Clearpath School of Herbal Medicine

is dedicated to making herbalism a household word, and to educating a new and growing generation of community and clinical herbalists, through classes and programs that explore the profound richness and diversity of medicinal plants, human health, and the world we live in and share. Whether outdoors among the plants in the rural beauty of Western Massachusetts, or in the classroom, or (soon-to-be) on-line format, Clearpath School of Herbal Medicine offers comprehensive herbal and holistic knowledge and skills for personal well-being as well as for aspiring community and clinical herbalists.  

Clearpath School of Herbal Medicine embraces matters of human mind, spirit, and the emotional heart, in addition to an emphasis on physical anatomy and physiology. We also explore plants and their intrinsic personalities and virtues as deeply and conscientiously as we explore people. At CSHM we treat plants as much more than chemical constituents utilized for human needs — plants are whole, sentient beings, imbued with the spirit that moves through all things; this central Native American understanding is one that Clearpath School of Herbal Medicine strongly adheres to. Healing modalities that do not place spirit at the center – let alone downplay it or ignore it altogether – are hollow at their core and fall short of fully being able to help people on their healing journey.

Chris Marano’s educational philosophy behind Clearpath School of Herbal Medicine

As a teacher of human health and potential, herbal medicine, and Earth-stewardship, Chris brings nearly 40 years experience as a bonafide educator with bachelors and masters credentials from Columbia University (Pre-med major, Eastern philosophy and spirituality minor) and Columbia Teachers College (MA in sciences education), with over twenty and counting years teaching biology, anatomy-physiology, environmental studies and herbalism at the secondary school and university level (currently teaching ‘Topics in Herbalism’ in the Sustainable Foods and Living Program at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst). Clearpath School of Herbal Medicine has been teaching people interested in broadening and deepening their personal understanding of holism as well as educating and nurturing aspiring herbalists since 2000. Learn more about Chris’ educational philosophy and experience here.

Class offerings from Clearpath School of Herbal Medicine

Cultivating the Healer Within: Level 1 Class

A diverse and comprehensive set of theory and skills to help better understand humans and herbs. Cultivating tools, awareness skills, theoretical and hands-on learning, and different lenses for understanding, integrating, balancing and healing ourselves, and in so doing, building a solid foundation upon which to help others to do the same.

Cultivating the Healer Within is comprised of:

• Foundations of Chinese Herbal Medicine
• Foundations of Western Herbal Medicine
• Materia Medica
• Herbal Preparations
• Opening to the Wisdom of the Plant World
• Wildcrafting Immersion
• Seasonal Habitat, Herb & Sensory Awareness Walks
• Plant Attunement
• Clearpath Garden

Learn more about the Level 1 Cultivating the Healer Within, including descriptions of each component, by visiting this page now.

*Cultivating the Healer Within is a prerequisite for the Level 2 Class Cultivating Community Herbalism.

Cultivating Community Herbalism: Level 2 Class

Cultivating Community Herbalism interweaves tools and knowledge of Western, Chinese and Native American healing traditions and herbs to explore major health issues of our culture and time. The year-long flagship course offers essential skills and training for caring for and educating others about their health, and developing skills to become active community herbalists.

Cultivating Community Herbalism is comprised of:

• Principles and Practice of Herbal Medicine
• Materia Medica
• Diagnostic Skills
• Herbal Preparations
• Wildcrafting Immersion
• Seasonal Habitat, Sensory Awareness Walks
• Plant Attunement
• Clearpath Gardens

Learn more about the Level 2 Cultivating Community Herbalism, including descriptions of each component, by visiting this page now.

*Cultivating Community Herbalism is a prerequisite for the Level 3 Cultivating Clinical Herbalism.

Cultivating Clinical Herbalism: Level 3 Class

Cultivating real-time experience, honing skills, and gaining confidence as a practicing clinical herbalist. Learning through interaction and shared experience in a group setting with other practicing herbalists and real clients, all guided by Chris Marano. Over the course of a year, students will experience and improve health intake skills, bedside manner, diagnostic and communication skills, client relationship and follow-up, and will have opportunities to create wellness protocols and herbal formulas, and have access to a master herbalist’s experience, wisdom, and apothecary.

Cultivating Clinical Herbalism is comprised of:

• Advanced Clinical Herbal Practicum
• Materia Medica
• Diagnostic Skills
• Wildcrafting Immersion
• Seasonal Habitat Sensory Awareness Walks
• Plant Attunement
• Clearpath Gardens

Learn more about the Level 3 Cultivating Clinical Herbalism, including descriptions of each component, by visiting this page now.

Healthcare Services and Products

Clearpath Herbals healthcare service, as provided by Chris Marano and his staff, treats the entire person — the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies. The winning recipe is simple: Honoring clients and their health story, making challenging health concepts easy to understand, offering practical and inspirational guidance in areas of lifestyle, nutrition, and herbal medicines, and providing the very best in-house, custom-blended herbal remedies to help affect positive healing change.

Clearpath Herbals remedies and products are of the highest caliber harvested largely from Clearpath Medicine Gardens or gathered in their natural environments by a crew trained in the art of conscientious wildcrafting. Plants and mushrooms are transformed into potent herbal medicinals that constitute an apothecary of over three hundred tinctures (extracts), from which high-quality, custom-blended and stock formulas are made available to clients.