March 4 & 5
Program Overview
Introduction to Herbal Basics
- Overview of the traditional healing systems that have shaped contemporary herbalism in the US
- Introduction to the concepts of herbal energetics
- Medicinal preparations overview
Introduction to our Materia Medica
- Southern Appalachian bioregional plant communities
- Plant taxonomy and classification systems
- Herbal actions
- System affinities and specific indications for individual herbs
- Efficacy and safety issues
Understanding How Herbs Work
- Two approaches: Activators and tonics
- Dosing strategies for acute and chronic health issues
- Using herbs for your own health care goals
- Herb/drug interactions
April 15 & 16
How to buy herbs and herbal products: An introduction to herb sourcing
- Sustainability considerations, quality standards, organoleptics, legal issues, and more
- Guidelines for storing herbs
Understanding and preserving plant potency: tips for growing, harvesting, choosing fresh vs. dry herbs, processing herbs, medicine-making and therapeutic uses of parts of various plant parts
Hands-on medicine-making
- Tinctures
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- Alcohol-based using both maceration and percolation methods
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- ACV and glycerin-based tinctures
- Fire Cider
May 20 & 21
Hands-on Medicine-making workshop
Water-based herbal preparations
- Infusions, decoctions, compresses, baths, etc.
- Syrups
- Tea tasting
Oil-based herbal preparations
- Infused oils and salves
- Lotions
Field Studies
- Plant walk: Herbs of early spring
- Introduction to field botany
- Using botanical keys to ID plants (using Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide)
- Ethical harvesting and conservation concerns
June 24 & 25
Introduction to Herbal Energetic Concepts
- Applying energetics to understand herbs and health conditions
Herbs in Practice
- Overview of body systems and system affinities in herbalism
- Body systems: Immune and endocrine
- Common imbalances of the immune and endocrine systems
- Using adaptogens and other tonic herbs for chronic and constitutional conditions
Materia Medica
- Materia Medica: Ten herbs
Field Studies
- Plant Walk: Herbs of early summer
- Identifying plant families of common medicinal herbs
July 15 & 16
Herbs in Practice
- Body systems: Digestive, hepato-biliary, and respiratory
- Common imbalances of the digestive, hepato-biliary, and respiratory systems
- Guidelines for safe, effective detoxification using herbs
Materia Medica
- Materia Medica: Ten herbs
Field Studies
- Plant Walk: Herbs of summer
- Sustainable wildcrafting practices, tips for drying and processing herbs
August 5 & 6
Herb Dosing
- Dosage guidelines for various medicinal preparations
- Dosage strategies for acute and chronic symptom patterns
- Safe herbal dosing for babies, children, and the elderly
How to deal with unexpected reactions to herbs
Herbs in practice
- Body Systems: Cardiovascular, nervous, musculoskeletal, skin, urinary and male generative
- Common imbalances of cardiovascular, nervous, musculoskeletal, skin, urinary tract, and male generative systems
Materia Medica
- Materia Medica: Ten herbs
September 16 & 17
Herbs in Practice
- Body systems: Female generative
- Common imbalances of the female generative system
- Herb support in pregnancy
Materia Medica
- Materia Medica: Ten herbs
Field Studies
- Plant walk: Herbs of early autumn
- Hands-on: Sustainable root harvesting and medicine-making
October 21 & 22
Herbs in practice
- Introduction to herbal formulations
- Health assessment basics
- From symptom to formula: A step-by-step approach
Materia Medica
- Ten herbs
November 11 &12
Herbs in practice
- Herbal support for depression, anxiety, insomnia, and other psycho-spiritual imbalances
- Understanding the role of inflammation in chronic disease
- Herb-drug interactions: Resources and guidelines
Materia Medica
- Ten herbs
December 2 & 3
Materia Medica
- Review of 60 herbs
Medicine Show
- Share your herbal preparations with the class
Celebration and Good-byes
January 27, 2024, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Online final exam (optional). The exam consists of two parts: a multiple-choice exam, and a case study. Note: To receive a Certificate of Completion you must complete all class assignments, quizzes and get a passing score on the final exam, and have made all tuition payments in full.
Note: Syllabus content is subject to minor changes.