
Three Year
Community Herbalist Training Program
Year 1: Foundations of Herbalism
- A Nine-Month
Training
This program is the heart and soul of our offerings. Students spend one day a week, for nine months following the seasons and coming to a deep appreciation of the rhythms of our lives. We will see how our bodies and souls respond to different foods and medicines at different times of the year. Curriculum includes medicine making, wild food preparation, kitchen apothecary practices, anatomy & physiology and foundations of different models of herbalism; biomedical, Ayurvedic, Traditional Chinese Medicine and the sacred journey to the plants themselves.
Above and beyond the rich and detailed curriculum is the creation of a sacred circle. This is the work of our time now; to come together as a community and bring forth the sustainable and joyful practices that will lead us to a healthier and more grounded life.
There are day trips to meet various eco niches as well.
This class can also be taken by itself as a day or weekend program.
For full details, cost, and dates of program please see the Foundations Program page.
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Online registration via Paypal now available!
Note: There is a 3% processing fee added for online registration to the Day Foundations Program and Clinic I. |
Year 2: Clinic I - Therapeutics
Note: Clinic I is FULL for 2010

“Sacred Plant Tradition’s clinical training gave me a deep and well nourished ground on which to grow as an herbalist. Throughout every lesson, whether it was anatomy, patho-physiology or materia medica, the sacred spirit of the plant world was always present. Having the opportunity see a wide range of clients in the clinic took the medicine of the plants off the page of a book and into the real world. Studying with Kathleen has expanded my understanding of the relationship between the plants and people in such a deep and profound way.”
This nine month intensive is truly one of a kind as there is no other program like this on the East coast. This is where students sharpen their skills and learns the science, art and assessment skills needed for herbal practice. Students gain direct client experience through in-depth work with other class mates preparing them for work with clients and the larger community in the second year of Clinic. The commitment is greater than Foundations in terms of time and amount of work involved. There are tests every other week, SOAP note assignments as well as research outside of class.
Curriculum will include:
Energetic Assessment with focus on tongue and pulse
Constitutional definitions (Ayurvedic and Western)
Tissue states
Advanced anatomy and physiology
Pathophysiology
Therapeutic Protocols
Intro to TCM concepts for the western herbalist
Record Keeping for the Herbalist – SOAP notes and more
Apothecary records
Advanced Apothecary practices
Formulations
Client issues
Professional / Business Ethics
Herbalists as Educators
Students will observe professional herbalists hold interviews and will always be mentored when they conduct their own. Case presentation and round table discussions are included as well as topics listed above.
Wednesdays – March 17, 2010 – November 17, 2010
Fee is $4000, not including texts (please allow $200 for materials).
Required texts are:
Language of Medicine, Davi – Ellen Chabner
The Practice of Traditional Western Herbalism; Basic Doctrine, Energetics and Classification, Matthew Wood
Secret Teachings of Plants, Stephen Buhner
Recommended texts:
Medical Herbalism, David Hoffmann
Botany in a Day, Thomas Epel
Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy, Simon Mills & Kerry Bone
These books can generally be gotten used or inexpensively on Amazon.com
Pre-requisite: Foundations or a similar one-year training program. Interview is required. For a more complete listing of the curriculum, please call or write SPT.
Sorry, Clinic I is FULL for 2010
|
Online registration via Paypal now available!
Note: There is a 3% processing fee added for online registration to the Day Foundations Program and Clinic I. |
Year 3: Clinic II - Practice
This program will be offered in March, 2011. This is where the student applies the teachings learned the previous year. Client interviews will be set up through SPT’s free clinic that has been offered here in Charlottesville for over seven years. Students will research, create and give classes at local community centers on various health issues concerning lower income communities. Also included:
Advanced Therapeutics
Handling clients in follow up and long term
Deepening Research skills
Advanced formulations
Advanced apothecary practices
Community work/projects
Designing a Business/Vision Plan
Please write or call for more information

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