69. Healing and Education Combined: Pat Collins on Herbal Education

In this episode of the Elder Tree Podcast, Twiggy Dawn interviews herbal elder Pat Collins who resides on  Wanaruah land down in Musswellbrook. Pat has been a herbal teacher and herbal clinician for 32 years and opened the Total Health and Education Centre down in 1997 which is an inspirational place incorporating learning and healing for her community. Pat really advocates home herbalism and loves to see people feeling confident to identify medicine, make their own medicine and use that medicine for their health and their family's health.Pat has written a whopping 8 books and I have been stocking her book "Wondrous World of Weeds" for over a year now.  Pat was a cub leader for around 20 years, which inspired her book "Bush Wise", the founder of the Pat Collins Total Health and Education Centre. Pat shares her journey of becoming a herbalist and opening the centre in Musswellbrook, in NSW. She discusses the herbal products she makes and sells, including creams, syrups, and cleansers. Pat also talks about her involvement with the Indigenous Plants for Health Association and the importance of preserving and researching native plants. She offers regular workshops and a correspondence course to teach people how to make their own herbal remedies. Pat emphasizes the importance of incorporating health and education and connecting with nature through bush camps. In this conversation, the guest discusses the importance of connecting with nature and the need for more education in this area. Connecting with nature is essential in a fast-paced society and can help overcome fear and disconnection. Community and support are crucial in herbal learning and can be found through events like the Wise Women Gathering. Continual learning is important in the field of herbalism, and teaching what you learn can be fulfilling. Pat's website:https://patcollins.com.au/ Correspondence Course:https://patcollins.com.au/Shop/Pat-Collins-Correspondence-Course/ Some of Pat's upcoming workshops:https://barenatureskin.com.au/collections/pat-collins-workshops Indigenous Plants for Health (IPHA) indigenous plant knowledge cards:https://indigenousplantsforhealth.com/knowledge-cards-for-australian-medicinal-edible-plants/ Join IPHA (only $20 per year!)https://indigenousplantsforhealth.com/join-2/#:~:text=To%20join%20now%20click%20online,to%20one%20of%20our%20meetings Wise Women Gathering 17-19th May 2024:https://www.wisewomengathering.com/ To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠⁠⁠⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support The Elder Tree at the same time!⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/theeldertree⁠⁠⁠ You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠.