Herbal Medicine Week

This year, herbal medicine week will be running from 22nd – 29th October 2023🌿
The aim of this week is to promote herbal medicine to the public, educate people about herbal medicine, share our knowledge and show people the vital role that herbalists play in community health and wellbeing.

Our well trained practitioner members are part of communities all across Australia and have valuable skills and knowledge to share. We encourage you all to celebrate all things herbal within your local community by hosting or partaking in a local event.

With Spring well underway, October is an ideal time to incorporate the outdoors in your celebration of HMW. Gardens Australia-wide will be bursting with new growth and flowers. And for those who want to include some hands-on garden experience, there’s a huge range of herbs, veggies and flowers appropriate for planting.

Check out our “resources” section to help you promote Herbal Medicine Week and don’t forget to share your event(s) with us, we will share it back on our social media platforms and website.

🌿 Share the Herb love

• Organise an online event to celebrate herbal medicine (webinar, talks etc…) and let us know about it.
• Use the #HerbalMedicineWeek and tag the NHAA on your social posts.

🌿 Host a ‘weed walk’

• Teach about local weeds!
• Download our  How to Host A Weed Walk  to take your community on a weedy adventure. (COVID restrictions allowing of course)

🌿 Visit your Herbalist

• Visit a local herbalist to learn how herbal medicine can help you.
• Herbalists across Australia will be hosting open-day events.

🌿 Host an open day

• Or even an open afternoon….. invite the public to come, put up posters and flyers in local shops or do a letterbox drop.
• People love FREE stuff so offer a lucky door prize or raffle, have some herbal teas (iced herbal teas are also good!), maybe some herb seeds/seedlings, whatever you think might be appealing to your community.

🌿 Host a community drop-in clinic

• This is a great way to get clients in the door. You can set any limits you like – time, number etc.
• Many people will jump at the chance of a no-obligation, free consultation and even if they don’t book, they may buy some products and give you good word of mouth.

🌿 Talk to your community centre or clubs

• Some local community centres offer free space if you are not charging – worth asking!
• Do a one-off talk or even run a short course: Preventive health, Herbal Teas for health, Grow your own herbs or something that will resonate in your community.
• You may be able to partake in a program that is already running.
• Donate a prize (maybe a treatment voucher) to a local club raffle

🌿 Have a stall at a local farmers market

• This is an opportunity for organisations with offerings for the community to connect with the locals. Get in touch with the management of your local farmers markets to enquire if you to book a community stall.  
• You may want to collaborate with other practitioners in your local area, to share the experience of the day, make it fun, and also to collaborate to showcase yourselves as local Herbalists/ offering services in the area. 

🌿 Have a cuppa

• Herbal Tea blending classes are a great way to teach people about herbal medicine.

🌿 Other great ideas

• Join together with your local health food shop, chemist or fresh food market to plan an event.
• Get your local schools involved – advertise in the newsletter, get the students to plant a herb garden.
• Visit your local aged care facility. Engage the residents – many of them will have memories of how their mothers used herbs as medicine or around the home.
• Make and donate samples of your home-made creams, ointments & teas.
• Join forces with a local cafe or restaurant to teach people about Food as Medicine!
• Organise a picnic.

‘Host a Weed Walk’ guide instructions guide and monographs

Posters, flyers and social media assets to download