PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING Erin Masako Wilkins and Ryath Fujita Beauchene ON JULY 24tH, 2025 AT 4PM PT/5PM MT/6PM CT/7PM ET

Please join us for a dynamic presentation about the multitudinous properties of mushrooms! This offering is a follow-up to the previously featured "Navigating Functional Mushrooms," and this presentation will be co-facilitated by Erin Masako Wilkins and Ryath Fujita Beauchene. Together, they will cover 9 important mushroom species prominent in Traditional Chinese Medicine and the medicinal mushroom research community with time for questions, ponderings, and discussion about these revered organisms. Erin will cover some of the vocabulary used to discuss herbs in the TCM approach and highlight the mushrooms' energetics, indications and clinical or formulaic uses, while Ryath will weave in some of the biomedical (so-called "Western") research, chemistry and medicine-making practices for those interested in purchasing or making their own medicines.

Erin Masako Wilkins is an Asian American herbalist, acupuncturist and educator who has spent years treating patients and teaching workshops on herbal healing. Her work is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine and draws from ancestral healing traditions to empower others in restoring health and preventing illness. Her book, Asian American Herbalism: Traditional and Modern Healing Practices for Everyday Wellness, bridges North American folk herbalism and traditional Chinese medicine. Remarkably, Erin is one of the first AAPI authors to write on this subject for a general audience, approaching the work from a deeply personal place. She is the founder of Herb Folk, a farm-to-cup tea line, and she offers virtual classes and health consultations through the Asian American Herbalism School. To connect with Erin, visit HerbFolkShop.com or follow her on Instagram @herbfolkmedicine.

Ryath Fujita Beauchene is a Californian mycological educator and the Vice President of the Sonoma County Mycological Association. Ryath has been a mushroom forager, cultivator, and researcher for sixteen years and teaches about fungal ecology, ethnomycology, mushroom identification & cultivation, fungalism, and the functional mushroom industry. He is a co-steward of both Moon Fruit Mushroom Farm and Symbiiotica as well as an estate manager and horticulturist with particular interests in adaptogens, cooking, semantics, symbiosis and how ecosystem health includes human health. Ryath also makes custom formulations for private clients with herbs and mushrooms and you can find him on Instagram @funga.dragon. It is Ryath's hope that by showing people the valuable potency of natural medicines we may become more devoted and reciprocal in our relationships to our planet's diverse ecologies and peoples.

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PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING denise cusack ON april 24tH, 2025 AT 4PM PT/5PM MT/6PM CT/7PM ET

Are you looking to grow more Asian medicinal herbs with ease? Join us for an informative webinar on Thursday, April 24, at 4 PM Pacific Time, where we’ll explore the best methods for direct sowing, succession planting, division, cuttings, and bulbs. Learn how to cultivate a thriving garden of Asian medicinals with simple, effective techniques—no seed starting required! Discover which plants can be direct sown straight into your garden, allowing for a continuous harvest of quick-growing herbs. Learn how to design your beds for succession planting, so you always have fresh plants ready to harvest. We’ll also discuss which Asian medicinals can often be found at local nurseries, including those that double as beautiful landscape plants.Whether you're a beginner or an experienced grower, this session will provide valuable insights into choosing the right plants for your zone and growing conditions - including design and planting tips for water conservation and nutrient-rich soil. Plus, bring your questions for our live Q&A—let us help you plan your garden for success!

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL LILIUM INITIATIVE MEMBERS. BECOME A MEMBER AND ATTEND MANY OF OUR EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE HERE.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS EVENT WITH A SLIDING SCALE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION HERE.

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PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING Thomas Avery garran, Ph.D. ON March 13tH, 2025 AT 4PM PT/5PM MT/6PM CT/7PM ET

Please join us for a discussion with Thomas Avery Garran, Ph.D. to learn about his experience growing East Asian medicinals in New England/NE United States.

Some topics of discussion will include what he is growing now, what he plans to grow, challenges and successes in his growing experience, and what he sees as the potential for increasing domestic growing of Chinese herbs in the United States.  Specific herbs to be discussed include Schisandra chinensis (wu wei zi), Scutellaria baicalensis (huang qin), and Atractylodes lancea (cang zhu).

Thomas Avery Garran has been studying plant medicine for over 30 years. He lived in China from 2007 - 2023 and received his PhD in Materia Medica studies and Plant Pharmacy at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences in Beijing: National Center for Materia Medica Resources and Daodi Herbs (the first non-Chinese recipient of this degree). He has a masters degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine and a certificate in herbal medicine from the American School of Herbalism. Dr. Garran is the author of 2 books on the use of Western herbs in Chinese medicine (2008, 2014). He is the translator (with annotation) of the first book on growing and processing daodi Chinese herbs (2019) and the first men’s health book published in Chinese medicine (mid-17th century) ~ forthcoming. He is also the co-translator of a free e-book on the initial response to the covid outbreak by the Chinese medicine community in China. Dr. Garran has also published widely in both academic and herbal journals, and has a new Substack blog (ThomasAveryGarranPhD). Dr. Garran is the executive director of the East West School of Herbology and president of both Passiflora Press and Herb Whisperer, Inc., which focuses on agriculture of medicinal plants and education. He now resides in Western Massachusetts where he and his wife are building an herbal sanctuary and educational center.

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL LILIUM INITIATIVE MEMBERS. BECOME A MEMBER AND ATTEND MANY OF OUR EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE HERE.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS EVENT WITH A SLIDING SCALE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION HERE.

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS NOW CLOSED.

Please note that our webinars are free only to current members of Lilium Initiative. All non-members can register for webinars by donating to Lilium Initiative (sliding scale). Our 501c3 nonprofit organization uses non-member donations to support our work.

PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING RYATH FUJITA BEAUCHENE ON NOVEMBER 14TH, 2024 AT 4PM PT•5PM MT•6PM CT•7PM ET

Are you overwhelmed by or skeptical of all the "mushroom products" out there? Do you want to know what to look for, what questions to consider and what makes effective medicine? Whether you are doubtful, buying in stores, or interested in making your own fungal medicines, come join Ryath Fujita Beauchene for an online presentation exploring the intersections of fungal biochemistry, fungalism & the functional mushroom industry. Ryath will also cover some of the medicinal mushroom research, DIY techniques, nutrition & interpreting product labels. We will have plenty of time for questions about the material and we are planning a follow-up to this presentation with a more specific focus on the mushrooms of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Ryath Fujita Beauchene is a Californian mycological educator and the Vice President of the Sonoma County Mycological Association. Ryath has been a mushroom forager, cultivator and researcher for sixteen years and teaches about fungal ecology, ethnomycology, mushroom identification & cultivation, fungalism and the functional mushroom industry. He is a co-steward of both Moon Fruit Mushroom Farm and Symbiiotica, as well as an estate manager and trained horticulturist, with a particular interest in adaptogens, ethnomycology, cooking, semantics, symbiosis and how ecosystem health includes human health. Lately, Ryath has been peering through the portals of alchemy, phytochemistry, Buddhist koans, and medical herbalism. It is Ryath's hope that by showing people the valuable potency of natural medicines that we may become more devoted and reciprocal in our relationships to our planet's diverse ecologies and peoples.

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL LILIUM INITIATIVE MEMBERS. BECOME A MEMBER AND ATTEND MANY OF OUR EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE HERE.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS EVENT WITH A SLIDING SCALE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION HERE.

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PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING DENISE CUSACK ON OCTOBER 24TH, 2024 AT 5PM PT•6PM MT•7PM CT•8PM ET

Have you collected seeds but now feel unsure about how to process and store them for the winter? Wondering how to manage your seed stock and ensure optimal germination? Discover essential steps for preserving seeds over the winter, including tips for small-scale growers' equipment, screening techniques, and processing methods. Learn about the best options for winter storage, effective methods for germination testing, and how to label and track your seeds. Explore the best environments for seed storage, how to break down bulk seeds into smaller packets, and tips on small-scale stratification. Additionally, find out about affordable tools that simplify the process, helping you manage your seed stock effectively.

Denise is owner of Wholly Rooted Farm, a small family homestead and medicinal herb farm, where she grows over 250 varieties of medicinal herbs, and over 500 species including food, on a few acres. Denise is an avid seed saver and medicinal plant grower, and has volunteered as the Herbalists Without Borders Seed Grant Coordinator, saving, sharing, and managing seeds for a national seed grant program since 2018. Wholly Rooted Farm is a United Plant Savers Botanical Sanctuary, where she also grows at-risk and endangered medicinal and native plants. Wholly Rooted Farm is a medicinal herb farm, plant conservation space, and an online school educating folks on topics including permaculture and regenerative practices for herbalists, aromatherapists, and holistic practitioners. Find out more about Denise & Wholly Rooted at www.whollyrooted.com.

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL LILIUM INITIATIVE MEMBERS. BECOME A MEMBER AND ATTEND MANY OF OUR EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE HERE.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS EVENT WITH A SLIDING SCALE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION HERE.

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PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING lorraine wilcox, Ph.D., L.Ac. ON september 19th, 2024 AT 5PM PT•6PM MT•7PM CT•8PM ET

Ancient doctors wrote formulas as decoctions (tang), pills (wan), or powders (san) for a reason. They thought the format of a formula contributed to its efficacy by strengthening certain functions or delivering the formula to a specific region of the body. Why is it called Xiaoyao San, not Xiaoyao Tang? Why wasn't Liuwei Dihuang Wan designed as a decoction? Perhaps we are sacrificing a bit of the herbal power for convenience when we prepare a formula differently from the original intent. Let's examine the importance of herbal formats.

As a licensed acupuncturist, Lorraine Wilcox became interested in translating ancient Chinese medical texts into English. She taught herself to read medical Chinese and has published eight books on Chinese medicine. Lorraine experiments with making herbal formulations from recipes in the old books. She is on the faculty of Emperor's College and Alhambra Medical University.

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL LILIUM INITIATIVE MEMBERS. BECOME A MEMBER AND ATTEND MANY OF OUR EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE HERE.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS EVENT WITH A SLIDING SCALE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION HERE.

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PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING justin penoyer ON august 22nd, 2024 AT 5PM PT•6PM MT•7PM CT•8PM ET

This immersive event offers a deep dive into the art and science of growing wild-simulated American ginseng. Framed through the philosophical lens of 道術 daoshu, this presentation will provide attendees with both practical guidance and philosophical insights.

Participants will explore the complete cycle of ginseng cultivation, starting with the reasons and methods for choosing specific cultivation sites. The discussion will detail various site preparation and planting techniques and the logistical considerations of organizing a successful ginseng farm, including maintenance practices like forest floor management, population surveys, and security measures essential for protecting the crop.

Additionally, the workshop will discuss the nuances of ginseng processing and preparation, providing a bridge between cultivation and clinical use. 

The event will also address broader philosophical and ecological themes, such as the relationship between human identity and nature, the practice of wuwei (non-action as action), spiritual ecology, and environmental considerations that intersect with the sustainable cultivation of medicinal plants. Through these discussions, participants will gain a richer understanding of how traditional Chinese philosophical tenets can inform and enhance modern agricultural practices.

Led by Justin Penoyer, a clinician and historian of early Chinese medicine, this event promises to blend historical wisdom with contemporary practices in a narrative that spans clinical, operational, and spiritual dimensions of ginseng cultivation. Participate in a detailed exploration of how cultivating ginseng extends beyond simple agriculture—it can be a transformative practice for both personal growth and environmental well-being.

Justin Penoyer is a clinician specializing in Chinese medicine and a historian of Early China. His clinical methodology merges patient-centered, evidence-based practices with the ancient philosophical tenets of daoshu and the Huangdi Neijing Lingshu. Beyond his clinical duties, he devotes his time to scholarly research, particularly at the intersection of systems biology, ecological medicine, and early Chinese history. Originally from a small family farm in the Driftless Region of the American Midwest, he now manages Three Hawk Ridge, a farmette focused on cultivating American wild-simulated ginseng. 

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL LILIUM INITIATIVE MEMBERS. BECOME A MEMBER AND ATTEND MANY OF OUR EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE HERE.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS EVENT WITH A SLIDING SCALE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION HERE.

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PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING Michael stanley-baker, Ph.d. ON JUly 25TH, 2024 AT 6PM PT•7PM MT•8PM CT•9PM ET

This talk focuses on the historical insights and modern applications that can be gained from using the Polyglot Asian Medicine website.  We will investigate historical ideas about the emergence of early Chinese drug markets, and how GIS mapping of those historical placenames changes our ideas about the regions, the significance of the placenames, and the socio-technical practices that went on there. Furthermore, how should we regard ancient plant data – how confident can we be that they correspond to modern botany.

The second half of this talk then moves into examining the Polyglot Medicine Knowledge Graph.  When working with ancient plant names, how do we know the modern botany is accurate, and which modern botanicals should we rely on?  Who is using what kind of data?  You will learn how to search the database, find alternative names that may come up in rare literature, and what authorities make what kind of claims about the botany. Chinese drug terms link out to TCM databases in English and Chinese, as well as to bioactivity databases that show how the plants metabolise in the body. In addition, the botanical names are linked to modern biodiversity maps. This allows us to compare modern to ancient knowledge of biodiversity and growing regions.  Finally, combined with online AI recognition tools you can now find plants in the wild, and through the botany, link to their Chinese and traditional Malay medical usages.  This is the beginning of a whole new range of possibilities for medical wildcrafting, linking the field to the library to the laboratory through your device.

Dr Stanley-Baker is a scholar of Chinese medicine and medieval Daoism at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. In addition to his historical training, he is also a certified TCM practitioner.  His print publications include the Routledge Handbook of Chinese Medicine, Situating Religion and Medicine in Asia, and “Mapping the Bencao.” He is the leader of the Polyglot Asian Medicines project, which integrates ancient manuscript studies, modern ethnobotany, biodiversity, and biomolecular data science. He currently serves as the president of the International Association for the Study of Traditional Asian Medicine.

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL LILIUM INITIATIVE MEMBERS. BECOME A MEMBER AND ATTEND MANY OF OUR EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE HERE.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS EVENT WITH A SLIDING SCALE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION HERE.

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PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING Brian kirbis ON june 2oth, 2024 AT 5PM PT•6PM MT•7PM CT•8PM ET

Garden to Gaiwan: The Art of Tea & Paozhi

Shennong is attributed with both the discovery of tea and authorship of the first Chinese materia medica. However, with tea as popular practice and medicinals as a professional discipline, there has been little consideration of their comparative value and complimentary natures. This discussion will follow Camellia sinensis, var. assamica, from the botanical and cultural origins of tea in southwest China’s subtropical forests through five stages: ecological habitat, artisanal craftsmanship, storage and aging, preparation, and appreciation. It will focus on craftsmanship and preparation and their affinities to paozhi processing of Chinese medicinal substances. 

Brian Kirbis comes from a multigenerational agroforestry lineage. After receiving academic training in environmental & medical anthropology and working in restoration ecology for nearly two decades, he devoted himself to studying the agroforestry tea gardens of southwest China. There, he is active in ecological and cultural stewardship, from indigenous knowledge and livelihoods, to the influence of the marketplace, to the science and politics of resource management. In the West, he works closely with the Chinese medicine community in promoting tea culture as a form of yangsheng and a means to attaining individual, community and planetary well-being.

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL LILIUM INITIATIVE MEMBERS. BECOME A MEMBER AND ATTEND MANY OF OUR EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE HERE.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS EVENT WITH A SLIDING SCALE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION HERE.

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PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING Christiaan Spangenberg, B.Sc. ON may 23rd, 2024 AT 5PM PT•6PM MT•7PM CT•8PM ET

In this presentation, Christiaan will speak about traditional Chinese medicinal plants in the context of biodiversity informatics (the management of biodiversity data in informational systems) and conservation. He will begin by introducing the role and applications of databases in research on medicinal plants, and will review major trends and orientations in the field, before discussing the context of conservation for traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. Lastly, Christiaan will present the design of a database project he is currently working on at the Rosado lab in the University of British Columbia. The project is a nation-wide database for traditional Chinese medicinal plants in Canadian botanical gardens, and is intended to be a web-based collaborative platform for interdisciplinary research on medicinal plants, prioritizing their conservation status and cultivation possibilities.

Christiaan Spangenberg is a conservation researcher and herb gardener specializing in the conservation and cultivation of medicinal plants featured in the Chinese materia medica. He did his undergraduate degree in the Global Resource Systems program at the University of British Columbia (UBC), where he studied ethnobotany and the cultivation of Asian medicinal plants, and he will start his Master's program in Botany at UBC in 2025. Christiaan is as passionate about promoting plant medicine as he is protecting wild communities of medicinal plants, and he is interested in exploring opportunities for dialogue between different fields that could lead to interdisciplinary collaboration. To these ends, Christiaan started a learning garden for traditional Chinese medicinal herbs in Vancouver, writes a gardening column for the Canada-based 'Medicinal Roots Magazine', and leads workshops on medicinal plants in horticulture. He is currently working on a research project at UBC creating a database platform for the conservation and cultivation of TCM herbs in North America.

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL LILIUM INITIATIVE MEMBERS. BECOME A MEMBER AND ATTEND MANY OF OUR EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE HERE.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS EVENT WITH A SLIDING SCALE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION HERE.

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT WILL CLOSE ON MAY 23RD, 2024 AT 12:00 PM PACIFIC TIME

PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING A discussion panel with farmers ON april 25TH, 2024 AT 5PM PT/6PM MT/7PM CT/8PM ET

In this round table discussion, we will sit down with farmers currently growing Asian medicinals in North America and discuss important topics to help new farmers get started and succeed in growing. Discussion topics will include growing successes and challenges, growing and harvesting tips, and an exchange of ideas about the growing network and market for Asian medicinals in North America. Bring your questions and curiosity to this event.

Our discussion panel will include:

Dave Melly of Shen Farmacy in Ukiah, CA

Colleen Hayes of Wheel Herbs in Olympia, WA

Jonathan Major of Still Moon Farm in Applegate Valley, Oregon

Ron Dunham of Algonquine Botanicals in Santa Margarita, California

Rupert Adams in Salt Spring Island, BC

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL LILIUM INITIATIVE MEMBERS. BECOME A MEMBER AND ATTEND MANY OF OUR EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE HERE.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS EVENT WITH A SLIDING SCALE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION HERE.

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT CLOSED ON APRIL 25TH, 2024 AT 12:00 PM PACIFIC TIME

PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING Julia urcis, l.ac. ON March 13th, 2024 AT 5PM PT/6PM MT/7PM CT/8PM ET

In this presentation we will take a look at the herb dì huáng, Rehmannia glutinosa. This herb is commonly referred to by its prepared form, shú dì huáng, and its raw form, shēng dì huáng. We will review its growing conditions, where it is historically cultivated in Asia, explore how Chinese medicine uses it in herbal formulas, discuss how people are using it in modern ways, and learn how it is prepared and processed for consumption.

Julia is a licensed acupuncturist, interdisciplinary herbalist, gardener, and geographer who is humbled by the incredible lineage of Chinese medicine and the legacy of Asian herbal wisdom.  She/her/they/them has resided in Nevada County since 2013, with a break from 2017 to 2020 to attend acupuncture school in Santa Cruz, CA. Julia had the fortunate experience of cultivating many Chinese herbs we use in our pharmacopeia in Nevada County, as well as with the celebrated farmer Peg Schafer at her Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm. She completed a two-year academic program in GIS and geospatial mapping. Julia advocates the domestic cultivation of Chinese herbal medicine with the non-profit Lilium Initiative and hopes that other practitioners will support the movement.

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL LILIUM INITIATIVE MEMBERS. BECOME A MEMBER AND ATTEND MANY OF OUR EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE HERE.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS EVENT WITH A SLIDING SCALE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION HERE.

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT WILL CLOSE ON MARCH 13TH, 2024 AT 12:00 PM PACIFIC TIME

Please note that our webinars are free only to current members of Lilium Initiative. All non-members can register for webinars by donating to Lilium Initiative (sliding scale). Our 501c3 nonprofit organization uses non-member donations to support our work.

PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING RACHAEL WITT, RH (AHG), EWCH ON FEBRUARY 22ND, 2024 AT 5PM PT/6PM MT/7PM CT/8PM ET

The energetic system of herbal medicine is used in various cultures throughout the world. In this presentation, Rachael Witt will introduce herbal energetics from a TCM perspective. We will discuss the topics of the four properties and five flavors of herbs, as well as herbal therapeutic actions. In order to understand the applications of herbal energetics, it is important to learn the energetics of a person’s constitution and disease. Rachael will share ways of using herbal energetics in a practice as well as in one’s day-to-day interactions with herbs.

Rachael is an herbal educator and clinical herbalist based in the Pacific Northwest. She is the founder of Wildness Within; an herbal business that offers consultations, hand-made formulas and products, classes, workshops and an (in-person) apprenticeship program. Rachael’s practice is rooted in seasonal living; incorporating the interconnectedness of natural cycles, energetics and the Five Elements with our health and well-being. She uses Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnostics to create herbal treatment plans that include Western, Chinese, Ayurvedic and regional herbs. 

Rachael is a bio-regional herbalist, yet she has worked with clients worldwide. Prior to her career in herbalism, she studied and worked as a plant ecologist and environmental educator in Ghana, Puerto Rico, Colombia and various places throughout the United States. She is passionate about ethnobotany and learning how people can integrate local plants as food and medicine. Her path as an herbalist is weaving together the sacred and profane, hands on Earth connection, mind/body/place awareness, as well as customized holistic healing protocols. Learn more about Rachael’s work at www.WildnessWithinLiving.com

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL LILIUM INITIATIVE MEMBERS. BECOME A MEMBER AND ATTEND MANY OF OUR EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE HERE.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS EVENT WITH A SLIDING SCALE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION HERE.

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT WILL CLOSE ON FEBRUARY 22ND, 2024 AT 12:00 PM PACIFIC TIME

Please note that our webinars are free only to current members of Lilium Initiative. All non-members can register for webinars by donating to Lilium Initiative (sliding scale). Our 501c3 nonprofit organization uses non-member donations to support our work.

PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING ANDY ELLIS ON February 3rd, 2024 AT 2PM PT/3PM MT/4PM CT/5PM ET

THIS EVENT WILL BE OFFERED FOR OPTIONAL 2 CEU CREDITS FOR $50 ($25 PER CREDIT)

This class aims to introduce practitioners, students and pharmacy personnel to the processes and procedures that Chinese herbs undergo before they are used in decoctions, pills, powders, etc. We will discuss the primary processes that take place in the growing area such as cleaning, slicing and pruning and also those that are best performed at the dispensary such as mix-frying. We will discuss not only the procedures, but also the goals of each process.

While gaining an understanding of the processing of the herbs we relate this to the clinical relevance of processing and preparation. This includes the effect of processing on both the quality and functions of the herbs and when it is best to use, for example, dry-fried Bai Shao (white peony root) and when best to use the untreated herb. While mostly approaching this subject through historical references some modern scientific research will also be considered.

The overarching goal of the course is to help students to see the processes and procedures that affect herbs from harvest to herb pot. This includes students gaining an understanding of the reasons for processing herbs and the changes in clinical application that the processing bring about.

Initially, the lecture will give students an understanding of what processes are done to the herbs before they arrive at the herb shop or processing center such as cleaning, soaking, cutting, splitting, rasping etc. After that the lecture will help the student to understand how to perform basic herb-shop preparation of Chinese herbs including dry-frying, honey-frying, wine-frying etc. More complex preparations will also be discussed such as those applied to herbs such as Fu Zi and Ban Xia.

Andy Ellis, founder of Spring Wind Herbs, has extensive experience in the field of traditional Chinese medicine. Andy has been teaching and writing about Chinese medicine in the US and Taiwan since 1989 and has extensive knowledge about organoleptic qualities and experience in the correct identification of Chinese medicals.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL LILIUM INITIATIVE MEMBERS. BECOME A MEMBER AND ATTEND MANY OF OUR EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE HERE.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS EVENT WITH A SLIDING SCALE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION HERE.

REGISTRATION CLOSES AT 9AM PT ON FEBRUARY 3RD, 2024.

If you are a current Lilium Initiative member, register here:

If you are not a current member, or have not made a sliding scale donation, join or donate before you register:

If you are registering for CEU credits, please register here:

PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING Thomas Avery garran ON january 25TH, 2024 AT 5PM PT/6PM MT/7PM CT/8PM ET

Join Thomas Avery Garran, Ph.D. for an introduction to daodi practices for growing Chinese herbs.

Dr. Garran will introduce the concept of daodi and all that it entails, then he will highlight three herbs and their daodi growing requirements and processes. 

Please note that our webinars are free only to current members of Lilium Initiative. All non-members can register for webinars by donating to Lilium Initiative (sliding scale). Our 501c3 nonprofit organization uses non-member donations to support our work.

Thomas Avery Garran has been studying plant medicine for over 30 years. He lived in China from 2007 - 2023 and received his PhD in Materia Medica studies and Plant Pharmacy at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences in Beijing: National Center for Materia Medica Resources and Daodi Herbs (the first non-Chinese recipient of this degree). He has a masters degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine and certificate in herbal medicine from the American School of Herbalism. Dr. Garran is the author of 2 books on the use of Western herbs in Chinese medicine (2008, 2014). He is the translator (with annotation) of the first book on growing and processing daodi Chinese herbs (2019) and the first men’s health book published in Chinese medicine (mid-17th century) ~ forthcoming. He is also the co-translator of a free e-book on the initial response to the covid outbreak by the Chinese medicine community in China. Dr. Garran has also published widely in both academic and herbal journals, and has as new Substack blog (ThomasAveryGarranPhD). Dr. Garran is the executive director of the East West School of Herbology and president of both Passiflora Press and Herb Whisperer, Inc., which focuses on agriculture of medicinal plants and education. He now resides in Western Massachusetts where he and his wife are building an herbal sanctuary and educational center.

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL LILIUM INITIATIVE MEMBERS. BECOME A MEMBER AND ATTEND MANY OF OUR EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE HERE.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS EVENT WITH A SLIDING SCALE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION HERE.

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS NOW CLOSED.

PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING Julia urcis, l.ac. ON october 26TH, 2023 AT 5PM PT/6PM MT/7PM CT/8PM ET

In this presentation we will take a look at the herb Paeonia lactiflora, bái sháo, the “Empress Herb.” We will review its growing conditions, where it is historically cultivated in Asia, explore how Chinese medicine uses it in herbal formulas, discuss how people are using it in modern ways, and learn how it is prepared and processed for consumption.

Julia is a licensed acupuncturist, interdisciplinary herbalist, gardener, and geographer who is humbled by the incredible lineage of Chinese medicine and the legacy of Asian herbal wisdom.  She/her/they/them has resided in Nevada County since 2013, with a break from 2017 to 2020 to attend acupuncture school in Santa Cruz, CA. Julia had the fortunate experience of cultivating many Chinese herbs we use in our pharmacopeia in Nevada County, as well as with the celebrated farmer Peg Schafer at her Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm. She completed a two-year academic program in GIS and geospatial mapping. She is currently practicing the medicine in Truckee and Nevada City, CA and loves it. Julia advocates the domestic cultivation of Chinese herbal medicine with the non-profit Lilium Initiative and hopes that other practitioners will support the movement.

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL LILIUM INITIATIVE MEMBERS. BECOME A MEMBER AND ATTEND MANY OF OUR EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE HERE.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS EVENT WITH A SLIDING SCALE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION HERE.

PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING DENISE CUSACK ON September 21st, 2023 AT 5PM PT/6PM MT/7PM CT/8PM ET

Home to small scale herb growers, let’s talk about planning your garden and crops. Do you grow medicinal plants for your family, your practice, or your herbal business? This webinar will cover using tools to plan, organize, and manage your gardens. Get tips on how to organize and plan your space for growing medicinal herbs that are annuals, perennials, and multi-year root harvest medicinals. Denise will share  some of the tools she uses to layout the gardens, plan seed starting, organize seedlings and planting out, ongoing management and harvesting, and drying/storing and managing your inventory so you know what you have as well as saving seeds for next year.  While everyone has a different space and needs, we all can better use technology and tools to organize our processes, plan out what we need and can use in a year, and maximize the returns. Denise will also share a few downloadable sheets to help you plan your own gardens and crops.

Denise Cusack is a clinical herbalist, certified aromatherapist, and a certified permaculture designer with over 20 years of experience in the natural health and wellness community.

Denise loves speaking and sharing with others how to use permaculture principles and ethics to make our gardens, families, businesses, and communities better via regenerative practices, mutual aid, collaborative community models, and sustainable smart systems.e

Denise is owner of Wholly Rooted Farm, a small family homestead and medicinal herb farm, where she grows over 250 varieties of medicinal herbs, and over 500 species including food, on a few acres. Denise is an avid seed saver and medicinal plant grower, and has volunteered as the Herbalists Without Borders Seed Grant Coordinator and US Donation Distribution Coordinator since 2018. Wholly Rooted Farm is a United Plant Savers Botanical Sanctuary, where we also grow at-risk and endangered medicinal and native plants. Wholly Rooted Farm is a medicinal herb farm, plant conservation space, and an online school educating folks on topics including permaculture and regenerative practices for herbalists, aromatherapists, and holistic practitioners. Find out more about Denise & Wholly Rooted at www.whollyrooted.com. 

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL LILIUM INITIATIVE MEMBERS. BECOME A MEMBER AND ATTEND MANY OF OUR EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE HERE.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS EVENT WITH A SLIDING SCALE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION HERE.

PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING RAchael witt, RH (AHG), EWCH ON august 16TH, 2023 AT 5PM PT/6PM MT/7PM CT/8PM ET

Five Elements theory (Wu Xing) is a Chinese philosophy that describes the relationship between the elements of nature and the life force, qi, between them. It allows us to understand the process of change through the interactions of nature and physiology.

In this class, we will review the Five Element theory and how it can be used for health practices as well as a way of living with your local ecosystem. We will discuss the five elements in detail as a way to understand how each element applies to the physical processes in the body, colors, seasons, weather and herbs. In this way, participants will learn how this theory can be used for diagnosis and as a way to tune into seasonal cycles.

In this class you will learn:

·      The five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, water

·      The interrelationship of the Organs and Elements

·      The Five Element Ko and Shen Cycles

·      Diagnosis and treatment principles 

·      Herbal, dietary and lifestyle in relationship to the elements

Rachael is an herbal educator and clinical herbalist based in the Pacific Northwest. She is the founder of Wildness Within; an herbal business that offers consultations, hand-made formulas and products, classes, workshops and an (in-person) apprenticeship program. Rachael’s practice is rooted in seasonal living; incorporating the interconnectedness of natural cycles, energetics and the Five Elements with our health and well-being. She uses Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnostics to create herbal treatment plans that include Western, Chinese, Ayurvedic and regional herbs. 

Rachael is a bio-regional herbalist, yet she has worked with clients worldwide. Prior to her career in herbalism, she studied and worked as a plant ecologist and environmental educator in Ghana, Puerto Rico, Colombia and various places throughout the United States. She is passionate about ethnobotany and learning how people can integrate local plants as food and medicine. Her path as an herbalist is weaving together the sacred and profane, hands on Earth connection, mind/body/place awareness, as well as customized holistic healing protocols. Learn more about Rachael’s work at www.WildnessWithinLiving.com

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL LILIUM INITIATIVE MEMBERS. BECOME A MEMBER AND ATTEND MANY OF OUR EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE HERE.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS EVENT WITH A SLIDING SCALE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION HERE.

PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING ROBYN KLEIN, MS ON JULY 20TH, 2023 AT 5PM PT/6PM MT/7PM CT/8PM ET

Chinese herbs can be identified using the same terminology and tools as Western herbs. This 2-hour webinar can get you started. Topics will include: tools and books needed, online resources, monocot and dicot, four parts of a flower, types of inflorescences, and how to use a plant key. Join us for the fun!

Robyn Klein has been teaching plant identification since 2016 with an emphasis on medicinal herbs. Growing Chinese herbs at 5500 feet in Montana, she discovered that seeds were not always the species as advertised, and sometimes a different genus! She’s learned a thing or two about how to use online floras and will share tips and resources in this 2-hour presentation.

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL LILIUM INITIATIVE MEMBERS. BECOME A MEMBER AND ATTEND MANY OF OUR EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE HERE.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS EVENT WITH A SLIDING SCALE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION HERE.

PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING DENISE CUSACK ON JUNE 26TH, 2023 AT 5PM PT/6PM MT/7PM CT/8PM ET

Denise started growing medicinal herbs in pots on her deck living in the city. Over the past 20 years she has expanded from pots to a small urban garden, to a suburban lot, into multiple community garden plots, to bartering for growing space on a farm, to finally owning her few acres in the country. She has always looked to expand in simple ways that allow for more yield in more space, but without a lot more labor. Denise is a big proponent of keen observation and slow expansion to organically grow plantings of both perennial and annuals in polycultures, guilds, and integrated bed plantings. This allows her to adapt based on the data and conditions, to try new things and grow more varieties, and reduce the impact of pests or weather conditions through companion planting and buffer plants.  Denise will share more about her history of growing at different scales, tips for organically expanding food and medicine gardens using SMARTER goals, using regenerative practices to make the garden work better for you, integrating smart tools to help manage the space, managing integrated spaces using both annuals and perennials, and using that 11th permaculture principle, “Use Edges and Value the Marginal” to target areas of future growth and expansion in the garden. 

Denise Cusack is a clinical herbalist, certified aromatherapist, and a certified permaculture designer with over 20 years of experience in the natural health and wellness community.

Denise loves speaking and sharing with others how to use permaculture principles and ethics to make our gardens, families, businesses, and communities better via regenerative practices, mutual aid, collaborative community models, and sustainable smart systems.

Denise is owner of Wholly Rooted Farm, a small family homestead and medicinal herb farm, where she grows over 250 varieties of medicinal herbs, and over 500 species including food, on a few acres. Denise is an avid seed saver and medicinal plant grower, and has volunteered as the Herbalists Without Borders Seed Grant Coordinator and US Donation Distribution Coordinator since 2018. Wholly Rooted Farm is a United Plant Savers Botanical Sanctuary, where we also grow at-risk and endangered medicinal and native plants. Wholly Rooted Farm is a medicinal herb farm, plant conservation space, and an online school educating folks on topics including permaculture and regenerative practices for herbalists, aromatherapists, and holistic practitioners. Find out more about Denise & Wholly Rooted at www.whollyrooted.com. 

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL LILIUM INITIATIVE MEMBERS. BECOME A MEMBER AND ATTEND MANY OF OUR EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE HERE.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS EVENT WITH A SLIDING SCALE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION HERE.

Please join us in welcoming TOBY DALY, PH.D., L.AC. on JUNE 15th, 2023 at 5PM PT/6PM MT/7PM CT/8PM ET

In this Lilium Initiative discussion, we will explore the history, clinical application, and latest research on Qing Hao (Artemisia annuae Herba), Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma), and Dan Shen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix). These explorations will include these medicinal substance's Nobel Prize winning applications that benefit millions of people every year. We will also look at these herbs' ability to address the virulent epidemic qualities of the Chinese medical pattern Gu Syndrome. We will discuss our three herb's bioactive components, including components that have been shown to regulate glucose levels so effectively that they are comparable to current first-line diabetic treatments. Finally, we will investigate their ability to treat and prevent cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular diseases which are among the leading causes of death in the United States and worldwide.

Throughout the discussion, a special emphasis will be placed on research that is not solely focused on isolated bioactive components extracted from the medicinals, but instead on research involving the entire crude medicinal. This emphasis will include a look at the first ever herbal formula to progress through FDA clinical trials. This formula's efficacy and lack of side effects propelled it through its trials and it will soon be submitted to regulatory authorities for approval for use in the general population.

Toby received his undergraduate degree in Food Science from the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo. He began studying Chinese medicine in 1997 with Sunim Doam, a Korean monk trained in the Saam tradition. He earned his master's degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2002 upon completion of training at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco and Chengdu University in China.

During his four years of training in San Francisco, he interned with the prominent acupuncturist Dr. Angela Wu and learned to apply the lofty theories he was studying in school into the pragmatic setting of a busy clinic. In 2013, he developed the Chinese Nutritional Strategies app to provide digital access to the wealth of Chinese dietary wisdom. In 2016, he completed a PhD in Classical Chinese Medicine under the guidance of 88th generation Daoist priest Jeffery Yuen. In 2021, he developed the Chinese Medical Characters app to enable direct access to foundational Chinese medical terms and concepts. 

His first book, An Introduction to Chinese Medicine, will be published in April 2023.

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL LILIUM INITIATIVE MEMBERS. BECOME A MEMBER AND ATTEND MANY OF OUR EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE HERE.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS EVENT WITH A SLIDING SCALE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION HERE.

Registration for this event will close on June 15th, 2023 at 3:00 pm PDT.

Please join us in welcoming Jasmine Rose Oberste, DACM on May 18th, 2023 at 5PM PT/6PM MT/7PM CT/8PM ET

This presentation will identify some of the challenges to sustainability of East Asian medicinal herbs, examine growth habits of some commonly used herbs in terms of hardiness and climate zones, explore climate shifts already occurring and project into the future with consideration on how farmers may work to adapt to a shifting climate. 

Dr. Jasmine Rose Oberste, DACM, is a Doctor of Chinese Medicine, certified Functional Medicine practitioner licensed in California and Hawaii and practices permaculture in a community-based restorative agriculture setting of schools and developing community gardens. She founded the Chinese Herb Garden, a non-profit project sponsored by Three Treasures Institute with the mission of promoting the sustainable use of Asian medicinal flora. www.chineseherbgarden.org

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL LILIUM INITIATIVE MEMBERS. BECOME A MEMBER AND ATTEND MANY OF OUR EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE HERE.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS EVENT WITH A SLIDING SCALE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION HERE.

Registration for this event will open on April 25th, 2023 at 12pm PDT.

This educational event will focus on comparative botany and looks at wild and cultivated plants in commerce in the U.S. and from the TCM Materia Medica.

Consideration of botanical analogues can be useful in broadening the herbalists repertoire of tools to support clients therapeutic goals, bring about balance, and alleviate suffering. Developing fluency in phylogenetic relationships, phytochemistry, and exploring flavor, nature, actions between individual plants and formulas can support practitioners in being flexible and versatile in times of scarcity, unsustainability, or impracticality.

This 3 hr class will support critical thinking and offer practical, useful pearls related to the following:

• Developing resources from literature review and personal experience to understand flavor, nature, qi, actions, and indications of herbs not included in T.C.M. Materia medica

•  Herbs in common plant family and genus from different herbal traditions with identical or similar therapeutic applications

• Herbs with identical or similar constituents from different herbal traditions with similar or identical therapeutic applications

• Common culinary herbs and their botanical and therapeutic relationships to T.C.M. medicinal plants or formulas.

• Considerations for planting ‘at risk’ medicinal or use of botanical analogues as replacements

• Expansion of sensory evaluation skills and how to support patients in this development

PLEASE NOTE: THIS 3 HOUR CLASS WILL BE DIVIDED INTO TWO SECTIONS. THE FIRST PART WILL BE PRESENTED ON SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2022 AT 5PM. THE SECOND PART WILL BE PRESENTED ON NOVEMBER 17TH, 2022 AT 5PM.

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR ALL LILIUM INITIATIVE MEMBERS. BECOME A MEMBER AND ATTEND MANY OF OUR EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE HERE.

Registration for this event will close on November 17th, 2022 at 12pm PST.

ABOUT BEN ZAPPIN, L.Ac.

Benjamin Zappin, L.Ac.& Herbalist has been practicing and studying Western and Chinese herbal medicine for almost 30 years. Ben loves to teach clinical topics and is passionate about supporting fellow practitioners and staying rooted in their connection to plants and the natural world. Along with his wife Ingrid Bauer, M.D. Ben is the co-founder of Five Flavors Herbs, a herbal product company which manufactures liquid extracts of TCM formulas and Western herbs, offers contract manufacturing services, and operates one of the most dynamic East/West herbal pharmacies in the country. Find out more about Five Flavors Herbs practitioner resources here. Ben and Ingrid also operate and inhabit Sunset Ranch, a small farm in Nevada City!

EVENT RESOURCES:

Five Flavor Herbs in Oakland, California