This 150 hour course will cover a variety of topics relevant to establishing a herbal healing practice or professional Herbal business. Four tacks are available including Sustainable wildcrafting, Apothecary management, herbal retail, and clinical herbalism. Practical issues of record keeping, history taking, and wellness counseling will be discussed and practiced.
In addition to participating in classroom case study assessments, students will have an opportunity to see clients in the student clinic and partake in weekly roundtable discussions of the various cases presented. Students will also practice dispensing herbs as they rotate through the school’s herbal apothecary. Other topics geared towards career preparation, practice building, marketing, and personal business development will also be presented. This course requires prior completion of Level 1and Level 2 or equivalent instruction/ experience as approved by the director.
Phase One
All students take coursework in the following.Clinical Intensive - 30hrs
Paperwork & Forms, Intake skills, Marketing yourself, Dosing Strategies, Nurturing in the clinic, Clinical Shamanism, Emotional prep for consultation, When to Refer, Communication skills, Ethics, Classroom intake observations, Case study Writeups.
Wildcrafting Intensive - 24hrs
Orientation & Mapping skills, Compass skills, United Plant Savers review, Ethics, Tools, Field Work, Barks, roots, drying & processing, Storage, Field Trips, Park Service Lands, Plant ID, Plant communities, Plant rescue missions.
Product Development Intensive - 24hrs
Creating a mission, Inventory tracking, Market sheets, Informative Literature, Packaging, Store tours, Creating vendor relationships, Labeling & Production Legalities, Remedies Lab Review, Supporting local organic business, Languaging, Filling herbal orders.
Herbal Politics - 15hrs
- What are the regulations for an herbal clinical practice?
- How do we get liability insurance?
- Can we offer dietary and nutritional recommendations?
- Is touch legal for an herbalist?
As herbalists, we do not treat disease or diagnose. In this class we learn how to language ourselves in the clinic to offer supportive and educational strategies. Learn about impending legislation and herbs and topics of controversy around the world. Uncover precedents set in court cases which may protect us or may concern us. Learn also about GMP and DSHEA regulations for natural product companies. Also covered will be the legalities and regulations of wildcrafting on private, state, and federal lands.
Teaching Skills for Herbalists - 15hrs
Phase Two Internships - 50hrs each
Students must select one of the following options:Wildcrafting Internship with Robin Suggs and guest instructor, CoreyPine Shane- Direct experience in the field with recognozed purveyors of medicinal plants in the field.
Clinical Internship
Mimi MiddletonInterns actually practice in the student clinic with guidance and supervision from an experienced clinical herbalist. Weekly round Tables are setup as a way to support each other and develop our strategies.
Product Development Internship
Maria MuscarellaInterns develop their own marketable line of herbal products with guidance from an herbalist experienced in running an herbal products business.
* Intern graduates may wish to return and take additional internships at a reduced rate.
