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HerbalEGram: Volume 6, Number 11, November 2009
Numen Herb Documentary Released on DVD
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Numen: The Healing Power of Plants, a film about traditional herbal medicine in the United States, has recently been released. The 92-minute documentary was first discussed in an October 2008 HerbalEGram article as having its proposed début in early 2009.1 However, a few road blocks along the way (e.g., the crash of a hard drive containing a great deal of the film, the lack of funds, etc.) postponed its completion. Its final-cut was screened at the International Herb Symposium in June at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts. Production of Numen began in August 2005.
Numen, which means the animating force in nature, explores modern healthcare, the current disconnection from nature, and the importance of preserving traditional knowledge of healing plants.2 Ann Armbrecht, PhD, herbalist and author, co-produced the film with director Terrence Youk, of Brook Hollow Productions in Vermont.
“This film was incredibly important to both of us and even when we faced unbelievable technical challenges and were stretched extremely tight financially, we never once doubted it or considered not finishing it,” said Dr. Armbrecht (e-mail, October 8, 2009). “The stories of the plants and their role in healing our bodies, minds and spirits is too important, especially at this moment in time.”
The film features interviews with ethnobotanists, naturopaths, and many other herbal experts such as Rosemary Gladstar, renowned herbalist; Tieraona Low Dog, MD, physician and healer; David Hoffmann, herbalist and author; Larry Dossey, MD, physician and author; Ed Smith, founder and co-owner of Herb Pharm; and the late Bill Mitchell, ND, co-founder of Bastyr University, to name a few.
“One gift that stands out among the many was the opportunity to interview the late Bill Mitchell,” said Dr. Armbrecht. “We arranged this interview only at the very last minute while he happened to be in the area teaching at Sage Mountain. Bill died 6 months later.”
“Numen is a magnificent depiction of the healing essence of plants,” said Rosemary Gladstar as quoted on the Numen website.3 “The filmmakers captured the magic, the mystery, the beauty of plants and their importance as herbal medicine in our contemporary healthcare system. Inspiring and educational, Numen has a place in the library of anyone interested in medicine, plants, gardening and earth ecology. It’s a powerful film that I’ll recommend that everyone see.”
More information about the film, including a 15-minute preview and purchasing information, is available at www.numenfilm.com. The DVD is available for $27 (10% off its retail price $30 for early buyers) with $3 for shipping costs, according to Dr. Armbrecht.
—Kelly Saxton Lindner
References
1. Saxton KE. New documentary about healing plants. HerbalEGram. October 2008;5(10). Available at http://cms.herbalgram.org/heg/volume5/10%20October/Nature_of_Plants_doc.html. Accessed October 8, 2009.
2. Lindner K. Producers of herb documentary appeal to grassroots for funding. HerbalEGram. May 2009;6(5). Available at http://cms.herbalgram.org/heg/volume6/05%20May/Numen_Update.html. Accessed October 8, 2009.
3. Numen preview page. Numen website. Available at http://www.brookhollowproductions.com/numenpreview/. Accessed October 21, 2009.
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