Session I: Foundations of Herbal Healing

This 300 hour course offers a comprehensive introduction to many aspects of herbalism. An introduction to the history and traditions of herbalism will prepare the students as they build a solid record of Material Medica that will incorporate over 100 herbs. This course offers the students an opportunity to learn the systems of the body and the herbs that tonify these systems. Through a “hands on” herbal remedies lab and with an emphasis on family health, nutrition, and lifestyle, this course will empower students to naturally take care of themselves and their families. Designed to parallel the growing season, time outdoors will constitute a major portion of the course. Thus students can expect to familiarize themselves with the art and science of wild plant identification, organic gardening, and ethical wildcrafting as they deepen their connections with the Earth and its abundance.

Materia Medica

The Materia Medica class is an opportunity to discuss over 100 herbs in depth. Herbs will be presented in a monograph format covering various topics such as scientific name, plant family, sources, traditional uses, constituents, clinical uses, safety precautions, dosage, and energetic. This class will take a “hands on” approach allowing the students to taste, smell, feel, and experience the herbs. Students will be encouraged to keep an organized notebook for referencing herbs in the future.

Botany and Organic Gardening

The Botany curriculum is an intensive, field oriented study of plant biology. The class focuses primarily on native vascular plant identification and taxonomy. Important topics of study include flower and fruit morphology, pollination and reproduction mechanisms, plant ecology, and the biology of Fungi. In addition, students will attend a crash course in organic farming techniques on a certified organic vegetable farm. Students will also have an opportunity to practice their wildcrafting skills. Upon completion of the Botany curriculum, students should feel comfortable using a dichotomous key to identify native plants, and have a strong, overall understanding of the biology of plants and fungi.

Anatomy and Physiology with Herbal Considerations

This class will be a comprehensive review of the body systems with emphasis on structure and function. Each organ system discussion will be followed by corresponding herbal considerations and relevant therapeutic actions. Covered will be the cell and its membrane, DNA, Major tissue types, digestive system, urinary system, integumentary, the immune system, the musculo-skeletal system, endocrine system, nervous, circulation, respiratory, and reproduction systems. Students will be required to prepare for class through reading assignments.

Family Health and Healing

Designed to inspire students to naturally take care of themselves and their family, this course will cover herbal healing for both men’s and women’s health issues using herbs that both tonify and support the reproductive system. A wide range of herbal applications for pregnancy will be taught including herbs for a healthy pregnancy, herbs to avoid during pregnancy, and herbal support for labor, lactation, and holistic postpartum care. Natural care for babies and children including basic children’s herbs, how to administer herbs to kids, and proper dosages will be covered. Holistic nutrition and flower essences for the whole family will also be included.

Nutrition

An understanding of nutritional needs and how to supply them is the “backbone” of any healing program. The nutrition class will provide a comprehensive background of the basic nutrients, their structure, function, and sources. We will also look at current topics such as issues related to food quality, popular diets, and chronic disease. Herbal healing combined with a solid nutritional approach is the key to long term improvement in health and well being.

Herbal Remedies: Lab

Issues associated with herbal extraction, processing, and product development will be presented in a hands on format. Students will be making a variety of remedies such as water extracts, tinctures, glycerites, lotions and creams, infused oils and salves, flower essences, and herbal preparations for children such as syrups and jellos.

Herb Walks and Field Trips

Guided herb walks and wildcrafting field trips will emphasize wild herb identification, folklore, ethical wildcrafting, and wildcrafting regulations. In this class the students will be exposed to the same herb walk in 3 different seasons to see the progression of the area flora throughout the seasons. Field trips to local herbal businesses and industries will also be a component of this class.

Energetic Herbalism

This class offers an introduction to the energetic and spiritual communion between plants and humans. Aspects of intuitive healing, vibrational plant medicine, and the possibilities of an expanded awareness will be touched upon. Most class meetings will be outdoors and interactive. An introduction to flower essences will also be presented.

History and Traditions of Herbalism

This class discusses the history of western herbalism which will be presented in a chronological fashion beginning with ancient herbalism and biblical herbs and touching on the European influence on American herbalism. An emphasis will be put on the herbal practices of the early American Eclectic physicians. An introduction will be given on various traditions of herbalism including Native American Herbalism, folk, Wise women Traditions, Ayurveda, and Traditional Chinese medicine.

Case Studies

In this class, various established herbal practitioners will present their favorite clinical cases. The students will be exposed to different styles of practicing herbal medicine. Students will be invited to discuss the cases and present their questions.