Fundamentals of Herbs & Plant Energies

This introductory semester is offered beginning March 28th and again on July 25th. Classes are held Wednesdays, 6-9 pm, at the Center for Vital Living and every other Saturday, 10 am- 2 pm, at Soulflower Botanical Sanctuary. In this 13-week, 65-hour course, you will learn life skills that can help you personally, professionally or with your family. We explore modern applications of a timeless tradition of working with the plant kingdom, using power point presentation, tactile learning, and hands-on medicine making classes in our herb laboratory. Topics covered include: Ayurveda and doshic considerations Wildcrafting and plant identification Medicine Making (Salves, Tinctures, oils, etc.) Herbs for men, women, children, & childbearing Herbal support for the systems of the body Natural Skin Care and Aromatherapy The Herbal Home Medicine Chest Mushrooms and wild foods Flower essences Prerequisites: none Cost: $600. Payment plans available. A $50 non-refundable deposit, which is applied to tuition, is required along with application This course serves as a prerequisite to the Traditional Program and Women?s Health Intensive. A certificate of completion is given at the end of class.

Wise Woman Fundamentals of Herbalism

In this unique three weekend program, we create a safe and sacred circle for women to connect deeply with the earth and themselves. Together, we take an in-depth journey into the world of edible and medicinal plants, meeting one weekend each month to observe the plants developing from spring to summer. Through this program, you will develop a circle of herbal allies. In the wise woman tradition, we don't do this by just memorizing facts. This program is an opportunity to create a personal relationship with the plants, the Earth, the Goddess, your intuition, and your own body. It is not only a knowledge base, but also a lifestyle: one of self-love, nourishment, compassion, and caring for the Earth. We harvest and make medicines together. Through workshops, discussions, and plant walks, you deepen your understanding of how to take health care into your own hands. You take home reading and hands-on assignments as homework to deepen your experience between the weekends. A certificate is awarded upon completion of the program. In these times, even herbal medicine is following in the footsteps of the pharmaceutical industry, becoming increasingly disconnected and removed from the source. Join Corinna in reweaving the ancient cloak of deep respect for the earth and our own bodies. Reclaim your birthright of knowing how to use the plants around you as food and medicine & loving yourself as a woman, body & soul. plant identification & wildcrafting making tinctures, infusions, poultices, oils, salves, and vinegars wild food harvesting & preparation the Wise Woman tradition & the truth about witches herbal first aid & herbs for every cycle of a woman's life nutrition & traditional diets communication with plant spirits Cost: $750 includes: tuition, course materials, camping, & meals; organic & delicious! Dates: 3 weekends; April 21 & 22, May 19 & 20, June 16 & 17 Wise Woman Week Long Immersion: An opportunity to enjoy this class in a week long intensive. Immerse yourself in the experience without the interruptions of daily life. Perfect for women out of state. Dates: July 29th-Aug 3rd

Traditional Herbalist Program

March 1st -November 8th Thursdays 6-9 pm, 18 Saturday& 2 Sundays 10 am-6 pm Students meeting all course requirements receive certification for 300 hours due to extensive home study A Nine Month Experiential Training This 260-hour course allows you to visit our herbal allies in a variety of ecosystems. From the early woodland wildflowers of spring, lush medicinal flowers of summer, to hardy roots of fall, immerse yourself in the full cycle of the Appalachian growing season. Advance your skill level by learning the art of integrative herbalism by understanding ancient Eastern assessment skills and selecting herbs appropriate for the whole person. Deepen your knowledge of nature?s universal principles as well as your own self- awareness. This course is designed for the student of Herbalism who desires to refine their practical skills. Hands-on classes in gardening, beekeeping and medicine making, and plant ID bring the world of holistic health to life. This program is appropriate for both the developing professional and those seeking greater attunement with themselves through the plant kingdom. Students are encouraged to develop their own definition of healing. We use meditation, dance, ritual, and sharing to promote personal empowerment. Students develop a clear understanding of their passions and career goals. Hands-on experience: Retain lifelong thrival skills by participating in the stewardship of Soulflower Botanical Sanctuary. Each student deepens their wisdom by experiencing the life cycle of a plant ally from placement to packaging. Through this process students learn Permaculture and organic gardening, plant guilds and companion planting, identification and usage of weeds, soil prep, composting, harvesting, seed saving, medicine making, and monitoring of plant growth Self-Healing: Provide long-term support for your own healing process through the use of herbs, cleansing, nutrition, and energy work. This class has a profound life changing effect on participants. Apply your expanding knowledge outside the classroom with creative homework that challenges and reinforces what you learn in class. Learn Through Community: A crucial part of the learning comes from the unique perspectives experienced within the group itself. Your intuition, sharing, and sense of community centered around wild medicines and sustainable living skills brings the study to life. Time spent in the woods and camping strengthens these bonds. Self-Healing: Provide long-term support for your own healing process through the use of herbs, cleansing, nutrition, and energy work. This class has a profound life changing effect on participants. Apply your expanding knowledge outside the classroom with creative homework that challenges and reinforces what you learn in class. Learn Through Community: A crucial part of the learning comes from the unique perspectives experienced within the group itself. Your intuition, sharing, and sense of community centered around wild medicines and sustainable living skills brings the study to life. Time spent in the woods and camping strengthens these bonds. Home study projects include: 100 wildflower herbarium, short papers, reading, case studies, oral presentation, tea formulation & medicine making Tuition: $2300 in advance, $2400 if making payments Herbal tea served at each class, wild foods prepared weekends.

Women?s Health & Doula Intensive

6 month, 200 hour in-depth study for women only, April 2 through September 24, 2007 Mondays 10-5:00 @ NCSHH, Plus 3 weekends @ Earthaven Ecovillage & Soulflower Botanical Sanctuary This 200-hour in-depth focus on herbal support for women?s health, and women?s ?mysteries?, balances traditional herbalism with emerging scientific knowledge.The program is appropriate for both the developing professional and women seeking greater attunement with themselves, their environment and their own bodies. Students receive certification, documenting their training as a Doula and Women?s Health Specialist. Women?s Health. Become familiar with health issues women face in each phase of their lives: menarche, mothering, and menopause. Learn "women's mysteries" necessary for empowering and facilitating you to serve women around health care, fertility management, and sexuality. What are ?Women?s Mysteries?? Women?s bodies reflect the wisdom and the cycles of the earth and the moon. Integrate intuition with practical understanding of this powerful place where body meets spirit through Earth ceremony, song, dance, and community sharing. What is a ?Doula?? A Doula, is trained to assist mother and baby in labor and postpartum, in a hospital or home setting (this is not to replace a midwife or doctor, but to supplement). The demand for Doula services increases rapidly as awareness of this vital supportive role grows. Tuition: $2100 if paid in advance, $2300 if making payments

Clinical Internship

Tuesdays 6-9 pm and 2 Saturdays/month 10-3pm November 27th -April 22nd This class is designed for the seasoned student of Herbalism that desires to study in a clinical setting. NCSHH has teamed with The Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine to offer students the supervision in which to learn how to educate people on the various ways herbs can enhance their lives. This 4-month, 135-hour internship begins with intensive lectures that prepare the student to meet with clients and address their health concerns. Herbalists will acquire the experience and confidence to enable them to initiate a successful clinical career. It is a unique and rare opportunity to further one?s knowledge while serving the community Class topics include Human Sciences, Materia Medica/ Therapeutic Herbalism, Pharmacognosy, Eastern Constitutional Diagnostics, Clinical nutrition, Clinical skills, and Herbal Livelihoods. The remainder of the course will be spent in NCSHH?s free herbal clinic. Students will begin by observing CoreyPine Shane, clinical herbalist of over 10 years and director of BRSHM, in consultations. Students will then interview clients with the aid of the instructor and classmates. Next, students will be assigned clients to do follow-up consultations with and share their findings with the class. Lastly, students will meet clients on their own time and discuss their experience in classroom roundtables. Students will be required to commit several hours to home study assignments and complete a project in the community. Class size is very limited to ensure intimacy; students interviewed in order of application. Cost: $1400.