Herbal Learning
The Ultimate Herbal Challenge- Name That Herb! – Episode One
Hi friends! We have a surprise for you today. Many of you have been schooling with us or following our blog and YouTube channel for years, so chances are you’re a certified herb nerd (and that’s a good thing…in fact it’s a great thing!). We really love nerds. In light of that, we are giving you a chance to test all your fabulous herbal knowledge. Introducing our new YouTube series: ‘Name that Herb!’
Here’s how it works: I’ll give you a series of clues about a specific medicinal plant, and your challenge is to guess which herb I’m describing. For our debut episode, I’ve chosen an herbal superstar to spotlight. Can you Name That Herb? Here are your clues:
Clue 1: Traditional Medicine
Today’s herb has a long, rich history of use in traditional medicine, especially in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Russian folk medicine.
It does not have much of a historical presence in Ayurvedic medicine, or Native American folk medicine, because of its native habitat…which brings us to your second clue…
Clue 2: Habitat
This mystery herb is native to Russia, and parts of northeastern Asia.
It can be grown in the United States, but it requires a very cold winter and a cool summer in order to really thrive.
Clue 3: Medicinal Properties
This herb is a renowned adaptogen, meaning it can help the body adapt to stress and maintain balance. It can enhance energy and reduce overall fatigue.
Our mystery herb is a whole-body tonic that stimulates and benefits nearly every organ and system of the body. It has a cooling Yin energy that is not too taxing on the body, unlike other herbal stimulants. This makes it ideal for the elderly, children or people who are convalescing from a long illness.
It improves libido and fertility in men. Ladies, this is an important side effect for you to keep in mind when adding this to your husband’s herbal regimen, as you may choose to discontinue his use of fresh garlic at this time.
Clue 4: Folklore
In Russian, Siberian and Chinese folklore, this herb is a symbol of resilience. It was believed that eating the root would impart the strength and stamina of a tiger.
Clue 5: Trivia
During the cold war, the Soviet Union kept their use of adaptogenic herbs, including this herb, as a state secret. They believed it could provide their military and their athletes with a competitive edge. It was even used by astronauts in their space program to enhance physical and cognitive performance!
That was your last clue! Do you have an idea of which plant I’m talking about?
Watch the video for the big reveal!
Thanks for playing along, and if you really want to get your game on, consider joining The Homegrown Herbalist School of Botanical Medicine. We’re thrilled to bring you this new series and can’t wait to see your guesses! Hope you enjoyed this happy celebration of herb nerdiness!
Stay tuned for more episodes!
-Jenni-Leigh Rose (Instructor, HomeGrown Herbalist School of Botanical Medicine)
Are you Ready to Take Your Herbal Education to the Next Level?
Consider joining the HomeGrown Herbalist School of Botanical Medicine. Our instructors dive deeply into plants, their medicinal constituents, and how they interact with the body. Take control of your health and become an herbalist now!
It’s ginseng
Rhodiola
Ginseng
Hi Jenni! Thank you for the fun post and video. I was excited to guess it right, thanks to Doc Jones and the school! I think it was Clue #3 that particularly tipped me off. Thanks again! I look forward to other episodes in the future.
I thought it was ginseng after you talked about the root imparting the strength and stamina of a tiger.
I believe the herb for the first challenge is Rhodiola.
Siberian Ginseng!
Gingseng
Rhodiola
Ginsing which grows here in upstate NY
Ashwaganda?
Siberian Ginseng
Siberian ginseng
Hurrah, I like this game. After first clue I guessed ginseng after second clue siberian ginseng.
Ginseng
Siberian Ginseng
eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng)
Eleuthero
Thank you for a great, fun video! Somehow, I guessed it after the 2nd clue.
Habitat: cold winters.
Siberin Ginseng
It’s no doubt Siberian Ginseng. I have two 4yrs old well grown bushes in my garden
Ginseng is my first guess
Garana is my second
Ginseng!
ashwagandha
Siberian Ginseng
I guessed ginseng… I was right!
Rhodiola
Siberian Ginseng
Siberian ginseng
Because of the cold weather requirement I would say Rhodiola
Siberian ginseng
Siberian Ginseng
THANK YOU! What a WONDERFUL concept and idea; and much appreciated. This is one way to get me on the stick to learning many of the individual herbs. One small caveat that I hope you will include in the future is…as I went into plant monographs to read all I could with Siberian Ginseng, and lo and behold it was not listed. It would be great if you could include links to “everything you wanted to know about “such and such herb”. Perhaps this could also include links to the growing, harvesting, use as well as the formula making for the specific herb/s? Since my enrollment well over a year ago, I’ve had some difficulties in navigating through the plethora of information. I’ve tried going lesson by lesson, but so much gets changed or added; and then have to redo it. So, I then go into the monograph, but many are missing. This school is the BEST, and I do enjoy it when I have enough time to devote to it. Thank you for all the hard work that has gone into creating this wonderful course. It will definitely take me a lifetime to extract all I information I would like; but these videos are a great place to start to learn them individually. I couldn’t find Siberian Ginseng in the monograph section.
Ginsing
Love it! I’ve only been in the herbalist school a short while. Great course- great teacher! Siberian Ginseng would be my guess, too.
Way to put fun in the learning process! Thanks!
Ginseng
ITS GINSENG!
First thought is Ginseng
Wonderful idea! Enjoyed it very much! Looking forward to playing again—I guessed ginseng. The herb school is working! Well done!
Ginseng?
I guessed siberian ginseng. Great fun,thank ou.
Well presented, Jenni. Loved “Name That Herb.” Please continue the fun, challenge, and education.
Ginseng
Eleutherococcus senticosus
Everyone says ginseng, but could it be Maca?
Ginseng
That was fun! Now I want to try Siberian ginseng. Can you take it long-term?
Sounds like finding to me!
Eleutherococcus: Siberina Ginseng or Russian Ginseng
Ashwagandha
Ginseng
The give away for me was that it is appropriate for old folks, where as panax is appropriate for younger folks. Doc Jones stressed that all in classes.
Siberian ginseng!
Ginseng
Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng)
Thanks for the new game, “Name That Herb” I love it!
It provides me with information that I didn’t know about a particular herb. I like to learn. I also like to teach, since I was a teacher for 9 years. Learning something new daily is God’s gift to us as we live this life that He gave us. Thanks Jennifer for making this such an interesting game that everyone can enjoy!
My guess is Ginseng.
This is a great idea! I am just starting the school but I say Siberian Ginseng too.
Ginseng
Thank you
Rhodiola
It’s ginseng for sure. I am originally from Ukraine and remember my grandmother had a dark glass bottle with a picture of a weird root on it. It looked like the mandrakes from Harry Potter. It was very hard to come by even back in the former USSR. She used it very sparingly, yelling at me not to touch it as I might spill her precious reserve.
Somehow I always knew that ginseng was very valuable and special.
I knew it what you were talking about by the third clue. I guess it was just cultural knowledge.
My first thought was Rhodiola.
My second thought was Siberian Ginseng (Eleuthero senticosus)
This was fun. Great idea!
Ginseng
Thank you for the interesting history of siberian ginseng
Rhodiola
The first two clues helped but clue 3 cinched it for me. Definitely Ginseng 😊
Siberian Ginseng