Welcome to Clearpath School of Herbal Medicine!
Herbalist education through a holistic approach with many lenses
We offer a diverse and engaging range of workshops, classes, courses and programs for herbal enthusiasts of all interest levels. Whether interested in herbal field and identification knowledge, gardening or wildcrafting, theoretical or hands-on, herbal knowledge for self and family, or programs to learn community or clinical herbalism, Clearpath School of Herbal Medicine has the herbalist education for you.
Flagship Herbalist Education Programs
Foundations of Western Herbal Medicine
Ten-class series. Offered in the fall. Available to the general public. Required of First-Level certificate path students. Foundations of Western Herbal Medicine both honors and interweaves the long-evolving healing traditions of Native American medicine and European-based herbal medicine. The goal of the course is to provide a solid foundation upon which to build a strong herbal practice, and includes diverse and effective tools for self-investigation and empowerment in order to grow as authentic human beings, as this is where healing wisdom begins.
- Overview of Western Herbalism, Comparison of Allopathy and Holism
- Native American philosophy
- Traditional and Modern Western Healing Philosophy
- Anatomy and Physiology, Health and Imbalance
- Diagnostics, Self Awareness, and Sensory Awareness Skills
- Essential Herbs
- Nutrition and Food as Medicine
Topics are divided into four main areas:
- Philosophy and Psychology
- Theories and Principles of Human Health:
- Tools and Principles of Western Herbal Medicine:
- Concepts and Tools for Self-Cultivation and Stewardship:
Foundations of Chinese Herbal Medicine
Ten-class series. Offered in the spring. Available to the general public. Required of First-Level certificate path students. This course explores the foundations of Chinese Herbal Medicine, making it accessible and practical for anyone interested in human health, and providing participants with the foundations necessary to move on to more advanced knowledge in the areas of herbalism and holistic healing. Designed for those wanting effective tools and relevant knowledge to provide for personal and family health care, and to pave the way for those working toward becoming community and clinical herbalists. Topics of herbalist education covered:
- Overview of Chinese Medicine, Comparison with Western Healing Tradition.
- Chinese Philosophy and Psychology
- Four Vital Substances, Eight Principles (Yin-Yang theory), Five Elements
- Organ Networks, Physiology, Health and Imbalance, External Pernicious Influences
- Diagnostics, Self Awareness, Sensory Awareness skills
- Essential Herbs
- Nutrition and Food as Medicine
Topics are divided into four main areas:
- Philosophy and Psychology:
- Theories and Principles of Human Health: Four Vital Substance, Eight Principle (Yin/Yang) theory, Five Elements, Ten Organ Networks.
- Tools and Principles of Chinese Herbal Medicine: Tongue and Pulse Analysis, Constitutional Types, Herbs, Chinese Nutritional Theory.
- Concepts and Tools for Self Cultivation and Stewardship: Self-investigation skills drawing upon Chinese philosophy and psychology.
Materia Medica
Medicinal herbal knowledge at the depth & breadth of experienced herbalists A Materia Medica course consists of three classes, each three hours long. Four Materia Medica courses run each year. Available to general public. Required of certificate path students at all three levels. Five herbs of Western and Asian herbal traditions, traditional and modern uses, scientific and folkloric wisdom for a diverse level of herbalist education.
- Plant Description, Location, Parts Used, Gathering Times
- Tastes, Energetics, Chemical Constituents
- Medicinal Uses: Western, Chinese, and Indigenous traditions
- Cautions, Contraindications, Interactions
- Preparations and Dosages