Hello, my name is Gregoris Zoidis and I'm assistant professor at the school of Pharmacy of the University of Athens. I'm the academic responsible of the course "Herbs and Honey". In this course we will trace the history of herbs over the years, from antiquity to the present. Archaeological finds, legends, myths and traditions will be the key stops of our journey. We will discuss holistic herbal medicine and medicinal plants, as well as learn about Hippocrates, Theophrastus and Galen and others. We will analyze multiple uses of herbs, proving their importance to our daily lives. It can be used in cooking, medicine, cosmetics and gardening. We will learn easy-to- follow practical tips and creating a modern herb garden and describe cultivation practices namely how to shore, harvest and store the beneficial herbs of our country. Moreover, we will talk about some of the most important Greek herbs, the starting point being their expanded presence in Greece. We have chosen to present the characteristics and properties that differentiate each herb from the rest of Greek flora. In this programme, we aim to describe the most popular herbs that only find used in primary production but are also incorporated in our daily lives because of their multiple properties. It should be mentioned that this source does not intend to record and classify all the herbs in Greece but rather to offer an understanding of their importance to human life. This course also traces the history of honey. Over the centuries, the secrets of honey and bee keeping have intrigued philosophers, poets, authors and scientists in part because of their remarkable social tractor of honey bee colonies which relay on communication and hard work. In addition, the beneficial properties and multiple uses of bee products will be also presented. You are welcome to follow us to this fantastic journey. Thank you.
Herbs & Honey
Herbs! Flavorful plants used as medicine, seasoning or flavoring. They add a pinch of excitement to the art of cooking. Herbs are contained in numerous products that we use every day. Let's read some labels: mint toothpaste, shampoo with chamomile, aloe cream, cough syrup with echinacea, etc. As plant-derived or organic ingredients they can be found in hot drinks, pastries, insect repellents, and hair dyes. Because of their multiple uses and beneficial properties, they are often included in cooking, medicine, cosmetics, and gardening. Imagine how life would be if herbs did not exist. Odourless? Colourless?
Honey, food for Gods, medicine for people! What about honey? Is it a superfood? Over the centuries, honey has intrigued philosophers intellectuals, poets, authors, and scientists. It was incorporated into the diet and contained in the remedies of ancient Greeks, while it also played a major role in important social occasions such as feasts, sacrifices and athletic games.
This online course aims to offer an understanding of how herbs and honey play a significant role in human life. Follow their exciting history over the years. Legends, myths, and traditions will be the key stops of this journey. You might even want to create your own modern herb garden! All of the above will be analyzed further and in detail in this online course part of the Arts and Culture category.Well, after completing this course you will be able to use craftily all the beneficial herbs and at the same time receive a training certificate.
Are you interested in the history, the use or beneficial properties of both herbs and honey? Then, this e-learning programme is created for you.
This programme concerns everyone who would like to:
- identify Greek herbs
- appreciate the significance of their role in human life
- understand how they are used in various occasions
- understand the characteristic properties of herbs
- know how to incorporate them into their everyday lives
- know the history of honey from antiquity to the present
- understand how honey was incorporated into the daily lives and diet of ancient Greeks
- narrate myths and traditions about honey
- describe how a beehive is organized
- describe bee products (honey, pollen, royal jelly, propolis, bee bread, bee venom, beeswax)
- understand how honey and bee products were used for their beneficial properties from the time of Hippocrates and Galen until today
- understand their multiple uses and properties
Upon completion of the programme, participants will have acquainted themselves with:
- the terms herb and herbal medicine
- the importance of herbs and honey from antiquity to the present day,
- the cultural history of herbs and honey,
- myths, legends, traditions about herbs and honey,
- the way our ancestors used them.
Herbs are part of our daily lives and are essential for a natural, healthy lifestyle. For centuries, people have put them to culinary, cosmetic, and medicinal use to benefit themselves as well as their animals. There is an increasing interest in herbs because of their multiple uses and beneficial and healing properties. In this course, we will present the cultural history of herbs from antiquity to the present day through myths, folklore, and legends. We will make mention of Hippocrates, Theophrastus, Dioscorides and Galen, who all studied botany in depth to find cures for diseases. In addition, we will explore holistic herbal medicine and herbal medicine in general. We will also focus on how to use herbs and discover their mutliple properties. We will describe the cultivation practices required for the creation and care of a healthy herb garden. This course also deals with bee products such as honey, beeswax, propolis, royal jelly, bee bread, pollen, and bee venom that find uses in cosmetics, medicine, cooking, confectionery, and even decorative art objects. Bees are indeed a divine gift.
Lesson 1
The History of Herbs
This unit traces the historical and cultural background of Greek herbs, their uses and properties from antiquity to the present. Archaeological finds, legends, myths, and traditions will be the key stops of our journey. We will discuss holistic herbal medicine and herbal medicine, as well as learn about Hippocrates, Theophrastus, Galen and others. We will analyse the multiple properties and uses of herbs, proving their importance to our daily lives; they can be used in cooking, medicine, cosmetics, and gardening.
Lesson 2
Greek herbs
In this unit, we will talk about some of the most important Greek herbs, the starting point being their expanded presence in Greece. We have chosen to present the characteristics and properties that differentiate each herb from the rest of Greek flora.
Lesson 3
The History of Honey
This unit traces the cultural history of honey from antiquity through the Middle Ages to the present, including references to mythology as well. It also focuses on the social structure of bees as well as on bee products such as honey, beeswax, propolis, royal jelly, bee bread, pollen, and bee venom that find uses in cosmetics, medicine, cooking, confectionery, and are even used as decorative art objects.
Your final mark in the course will be based on a combination of open and closed type questions based on the material offered during the lectures.
Online and distance training learning at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens offers a new way of combining innovative learning and training techniques with interaction with your tutor and fellow trainees from around the world.
The e-learning course is implemented via a user-friendly educational platform adjusted to the Distance Learning Principles. Courses are structured as weekly online meetings; interaction with the course tutor and other trainees takes place in a digital learning environment. The courses are designed to fit around your schedule; you access the course whenever it is convenient for you, however within the given deadlines.
The whole world becomes your classroom as e-learning can be done on laptops, tablets and phones as a very mobile method. Learning can be done on the train, on a plane or even during your trip to Greece!
The educational platform is a portal that offers access to electronic educational material based on modern distance learning technologies. The computer based nature of training means new technology is being introduced all the time to help trainees engage and learn in a tailored way that will meet their needs. E-learners have access to the educational platform with their personal code number in order to browse all relevant training material and interact with their instructors.
Moreover, an online communication system through own personal e-mail account is available in order to make the process easier and more interactive. Trainees can contact directly their tutors or the administration office of the course and share any concerns or anxieties related to the course in order to make the most of their experience.
Every week e-learners are provided with the relevant material, delivered either in the form of video-lectures, text notes and relevant presentations or as a combination of them. The educational material of the course is uploaded gradually, per educational unit. During the course, important info for the smooth conduct of the educational process, such as timetables for the submission of the exercises are announced on the Announcement section of the platform.
For successful completion of the course the e-learner should have fulfill her/his academic obligations, meaning should have submitted all corresponding assessment exercises and have achieved at least an average of 50% grade in the corresponding tests for each module. The score scale ranges from 0 to 100%. Finally, if the total score on one or more lessons of the course does not exceed 50%, trainees can ask for reassessment.
During the course trainees will be attending a training experience designed by academics and lecturers from the National University of Athens as well as from other Universities, Research Institutes and Cultural organizations around Greece.
Interactivity, flexibility and our long tradition guarantee that learning with us offers a successful and rewarding experience. Finally, access to a large variety of material and online resources available in each unit aims to excite your curiosity and guide you in exploring further your favourite topic. Part of the online material can be downloaded providing the chance to quickly refresh your memory after the completion of the course.