Susun Weed
Encyclopedia
Susun Weed is an American herbalist
, author, and director of the Wise Woman Center located near Woodstock
in New York State. She is known for her writing and teaching of what she describes as the "Wise Woman Way" of herbalism
. Ms. Weed is the author of the Wise Woman Herbal Series. She believes Herbal Medicine is People's Medicine. Susun S. Weed is the voice of the Wise Woman Tradition, a founding grandmother of the herbal renaissance and the originator of the concept of complementary medicine.
. She has no official diplomas; she left high school in her junior year to pursue studies in mathematics and artificial intelligence at UCLA
and subsequently left UCLA during her junior year. She continued to study herbalism and the issues surrounding women's health independently with such herbalists as Juliette de Bairacli Levy
.
In 1985 Weed wrote her first book, Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year. It was published as the first title of Ash Tree Publishing in 1986, and is currently in print-April 2011. It was followed by Healing Wise in 1989, New Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way in 1992, and Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way in 1996. Weed is a regular contributing writer to the Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women's Studies, and a featured columnist at SageWoman Magazine, a publication devoted to woman-centered spirituality.
In addition to her work as a writer, Ms. Weed offers an apprentice training program in which she oversees the work of students at her farm, teaches students via correspondence, and coordinates the activities of the Wise Woman Center near Woodstock, New York
. Weed is a High Priestess of Dianic Wicca
, a member of the Sisterhood of the Shields, and a Peace Elder.
Weed's teaching encompasses herbal medicine, ethnobotany
, pharmacognosy
, psychology
of healing, ecoherbalism, nutrition
, and women's health issues. She has taught and lectured extensively at medical schools, hospital wellness centers, breast cancer centers, midwifery schools, naturopathic
colleges, and shamanic training centers, as well as at conferences. Weed has appeared on television and radio, including National Public Radio and NBC News
.
Herbalist
An herbalist is:#A person whose life is dedicated to the economic or medicinal uses of plants.#One skilled in the harvesting and collection of medicinal plants ....
, author, and director of the Wise Woman Center located near Woodstock
Woodstock, New York
Woodstock is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 5,884 at the 2010 census, down from 6,241 at the 2000 census.The Town of Woodstock is in the northern part of the county...
in New York State. She is known for her writing and teaching of what she describes as the "Wise Woman Way" of herbalism
Herbalism
Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, herblore, and phytotherapy...
. Ms. Weed is the author of the Wise Woman Herbal Series. She believes Herbal Medicine is People's Medicine. Susun S. Weed is the voice of the Wise Woman Tradition, a founding grandmother of the herbal renaissance and the originator of the concept of complementary medicine.
Biography
Susun Weed began investigating the benefits of herbal medicine in 1965 when she was pregnant with her daughter, Justine Adelaide Swede, and living in ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. She has no official diplomas; she left high school in her junior year to pursue studies in mathematics and artificial intelligence at UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
and subsequently left UCLA during her junior year. She continued to study herbalism and the issues surrounding women's health independently with such herbalists as Juliette de Bairacli Levy
Juliette de Bairacli Levy
Juliette de Baïracli Levy, born on the 11th of November 1912, and died on the 28th of May 2009 was a European herbalist and author noted for her pioneering work in holistic veterinary medicine...
.
In 1985 Weed wrote her first book, Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year. It was published as the first title of Ash Tree Publishing in 1986, and is currently in print-April 2011. It was followed by Healing Wise in 1989, New Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way in 1992, and Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way in 1996. Weed is a regular contributing writer to the Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women's Studies, and a featured columnist at SageWoman Magazine, a publication devoted to woman-centered spirituality.
In addition to her work as a writer, Ms. Weed offers an apprentice training program in which she oversees the work of students at her farm, teaches students via correspondence, and coordinates the activities of the Wise Woman Center near Woodstock, New York
Woodstock, New York
Woodstock is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 5,884 at the 2010 census, down from 6,241 at the 2000 census.The Town of Woodstock is in the northern part of the county...
. Weed is a High Priestess of Dianic Wicca
Dianic Wicca
Dianic Witchcraft and Dianic Feminist Witchcraft, is a tradition, or denomination, of the Neopagan religion of Wicca. It was founded by Zsuzsanna Budapest in the United States in the 1970s, and is notable for its focus on the worship of the Goddess, and on feminism...
, a member of the Sisterhood of the Shields, and a Peace Elder.
Weed's teaching encompasses herbal medicine, ethnobotany
Ethnobotany
Ethnobotany is the scientific study of the relationships that exist between people and plants....
, pharmacognosy
Pharmacognosy
Pharmacognosy is the study of medicines derived from natural sources. The American Society of Pharmacognosy defines pharmacognosy as "the study of the physical, chemical, biochemical and biological properties of drugs, drug substances or potential drugs or drug substances of natural origin as well...
, psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
of healing, ecoherbalism, nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
, and women's health issues. She has taught and lectured extensively at medical schools, hospital wellness centers, breast cancer centers, midwifery schools, naturopathic
Naturopathic medicine
Naturopathy, or Naturopathic Medicine, is a form of alternative medicine based on a belief in vitalism, which posits that a special energy called vital energy or vital force guides bodily processes such as metabolism, reproduction, growth, and adaptation...
colleges, and shamanic training centers, as well as at conferences. Weed has appeared on television and radio, including National Public Radio and NBC News
NBC News
NBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
.
External links
- Susun Weed website
- Ash Tree Publishing
- Learning Herbs interview with Susan Weed (video)
- Raw Food vs. Cooked Food debate (video)
- The Wise Woman Tradition (video)
- Breast Health website
- Menopause-Metamorphosis website
- Chilbearing Year website
- Down There Wise Woman Way website
- Nourishing Herbal Infusions website