Master Herbalist Diploma Program

The Master Herbalist Diploma Program is comprised of a series of courses relating primarily to the field of Herbology and its many applications. Graduates of this program will attain extensive herbal knowledge, together with a comprehensive understanding of the functions of the human body and the effects of single and combined herbs and their modes of action. Students will also learn methods of assessing current health status and administering and monitoring the effectiveness of appropriate herbal remedies. The Master Herbalist program also provides course work in complementary healing modalities including Traditional Chinese Medicine and Traditional Ayurvedic Medicine. Practice in botany, plant identification, wildcrafting and medicine making is also included.

Students who undertake the Master Herbalist Diploma Program have the option of completing course work through correspondence or in-class, on a full-time or part-time basis. Please refer to the online store to look-up courses, including their prices, in correspondence or classroom format (only the current semester courses are listed). The College intends to make all required program courses available in a distance learning format (with the exception of 'hands on' courses) so the list of correspondence courses will expand. Those program requirements considered ‘hands-on’ include Botany & Plant Identification, Herbal Pharmacy, Farm Project (Spring & Fall), and Wildcrafting (Spring & Fall). These courses must be fulfilled through Wild Rose College unless students can locate comparable courses in their area. Any students wishing to fulfill Clinical Practicum hours will be expected to perform these through the Wild Rose Wholistic Clinic. Students considering classroom courses to fulfill the Master Herbalist program should estimate $9,000 plus GST in course fees. This amount can be reduced when correspondence courses are taken in place of classroom courses.

Master Herbalist Program

YEAR 1

Semester 1	Semester 2
Introductory Biology & Biochemistry**	Herbology II**
Botany & Plant Identification	Anatomy & Physiology**
History of Herbal Medicine*	Nutrition I
Herbology I**	Herbal Pharmacy
Research Skills*	Farm Project (Spring)

* Courses that are now available by correspondence. **Courses that are now available by correspondence and on-line.

COMPLETION OF YEAR ONE EARNS ‘PRACTICAL HERBALIST’ DESIGNATION. NO ELECTIVE COURSE WORK OR THESIS REQUIRED.

YEAR 2

Semester 1	Semester 2
Iridology*	Essential Pathology *
Traditional Ayurvedic Medicine*	Western Materia Medica II *
Western Materia Medica I*	Nutrition II*
Farm Project (Fall)	Traditional Chinese Medicine
Wildcrafting I	Wildcrafting II
36 Elective Hours	Thesis Project I
100 Hours Clinical Practicum

* Courses that are now available by correspondence. **Courses that are now available by correspondence and on-line.

COMPLETION OF YEAR 1 & 2 EARNS ‘MASTER HERBALIST’ DESIGNATION. 36 HOURS OF ELECTIVE COURSE WORK AND THESIS REQUIRED. CLINICAL PRACTICUM HOURS OPTIONAL FOR M.H. DIPLOMA.

For Current Course and Semester Costs Click Here (PDF)

Program Courses

The following is a list of the required program courses and their intended delivery schedule. Please note that it is NOT mandatory for students to fulfill all courses in this order (ie. Herbology I before Nutrition I), but it is preferred that students complete year one courses prior to taking year two courses. If there is sufficient demand, the College will offer first term (Fall term) courses again in the Winter/Spring term allowing students to commence program studies in either term. Please note that the Master Herbalist Program is the first two years of the Clinical Herbalist Program. Students who wish to continue on to complete the Clinical Herbalist diploma are free to do so.

INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY:

This introductory course is an overview of basic concepts such as inorganic and organic chemistry, cellular function, chemical and biological evolution, and ecology. This course is currently being re-written for correspondence and will be available in the new year.

BOTANY & PLANT IDENTIFICATION:

Botany and plant identification are absolutely essential skills in the repertoire of clinical herbalists. This course provides an overview of plant nomenclature and taxonomy, as well as plant structure, morphology and anatomy. This class will also show you how to use a plant key. This is a hands-on course and will not be available in a distance learning format.

HISTORY OF HERBAL MEDICINE:

This course is an anthropological overview of the origins and development of herbal medicine all over the world, to modern times.

HERBOLOGY I:

Folklore and modern herbal research combine in this exceptionally complete course – the cornerstone of the diploma programs. Learn basic botany for identifying plants, review each body system’s function and design, and discover herbal formulas for the treatment of each system. Both the novice and the studying practitioner will benefit from this course. It provides essential groundwork for practice and practical information for self-treatment. Also available in correspondence format.

HERBOLOGY II (Pharmacognosy):

In this advanced course, the chemical properties of herbs are discussed, as well as their responsibility for the therapeutic and nutritional values. Expanded knowledge is presented on the reasons for various biological effects of herbs with up-to-date research material. The energetics and alchemy of botanicals is also reviewed. Also available in correspondence format.

RESEARCH SKILLS:

This course is designed to introduce to the student the research skills needed by a professional herbalist, including research methods, presentation, and memory and concentration skills. Included as well is an overview of research tools available on the world-wide-web, and a review of the important texts and academic journals most commonly used by herbal researchers.

IRIDOLOGY:

Iridology is the science of assessing the status of bodily health by examining the iris of the eye. Discovered in Europe in the 19th century, it was brought into practical clinical usage in the 1940’s by Dr. Bernard Jensen. Students will learn the technique of identifying the presence of inflammation, its degree of severity, inherent body strengths and weaknesses, drug accumulations, infections, nutritional deficiencies, poor circulation, tension, toxemia, and acidity levels. Photographic slides are used extensively. Also available in correspondence format.

HERBAL PHARMACY:

This course is a thorough review and practical exposition of herbal remedy preparation, including bolus, infusion, decoction, infused oil, salve, liniment, cream, pessary and suppository, fomentation, bath, powder, pill, capsule, maceration, percolation, fluid extract, and spagyric tincture. Students will have the opportunity to practice the skills they have learnt under direct supervision. This is a hands-on course and will not be available in a distance learning format.

WILDCRAFTING I & II:

This course introduces the basic concepts of ethical and sustainable wildcrafting, as well as orientation and map-reading techniques, data collection, and harvesting methods. This is a hands-on course and will not be available in a distance learning format.

FARM PROJECT (Spring & Fall):

This course is an introduction to the basic methods of sustainable agriculture, including soil preparation and amendments, planting, composting, and harvesting. This is a hands-on course and will not be available in a distance learning format.

ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY:

This course is a comprehensive review of the major physiological systems of the body and an introduction to anatomical terminology and surface anatomy. This course will be taught over two semesters. This course is currently being re-written for correspondence and will be available in the new year.

ESSENTIAL PATHOLOGY:

This course provides an overview of basic pathological concepts, including cell injury, inflammation, repair, regeneration and fibrosis, immunopathology, neoplasia, developmental disease, hemodynamic disorders, environmental and nutritional pathology, and infectious and parasitic disease.

TRADITIONAL AYURVEDIC MEDICINE:

This course provides an overview of the theory and practices of TAM, including the Five Element theory (panchabuthas), humoral and structural theories (tridosha and sapla dhatu), constitution (prakriti), daily and seasonal regimens (dinacharya and rutacharya), dietetics, pharmacology (dravyguna), the causes of disease (nidana), diagnostics (pariksha), and the principles of treatment.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE:

This course provides an overview of the theory and practices of TCM, including the Yin-Yang theory, the Five Elements, the nature and function of qi, blood, and the body fluids, the functions of the internal organs, the causes of disease, diagnostic techniques, and principles of treatment.

WESTERN MATERIA MEDICA I & II:

A review of the fundamental therapeutic approaches of Western herbal medicine, and a review of the medicinal plants contained in its material medica, including remedy preparation, formulation, dosage, indications and contraindications.

NUTRITION I:

This course provides an overview of macronutrients, micronutrients and phytochemicals utilized by clinicians in the treatment of disease. This course is currently being re-written for correspondence and will be available in the new year.

NUTRITION II:

This course is a review of the clinical application of dietetics and nutritional supplementation. This course is currently being re-written for correspondence and will be available in the new year.

THESIS:

Students must complete a 5-7 page monograph on any herb not covered in Western Materia Medica I and II, by the end of the second year of course work.

Details of the Master Herbalist Diploma program are subject to change.

April 2006