also used to help tobacco smokers quit because it helps to alleviate the cravings for tobacco.
Recorded NorthWest Herb Symposium Presentations
by Denise Joy
Click on Titles to Order Downloads from Tree Farm Tapes
2017 "Using Laxatives Safely and Effectively"
Class Outline:
2017 "Roses and Rosehips: The Beauty and the Bitter"
What is it about the Rose that captures our world and us? The smell, the colors, the essences, these have captured humans for thousands of years. We will explore the history and uses of the Rose, and her hips. I will give recipes for face creams to simple syrups. Everyday potions you can make for health, which bring beauty. With summer abundance we will also talk about what we can do with everyday harvest from garden to healthy living.
2016 "Herbal Simple and Complex Syrups"
In this class, we will create simple syrup and talk about the properties. This is a fun and yummy way to store all kinds of great herbals for coughs and colds, to that extra special pancake syrup or turkey dressing. We will make syrup using what you would have in your kitchen and talk about the properties. Methods of making them with local garden and wild ingredients will be covered. What is in syrups? Why choose syrup over other herbal methods? How to make herbal syrups will be demonstrated. Do I use honey or vinegar or both? These questions and more will be answered in this beginner herbal.
2016 "Basic Herbal First Aid Kits: Personalized for Your Families’ Needs"
In this class, we will go over basic first aid in an herbal tradition. Incorporating herbs used from your kitchen to your yard, we will take the time to talk about your personal first aide needs and help start your own home kit. Herbal First aide and any other first aide is a must. Who knows when the next storm or earthquake will hit! Having your own personal Herbal kit ready at hand for you and your loved ones is a must. Over the last 25 years or so I have worked with students. We have come up with herbals that I have thought were important. I will go over the basics and also breakdown a bit for people what would work in a kit for them at a moment’s notice. Are you or your family in sports? Do you have health issues? How about your pet? In an emergency what would you do? These are some of the questions I would like folks to think about as you work on your own.
2015 "Growing and Cultivating Herbal Medicine in the Pacific Northwest"
Drawing on her extensive knowledge of Puget Sound flora, Denise will explain what makes the plants of this region special. Even the common plants found in most other locales have special attributes created from the climate, soils and heredity. Add to that the knowledge of plants native to this unique near-coastal basin and you will gain valuable knowledge not available elsewhere.
by Denise Joy
Click on Titles to Order Downloads from Tree Farm Tapes
2017 "Using Laxatives Safely and Effectively"
Class Outline:
- Healthy bowel function through diet and herbs
- Safe laxatives for children
- When to use fast acting laxatives
- Digestive aides, and anti-parasitic herbs
- Smooth muscle herbs for stomach and colon
- Safety and cautions
2017 "Roses and Rosehips: The Beauty and the Bitter"
What is it about the Rose that captures our world and us? The smell, the colors, the essences, these have captured humans for thousands of years. We will explore the history and uses of the Rose, and her hips. I will give recipes for face creams to simple syrups. Everyday potions you can make for health, which bring beauty. With summer abundance we will also talk about what we can do with everyday harvest from garden to healthy living.
2016 "Herbal Simple and Complex Syrups"
In this class, we will create simple syrup and talk about the properties. This is a fun and yummy way to store all kinds of great herbals for coughs and colds, to that extra special pancake syrup or turkey dressing. We will make syrup using what you would have in your kitchen and talk about the properties. Methods of making them with local garden and wild ingredients will be covered. What is in syrups? Why choose syrup over other herbal methods? How to make herbal syrups will be demonstrated. Do I use honey or vinegar or both? These questions and more will be answered in this beginner herbal.
2016 "Basic Herbal First Aid Kits: Personalized for Your Families’ Needs"
In this class, we will go over basic first aid in an herbal tradition. Incorporating herbs used from your kitchen to your yard, we will take the time to talk about your personal first aide needs and help start your own home kit. Herbal First aide and any other first aide is a must. Who knows when the next storm or earthquake will hit! Having your own personal Herbal kit ready at hand for you and your loved ones is a must. Over the last 25 years or so I have worked with students. We have come up with herbals that I have thought were important. I will go over the basics and also breakdown a bit for people what would work in a kit for them at a moment’s notice. Are you or your family in sports? Do you have health issues? How about your pet? In an emergency what would you do? These are some of the questions I would like folks to think about as you work on your own.
2015 "Growing and Cultivating Herbal Medicine in the Pacific Northwest"
Drawing on her extensive knowledge of Puget Sound flora, Denise will explain what makes the plants of this region special. Even the common plants found in most other locales have special attributes created from the climate, soils and heredity. Add to that the knowledge of plants native to this unique near-coastal basin and you will gain valuable knowledge not available elsewhere.
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© 2018 NorthWest Herb Symposium
