Advanced Herbal Medicine Making Course Outline 

Module 1: Introduction to Herbal Medicine:
History and Conceptual Framework for Herbalism

• Part 1: The Four Ways of Knowing 
• Part 2: A History of the Roots of Traditional Western Herbalism 
• Part 3: Theoretic Models of Herbalism
• Monographs
  • Crossvine - Bignonia capreolata 
  • Lobelia - Lobelia inflata 
  • Yarrow - Achillea millefolium  

Module 2: Introduction to Herbal Medicine: Plants + People + Illness

• Part 1: Traditional Western Herbal Tissue States+ Herbal Energetics 
• Part 2: Herbal Actions Defined
• Part 3: The 12 Tastes of Herbs
• Part 4: Degree of Remedy
• Part 5: Herbal Efficacy 
• Monographs:
  • Ginger - Zingiber officinale 
  • Nettles - Urtica dioica 
  • Hibiscus - Hibiscus sabdariffa

Module 3: Introduction to Herbal Medicine Making

• Part 1: Sourcing Herbal Medicines 
• Part 2: Growing Herbal Medicines
• Part 3: Foraging Herbal Medicines
• Part 4: Processing, Drying, & Storing Herbs
• Part 5: The Basics of Extraction + Resources
• Monographs
  • Honeysuckle - Lonicera japonica 
  • Lemon balm - Melissa officinalis 
  • Red clover - Trifolium pratense 
  • Self heal - Prunella vulgaris 

Module 4: Water-Based Extracts

• Part 1: Tea vs. Tisane
• Part 2: Water-Based Extracts: Infusions
  • Hot Infusions
  • Cold Infusions
  • Basic Herbal Constituents & How Well They Extract in Water
  • A Word About Water
• Part 3: Water-Based Extracts: Decoctions
• Part 4: Applications: Compresses, Steam Baths, etc. 
• Monographs
  • Peach - Prunus persica 
  • Violet - Viola odorata 
  • Chamomile - Matricaria chamomilla 
  • Elecampane - Inula helenium  

Module 5: Alcohol-Based Extracts

• Part 1: Hydro-alcoholic Tinctures 
  • General Tincturing Supplies:
  • General Extraction Guide + Best Practices
  • General Extraction Practices for Plant Parts
  • Contraindications for Tinctures 
  • Tinctures & Taste
  • Decisions, Decisions
  • What Percent of Alcohol? 
  • Other Solvents in Tincturing
  • Choosing a Percentage of Alcohol/ Constituents 
  • Constituents/Tastes & Their Extraction Windows 
  • Shelf Life
  • What Ratio?
• Part 2: Making Tincture
  • Folk Method Tinctures 
  • Precise-ish Tinctures 
  • Exact Tinctures 
  • Exact Tinctures Math Worksheet
• Part 3: Percolation Extracts + Additional Tidbits
  • Percolations
  • Percolation Tinctures Math Worksheet
  • How to Make a Dual Extraction for Mushrooms/Lichens
  • Bad Plant Combinations 
  • Liniments 
  • Hydrometers
• Monographs
  • Blue Vervain - Verbena brasiliensis 
  • Mimosa - Albizia julibrissin 
  • Spilanthes - Acmella oleracea 
  • Usnea - Usnea spp. 
  • Yellow Root - Xanthorhiza simplicissima 

Module 6: Glycerine-Based Extracts

• Part 1: The Basics of Glycerine-Based Extracts
  • What is Glycerine?
  • Glycerine in Our Bodies
  • Healing on its Own
  • When to Choose Glycerites
  • Herbs that Extract Well in Glycerine 
• Part 2: How to Make a Glycerine-Based Extract
  • Basic Herbal Constituents & Glycerine
  • Ratios
  • Glycerine Cold Extracts
  • Sealed Simmer Glycerites
  • Shelf Life of Glycerites
• Monographs
  • Goldenrod - Solidago spp. 
  • Holy Basil - Ocimum sanctum 
  • Motherwort - Leonurus cardiaca 
  • Wild Cherry - Prunus serotina 
  • Rose - Rosa spp.  

Module 7: Sweet & Sour Medicines

• Part 1: Sweet Medicines: Syrups, Miels, Electuaries, Elixirs
  • Syrups
    • The Basics of Simple Syrups/Syrups
  • Miels/Electuaries (Honey Medicine)
    • The Basics of Miels/Electuaries (Honey Medicine)
    • How to Make a Miel 
    • Pastilles
    • Elixirs
• Part 2: Sour Medicines: Vinegar Extracts, Fire Cider, Oxymels, Switchels
  • The Basics of Sour Medicines
    • Vinegar/Acetracts
    • Fire Cider
    • Oxymels
    • Switchels & Shrubs
• Monographs
  • Elderberry - Sambucus nigra 
  • Turmeric - Curcuma longa  

Module 8: Oils & Salves

• Part 1: The Basics of Oil-Based Preparations
  • What types of preparations can be made with oils?
  • When might you use an oil-based preparation?
  • When to use a Salve/A Side Note on Infected Wounds 
• Part 2: How to Make Oil-Based Herbal Infusions
• Part 3: Choosing a Carrier Oil
  • Fats, Smoke Points, and Rancidity and Why You Should Care
• Part 4: Making Herbal Oils Step By Step
  •  A. Folk Method/Cold Extraction
  •  B. Heated Oils
  •  C. Using an Alcohol Intermediate
• Part 5: Making Medicine with Resins
• Part 6: Making Salves
  • Suppositories and Pessaries
• Part 7: Lotions and Creams
• Monographs
  • Plantain - Plantago major 
  • Poke - Phytolacca americana 
  • Solomon's Seal - Polygonatum biflorum  

Module 9: Aromatherapy, Essential Oils, and Hydrosols

• Part 1: Aromatherapy Defined
  • Aromatherapy Scope of Practice & Applications
  • History of Aromatherapy
  • Aromatherapy in the United States
• Part 2: The Making of Essential Oils
  • From Plant to Essential Oil
    • What are the reasons plants create secondary plant metabolites
  •  Citrus Oils - Expressed or Distilled?
• Part 3: Hydrolats/Hydrosols, How to Make A Hydrolat at Home, Ways to Use Hydrosols
• Part 4: Other Essential Oil Preparations
  • Making “Aromatic Tinctures”
  • Other Plant Extracts Used in Aromatherapy
• Part 4: Quality Control
  • Basic Purity Tests
  • How long should you keep your essential oils?
• Part 5: Safety, Dermal Reactions, and Pregnancy
  • Essential Oil Dilution Chart
  • Essential Oil Dilution Rates and Indications
• Part 6: Therapeutic Applications/Preparations

Module 10: Food As Medicine

Food as Medicine : Part 1 

• Introduction to My Food Philosophy and Enjoyable Eating
• The Impact of Food Ordering on Blood Sugar: Fiber, Protein, then Carbs
• Eating the Rainbow: Enhancing Botanical Diversity and Nutritional Density
• My Favorite Ways to Boost Nutrient Diversity in the Diet

Food as Medicine : Part 2 

• Fermented Foods
• Greens, Greens, Greens
• Protein: Are You Getting Enough?
• Understanding Fats: The Risks and The Benefits
• Carbohydrate Alternatives
• Herbal Mocktails
• Monographs: 
  • Chickweed - Stellaria media 
  • Milk thistle - Silybum marianum 
  • Passionflower - Passiflora incarnata 
  • Yellow dock - Rumex crispus

Module 11: Materia Medica by Body System

• Herbal Medicines for The Gut
• Herbal Medicines for The Nervous System
• Herbal Medicines for The Reproductive System
• Herbal Medicines for Inflammation
• Herbal Medicines for The Cardiovascular System
• Herbal Medicines for The Immune System
• Herbal Medicines for The Respiratory System
• Herbal Medicines for The Urinary System
• Herbal Medicines for The Structural System
• Herbal Medicines for The Lymphatic System
• Herbal Medicines in Pregnancy & Lactation
• Herbal Medicines for Infants
• Herbal Medicines for Children

Module 12: Formulating, Safety, and Contraindications

• Part 1: Client Assessment, Contraindications, Preparation Types
  • Intro
  • Client Assessment
  • Scope of Practice
  • Energetics Review
  • Herb-Drug Interactions
  • Debunking Common Myths
  • Herb/Drug Metabolism, the Liver & Kidneys
  • Types of Herb Drug Interactions
  • Most Common Herb Drug Interactions
  • Preparation Type/Administration
  • Compliance and Care
  • Interfacing Kids with Herbal Medicine
  • Contraindicated Herbs for Pregnancy & Lactation
  • Single Herbs vs. Combinations
  • Duration of Intervention
• Part 2: Formulating Principles and Practice 
  • Start with Herbal Pairs
  • Amplification/Synergizing
  • Steering
  • Balancing