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Some of the topics
covered in this course include: |
Continuing Studies in...
Advanced Plant
Identification: We will spend time improving our identification
skills throughout the plants’ growth cycles and learning botanical
characteristics of plants that are specific to each family by which they are
grouped and classified includes plant morphology and plant anatomy.
Herbal Therapeutics: Learn clinical
applications of the most popular and some less popular herbs in relation to
various health conditions, a continuing study. We’ll learn some new herbs
we’ve not looked at before, and get a new look at some old friends.
Clinical & Case Studies: How to approach
peoples’ questions regarding their health and various methods of knowing how
to choose the appropriate herbs for the appropriate conditions.
Medicinal Actions of Herbs: A review of the
medical terminology assigned to describe the physiological effects of herbs
on the human body, with a look at known mechanisms of actions of specific
herbs that have been well-researched.
Plant Families: Learning how plants are
classified and grouped as related species and which plants belong to the
same families. How plants in the same families often have similar medicinal
actions and/or chemical constituents and how certain families also have
closely related constituents.
Botanical Research: A basic review of botany
and medical research pertinent to herbalists.
Using Field Guides: A valuable tool to help you
positively identify any unknown plant found in the wild; both Newcomb’s &
Petersen’s Field Guides will be used.
Field Botany: We’ll spend much time outdoors in
the field, learning the botany with the plants in front of us, journaling
and recording the plants in your area at home.
Plant Pressings of Families: We’ll be pressing
plants in class and at home. Each student will press several species from
the same family, observing similarities and differences between species.
Drawing Plants: Whether you’re an artist or
not, drawing a plant is a study that enhances our attention to the details
of descriptive plant characteristics, a tool to improve ID & botanical
knowledge.
Cosmetics & Bodycare: We’ll learn more about
natural cosmetic ingredients and get to play, making some different kinds of
bodycare products including lip glosses, body lotions, shampoos, etc.
Homeopathy: A study of the herbs and poisonous
plants that are used in homeopathy, their indications, how they are made,
dosages, etc. This will serve as an introduction to homeopathy, which is a
large study in of itself.
Aromatherapy: A deeper look into the essential
oils, classified by their medicinal properties and their chemical functional
groups. We’ll learn which plants share the same constituents and how the
oils are made, with a chance to make your own essential oils. We’ll also
discuss their role in perfumery and experiment with blending scents.
Nutritional Supplements: We’ll discuss the
popular non-herbal & non-vitamin/mineral supplements on the market, for
example melatonin, Sam-e, glucosamine chondroitin, NADH, shark cartilage,
etc.
Utilitarian Uses of Wild Plants: Learn some
other uses for the plants that grow around us (besides herbal medicines),
some have fibers that can be woven into baskets or rope, others make dyes,
timbers, wild foods, bedding, etc. A chance to learn to utilize them to
their full potential as have most indigenous peoples of the world.
History of Herbalism: Trace the roots of
herbalism through history from ancient to modern times.
Reading the Landscape: How to find what you’re
looking for when you need it, food, medicines... Field
Trips and more... We have several small trips planned including an
arboretum tour to identify trees, field botany trips to see specific flora,
etc.
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