CLINICAL HERBALIST (CH)
(150 hrs)

I look upon the pleasure which we take in a garden as one of the most important delights in human life. - Cicero

These classes train you in the use of Clinical Herbology for personal growth or for the professional benefit of others.  These classes qualify you to become a Clinical Herbalist. Clinical Herbology can be practiced alone or in conjunction with the Holistic Health Practitioner license or other therapeutic practices. Those in the fields of medicine, chiropractic, nursing, acupuncture, physical therapy, dentistry, massage, counseling and other healing arts use Clinical Herbology in their existing practices.

You will learn how to purchase quality herbs and herbal products, proper storage, and correct methods of preparation. More than 300 Eastern and Western herbs will be presented, including describing the traditional folk uses of each herb plus modern scientific research documenting their therapeutic effectiveness and safety, and any potential side effects, contraindications, or drug interactions. Presentations include slides of each herb and handouts.

You will learn how to make teas, salves, balms, tinctures, balanced and individualized herbal formulas and other preparations. You will learn the energetics of each herb and how it affects specific systems in the body, along with proper adult and child dosages. Highly effective methods of herbal medicine—combining the clinical and scientific with the traditional holistic and energetic approach—will be fully integrated into a system of making balanced and individualized herb formulas.

Learn the way of herbs for self-help and clinical herbology for professional practice. Herbs for cleansing, building, and balancing organs, glands, blood, lymph, muscles, nerves, emotions, and other energy systems; herbs for common symptoms; energy tonics; herbal first aid, salves, and compresses; developing your herbal intuition; and much more. Several herb walks and adventures are also offered where you will learn how to identify and collect wild, medicinal herbs.  

Our herbal program is one of the strongest in the world, including two of the premier herb instructors in the country. Our NHI director Steve Schechter, N.P., H.H.P., and Alison Reid-Bretell, L.Ac., are nationally respected as highly experienced teachers and health practitioners.

Diploma/Certificate of Completion: : Clinical Herbalist.  Upon completion of the 150 Clinical Herbology training, you will be awarded a diploma/Certificate of Completion as a Clinical Herbalist. You may also join the American Herbalist Guild (AHG) which is composed of "medical herbalists" and/or American Herb Association, which are optional additional credentials.

*Please note - Sections covered in Herbology may not follow in the order presented below. Section length may be modified at the discretion of the School Director. The total Program, however, will consist of 150 classroom hours.

Learn guidelines for purchasing quality herbs; storage guidelines; preparation and use of herbs in different delivery forms, including capsules, infusions, decoctions, tinctures, compresses, salves and baths. We will discuss effective and safe adult and children's dosages, guidelines for identifying therapeutic actions of herbs by their taste and texture and guidelines for developing your intuitive/listening capacities. The 20 most popular herbs for the new millennium will be discussed.

A continuation of HB 101.

This class will give you hands-on experience in preparing herbal remedies. Students learn processing techniques for making herbal infusions, decoctions, therapeutic herbal oils, salves, balms, poultices, and much more. All aspects from collecting and drying herbs to preservation and storage will be covered.

In HB 201-204, each class will discuss the therapeutic uses of more than 75 herbs that are commonly available at health food stores or through catalogues. The classes will cover traditional folk uses of each herb, plus modern scientific research documenting effectiveness and safety. You will learn the primary clinical uses for prevention and self-help. A full understanding of the energetics of the herb, how it affects specific systems in the body, which delivery forms for the herb are most effective and appropriate adult and child dosages.

A continuation of HB 201.

A continuation of HB 202.

A continuation of HB 203.

This class will consist of four 4-hour field trips within San Diego county. You will use special notebooks to log in and save plant samples of native and cultivated herbs. An overview of each herb will include its growth habits, how and where to collect and process the plant and its medicinal uses.

ALSO: click here for optional 150 hour Clinical Master Herbalist details