Our courses cover the basic concepts of Western Herbalism that can be applied to the various different herbs found world wide. We do also cover herbs from all over the world in our courses including many herbs that are used as culinary herbs such as ginger, turmeric, rosemary, basil, cayenne, cinnamon, black pepper, and more that are typically readily available globally. Through your learning with us you will develop the tools you need to study any herbs beyond what is covered in the courses. So if there is a plant local to you that is not covered in the course, you will have the knowledge you need through our courses to study that plant!
We offer four individual online foundational courses - Introductory Herbal Course, Intermediate Herbal Course, Business Herbal Course, and Advanced Herbal Course. You can take each of them individually, or we have also bundled them into the various Paths at a discounted price. These are work-at-your-own pace online courses, wherein you take a quiz at the end of each unit to progress to the next unit. The workload varies from course to course, and is based on how much time and effort the individuals puts into our suggested projects and studying for the quiz.
The Introductory Course is the best place for beginners because it begins with the basics of medicine making and wildcrafting, anatomy, introduces you to many many plants, covers common discomforts for adults and children, and discusses the overarching holistic approach of herbalism. You can preview a sample lesson from the Introductory Course here and a course outline here.
The Intermediate Course reviews basic concepts in the first unit and then dives in deeper, working through body systems and discussing the herbs; their actions and energetics; their safety and side effects; in-depth coverage of anatomy and physiology; and guidance for herbal formulation. You can view an outline for the Intermediate Course here.
The Business Herbal Course is geared toward students who want to start or maintain an herb-focused business. A step-by-step guide to starting an herbal business, the course is filled with lessons on sourcing herbs, Good Manufacturing Practices, labeling requirements, starting an herbal practice, creating a brand and maintaining an online presence, and plenty of advice from herbal entrepreneurs of all stripes. You can view an outline for the Business Herbal Course here.
And finally the Advanced Herbal Course is geared towards those with a solid foundation in herbalism who are interested in advanced level studies and may be working toward becoming a professional/clinical herbalist. It provides the knowledge and encourages the critical thinking skills needed to turn to the daily and/or therapeutic use of plants to support wellness and correct imbalance.
Students in our courses also have access to a vibrant Herbal Academy community page on Facebook so you can interact with peers and teachers. Upon completion of any of our foundational courses, you'll receive a certificate of completion that states you've completed the course under the direction of the Herbal Academy.
We have not gone through the accreditation process in the United States or abroad, partly because in the United States there is no licensure for herbalists and no governing body overseeing herbalist education/certification. Other countries have various standards for the practice of herbalism and education of herbalists, so we recommend becoming familiar with the requirements in your country.