Herbal Schools - distance

ABC of Herbalism with Susun Weed

I offer four different courses, each of which explores a different aspect of herbal medicine. Each course includes a project booklet of 26 assignments, audio/video tapes/DVDs, books, a discount on classes with me, time to deal with your personal needs, erratic mailings of fun stuff, and special gifts. You are free to complete your course as your time and life allow; there is no time limit. There is no requirement to send in lessons or to report to me, except as you desire. Upon completion of your course you receive a beautiful certificate suitable for framing.

American College of Healthcare Sciences

ACHS has delivered quality education and personal attention to students since 1978. Today, we offer convenient degree programs online with both undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Complementary Alternative Medicine. ACHS also offers a wide variety of professional career programs including the Master Herbalist, Master Aromatherapist, Holistic Health Practitioner, Wellness Coach and Holistic Nutrition Consultant credentials. As a student in one of our DETC accredited online programs, you will receive the same quality education and level of support you should expect from a prestigious private college. By pursuing an education in holistic health at American College, you will be prepared to successfully enter the rapidly growing field of complementary alternative medicine. ACHS's professional programs provide the administrative, scientific, clinical, and ethical training required to become a successful holistic health professional

Australian College of Phytotherapy

The Australian College of Phytotherapy is located in Warwick in Queensland, Australia. It was established by Kerry Bone in 1998 in order to conduct clinically oriented, post-graduate courses in Western Herbal Medicine. The College's mission statement is: "The College will provide a specialist education in Western Herbal Medicine of an internationally recognised standard of excellence." It is the College's policy to - Provide courses of recognised excellence in Western Herbal Medicine; Continue to update and develop courses to ensure that the quality of the training is maintained; Provide courses in such a way as to ensure the effective delivery to a wide range of students; Provide an environment of support for all students.

Blazing Star Herbal School

Blazing Star Herbal School is dedicated to teaching traditional herbal medicine in a way that supports a more sustainable future for all members of the green world and shows respect for the integrity of nature. We offer a unique perspective on herbalism, weaving social and political aspects of health and healing through the study of medicinal herbs and food practices. We inspire students to find their own healing path by creating a personal relationship with the plant world. The school also serves as a local and national resource for education and networking. OnSite Programs include: * 10 month Beginner/Intermediate apprenticeship. Meets weekly. * 10 Month Advanced Therapeutic Herbalism * Materia Medica Intensives * Guest workshops Distance Learning Programs include: * Family Health Distance Learning Intensive * Do-it-Yourself Herbalism Series....practical, thrifty and fun! Course 1: Optimum Winters Health Course 2: Spring Tonics and Wild Foods Course 3: Summers Remedies and First Aid Course 4: Creative, Tasty and Nourishing, Medicine Making for the beginner student

Blue Heron Academy of Healing Arts and Sciences

The Blue Heron Academy is dedicated to uplifting and positively promoting the image of natural and alternative healthcare and to providing motivated students the opportunity to vastly improve their career and their life. Herbal Medicine, Clinical Nutrition and Diet & Weight Management are the foundation courses which are all included, and must be taken, within the comprehensive curriculum of the Holistic Health Practitioner Program. Holistic health emphasizes the need to look at the whole person, including analysis of physical, nutritional, environmental, emotional, social, spiritual, and lifestyle values.  This all-inclusive program is ideal for health professionals who wish to incorporate holistic health principles into their practices and for all individuals who wish to incorporate these principles into their lives.  The Blue Heron Academy also provides training in medical massage and manual therapy, personal training and sports science, paramedical skincare, and in allied medical fields.

David Winston's Center for Herbal Studies

Good herbalists treat people, not diseases, and in our program we strive to teach the skills necessary so that each student can accomplish that goal. We focus on differential diagnosis skills, materia medica and therapeutics which are essential to individualize treatment and help patients to not only resolve symptoms, but create constitutional change needed for physical, emotional and spiritual wellness.

Dominion Herbal College

Dominion Herbal College (DHC) is North America’s oldest school of Herbal Medicine. Founded in Vancouver, Canada in 1926, it has been the inspiration of many great American and International Herbalists. Dr. John Christopher, Dr. Bernard Jensen, Jethro Kloss and Dr. Earl Mindell are only a few of the renowned graduates who got their start in Herbal Medicine with DHC. DHC provides the best source of herbal studies from the basic to clinical levels, educating students to become competent in the field of Herbal Medicine. DHC is accredited by the Private Career Training Institutions Agency (PCTIA) of British Columbia, Canada. The Chartered Herbalist Diploma Program is the original introductory level program of Herbal Medicine with thousands of students and graduates around the world. It provides a basic understanding of the human body and use of herbal therapeutics. The program includes Anatomy & Physiology and Materia Medica incorporating approximately 200 western herbs and encompassing botanical description, distribution, cultivation, harvest, constituents, properties, formulae & dosages and contraindications. This 1-year program utilizes a distance learning delivery method in which the program is completed by traditional, self-directed home study. In 1989, in order to meet the growing demand for advanced herbal studies, the Clinical Herbal Therapy Diploma Program was developed to enable individuals with a strong sense of vocation to practice as a Clinical Herbal Therapist. Also introduced at this time was the Clinical Herbal Therapy Diploma Program Specially Structured for Health Care Professionals at the Physician Level. This vocational program in the art and science of Herbal Therapeutics provides a comprehensive system of training on how the body functions in health and illness, how herbs can affect the functioning of the body, how to assess an individual’s relative state of health and how to choose the correct herbs to treat different ailments. This 4-year program utilizes a combined delivery method of distance and onsite learning in which the course work is completed by traditional, self-directed home study together with onsite attendance at a 5-day seminar at the end of each academic year, completion of 510 supervised clinic hours at Dominion Herbal College Approved Clinics during Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4 and a Final Practical Clinical Exam at the end of Year 4. Dominion Herbal College approved student training clinics are currently located in British Columbia and Ontario, Canada.

East West School of Herbology

The East West Courses are a unique combination of Western, Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese herbology. Many of the graduates of our 36 Lesson Professional Herb Course program have obtained professional membership status in the American Herbalists Guild (AHG). This is important since the AHG is the only professional clinical herbalists organization in North America. Herbal medicine in North America has grown from an off-beat interest promoted by a handful of non-mainstream adherents, to an 8 billion dollar a year mainstream business -- and it's still growing. Increasingly we see professional medical practitioners including medical doctors, pharmacists, nurses, chiropractors, acupuncturists to non-professional lay persons exhibit a keen interest in herbal medicine prompted at the behest of their patients. The reason is clear: Herbs work. For this, there is no dispute even by those who would be normally critical of so-called 'alternative medicine.' As a result, there is an urgent need for qualified people in the growing professions of clinical herbology, herbal pharmacy, herbal research, herb cultivation and wildcrafting, herbal marketing and product development. Throughout the last several decades Michael Tierra and the East West School of Herbology have been in the forefront of the herbal renaissance, promoting its widespread growth and acceptance throughout the Western world. To increase the standards, credibility and acceptance of clinical herbalism, in 1989 Michael founded the American Herbalists Guild. There is no shortcut to mastery. Courses and schools that purport to offer 'master herbalist' (MH) or other misleading degrees, often based on a 'quickie' weekend or a single week-long workshop, have no guaranteed legal professional standing. Be that as it may, there is a growing number of professional herbalists throughout North America. Many of these are graduates of the East West Herb Course, which represents a comprehensive and thorough herbal training program. (See the "Student Profiles" on the bulletin board). Our graduates are confident and competent herbalists! Remember; one can learn hundreds of herbs, but that knowledge is clinically worthless without its integration into a traditional system of diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, only the East West Herb Course systematically integrates the three main systems of herbal medicine based on the traditional practice of Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic (East Indian) herbal medicine. We believe that herbal medicine is not simply another profession, but an inspired calling. It is to this inner calling, as well as the increasing numbers of students who feel drawn to the study of herbal medicine, that we dedicate our teachings. If you are one of those who feel such inner promptings, come journey with us down this heartfelt path of wonder and learning. A wise person once said that whatever energy is expended towards education is never lost. Enroll in one of our courses today and let it serve as your guide on your personal 'Way of Herbs.'

Foundations in Herbal Medicine

The Foundations in Herbal Medicine course provides an integrated perspective on the use of herbal medicine that is based on sound scientific principles and longstanding herbal wisdom. This approach enables the student to apply herbs with discrimination and understanding, circumventing the problem of treating symptoms without addressing the cause.

Foundations of Herbalism

Foundations of Herbalism serves as an educational model for integrating the principles of herbal medicine into daily life. The course offers the essential foundation needed in order to become a well-rounded herbalist for either professional or personal purposes.

Heart of Herbs Herbal School

Heart of Herbs Herbal School nurtures students in learning and experiencing traditional herbal education with a modern edge. Combining up-to-date herbal education with traditional practices prepares the Heart of Herbs student to work in their community, based on the needs of their community, as educated practitioners who know and understand herbalism and/or aromatherapy. Students have the option to learn on-site or through our popular distance learning and eLearning programs. Students are trained in their field to: To work as practitioners who listen and work with the needs of their clients. Putting the needs of the client first in the health plan. To excel in herbalism or aromatherapy allowing students to formulate and combine remedies to the exact needs of a client. Provide clients with accurate evidence based information and education, to assist clients, consumers and clinicians to use herbalism or aromatherapy appropriately and safely. Students are trained in communication skills, business aptitude, practitioner ethics, appropriate care and protocols. Students will learn about over 100 herbs and 50 essential oils (depending on program). Develop materia medicas, learn about safe and ethical use of herbs and essential oils. The program also covers the following to varying degrees depending on program: Pharmacological and physiological effects; Formulation and combining remedies for specific and general needs; Research based education; Anatomy and physiology; Wildcrafting and plant identification. The school was founded in 1998 by internationally known herbalist Demetria Clark, author of Herbal Healing for Children. Heart of Herbs Herbal School has educated over 6500 students, through apprenticeship and distance education, internationally. The school offers the following programs: 1) Master Herbalist (2500 hr.), 2) Certified Herbalist (650 hr.), 3)Master Aromatherapy, 4) Certified Aromatherapy, 5) Herbal Skin Care for Business Program, and 6) other Advanced Practitioner Programs, like the GreenSpirit WiseCraft Herbal Program. Each program is updated twice a year. We also offer extensive support solutions for students allowing continual access to Demetria, so we can support each person's individual educational needs, offering an individualized approach to learning. Our motto for students is "Life Happens, we support your education in your life." (Note: We also have an international office in Basel, Switzerland.) Heart of Herbs Herbal School has complete interactive multimedia classrooms and apprenticeship programs and fully supported distance learning and eLearning.

Herbal Medicine for Women

Herbal Medicine for Women is a botanical medicine course for health care providers and individuals interested in learning how to effectively and safely use botanical medicines for women's health, and seeking to deepen their own personal relationship with healing plants, the rhythms of the earth, and their own bodies and cycles, and how to communicate their knowledge to others. The course, covering health and illness throughout women's lifecycles, is especially relevant for herbalists, midwives (nurse midwives and direct entry midwives), naturopathic doctors, physicians, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, childbirth educators, doulas, and herb retailers. The program provides a solid foundation in herbal medicine for promoting wellness and educating about or treating gynecologic and obstetric complaints. CEU approved (295 hours) by NCCAOM, Oregon Board of Naturopathic Examiners, and Midwifery Education Accreditation Council.

Institute of Aromatic and Herbal Studies

The philosophy of the Institute of Aromatic & Herbal Studies is to provide the highest quality education and hands-on exposure to "all things herbal and aromatic." We take a holistic approach to herbal medicine, studying the plants themselves, growing conditions, harvesting, preparation of herbal medicines and distillation for essential oils and hydrosols and the healthful uses of these herbs and aromatics. The knowledge of herbal medicine allows us to be proactive in our own health-care. Once we have the ability to heal ourselves, we can help others. The Institute of Aromatic and Herbal Studies emphasizes the use of local, native plants for the home preparation of teas, tinctures, capsules, which allows students control of their own health care.

International Integrative Educational Institute

The International Integrative Educational Institute houses the Herbalist College and the Ayurveda College. IIEI offers a wide variety of courses and classes in the natural health field. Topics cover herbalism, massage, yoga, diet & lifestyle, and energy work. Most of the courses offer Continuing Education credit or professional certification. IIEI, with Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa as course director, has a highly trained, diverse faculty of qualified instructors. The International Integrative Educational Institute offers an online store selling herbal products, body care products, books, videos and other health aids. Karta Purkh is a mentor with the American Herbalists Guild.

Live Oak School of Natural Healing

The Live Oak School of Natural Healing is run by a nurse, Dawn Gates, R.N. and was founded on the belief that there is wisdom in both ancient teachings and in modern science. The LOSNH provides students with an integrated education in the traditional practice of Western, Chinese, Ayurvedic and Native American herbal medicine. Our school offers live, correspondence, and online classes with opportunities for clinical practicums, live seminars, and apprenticeships. We have three programs that are developed for all levels of experience from the beginner to the advanced student including nurses, doctors, and pharmacists. The schools mission statement is “To provide a rounded herbal education in order for our students to be the natural health leaders in their communities” The school provides a full curriculum, including herbal history, botany, anatomy/physiology, Materia Medica, nutrition, formulary development, advanced diagnostics (facial, tongue, pulse), meanings of lab values, how to take a complete history/physical as well as practice development and growth. The online school is via interactive classrooms with Skype video conferences, e-mail discussion groups, podcasts, with a one-on-one mentorship program aimed at getting the online student the most individualized attention possible.

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences offers a blended/online learning Master of Applied Natural Products Degree program - most semesters combine a 5-day hands-on, on-campus intensive experience complemented by the convenience of online course work. The students are exposed to the knowledge, wisdom and experience of amazing speakers and practitioners in the area of Herbal Medicine, Pharmacognosy and Phytopharmacology, Dietary Supplements, Functional Medicine, Natural Products Informatics, Epidemiology and others. The program offers academic training to candidates with a previously earned baccalaureate degree (preferably in healthcare-related field) who have completed prerequisite requirements (see our web site for details).

Midwest School of Herbal Studies

Our mission is to provide the highest level of education in botanical studies, with an emphasis on integrative herbalism (modern Western phytotherapy, native-American, Unani, Ayurvedic, & TCM), and to do so at an affordable cost and in the most user-friendly format possible.

New Eden School of Natural Health and Herbal Studies

New Eden offers two programs in herbal studies. The Certified Herbalist track educates the student in how to wisely and effectively recommend herbal preparations and products to consumers and clients. The foundational courses add to this program. This track requires 5 to 8 months to complete via distance learning. The Medical Herbalist (MH) track offers an in-depth and complete herbalist curriculum. Students are taught from a science and clinical prospective how to effectively operate as a medical herbalist. This track requires 18 to 24 months to complete via distance learning.

School of Integrative Herbology

Integrating Western Herbology and Ayurveda with Candis Cantin 8 Hours of Audio CDs/ Over 600 Page Course Pack/ 10 Herb Samples/ Pocket Guide to Ayurvedic Healing by Candis. Learn how to integrate Western herbology with the constitutional and lifestyle model of Ayurveda. Sample course topics show how to: Evaluate the constitutional dispositions of people and their imbalances using the Ayurvedic principles; Treat acute and chronic conditions for different constitutions; How to nourish, build and cleanse the seven tissues; Create herbal formulas using the six tastes of plants and foods; Make herbal medicine using Western herbs; Learn ways to achieve greater vitality using Chinese, Western, and Ayurvedic tonic herbs; Use food as our medicine; Discover methods for living a more peaceful and balanced life. The Home Study Correspondence Course includes all material in the Integrative Herbology Beginning Program (Part 1) and the Intermediate Integrative Herbology Study Program (Part 2) taught at our school.

Southwest School of Botanical Medicine

Advanced Distance Learning programs: 1) Clinical and Constitutional Herbalism; 2) Materia Medica. Instructor: Michael Moore Each program has 12 lessons, 12 hours of video lectures a lesson (DVD), printed manuals, lesson materials and email, mp3 or telephone mentoring. Teaching professional herbalists since 1979

The North American Institute of Medical Herbalism

The North American Institute of Medical Herbalism offers classroom, clinical, distance learning, and continuing education courses. Our full certification is only available on-site. The complete curriculum culminates in an eight-month clinical residency in our public clinic, through the following stages:

• Fundamentals of Medical Herbalism 176 classroom hours
• Advanced Herbalism 436 classroom hours
• Clinical Herbalism 310 hours

The student may also do a dual certification program in Clinical Herbalism and Clinical Nutrition. Because most of the classes for certification in nutrition overlap with classes in the herbalism programs, the dual certificate can be earned with an extra 126 hours of advanced topics in nutrition. Each of these programs earns an individual certificate. The NAIMH is approved and regulated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Private Occupational School Board.

In addition, NAIMH offers a 36-hour introductory course in herbalism. We also offer some of our classes in the advanced certificate program as stand-alone courses for continuing education credit. Our distance learning and CEU courses are approved and regulated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Private Occupational Schools Board. All our distance learning and CEU classes contain an audio component (CD-ROM) as well as written notes and readings contained on a Data CD-ROM.

The School of Natural Healing

Founded in 1953 by the legendary Dr. John R. Christopher, and currently directed by David Christopher M.H., A.H.G., The School of Natural Healing’s Master Herbalist Program provides quality distant learning. Students can enjoy classes taught by world renowned experts via DVDs, CDs, books and study guides. The School provides a well rounded curriculum, including botany, anatomy, nutrition, formulary, pharmacognosy, and herbal chemistry with an emphasis on practicum. The Master Herbalist program prepares students to serve effectively in their communities. Help us in our goal to have an herbalist in every home and a Master Herbalist in every community.

Tree of Light

We provide coursework designed to help people sell commercial herb products in a professional and credible way. Our curriculum includes courses in health assessment, herbalism, aromatherapy and nutrition. We have both correspondence courses and certified instructors who can teach our courses on location.

Vintage Remedies School of Natural Health

Vintage Remedies (founded 2006) offers a variety of programs for both home use and professional certification. These programs include: Natural Wellness (introductory level, 120 study hours), Family Herbalist (360 study hours), Holistic Wellness Professional (960 study hours) and the Clinical Master Herbalist (1,400 study hours.) In addition to a primary focus on herbalism (including formulations, materia medica, pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, etc.), all of our programs also include aromatherapy, environmental health, sustainability, nutrition, pathophysiology and modern epidemics (such as autism and asthma). We also offer a unique Fresh Starts educator program, which trains and certifies facilitators of the Fresh Starts wellness classes across North America. Our courses are all completed at a distance and we enjoy serving students around the world. Everything we offer is completed in your own home, at your own pace, at a schedule you dictate. Our curriculum combines the traditional wisdom passed down through generations with modern scientific advancements to enable you to understand the time tested methods and how they are best utilized in light of new research in the areas of nutrition, plant chemistry and human health.