Educational Resources

The Ranunculaceae family, also known as the Buttercup family, is not as common as some other families on the Colorado Plateau but is an especially interesting family. The herbal medicine from these plants tends to be strong; either a strong taste (acrid) or a strong action so a lower dose is often called for. These are powerful medicines and important additions to our materia medica in the right situation. Use with care and do your homework. These are medicinal: Goldenseal Black Cohosh Baneberry (Actaea rubra) has similar therapeutics to Black Cohosh Pulsatilla (Anemone) Clematis These are toxic - don't use […] See More

A question that is frequently asked regarding titles in the American herb community: Do the herbal studies offered at your school make me a Certified Herbalist? My Reply: Currently, there is no legal or official certification of herbalists or herbalism in the USA. Some schools and organizations offer a certificate upon completion of their programs. These certificates have meaning only to the giver or receiver of the paper. The certification label is often used for marketing purposes and is not an indication (either good or bad) of the quality of one's education. What this means is that anyone can call […] See More

Understanding how our brains function and learning ways we can support cognitive health is part of the longer courses at our school. The following links are resources to support the information shared during class. Brain Overview http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/B/brain.html Brain Anatomy http://www.mayfieldclinic.com/PE-AnatBrain.htm Alzheimers http://www.innerbody.com/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease Hypomania v Mania http://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/breakingbipolar/2010/08/what-is-the-difference-between-mania-and-hypomania/ Neurotransmitters http://www.brighthubeducation.com/science-homework-help/62633-neurotransmitters-in-the-brain/ Neurons http://www.brighthubeducation.com/science-homework-help/62839-function-and-structure-of-neurons-in-the-brain/ Synapse http://www.brighthubeducation.com/science-homework-help/109310-how-brain-synapses-work/#imgn_3 Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor - BDNF http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/03/30/8-ways-to-increase-bdnf-levels-brain-derived-neurotrophic-factor/ Beta Amyloid Plaque https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19679659 https://www.alz.org/braintour/plaques.asp See More

Botanical Name: Calendula officinalis Family: Compositae Common Names: Marigold, Pot Marigold These common names can be confusing and imprecise so always check the botanical name before using. Part Used for Medicine: Flower Habitat in Which it is Found/ Harvesting Season/ Special Considerations: Calendula is found only as a culitvated flower in the Southwest. It is generally considered to be a very easy flower to grow. It does best with improved soil and extra water. An annual, it re-seeds freely in the right conditions. Frequent picking of the flowers encourages more growth. If purchasing the dried flower, the deep orange-yellow color […] See More

The Rosaceae family, commonly known simply as the Rose family is one of the most important families for both the herbalist and forager to know. One of our very best nourishing heart tonics is in this family along with many edible fruits that are high in anti-oxidants. For the herbalist, plants in this family are sometimes referred to as YARFA (Yet Another Rose Family Astringent), a phrase coined by Michael Moore. He was right, these are dependably astringent and have many applications for that herbal action. This family is large and diverse enough to have sub-families. This article does not […] See More

I am pleased to share the plant research paper written by a graduate of the Foundations of Herbal Medicine program, Ellen Parish. It provides a thorough overview of the beneficial uses of this traditional herb. Enjoy! Goldenrod Research See More

Metabolic Syndrome (also known as Syndrome X or Insulin Resistance) is an increasingly common disorder in modern society. It is primarily due to easy access to poor quality carbs combined with a sedentary lifestyle. This condition, including a detailed herb - diet - lifestyle protocol, is addressed during the Advanced Topics in Herbal Medicine course. The links below have been gathered to support the class-based materials. Many of these links are to diabetic websites. The information is helpful to anyone who wants to lose excess weight, balance blood sugar or increase heart health. The relevance of these sites is most […] See More

In recent years, the issue of intestinal inflammation, commonly known as Leaky Gut Syndrome, has become a topic of much discussion and some controversy.      The protocol for Leaky Gut Syndrome is addressed in detail in our Advanced Topics in Herbal Medicine program. The following links have been gathered to support the information shared in class. These links include views from Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, mainstream western medicine and traditional western herbalism. Our hope is you will find these helpful in your ongoing work towards greater health and becoming a more skilled herbalist. An in depth article on this topic from […] See More

These links have been gathered to assist people in accessing more information on a variety of topics related to the Cardiovascular Health class that is part of the Advanced Topics in Herbal Medicine program. 1. A heart health-based E book from the blog of Chris Kresser. This is one of the better health blogs out there. It is not specifically geared to herbal medicine but gives quality heart-based information in many areas including saturated fat, cholesterol, low fat, metabolic syndrome and chronic inflammation. 2. Good heart healthy info from Rosalee. She has one of the best herb-based blogs and this […] See More