“If you feel uncomfortable with the idea of self-medicating, I respectfully suggest you root out and possibly reconsider the beliefs that underlie these feelings. Boundless numbers of us in this society are extremely intelligent human beings, fully capable of making excellent decisions about our lives, particularly when given access to valid information as a base on which to work.” – Herbalist James Green
The Advanced Herbal Medicine Making Online Course is aimed at people who believe in being responsible for their own well-being, and for those who want to improve their own health and vitality by becoming the family herbalist.
It is also ideal for medical doctors, traditional healers, therapists, and health practitioners using other modalities and forms of medicine who want to use herbal medicine to be of better service to their clients.
The course work towards health as defined by the World Health Organization. It being:
“More than the absence of illness. It is the active state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being.”
To this end the underlying belief regarding health and healing in this online program is a non-denominational Christian belief that God is the Ultimate Healer.
A Comprehensive Herbal Medicine Making Learning Program
This online course is a comprehensive herbal medicine making learning program which forms the foundation for becoming the family herbalist.
The art and craft of making herbal remedies is all about using the best method and the best solvent to extract the health giving properties of a specific herb.
In Advanced Herbal Medicine Making a team of highly competent and peer respected herbalists teaches you, step-by-step, how to make a working range of both internal (oral) and external (topical) herbal preparations.
The program goes way beyond popular folk methods – those that you found on the internet and in most popular herb books. Those methods do work, and their simplicity often belies their effectiveness. But to become a competent herbalist, or traditional healer, you also need to be familiar with the ‘official’ (pharmacopoeia / dispensatory method) and ‘standard’ (contemporary herbalist’s method) of herbal medicine making.
To achieve the above our team of herbalists gives you detailed instructions and supplementary information on best practices for folk, official and standard methods (where applicable).
And whenever you get stuck help is immediately at hand in the form of a dedicated tutor.
Advanced Herbal Medicine Making Is Divided into 11 Learning Units
Apart from the theory, each learning unit has a practical part to help you put the theory into practice.
Unit 1: The Battle for The Body (Voluntary)
This voluntary unit of study attempts to explain: “How/where herbology fits into a Biblical worldview wherein God is the Ultimate Healer.
Unit 2: Roots
“Herbs have been used medicinally around the globe for centuries, with success in a fantastically broad range of situations that should excite anyone who wants to heal him- or herself or others.” – Robyn Landis
In this Unit, which starts off with a Cherokee tale about how the green people came to our aid, you begin your exploration of herbal medicine making. First you’ll define your own definitions of a few herbology terms and you’ll also look at your current beliefs regarding the validity of herbal medicine. Then you’ll study the concepts of synergy and the ‘no-result, result’ which are fundamental to herbology.
Safety is a primary concern in any form of medicine and herbology is no exception. To this end you’ll study a set of guidelines for using herbs safely. And as herbology is no spectator sport you’ll learn how to compile your own basic health inventory.
Upon completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Define the terms herb, herbalist, and herbalism in your own words.
- Describe your current beliefs about the validity of herbal medicine.
- Discuss the term ‘synergy’ and explain its application in herbology.
- Explain the ‘no-result’ result coined by herbalist Robyn Landis.
- Explain how to use herbal remedies safely.
- Compile your own basic health inventory.
Unit 3: Materia Medica
If you’ve done the Basic Herbal Medicine Making course you’ll be familiar with a materia medica. If not, then this Unit will help you see the importance of botanical names and you’ll learn how to study individual herbs in depth.
A materia medica, or the materials of medicine, is a vital part of any herbologists arsenal and in this unit you will learn how to compile your own.
Upon completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Write plant names in the proper scientific manner.
- Look up plant names using a reputable online plants database.
- List the entries in a materia medica.
- Use a folk herbal, classic materia medica and a contemporary materia medica to compile your own herb monographs.
- Complete monographs for Buchu, Cayenne and Calendula.
Unit 4: Setting Up Your Apothecary
“The traditional pharmacist was a highly skilled technician, making to order an amazing selection of applications for both internal and especially external use. For those who wish to explore the full potential for herbal remedies today, it will be very useful to look again at some of the range…” Mills (1991)
In this unit you’ll look at the range of apothecary equipment that you’ll need as well as some basic supplies. You’ll also explore the harvesting, drying and storing of plant material and how to evaluate the quality of a herb sample.
Upon completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Choose the equipment for your own apothecary.
- Stock your apothecary with basic supplies.
- Harvest, dry and store your herbs using best practices.
- Evaluate the quality of a herb sample.
- Describe the 5 rules of herbal medicine making.
- Complete monographs for Fennel and Peppermint.
Unit 5: Basic Remedy Making Processes
Herbal medicines can be prepared in different forms. Some are designed to be taken orally and others are applied topically either directly onto the skin, as eardrops, as an eye wash, as a bath, etc. In fact there are more than 30 different preparations that the lay-herbologist can make in her home apothecary or kitchen lab.
Basic to all these different preparations is a number of processes that all herbologists need to be thoroughly familiar with. These processes, together with the 8 Principles of Excellent Medicine Making are the subject of this unit.
For those who want a more in-depth study we also offer additional introductory learning material about pharmacokinetics – the study of how the body affects an herb or drug, i.e. absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and eliminates the remedy
Upon completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Describe the two basic processes of herbal medicine-making.
- Explain what happens during extraction.
- Describe the 6 principle modes of extraction.
- List the 8 principles of excellent medicine-making.
- Complete monographs for German Chamomile and Comfrey.
- Outline how the body affects an herb or drug. (Optional study material.)
Unit 6: Infusions and Decoctions
In this unit you start making herbal remedies in all earnest. First up you’ll learn about the Sensual Approach to making herbal remedies and you’ll get an overview of all the oral remedies available to herbologists. Then you’ll compare folk and classic methods for making infusions and decoctions and you’ll also learn how to prepare a standard warm and cold infusion and a standard decoction.
Upon completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Describe the sensual approach to herbal extraction.
- Describe the difference between infusions and decoctions.
- Describe and make a standard cold and a standard hot infusion.
- Describe and make a decoction.
- Complete a monograph for Echinacea.
Unit 7: Water-alcohol Extracts
Herbal tinctures are alcoholic or water-alcohol extracts prepared from fresh or dried herbs.
In this unit you’ll compare folk and classic methods for making tinctures by maceration and you’ll also learn how to prepare a tincture using the folk method and the standard w/v formula.
Upon completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Describe and make a tincture using the folk method.
- Describe and make a tincture using the standard w/v formula.
- Complete a monograph for Garlic.
Unit 8: Medicated Wines and Vinegar’s
Throughout the history of herbal medicine making wine and vinegar were commonly employed as menstruums. And they continue to play an important role in contemporary herbology.
According to Green (2000) “Herbal wines come across more as flavorsome foods and genial tonics. In my experience the spirit of imbibing a herbal wine lends itself more to the mental and spiritual celebration of health and wellness.”
Medicated vinegar’s are well known for retaining the youth and beauty of hair and the skin and for this reason alone they are an important preparation in the arsenal of the herbal medicine maker.
Upon completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Describe and make a medicated wine.
- Describe and make a medicated vinegar.
- Complete a monograph for Ginger.
Unit 9: Liniments, Lotions and Creams
Your body can absorb some components of herbal formulations through the skin and a wide range of methods and formulations have been developed to take advantage of this fact.
The legal position regarding the application of external or topical preparations are more relaxed and this makes them an ideal study field for those who dream of one day manufacturing their own commercial range.
Upon completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Describe and make a liniment.
- Describe and make a lotion.
- Describe and make a cream.
- Complete a monograph for Oats.
Unit 10: Salves (Ointments) and Balms
Salves and balms are slightly easier to make than emulsified preparations and therefore they are very popular with herbologists. The tried and tested method for making salves we share with you produces a salve with superior medicinal qualities and because of this it is well worth learning. Even though it is slightly more involved than the methods you’ll find in most popular books.
The basic balm formulation you’ll learn is admittedly a bit messy to make but because it is so effective it is very popular with contemporary herbologists.
Upon completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Describe and make a salve.
- Describe and make a balm.
- Complete a monograph for St John’s Wort.
Unit 11: Fomentations and Poultices
Poultices and fomentations in their most simple form are merely local baths that utilize warmth and moisture to relax tissue and relieve pain. Beyond this, herbal preparations can be incorporated in these soothing hot waters to add further assistance with their unique therapeutic properties.
Upon completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Describe and make a fomentation.
- Describe and make a poultice.
- Complete a monograph for yarrow.
No Classes to Attend
This being a distance learning (online digital delivery) program there are no classes or lectures to attend at a distant venue. No time wasted in traffic and no time wasted traveling. You access all your learning material via the internet and you do the program in the comfort of your home or office.
Lifetime Access
This means you can learn at your own pace and you’ll always have access to the latest version of the course material.
About the Certificate of Completion
The point of Herb Academy learning programs is to learn a craft. There are no legislative boards, no licenses… just practical information for actual use to enrich your life and those you chose to serve.
Prerequisites
A course in Basic Botany is highly recommended. It can all be done concurrently if you have the time available. If not, perhaps first do a course in Basic Botany.
For a description of additional pre-requisites for this program please see our Terms of Service.
What Happens If the Online Course Is Not To Your Liking?
We stand behind this course and we know you’ll find that the content will meet your expectations.
More importantly, you’ll see results. That’s the real measure of success and that’s what you’ll get.
However, if you are not 100% satisfied with the online course, just let us know within 30 days for a full refund. And keep all the learning materials that you’ve downloaded free, with our compliments – that way, you risk nothing. It’s that simple. No questions asked. No hassles. No delays.