On My Mind - Ethnobotany
by Julie Register
Ethnobotany: (from ethnology, study of culture, and botany, study of plants) The study of how people of a particular culture and region make use of indigenous (native) plants.
In April 2014, I saw an announcement in our local newspaper that ethnobotanist, Michaeal J. Balick, Vice President for Botanical Science and Director and Philecology Curator of the New York Botanical Garden Institute for Economic Botany, would be giving a lecture at the University of Delaware and introducing his new book, 21st-Century Herbal: A Practical Guide for Healthy Living Using Nature's Most Powerful Plants
. I went to the lecture, enjoyed it and purchased the book. I learned that in 1987, Dr. Balick and Rosita Arvigo (more about her later) founded the Belize Ethnobotany Project (BEP). The BEP joined efforts with the National Cancer Institute to collect medicinal plants in Belize to be tested in Washington, DC for potential anti-cancer and anti-AIDS activity. The team of researchers, scientists, herbalists and bush doctors collected nearly three thousand plants from all districts of Belize. Dr. Balick also told stories about ethnobotanist, Richard Evans Schultes, and I remembered hearing Mark Plotkin (more about him later) tell similar stories. I came away with a feeling of unexpected connectedness.
What does ethnobotany have to do with spas? I have many things to thank the spa industry for including the wonderful spa treatments I have received over the years, making me more aware of breathwork, mindfulness, intention and gratitude and exposing me to yoga among others. I can also thank the spa industry for my interest in ethnobotany.
About 15 years ago, I attended an ISPA conference that featured Mark Plotkin, Ph.D. as a keynote speaker. He introduced us to the work of the Amazon Conservation Team (ACT), a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving South American rainforests. He talked about how the ACT supports traditional healers and their apprentices, allowing them to focus on the restoration of ancestral medicinal practices in their communities. I found the talk fascinating and have supported and followed the work of the ACT since then. I also added books to my library:
I started to look for books about local medicinal plants and healing traditions as I traveled throughout the world. At home I added:
In 2000, I visited spas in the Bahamas and, after experiencing a spa treatment based on bush medicine, picked up the book:
During a spa trip to Bermuda, I bought:
- Historic and Edible Herbs and Berries of Bermuda by Juliet Duncan
In the spring of 2001, I experienced a number of spas during a driving tour of New Zealand with Home At First Vacations. I received a massage at a spa in Rotorua by a therapist who was Maori. Her great grandmothers were tohunga (spiritual healers). On the tour, we visited a number of centers where we could learn more about the Maori. I bought more books for my library:
In late September and early October of 2001, I traveled in Canada from Toronto to Vancouver experiencing many spas along the way including the Elmwood Spa, Radium Hot Springs - Kootenay National Park, Banff Upper Hot Springs in Banff National Park, Grand Okanagan Lakefront Resort & Conference Centre, The Hills Health Ranch, Mountain Trek, Echo Valley Ranch & Spa, Healing Springs Spa at Harrison Hot Springs Resort, Absolute Spa at the Century, Kingfisher Oceanside Resort & Spa
and Temple Gardens Mineral Spa. I spent a lot of time driving from one spa to another, usually with a guide. I learned a bit about medicinal plants in Canada and bought:
In 2002, I visited the Lodge at Chaa Creek in San Ignacio, Belize
to experience their spa. I learned that Rosita Arvigo lived just down the road from the lodge. I had heard about the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy from a massage therapist in Delaware and wanted to talk to her. Unfortunately, she was away at the time of my visit. In addition to co-founding The Belize Ethnobotany Project with Dr. Michael Balick, Rosita Arvigo is a Doctor of Naprapathy, an ethnobotanist, spiritual healer, author of six books on traditional healing of Central America, international speaker, founder of Ix Chel Tropical Research Centre in Belize, founder of the Rainforest Medicine Trail, Terra Nova Medicinal Plant Reserve, children’s Bush Medicine Summer Camp in Belize, thirteen-year apprentice to the one of the last Maya shamans, Don Elijio Panti, recipient of The Earth Award, 2007, and founder of The Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy and courses in Maya Spiritual Healing. I added some of her books to my library:
In 2002, I also experienced the
Elemis Spa at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. The spa was designed to echo the Mohegan tribal culture. It was there I learned about
Dr. Gladys Iola Tantaquidgeon, a Mohegan Medicine Woman who was born in
1899 and died in 2005. She was educated in tribal spirituality and herbalism by her "grandmothers" Lydia Fielding, Mercy Ann Nonesuch Mathews and Emma Baker. She documented her Mohegan pharmacopeia as well as researched herbal medicine among related east coast tribes, including the Delaware, Nanticoke, Cayuga and Wampanoag. I bought more books:
In 2003, I went to Iceland for the grand opening of the Nordica Hotel and experience its spa, thermal baths near Reykjavik including The Blue Lagoon, and a couple of day spas in the city. I spent one day touring the sights with a private tour guide from Reykjavik Excursions and learned a bit about Iceland's medicinal plants. I purchased another book as well as an Islandic to English dictionary to translate it:
In 2003 I also went to the US Virgin Islands to experience their spas - on St. Thomas, Journeys Spa at Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa and the Spa at Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas; on St. John, The Self Centre at Caneel Bay; and on St. Croix, The Hideaway Spa at The Buccaneer. I picked up another book:
Skipping ahead a few years to 2011 - I experienced the Spa at Primland in Meadows of Dan, Virginia. Garance Primat, the owner who guided The Spa's creation, found inspiration in
the physical and spiritual nature of the mountains on which Primland is located.
She envisioned The Spa as an uplifting space where guests could go to relax and
rejuvenate in harmony with nature while honoring the land and the people of the
land. Over many years, eight American Indian tribes have lived where Primland
now stands including Cherokee, Iroquois, Monacan, Sapony, Tutelo, Melungeon and
Saura. Garance and French spa consultant, Sylvie Keo, spent over a year meeting
with native descendants and local historians gathering information so that they
could bring authenticity to The Spa environment. I picked up a few more books:
In 2011 I also experienced Red Mountain Resort in Ivins, Utah. While there, I went on the Medicinal Plant Hike in Snow Canyon with Ginny Sparks, a full-blooded Navajo. The hike itself was probably less than three miles through pretty easy but
beautiful terrain. We had plenty of time to look at and discuss the plants. At
one point in the hike, Ginny stopped to share the Navajo way of gathering
plants. Native Americans believe all things have a spirit, so they pick plants
early in the morning after the plants have rested. The plant's energy and
potency is at the peak then. First Ginny greeted the plant and stated her
purpose - why she was going to take some of the plant. She gave the plant a gift
of corn pollen and a blessing, then gently took a small amount - only what was
needed. She thanked the plant, so it knows she has gratitude. Afterwards, Ginny
produced a small thermos and shared some Navajo tea with us. Ginny is the author of a children's book, The Adventures of Sunflower Girl - Grandmother and the Bull
.
In 2014, I enjoyed hiking to the Cascades Gorge while visiting The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia. Staff naturalist, Allen, identified a number of plants on the hike such as wild ginger, nettle and its remedy jewel weed.
Jewelweed
|
Wild Ginger
|
I continue to enjoy discovering and learning about the uses of indiginous plants at the places I visit. I am thankful for the work of all the authors that have documented medicinal plants and all of the organizations that work to ensure the future of medicinal plants.
~Julie
by Mark J. Plotkin, Ph.D.
by Mark J Plotkin, Ph.D
by Mrs. Leslie Higgs 
by P.M.E. Williams 
by Rosita Arvigo and Nadine Epstein
by Rosita Arvigo
by Melissa Jayne Fawcett
by Adolf Hungry Wolf and 
