Respiratory Resilience
A four-session virtual class on herbal support for lung health during wildfires.
For accessibility information, please scroll down.
Capitalist climate disaster is quite literally the air we breathe. As we all live through exposure to wildfire smoke and other air pollutants, how can we support one another in lung health?
Respiratory Resilience is a four-session virtual class that gives you the herbal knowledge you need to care for yourself and your community through wildfire smoke and other air pollution events.
Class will be held on Mondays, 6pm - 8pm CST, September 21st, September 28th, October 5th, and October 12th. A portion of the proceeds from this class will go towards The Climate Mobilization, which provides peer-led support for BIPOC youth-led climate resilience projects.
This class is for you if:
You want deep herbal wisdom combined with embodied knowledge of respiratory anatomy.
You want to feel confident in which herbs to reach for during exposure to wildfire smoke.
You want to help your community survive climate disasters.
What does Respiratory Resilience mean?
1. Know the herbal remedies you need for your respiratory system.
2. Be ready to support yourself and your community when wildfire smoke hits.
3. Be a source of resilience to climate disaster.
In this class participants will learn the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system, and the short and long-term impacts of wildfire smoke and other air pollution. Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of several herbs that can be used to support the lungs during wildfire smoke events, as well as how individual herbs can be combined in formulas. This class will include analysis and discussion of wildfire smoke in the context of the current climate crisis, and how we can organize against the forces of disaster capitalism.
This class is co-taught by herbalist Betsy Merbitz, herbalist Holly Poole-Kavana, and climate organizer Rebecca Harris.
Past students say. . .
Betsy’s teaching style is great.
[Betsy is] so knowledgeable, intuitive, and a great person to learn from.
Thank you so much for your expertise!
[Holly is] an expert bioregional herbalist and educator who I highly recommend.
Respiratory Resilience
I look forward to more classes offered by Betsy.
Holly is extremely. . . . knowledgeable about the universe of plants and their properties. . . She speaks the language of plants, understands their qualities, and sees them as live creations, not as objects or resources.
Respiratory Resilience Curriculum Outline
Session 1: Basics
Anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system
Understanding Air Quality Indices and different ways of measuring air pollution
Race and class disparities in respiratory health
Introducing lung herbs for respiratory support
Session 2: Lung Support Herbs Deep Dive
In-depth, detailed information of herbs commonly used in respiratory formulas, and how they can help during times of elevated air pollution.
Guest presenter: Holly Poole-Kavana of Little Red Bird Botanicals
Session 3: Lung Support Herbs In Action
More herbs for the respiratory system
Herbs for the nervous system, cardiovascular system, and lymphatic system
Sample herbal formulas for respiratory health
Using movement and stretches for respiratory health
Session 4: Lung health and community resistance
Synthesis and Q & A
Herbal medicine as climate resilience
Resisting climate disaster: Organizing for survival
Guest Presenter: Rebecca Harris of The Climate Mobilization
Wise and learned people like Holly who can see. . . . how plants can lead us back to being whole.
Betsy is engaging, has great energy, and was extremely flexible with everyone’s questions.
Accessibility Information
This class will be held virtually on Zoom.
Class will be recorded. Participants will be able to access the recording for one month after the final class.
Please reach out to violetcirclemidwifery@gmail.com with any additional accessibility needs or questions.
Your Respiratory Resilience Teaching Team
Betsy Merbitz
In 2006 I attended my first herbal medicine training with the late Michael Moore. I began my journey into holistic healing because I saw how the medical system wasn’t helping people, and I wanted to be able to offer something better.
Over the next several years I continued my herbal training, including completing community herbalist programs at the Maryland University of Integrative Medicine and the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine. I also studied with the late Frank Cook and assisted at the Green Farmacy garden of the late Jim Duke. More recently I studied online at the People’s Medicine School and in a 1:1 mentorship with herbalist Janice Marsh-Prelesnik.
I have taught herbalism classes at the Glastonbury Institute for Sustainable Living, Garret Wellness Center, Azadi Folk School, Wild Ginger Herbal Center, and Baltimore Free School.
Holly Poole-Kavana
Holly Poole-Kavana is an herbalist practicing in Washington DC. She practices traditional Western herbalism and uses locally-grown plants whenever possible. Holly attended the Pacific School of Botanical Medicine, the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine, and Sacred Plant Traditions before starting her practice. In addition to her background in herbalism, Holly is an experienced nutrition educator, gardener, and labor doula
Holly specializes in helping people find better health using herbal remedies. She works one-on-one with her clients to come up with a comprehensive health improvement plan. Holly also grows her own herbs and offers classes about using local plants as medicine. Her herbal CSA offers the opportunity to become familiar with a variety of local medicinal plants and build up a personal supply of herbal remedies. .
Holly has been a clinical herbalist operating Little Red Bird Botanicals since early 2010. Services include individual consultations, a six-month herbal CSA and education program, and locally-grown handmade herbal products.
Rebecca Harris
Rebecca Harris is Resource Organizing Director and Co-Leader of The Climate Mobilization, which works with Generation Z youth to advance resilience and survival initiatives as a movement-building strategy. Before working on climate change, she was involved in anti-war, tenants rights and housing justice organizing.