Buds & Blossoms Intermediate Herbology
Welcome budding herbalist!
Get ready to dive into the fascinating and in-depth world of plants interacting with people! This course is designed for aspiring herbalists who have a basic level of training and who want to deepen their knowledge and explore the clinical side of herbalism.
Buds & Blossoms is a comprehensive, intermediate-level program that will put prepare you to see clients. We will meet once a week for 40 weeks to explore how plants can be used to address imbalances, both energetic and physical.
Weekly Live Classes: Wednesdays from 4:30-7:00pm
In between our weekly meetings there are pre-recorded lectures and herbal allies that you will work with.
In addition to our weekly virtual sessions, we also have 4 in-person weekends throughout the year, culminating in our end of year retreat & final exam
Time commitment = 6-8 hours/week
What you will learn
By the end of the course, you will have a deeper understanding of herbal energetics, actions, therapeutic strategies, and how to combine plants in elegant and effective ways to bring balance to our physical forms. You will also gain valuable knowledge on how to assess your clients, conduct an interview and formulate custom herbal protocols for individuals. Whether you are curious to learn how to help friends and family with common ailments or are wanting to incorporate herbs into a clinical practice, this course will provide you with the skills & information you need to cultivate your inner herbalist.
Completion of this foundational training is acknowledged by a Certificate of Completion at the end of the 9 months (90% attendance + passing grade on all tests is required to receive the certificate). The certificate represents 320 hours of herbal study in the areas of phytochemistry, anatomy & physiology, pathophysiology, herbal therapeutics and materia medica.
Curriculum
- The production & management of vital energy
- Energetic Herbalism & the Six Tissue States
- Constitutional assessments
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Diet & the Energetics of Food
- Natural Detox protocols
- Materia Medica of 108 herbal allies
- Root causes of Dis-ease
- Tongue, Pulse & Facial Diagnostics
- Phytochemistry for herbalists
- Herb & Drug Interactions
- Pathophysiology and corrective therapies for common ailments
- The Art of Intake
- Formulation techniques
See the full syllabus below
- Stool Analysis (98:56)
- Digestive System A&P (78:01)
- Energetics of Food & Principles of Healthy Diet
- Digestive System Pathologies pt. 1 (141:32)
- Digestive System Pathologies pt. 2 (123:39)
- Digestive System Pathologies pt. 3 (140:12)
- Digestive System Pathologies pt. 4 (59:06)
- Digestive System Pathologies pt. 5 (147:50)
- Digestive System Materia Medica
Your instructors
Founder, Director & Primary Instructor at Sacred Garden School:
My name is Ashley Davis. I am a clinical herbalist, permaculturist, and co-founder of Tonic Herb Shop in Shepherdstown, WV.
I took my first herbal medicine class while still in college in Vermont, studying anthropology & visual art. I immediately fell in love with the herbs and connections that I found between gardening, medicine-making, art & spirituality.
After college I moved to Charlottesville, VA where I continued to study Permaculture and herbal medicine. I completed a 3 year clinical training program with Kat Maier through Sacred Plant Traditions.
After moving to WV, I began to see clients, teach workshops, and make herbal products from my home. I completed a 500 hr certification in Ayurvedic Nutrition through the Joyful Belly Institute in 2014. And in 2016, I opened Tonic Herb Shop along with my intrepid partner, Carmela Cesare. From here, I continue to deepen and expand my knowledge through interacting with customers, seeing clients, teaching, writing, attending conferences and formulating products.
I have over 13 years of clinical and teaching experience. The Sacred Garden School is now in its 6th year, and the teachings continue to grow and deepen with each passing year.
Kat Maier, RH (AHG)
Kat is one of our distinguished guest teachers who you will have the pleasure of learning from.
Kat is the founder and director of Sacred Plant Traditions, a center for herbal studies in Charlottesville, VA. She has been in clinical practice for over 30 years and is the author of Energetic Herbalism, founder of the non-profit called Botanica Mobile Clinic, and has been an Earth advocate and teacher of herbal wisdom for over three decades.
Geo Derick, MSc, RH (AHG)
Geo is another one of our incredible guest lecturers who graces us with her knowledge and wisdom.
Geo is founder of Geo‘s Joy Herbal Medicine, LLC. She is also a founding owner of the Sanctuary Wellness Center in Berryville, VA. Geo received her Master’s degree in Herbal Medicine from Tai Sophia Institute (now the Maryland University of Integrative Health) in 2008 and has been a practicing clinical herbalist ever since. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins University.
Becca Daye,
clinical herbalist, nurse practitioner & midwife.
Becca has been studying herbal medicine for almost 3 decades, while also practicing in the world of allopathic medicine and focusing on women‘s health. She is currently the Director of Women’s Mental Health at Berkeley Medical Center in Martinsburg, WV and specializes in perinatal mental health. She teaches the women’s reproductive health classes to the Foundations & Intermediate classes at Sacred Garden School, and this year will be co-teaching the clinical practicum with Ashley.