Here are the specific course topics by the month they will be introduced:

March 16th & 17th; April 20th & 21st: Introduction to the course, Digestive system & elimination 

• Review of the energetic qualities within Ayurveda, relevance of this to your herbal practice. Introduction of the “doshas”. Students will do a self-assessment at home to learn what their unique qualities and doshas are.

• Introduction to the herbalism intake - engaging with others about their health and wellness, client confidentiality, client records, overview of investigative tools (medical history, social history, family history, labs), how to support others without breaking laws or putting yourself at risk for liability.

• Progression of disease, and the process of healing.  

• Formulating in herbal medicine - introduction to the formulation worksheet (small group activity).

• Medicine making: creation of herbal lotions.

Digestive system & elimination 

• Review of anatomy and physiology of digestive system, liver, gallbladder, skin.

• Review of herbal actions for these body systems, students will present on these to deepen their understanding.

• Creation of digestive tonic formulas based on each student’s herbal action needs, and qualities.

• New Materia Medica for digestion and elimination: milk thistle, yellow dock, mugwort, blue vervain.

• Questions to ask in the intake about digestion and elimination.

• Practice of intake questions on digestion, and case study for a digestive system issue.

• Bitters & Hepatics Lab

May 18th & 19th; June 22nd & 23rd: Endocrine System

• Formulation strategies using the triangle approach.

• Intake development:

  • integration of a nutritional assessment.

  • Steps to creating a healing protocol/plan for your clients.

Introduction to the endocrine system

• The endocrine glands, the organs with endocrine function, the thyroid hormones, the thyroid-liver connection, the HPA axis, blood sugar regulation, libido. This will be a simplified discussion of these concepts, to promote awareness of how our herbs support endocrine health.  We do not have time to get into advanced endocrinology.

• Herbal actions for endocrine health, fertility, blood sugar regulation, and libido.

• Lab: Herbal love medicine.

• Questions to ask in the intake about the endocrine system. 

• New Materia Medica for endocrine function:  Ashwagandha, schisandra, cinnamon, shatavari, passionflower, damiana, clary sage

• Case study on people presenting with endocrine concerns.

• Preparation of apothecary & herbal intake form for the endocrine system.

July 20th & 21st: Holding space for others as herbalists, creating a vibrantly sourced apothecary, quality control, and regulations for product manufacturing

• Development of the herbalism intake - SOAP note

• Opening space for others in the intake, classes, or in herbal retail environments

• Overview of herbal supply chain

• cGMP regulations for herbal product making

  • handling, labeling, and structure/function claims

• Safety, authenticity, handling, and integrity of herbal ingredients and herbal products

• Growing and processing your own herbs for the advanced herbalist

August 17th & 18th: Nervous System

• Development of the herbalism intake - record keeping, notes, and documents to present to the client.

• How do we allow space in herbalism for hard emotions and memories of trauma?

• Self-care as an herbalist to prevent compassion fatigue and burnout.

Nervous system:

• Review of basic nervous system A&P.

• Review of herbal actions for nervous system (students will be asked to present these to the class to review them)

• Complications within the nervous system, herbalism for these: depression, anxiety, insomnia, pain, trauma

• Questions to ask in the intake for the nervous system, role play with a classmate.

• Formulations for nervous system imbalances using formulation worksheet.

• New Materia Medica for the nervous system: hops, valerian, gotu kola. 

• Case study on client presenting with nervous system concerns.

September 21st & 22nd : Cardiovascular System

Cardiovascular system: 

• Review of basic cardio A&P

• Review of herbal actions for cardiovascular system (students will be asked to present on these)

• Herbalism for imbalances of the cardiovascular system: hypertension, varicose veins, heart palpitations, heart disease, poor circulation

• Vagal nerve influence on the heart, herbal influence on vagal nerve; compassion & heart health

• Questions to ask about the cardiovascular system in the herbalism intake

• Formulation for cardiovascular issues in small groups

• New Materia Medica for the cardiovascular system: dong quai, rhodiola, gingko, prickly ash

• Case study of a person presenting with cardiovascular concerns

October 19th & 20th: Immune System:

• Bringing the pieces of the herbalism consult together with your assessment and plan - creation of a holistic healing protocol for your client.

• Medicine Making: Elderberry syrup.

• Brainstorming your “Top 30” herbs list, as well as your clinical herbal apothecary.

Immune system:

• Review of basic immune A&P.

• Review of herbal actions for immune system (students will be asked to present on these).

• Herbalism for imbalances of the immune system: allergic hypersensitivity, autoimmune disorders, frequent or chronic infections. 

• Questions to ask about the immune system in the herbalism intake.

• Formulation for immune issues in small groups.

• New Materia Medica for the cardiovascular system: wild cherry bark, usnea

• Case study on immune issues.

November 16th & 17th: Synthesis

• We will review the entire intake process piece by piece to answer questions.  We’ll review each other’s intake forms and summary pages. We’ll discuss what we have learned about the disease process and the healing process, and where herbalists fit in.

• Each person will have created an herbal medicine that they grew from seed or cutting, tended, harvested, and processed into the appropriate form for their apothecary project. At our final class together, people will share this with everyone and celebrate their successes and discuss their challenges.

• We’ll see each other’s lists of “Top 30 herbs” as well as herbal apothecaries to celebrate what we have learned in the past two years.  This will be a chance to celebrate, ask final questions, and review anything that needs review.

• Intentions ceremony - how do you see yourself sharing your advanced skills and knowledge in herbal medicine? Share with the class what your intentions are moving forward and make a plan for succeeding with these intentions.