Tiffany J Harper
Tiffany J Harper (formerly Freeman), she/her/wiya, is a member of the Peguis First Nation (Treaty 1). She is Maskēkowak, Anishinaabe and German by ancestry living in Treaty 7 territory in Canada. Professionally Tiffany is a Registered Clinical Herbalist (American Herbalist Guild), a Doctor of Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine, and a Full Spectrum BirthWorker. Along with her clinical practice she is an author and educator teaching a variety of courses in the field of herbalism, and maintains a creative practice in the traditional arts including beadwork, and collaborations in the realm of public art.
The Five Flavours
Flavours are more than just how things taste. Through a traditional Chinese medicine lens we see that they also have specific actions and therapeutic indications that influence where and they influences the body. In this talk we will explore the 5 main flavours that are present in medicinal herbs and how that gives us a strong indication as to the areas of the body in which it will have the most influence. We will discuss the movements of the flavours, combinations, and how knowing the plant energetics can help with informing more accurate recommendations for our clients.
Re-Indigenizing Herbal Practices
Humans have an ancestral connection to plants as medicine, as food, for survival and for shelter. To many of the Indigenous peoples of North America that relationship extended to seeing the plants also as relatives. Many nations consider plants to have spirit, they are animate, and humans have had relationships with them since our own creation. Against all adversity the plants continue to be a strong part of our connection to the land, the place in which the ancestors walked before us, and where our connection to our history intersects. In this sharing circle we will explore native species of plants that make their home on, what my ancestors called, Turtle Island. We will discuss un-appropriative ways to bridge traditions, and also how we can look to guidances such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report to support our herbal practices, and how we can re-indigenize our relationships to the plant world.
Post-Natal Depression & Blood: A Case Study
Statistically it is said that about 23% of post-pregnant peoples experience postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety or a postpartum mood disorder. In Traditional Chinese Medicine Post-natal Depression is a condition that revolves around blood. In this case study we will learn from the Chinese medical classics and theories to look deeper into the role of blood in the post-natal time; we learn about the aetiology and pathology of post-natal depression, how to identify blood patterns, what factors may influence, and discuss herbal and traditional foods to support.