Host: Herbalist S.A. Lawless
Class Date: Sunday, August 23, 2026 @ 3pm EST
Discover the magic, myths, and medicine of water lilies in this online class focused on the aquatic plant family Nymphaeaceae.
Water lilies are ancient aquatic flowering plants found on every continent except Antarctica and are used in the traditional medicine systems of cultures worldwide and were held sacred by some of the most ancient civilizations on earth. Water lilies can be edible, medicinal, and poisonous depending on the species and the preparation and are incredibly versatile plants in herbalism. Water lily medicine is astringent, demulcent, anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, sedative, aphrodisiac, and anaphrodisiac, and excellent for treating the digestive system and genital issues.
In this online class, we will do a deep dive into the history of water lilies in food and medicine, covering the most commonly used medicinal species with a special focus on blue lotus and its recent rise to herbal fame. Learn how to effectively work with blue lotus as well as how to identify, forage, and craft water lily medicines using the species native to your region.
Your host Sarah is a herbalist, forager, and avid kayaker who wild harvests water lilies and turns them into various medicines each summer. This is a great opportunity to learn directly from someone with hands-on experience harvesting, processing, and making water lily foods and medicines.
Registration includes access to the live class on Zoom, the video recording of the live online class, the class transcription notes, and a reading list for further learning. Registration closes on August 21st and the class Zoom link will be emailed to registrants the same day. The class video and reading materials will be emailed 2-3 days after the live class takes place.
