Practical Herbalism Correspondence Course

To study the green world of healing plants is to step into a whole new realm of existence. How can a home study course mentorship course of study be transformed? Perhaps it’s because of the nature of the subject itself. This practical course takes the student into the very heart of herbalism. It instills in the student the fundamental skills necessary to practice this ancient healing art and a profound understanding of the spirit and essence of herbalism.

This course is not a quick ‘read through’ course but is created to give you the most complete, practical, hands-on learning experience possible with herbs. Though it does require a time commitment on your part, if used as intended, these lessons will provide a comprehensive understanding of this ancient healing art of herbalism and provide you with the skills necessary to be a herbalist. One of this course’s most exciting aspects is the hands-on experience.

As you dive deeper into this study of herbs, expect a shift and transformation in your life and how you view the world. As one begins to study the green world of plants, the plant’s essence infuses one’s entire life with joy. People become happier, healthier, and more balanced with their life and nature. The herbs’ beauty works gentle magic on the user’s heart.

The course is written by one of the most respected herbalists in North America, Rosemary Gladstar, founder of the ‘California School of Herbal Studies’ – the nation’s largest and most successful herb schools and the co-founder of ‘Sage Mountain.’ The Lessons combine earth awareness, scientific observations, and research with practical folklore techniques and teachings to form a well-rounded study of Herbalism’s Art and Science.

We call this a mentorship course of the structure and the personal time Shantree will spend reviewing and commenting on your homework and assignments. He will be available to support you in your studies and guide you through the practical applications of using medicinal and edible plants.

Projects & Assignments

The Lessons are designed to provide practical, hands-on experience. Each lesson gives:

1. Directions and recipes on making herbal preparations,
2. A list of herbs to research,
3. Projects include making a herbal first aid kit, designing a herb garden, or making your herbarium and plant press. You are encouraged to complete as many of these projects as you can. Each assignment is designed to enrich your personal experience with the plant world.

LESSON #1

1. How to determine good quality herbs.
2. Where to get herbs/herbal products.
3. Herbs and allopathic medicine.
4. Herbal preparation: decoctions/infusions.
   
   1. Herbs for the nervous system.
   2. Herbal nervine formulas.
   3. General suggestions for a healthy nervous system.
   4. Health problems related to the nervous system.
   5. Materia medica for the nervous system.
5. Wild plant identification: St. John’s wort

LESSON #2

1. Beverage blends
   
   1. How to create beverage blends.
2. Terminology is used to describe herbs.
3. Weights and measures charts
4. Herbal Preparation
   
   1. Herbal oils
   2. Salves, ointments, and balms
5. Solvents used in herbal preparations
6. Herbal first aid: skin problems
   
   1. General suggestions for skin problems
   2. Skin problems and herbal treatments
7. Herbal therapeutics: the liver
   
   1. The medicinal action of alternative
   2. Materia medica
   3. Liver imbalances
   4. Herbal treatments for liver imbalances
8. Hayfever and allergies
9. Wild plant identification

LESSON #3

1. Science versus art
   
   1. Herbal Preparation
   2. Tinctures
   3. Liniments
   4. Capsules
   5. Herbal Pills
2. Herbal therapeutics: the respiratory system
   
   1. General guidelines
   2. Materia medica
   3. When to treat the respiratory system
   4. Favourite formulas for the respiratory system
   5. Programs to follow for respiratory infections
   6. Asthma/Hayfever/Allergies
3. The fine art of drying, harvesting, and storing herbs
   
   1. When to harvest
   2. Drying your herbs
   3. Storage
4. Herb identification

LESSON #4

1. Herbs for Children
   
   1. Which herbs are safe for children
   2. Materia medica
   3. How to determine the dosage
   4. How to administer herbs
   5. General formulas
   6. Herbal remedies for children
   7. Recipes for children’s products
2. Major chemical constituents of herbs
3. Herbal therapeutics: the urinary system
   
   1. Herbs for the urinary system
   2. Materia medica for the urinary system
   3. Healthy kidneys
   4. Common imbalances of the urinary system
4. Basic aromatherapy
   
   1. Essential medicine
   2. Essential oils
   3. Aromatherapy charts
5. Herbal Dreams
   
   1. Dream pillows
   2. Dream tea
   3. Dream balm
6. Wild plant identification: Dandelion

LESSON #5

1. Herbal pet care
   
   1. General suggestions
   2. Materia medica
   3. Common health problems of animals
2. Herbal preparations: Charmoon’s 6th. chakra sauce
3. The sciences of herbs
4. Compresses and poultices
   
   1. Poultices
   2. Compresses
   3. How to make poultices and compresses
   4. The incredible plantain poultice
5. Herbal stimulants
6. How stimulation therapy works
   
   1. When to use herbal stimulants
   2. When not to use herbal stimulants
   3. Materia medica: herbal stimulants
   4. Examples of formulas
   5. Therapies using herbal stimulants
7. Stevia and Guarana
8. Natural cosmetics
   
   1. 5 Steps to perfect skin
   2. The recipes
   3. Beauty and the bath
   4. Home healthcare products
   5. Where to get containers and ingredients
9. Making your herbal first-aid kit
   
   1. Kitchen medicine
10. Herbal remedies for radiation
    
    1. Survival Tactics
    2. Nutritional antidotes
11. Wild plant identification: chickweed

LESSON #6

1. General concerns of women
   
   1. Books on women’s health
   2. Women’s ceremonies and ritual
   3. Herbs for the female reproductive system
   4. General guidelines for a healthy female system
   5. Specific treatments for common health problems
2. Pregnancy and childbirth
   
   1. Formulas for pregnancy
   2. Renewing the body after birth
   3. Recommended reading
3. Menopause and crones
   
   1. Signs of menopause
   2. General guidelines for menopause
   3. Specific treatments for menopause
   4. Estrogen replacement therapy
4. Conclusion

LESSON #7

1. Creating medicinal formulas
   
   1. Guidelines for creating medicinal blends
   2. Examples of formulation
   3. Exercises for you to do
2. Herbs for winter health
   
   1. General guidelines for winter health
   2. Favourite wintertime recipes
   3. Herbal remedies for winter health
3. Herbal therapeutics for male health care
   
   1. General guidelines for male health care
   2. Materia medica for the male system
   3. Herbal tonics for the male system
   4. Specific male health problems
   5. Herbs and health care by J. Green
4. Wild plant identification: Yellow dock

LESSON #8

1. Herb gardening
   
   1. The basics of gardening
   2. Recommended reading on herb gardening
   3. Designing the herb garden
   4. The culinary garden
   5. Recipes from the culinary garden
   6. The medicinal garden
   7. The medicine wheel herb garden
   8. How I build my herb garden
   9. Zigzag to success
   10. Garden product directory
2. Making your herbarium and plant press
3. Making a plant press
4. Treatment of scabies and crab infestations
5. Herbal preparation: vitamin and mineral formulas
6. Herbal therapeutics: the digestive system
   
   1. Materia medica for the digestive system
   2. Imbalances of the digestive system and herbal treatments

LESSON #9

1. Preventative health care
   
   1. Clinical mock-up cases
   2. Prescription for health and happiness
2. Pathways to health and healing by F. Davidson
   
   1. Purification and regeneration
   2. Transition: Ringing the changes
   3. Purification diet
   4. Acid/alkaline foods
   5. Sources of nutrition in herbs and food
   6. Good health and your skin
3. Legal herbalism
   
   1. Legal herbalism by K. Collins
   2. How to handle an FDA or state inspection
   3. Legal aspects of herbal prescribing
4. The question of “safe” and “unsafe” herbs
   
   1. The toxicity hype by M. Blumenthal
   2. “Herbs are often more toxic than magical”
   3. Food for thought

LESSON # 10

1. Wild plant identification
   
   1. Eight steps to learning plant identification
2. Wild food cooking
   
   1. Recipes
3. Flower essences
   
   1. Flower essence preparation and usage
   2. Dosages/How to administer
   3. Rescue Remedy
   4. Bach flower essences
   5. Where to obtain flower essences
4. The immune system
   
   1. Autoimmunity
   2. The immune system and ageing
   3. Herbs for the immune system
   4. Building a healthy immune system
   5. Materia medica for the immune system
5. Resources for continuing your herbal studies
6. Final Quiz

PART I (The Correspondence Course) Is the home study part of the course. Study the material and do the lessons at your own pace. Send in the lessons through postal mail or email. We’ll check your lessons and make comments and give you feedback on your progress.

Part II  (The Advanced Study & Research) Thesis Project offers you the opportunity to dive deeper into the teachings. Choose an area of study that you feel particularly drawn to in the course, one that sparks your passion, invites your curiosity and beckons you to explore. Write a 5,000-word thesis and conduct a research project to be submitted within the course study time. Also, we ask you to offer to your community and document a couple of workshops or lectures to build understanding, expertise and confidence.

Ongoing LIVE Webinars
Ask the Herbalist: Lessons on Herbalism, Biodiversity & Regeneration Lessons on Herbalism, Biodiversity & Regeneration

One-on-One Sessions
These sessions are available to both support and deepen the learning experience of this course. Three sessions of 40 minutes each – these are done over the phone or through Zoom. These are available to guide and advise you on your research thesis project. You must book these sessions in advance once you have sent in your proposed thesis topic.

Your Guide & Adviser: Shantree Kacera

Herbs and Supplies

This course is designed to give lots of ‘hands-on learning experience and, therefore, requires some supplies and materials to complete the numerous herbal projects. Many of the items needed are found in your very own kitchen; other specialty items may need to be ordered.

The list of materials needed depends greatly on how each student wishes to become involved in their herbal studies. In each lesson, there is a list of ingredients that you may need to complete your assignment. The bolded items are necessary for the required projects—highly recommended that you quickly scan each lesson and mark all the formulas and recipes you wish to make. After you have made your ingredient list, get your ingredients together before you proceed into the lesson. Some of these items you may need to order beforehand. The good idea is to collect the necessary ingredients for several assignments. That way, you will be organized and get more out of the lesson when ready to begin.

Homework

Homework is sent upon completion of each lesson and then returned to you. You DO NOT need to send your reference files. You should, however, keep us posted on how you’re doing with your projects, i.e., how your reference file is progressing, reports on your herbal preparations, and the progress of your plant press and herbarium.

Time Completion

You may complete these lessons on your schedule. But to utilize them to their fullest, we recommend you set up a scheduled time to do each task; one evening a week or an afternoon on the weekends will keep your momentum going. The average time to complete the course is about one year. Some students have completed the material in 6 months, while others may take a few years. We do ask that you complete the course in two years. After two years, if the student fails to complete the course within the allotted period, the time-extension fee is $100 for each additional year.

Questions

One of the specialties of these lessons is the personal attention available to your questions and homework. We invite your comments, favourite herbal recipes, and suggestions.

Certificate

Each student that completes the lessons and ALL the homework will receive a beautiful Herbal Certificate. The Certificate awarded states and acknowledges you for conducting a thorough, in-depth study of herbalism. This course’s reputation is outstanding and recognized as superior among other professional herbalists, herbal schools, and holistic centers.

Lessons 1-10 & Beautifully Designed Course Binder

The Practical Herbalism Correspondence Course comes in a specially designed binder. The binder makes it easy to keep your lessons, homework and other course material together. The binder and books will be shipped as soon as we receive your tuition.

Textbooks for the Course

• Conscious Living Manual, Shantree & Lorenna Kacera
• Family Herbal: Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health
• Planting Our Future-Rosemary Gladstar
• The Herbal Medicine~Makers Handbook: A Home Manual

For hands-on training, see our Practical Herbalism Mentorship Program details; click here>

For information about the Visionary Herbalism Educator Course, click here>

Registration

 “We need the tonic of wildness…At the same time that we are earnest in exploring and learning all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable. Land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us because they are unfathomable. We can never have enough of nature.”  
~Henry David Thoreau,
Walden: Walden: Or, Life in the Woods

The regular fee is $1500

Includes:

• All Correspondence Course Material
• One-on-One Sessions
• Taxes where applicable

Shipping is $50 for North America   |   Shipping is $100 for International

Our commitment and cancellation policy

Click here to request more information.