Knowledge Share Description
Join Joshua Kwaku Asiedu, a student of traditional Ghanaian herbal medicine, for a knowledge share on the medicinal and spiritual properties of plants native and non-native to Ghana. This knowledge share will provide a deeper understanding of how plants, both indigenous and introduced from regions like the Americas and Southeast Asia, have become woven into the cultural fabric of Ghana. You’ll learn how these plants are not just used for physical ailments, but also as tools for spiritual cleansing, personal healing, and connecting with the land. Through Joshua’s teachings, drawn from the wisdom of local elders, you will learn how plant medicine has evolved in Ghana and how it continues to shape the community’s approach to health and wellness today.
Through storytelling and practical demonstrations, you will gain insights into the historical, cultural, and medicinal significance of key plants like Moringa, Neem, Bitter Kola, Papaya, and Banana. You’ll learn how these plants are used not only for physical healing but also for spiritual cleansing, personal growth, and connecting to the land. Many of these plants can be found in local supermarkets as common fruits or food items, yet their rich medicinal and cultural history is often overlooked. By the end of this knowledge share, you will have a deeper understanding for the global migration of plants and their ongoing role in traditional healing systems, as well as practical knowledge on how to connect with the plants mentioned and plants in your own bioregion.
We will explore:
Practical applications, including how to prepare remedies such as teas, poultices, oils, and tinctures using medicinal Ghanian plants.
Introduction to Ghanaian Herbal Medicine: Understand the rich history and cultural importance of plant medicine in Ghana.
Medicinal Properties: Learn about the healing properties of native and non-native plants like Moringa, Neem, Bitter Kola, Lemongrass, Papaya, Mango Leaf, Banana and their practical applications in treating common ailments.
Connecting with the Land: Discover the Ghanaian philosophy of living in harmony with nature and how plants are viewed as sacred tools for personal, somatic, and collective well-being.
Practical Experience: Engage in guided demonstrations on creating herbal infusions, teas, and spiritual cleansing baths using the plants discussed.
Understand how plant medicine has traveled globally and shaped various cultural practices
Cost
$35 - early bird until January 10th, 2025
$45 - low income
$65 - standard
$90 - pay-it-forward (if you have financial abundance, this is our pay-it-forward option to fund our full tuition scholarships)
or access this knowledge share via our Living Library
For more information on sliding scale please check out this amazing work!
The zoom link will be sent upon registration. Recording will be available for 30 days.
Please apply here for a scholarship.
Living Library
You can access this knowledge share and all of our 2025 knowledge shares by becoming a member of the Living Library.
We invite you to become a member of our Living Library, Herban Cura’s digital school & archive. The Living Library, is a subscription giving access to over 200 hours of present and past knowledge shares by wisdom holders, professors, land stewards, seed keepers, and investigators spanning Indigenous horse connections & dark sky wisdom, to seaweed medicine & more.
You can sign up here to become a monthly or annual member
Accessibility Information
Virtual Gathering
*ASR (automated) captioning provided
The knowledge share zoom link will be sent out immediately upon purchase, along with any other necessary information.
Sunday, January 26, 2025
3:00pm - 5:00pm Eastern Standard Time
Class will be recorded and available for 30 days. This means you can join from anywhere in the world.
Facilitator
Joshua Kwaku Asiedu, born in Milan, Italy, within a predominantly European system, to an Akwapem-Ghanaian father and a Neapolitan-Italian mother. At the age of 20, he embarked on an anthropological and self-discovery journey, leaving behind what he knew as “normal.” This journey took Joshua around the world for many years, allowing him to experience life from diverse corners of the globe, from vibrant cities to stunning villages and untouched remote areas. Through these experiences, he realized that the Western model often neglects true human development. He had the privilege of learning directly from Indigenous communities how life can be lived beyond the confines of this unethical and oppressive system. He discovered that life can extend far beyond what we have been conditioned to believe. He learned that his ancestors in rural Ghana had left pieces of land as a heritage for future generations. A few years ago, he moved to these remote areas with nothing but a mosquito net, a beach bed, and a machete. From scratch, and with a great deal of detachment and discipline, he built an eco- village. Years have passed, and together with the local community, they have been sharing these natural ways with the Western world, aiming to educate and inspire people about living in harmony with Nature, or as they call it, the way of Asaase Yaa.