Three Proven Step-by-Step Road Maps for an Exciting and Rewarding Herbalist Training Adventure
Learning about herbs and how to use them in a responsible manner can be bewildering and overwhelming. Especially when you want to serve others. You can easily take a wrong turn. And end up in a ditch.
But you can relax now… you’ve come to the right place.
The Herb Academy has been mapping the best herbalist training route to take – and marking out milestones along the way – since 2004.
And we’ve made it easy and affordable to learn at your own pace. All Herb Academy courses are distance learning (home study) programs and the course materials are delivered via the Internet (password protected website). We’ve broken a complex study field down into easily completed smaller standalone courses that take the strain off your time and your budget.
Simply follow the milestones along your chosen “Herbalist Training Path” and you’ll soon become a knowledgeable and competent Family Herbalist, Herbal Adviser and/or Master Green Healer.
Need Help Selecting a Course or Training Path? WhatsApp or SMS +27 082 416 7145 (during reasonable hours please)
Please note that this is just our suggested Herbalist Training Paths! Feel free to jump around after you’ve reached Milestone 1 of your chosen path.

Destination #1: Amateur Family Herbalist
This path is for you if you have a keen interest in herbs and natural medicine and you’d like to learn more to take better care of yourself and your loved ones. Basically, because you are doing this for yourself and you have no interest in serving clients, we have cherry-picked the courses that will have the biggest impact on you and your family.
Side note: To see the average time students take to complete each milestone visit this page.
Milestone 1: Basic Herbal Medicine Making
This course enables you to use herbal remedies safely and with confidence. You’ll learn how to make a variety of herbal preparations, how family herbalists structure treatment protocols, and how to create your own materia medica.
This is in all probability the best introductory online herbal medicine making course available anywhere. Period. Read the course reviews if you are sceptical about this claim.
Milestone 2: Healthy Meal Planning
Nutritional intervention is one of the most powerful natural therapies and tools in the family herbalist’s materia medica. Anyone interested in taking better care of themselves and their loved ones should have a basic understanding of the principles of healthy meal planning. In this fun masterclass, you’ll get the meal planning superpowers every family needs. View the class outline.
Milestone 3: Introduction To Herbal Therapeutics
The whole thrust of treatment in herbal medicine is different from that of conventional drug therapy. The whole herbal materia medica is used to provoke a healing response by the body rather than to directly home in on the symptom or pathology. View the course curriculum
Milestone 4: Growing Herbs for Fun and Profit Mini-Masterclass
A small herb garden can supply you with all the herbicide- and pesticide-free herbal medicines you need – and it’s far easier than you might imagine. If you like the idea of better health and nutrition for your family, and a bit more self-sufficiency, too, then you’re in luck! View the class outline.
Milestone 5: Cooking With Herbs and Spices Mini-Masterclass
Discover how professional and celebrity chefs season with herbs and spices. Get 7 handy cheat sheets to elevate your cooking from bland and boring to bursting with flavour and flair. If you’ve ever wondered “what goes with what”, this mini-masterclass is especially for you. View the class outline.
Destination #2: Professional Family Herbalist
This path is for you if you have a professional or career interest in herbology. It is popular with people who want to start making and selling their own herbal products.
It is also for those who would like to serve clients as a holistic health and wellness coach. See Destination #3.
Milestone 1: Basic Herbal Medicine Making
This course enables you to use herbal remedies safely and with confidence. It also introduces you to the various disciplines within herbal medicine which enables you to plot the remainder of your own learning path.
This is in all probability the best introductory online herbal medicine making course available anywhere. Period. Read the course reviews if you are sceptical about this claim.
Milestone 2: Basic Botany for Family Herbalists
Basic botany and plant identification are absolutely essential skills in the repertoire of the family herbalist, traditional healer or herbal adviser.
This course is intended for people who have little or no botanical background who want to develop a working knowledge of herbs. It provides a basic introduction to the field of botany, plant naming (nomenclature), plant classification (taxonomy) and external characteristics (morphology) from a herbal medicine perspective. View The Basic Botany Course Curriculum
Milestone 3: Introduction To Herbal Therapeutics
The whole thrust of treatment in herbal medicine is different from that of conventional drug therapy. The whole herbal materia medica is used to provoke a healing response by the body rather than to directly home in on the symptom or pathology. View the course curriculum
Milestone 4: How To Start A Part-Time Herbology Business – Mini Masterclass
The sooner you start your own herbal side-hustle, the sooner you’ll be able to make a good full-time living growing and selling herbs and herbal products, or running a niche health coaching practice. A part-time endeavour can involve a heck of a lot of fun, as well as a tremendous amount of personal and professional growth and satisfaction. View the class outline. Complete the class and you’ll be awarded a certificate as proof of your commitment to changing your life for the better.
Milestone 5: Healthy Meal Planning Masterclass
Nutritional intervention is one of the most powerful natural therapies and tools in the family herbalist’s materia medica. Anyone interested in taking better care of themselves and their loved ones should have a basic understanding of the principles of healthy meal planning. In this fun masterclass, you’ll get the meal planning superpowers every family needs. View the class outline.
Milestone 6: Detoxification and Therapeutic Fasting
Learn how and why the body detoxifies and how to formulate detoxification (therapeutic fasting) protocols for your own personal use, or for your clients. Advance to Family Herbalist Level 4!
Milestone 7: Immune System Disorders
Don’t fear superbugs like Covid-19 and cancer. Learn how to formulate herbal therapeutic protocols that build and strengthen your immune system and bring it into proper balance. Experience infectious-disease-free living. Advance to Family Herbalist Level 5!
Milestone 8: Respiratory System Disorders
Coming soon.
About Accreditation and Serving Clients
Destination #3: Master Green Healer
This herbalist training path is for those that want to use their new knowledge and skills to serve clients. Most participants following this path start practising as holistic health and wellness coaches.
Milestone 1: Earn The Professional Family Herbalist Certificate
If you want to serve others you need a solid grounding in herbal medicine. The Professional Family Herbalist training path provides you with that background.
Milestone 2: Earn The Master Green Healer Certificate
When you’ve earned the Professional Family Herbalist Certificate of Completion and the remaining Herbal Therapeutics Specialization courses you’ll be awarded the Master Green Healer Certificate as a testimony of your outstanding achievement.
Milestone 3: Health and Wellness Coaching Certification
The Herb Academy does not offer health and wellness coaching certification but we can recommend courses. Please see: About Accreditation and Serving Clients
Milestone 4: Launch Your Health and Wellness Coaching Practice
This milestone is huge…
Launch your coaching practice to start sharing your gift with the world. We have vast experience in this area and we offer one-on-one coaching packages to help you:
- Define your health and wellness coaching packages.
- Launch your coaching practice.
- Quantum leap your existing health and wellness coaching practice.
Continuing Education
How To Start A Part-Time Herbology Business
Plant Journaling for Family Herbalists
Advanced Herbal Medicine Making
Growing Herbs for Fun and Profit
Making Herbal Bath Salts for Fun and Therapy
21-Day Keto For Beginners Action Plan
Join Our Networking and Discussion Forums for Family Herbalists
Join The Herb Cafe (Private Facebook Group)
Join The Muthi Flora of southern Africa (Private Facebook Group)
Join The Booming Global Health and Wellness Coaching Industry