Anatomy and Physiology
  This course will lay the foundation for an understanding of how plant medicines can effectively make changes in the body, supporting improved health for the client. Students will enter the anatomical and physiological world of the following systems through a multitude of techniques including: hands-on, lectures, videos and research. Among the systems covered are the immune system, muscular system, nervous system, reproductive system, digestive system, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, circulatory systems and the integumentary system.
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Materia Medica
  This is the who, what, when, why and how of Herbal Medicine class. We will be outlining more than 100 Herbal Medicines, discussing preferred forms and methods of their preparations, strengths, solutions, and the most common adult dosages. Other aspects of this class include: the chemical constituents of these herbs, therapeutic indications, contraindications and application.
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Internship in a Unique and Professional Herb Store
  This is one of the most exciting aspects of the entire course. It is here at the working Herb Store, "Bear Creek Herbs", located in downtown Silver City, that the student is able to tie information together that they have learned. Each student will work at the Herb Store on a rotation basis. The time spent at the Herb Store will provide the student with a wealth of experience in dealing with Herbal Medicine in real day to day situations. This internship is about learning to become a knowledgeable herbal guide for those seeking assistance in their healing by teaching them about herbs and dietary changes. How does a real Herb Store work? What does it take to make a successful Herb Store? What are the moral and legal aspects for a working Herb Store? How can you have a Herb Store and Clinic in the same setting? Hundreds of questions can be answered by the student as they gain a basic business sense during this unique experience.
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Plant Pharmacy
  This core course will immerse the student into the world of proper Herbal Medicine making. Students will learn to make herb teas , alcohol extracts, vinegars, liniments and oils, salves, suppositories, cough syrups, use of essential oils, and many other practical plant pharmacy techniques. Students will learn which application is best to use depending on the individual and the illness or injury.
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Communication and Healing Across Cultures
  In this course we will explore the many ways an Herbalist can communicate to a client. How does one use Herbal Medicine in today's society? What role does herbal medicine play in high-tech medicine? In this fast paced world we all live in, how do you integrate nature, herbal medicine, and dietary change? What are the many ways we communicate with each other? Why don't we communicate what we feel? This course takes place in the classroom as well as our working Herb Store environment where the art of communicating and interfacing with different cultures takes place. Students will gain an understanding of these and many other topics both in the classroom setting and during their apprenticeship at "Bear Creek Herbs" store.
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The Power of Talismans
  This is a mysterious and often overlooked topic. What is a Talisman? What are the role of Talismans in healing? Are they valid? Do you need them? We will discuss the history, use, and the role of talismans in healing. We will also discover how and why they may be important in healing.
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Holistic Herbal Medicine
  Learning to acknowledge , understand, and accept your strengths and weakness. Learning to see the Whole Person.... the Whole Planet.... the Whole Plant. This study is about seeing and learning to treat the whole - not just the parts. Emphasis is placed on learning to develop your intuition in your healing approach. Gathering the clues, feeling the plants, knowing the client and making eclectic decisions. Learning to use the least to achieve the most. This class combines information from everything else in the curriculum ...... plant gathering, medicine making, patient evaluation, materia medica and more, from the holistic perspective, to healing with herbal medicine.
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Business and Professional Practice Management
  This course helps to prepare the student for future success with Herbal Medicine. Whether the student will be in private practice or will manage and/or own a Herbal business they must know the day-to-day requirements of managing their own successful business. This course deals with regulations, basic advertising, promotion, bookkeeping, initial startup costs, business structure, taxes, and insurance needs that make for a successful business operation.
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Constitutional Herbal Medicine
  This course will further the concept of healing the whole person. Constitutional Herbal Medicine is a perspective which can be used to gain understanding about the integration of spirit, mind, emotions, and the physiological human being. Teaching about whole plant medicines for whole human beings. This includes learning to support and strengthen the whole person according to his or her nature.
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Client Interview and Assessment
  Here the student will learn how to interview and assess a client's health problem. Understanding that most health problems are genetic, environmental, mental, emotional - as well as physical - will help the student to learn how to ask the right questions. How much information is enough? Can I ask really personal questions? What are the client's expectations? What does my intuition tell me? Students will learn case taking skills through observation and by practicing on one another. This study is also know as Sherlock Holmes 101.
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Case Studies Review
  In this course the student will learn to explore specific case histories. Paying attention to the information given, blending intuition with knowledge, noting the effects, or lack of effects, of the herbs used. The physiologic and psychological aspects will be reviewed as well as goals and intentions of each herb recommended.
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Shamanism and the Ritual Use of Plants
  In this course we will explore the exciting world of Shamanic plants and how they can be used to enhance our relationship to nature. Students will learn how to use plants for purifying rituals, for deleting stress from their lives, and for opening their mind and spirit to the natural world. We will study the history of Shamanism from the past to the present. We will also explore why it is important to understand this aspect of Herbal Medicine . While it is vitally important that the student understand that many Herbal Medicines support the emotions and the body in healing, in this class we will be dealing with plants, and the ritual use of them, that support the health of the spirit and the mind.
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Herbal Traditions and Culture of the Southwest
  The Southwest is rich in Herbal Traditions. Many of the Herbal Medicines we will study have Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo traditions that date back hundreds or thousands of years. Students will learn how the use of these Herbal Medicines has survived through the years, and continue in use today. We will be specializing in the Hispanic and Native American Herbal Tradition. The student will learn the common traditional names as well as the traditional uses of many of the Southwestern Plants.
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Self Sufficiency and Survival Techniques
  The student will learn techniques in this course, that will increase their capacity for independence and self reliance. Students will delve into how to provide for themselves with what they find in nature. You'll explore water collection in the wild, fire making, edible plants, shelter building, and other aspects of self-sufficiency.
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Herbal Intuition
  The student is supported in recognizing, developing and honoring their intuitive self. How to combine intellect and instinct, to achieve a better understanding of how to use herbs, will be explored. Noticing our first impressions, checking out our hunches, honoring our feelings and validating our innate power to discern the true nature of a person, plant, or a disease will be discussed.
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Professional and Legal Issues
  What are the guidelines for cooperative professional relationships? The student of Herbal Medicine needs to know what constitutes "practicing medicine without a license". What services can Clinical Herbalist legally provide? What are the guidelines of professional behavior? What are ethical business practices and standards of conduct? This course will answer these and many other questions to help the student to develop a standard of professionalism, essential to a successful herbal practice.
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Hydrotherapy
  An introduction to the history, theory and practical application of water for healing. We will examine water treatments alone and with herbs, and whenever practical and possible, students will practice hands-on application of the therapies introduced. Topics include philosophy, principles and application of hydrotherapy, water/herbal therapeutics, indications and contraindications.
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Natural Healing
  This course looks at Self-Acceptance as the basis of all true healing. Considered in depth is how Self-Acceptance relates to the practitioner/client relationship, regardless of the modality the practitioner is utilizing. Special attention is directed towards the unseen role denial plays in a client's health. This course considers the role the practitioner plays as a facilitator in the clients process of assuming personal responsibility for his or her healing.
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Energetic Healing
  Healing can be assisted by recognizing , strengthening, developing and balancing the body's energy. We will explore techniques of grounding, centering, sensing and sending energy, and emotional and physical body-balancing. Students will become conscious of the energetic space they open in their lives for healing and how they can become responsible for what enters or leaves that space.
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The Emotional Body
  Healing the evolving emotional body, by understanding the role denial of it has in creating disease in the body, will be the focus of this course. Students will be introduced to a variety of subjects designed to enhance their own personal growth and healing process. The magic of finding emotional and physical balance in our hearts is sought through movement, understanding, sensory awareness, guided imagery, vocalization, group discussion and touch.
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Botany and Plant Identification
  Wholistic Herbal Medicine begins in the field. This course is designed to introduce and teach the student the elementals of plant identification, binomial classification, characteristics of toxic plants, plant collecting for identification, and other topics related to field botany. We will enter the domain of the plants, where the student will collect and press ten botanical specimens for the school Herbarium. We spend over 100 hours in the field in this class, learning to properly identify and collect many Herbal Medicines. We will travel to a variety of different ecosystems throughout the Southwest, collecting Herbal Medicines. Many of these field trips will be overnight, to several days in length. The goal in this course is to have the student become familiar with identification, collecting, and field usage of Plant Medicines.
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Ethical Wildcrafting
  This is an extension of the field program. This class will emphasize sustainable and ethical collecting of Wild Plant Medicines. The student will learn when, and how to collect herbal medicines without destruction to the ecosystem from which they came.
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Wild Edibles
  Students will be amazed at how well they can eat with little expenditure other than a good walk and a little energy spent picking plants. Gathering, eating, proper identification and usage, (raw or cooked) of many wild plant foods will be covered during the field time offered in the Herbal Program. The student can expect to learn which plants make excellent wild foods, and will be encouraged to make their own gourmet wild food recipes. The cooking of these wild foods will be done on our extended overnight field trips. We also will discuss the benefits and the importance of bringing wild foods into one's diet for health and healing.
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Nutrition
  "Food is the best medicine," and the wholistic foundation for good health. How we nourish our body plays an important role in our overall physical well being. An Herbalist works closely with a client's diet. This course will cover basic metabolism, the importance of food as medicine, organic foods, modern nutrition code, vitamins and mineral supplements , water intake, and the importance of water filtration. We will also discuss nutritional deficiencies and how to correct them through diet.
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Field Pharmacy and Field First Aid
  This class will show the student how to prepare fresh wild plants, as medicines, in the field. You'll learn how to make poultices, how to stop bleeding, treat a cough, and how to use fresh plants straight from nature to address many different types of field first aid problems. This is an exciting and liberating class because it teaches the student that no matter where they are in the world......as long as there are plants around....... and you know their uses.... you will always have a " green pharmacy" ready.
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Herbal First Aid
  "Surviving an Emergency." This class will cover the herbs and procedures for using herbs in emergency situations. Included in the topics covered are shock, bleeding, and respiratory breathing difficulties, and how to use Herbal Medicine to address these problems. Students will learn how to create their own Herbal First Aid Kit.
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Hygiene, Sanitation and Safety
  In an Herbal Practice, personal health, good grooming and a safe environment are assets that a client admires and are essential for your protection and that of the client. Instruction includes personal health and hygiene, appearance, sanitation, Universal Precautions, First Aid and CPR.
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Reflexology
  Students will learn how to access the entire body using specific finger and thumb techniques on the hands, feet and head. reflexology is based on the belief that certain areas on the feet and hands correspond to different parts of the body. Course includes history, zone theory, contraindications, therapeutic relaxation and self help techniques.
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Spinal Release
  Spinal Release is an approach in which the receiver is the recipient of gentle, rhythmic, non-intrusive rocking movement with pressure that increases the range of motion and flexibility. The rocking penetrates deep into the body, relieving mental and physical fatigue as well as chronic tension and pain.
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Intern Massage Participation
  After reaching a certain level of proficiency, the Massage Therapy Program students are assigned times to work in the College Clinic as a student therapists under the supervision of a Massage Therapy Instructor. Each Herbology student is required to receive two massages from students in the Massage Therapy Program. Participation in this experience is designed to increase the Herbal student's body awareness, provide growth experience for all the students participating and to facilitate group energy within the College.
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Pathophysiology
  This course will help the student to identify the nature of disease and injury, their causes and effects upon the human body, how and why they happen and what can be the Herbal approach towards healing. Diseases and injuries to the immune system, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and other systems will be covered. Some of the subjects covered include retro-grade viruses (Herpes, Shingles, etc.) Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Candidiasis, and HIV type viruses, common cold , headaches, bone repair, and arthritis.
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Clinical Evaluation
  After the student has reached a certain level of proficiency in the fundamental basics of Herbal Medicine they will begin to observe, and work with clients in a Clinic/Herb store setting under the supervision of a qualified Herbalist. They will learn to evaluate a client's condition, (without diagnosing) through a series of investigative observations and questions. This course will begin with the student becoming his, or her, first client.
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Confidentiality
  While working as an Herbalist you will have many clients who will discuss intimate details about their life and physical well-being with you. The importance of maintaining confidentiality will be discussed. This course will support you in learning to understand the honor - and duty- of keeping a client's trust. What is gossip? What is a health care worker's responsibility in this matter? What constitutes betrayal?
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The New Ethnobotany
  Ethnobotany is the study of the historical and cultural uses of plants by people for medicine, food, shelter, clothing, art, and more. The New Ethnobotanist of today focuses on how we too, can use plants like our Ancestors did. Not only for survival, but to reconnect us to the natural world. This class covers Essential Herbal Philosophy, tracing its past....to the present....and on to the future. What is our role in this New Ethnobotany?
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Herbal Body
  Throughout the centuries essential oils and herbs have had healing applications in the ancient traditions. Although rooted in ancient history, they can offer revolutionary new benefits to the practice and effectiveness of natural body care. Morning lab work will include making natural skin care, hair care, and body care products, utilizing essential and natural oils, clays, herbs, and salts. Afternoons in Herbal Body will find us immersed in the application of our natural products on fellow students.
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Cultivation of Herbs
  This course looks at all aspects of medicinal herb growing. Students will explore organic gardening techniques, soil preparation for planting, transplanting, weeding and cultivation by hand, monitoring plant growth, foliar feeding, dealing with insects and disease, watering, seeding, transplanting into pots and into the field, preparation of potting soil, use of cold frames, harvesting, drying, cleaning and storing, seed saving, and root digging. The 'classrooms' for this course are the outside garden at MNCNH, in the wild, and the gardens and greenhouse at 'Desert Woman Botanicals' near the Gila River.
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Traditional Chinese Medicine
  This introductory course will provide basic knowledge of the Eastern philosophy of healing and disease. Meridians and the five element theory as well as energetic functions of organs will be introduced. The concept of Qi ,the types of Qi and transformation of Qi will be covered. Students will learn how to incorporate the basic concepts of Chinese Medicine into massage therapy. Students will have a functional understanding of Meridian therapy and Acupressure.
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Hydrotherapy
  An introduction to the history, theory and practical application of water for healing. We will examine water treatments for the body, and whenever practical and possible, students will practice hands-on application of the therapies covered. Philosophy and principles of hydrotherapy, indications /contraindications. Herbal hydrotherapy applications will be taught.
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