The Living Herbalist Course Study Guides

The course material is designed to be self directed, but there are tutors at the school throughout the week if students feel they need some extra support.

A4 Study File (10 modules)

Module 1 - History of Herbalism

This valuable and interesting module gives an introduction to herbalism and its history, bringing you right up to the 21st century and the work that herbal organisations in the UK (and Europe) are doing in order to further gain recognition at a national level by all healing organisations.

Module 2 - Botany & Horticulture / Making a Herbal

This is an initial exploration of Botany and Horticulture covering the Latin names and groupings of plants, discussions on; organic and wild crafted herbs and processing herbs both commercially and on a smaller scale. This module will also help you prepare an accurate herbal which not only will be a wonderful and exciting opportunity for a 12 month study of herbs (and an excellent excuse to play and commune with nature!), but also for correctly identifying and learning in more depth about herbs that grow around you.

Module 3 - Basic Plant Chemistry & Materia Medica

The plant chemistry taught at this level provides you with basic knowledge of the contents and actions of a small range of chemical constituents commonly found in all plants, it helps us understand why certain plants are so medicinally potent.
A materia medica is a list of plants used by a herbalist. The School has a list of some 200 herbs that students will become familiar with in varying depths to enable them to treat a variety of simple conditions.

Module 4 - Nature & Ecological Awareness

This module covers the where and how of plant collection. It takes account of the preservation of the world's flora, the need and rights of indigenous people. Also the issue of wild crafting versus organic and cultivated, along with other matters which will affect your decisions about collecting and buying herbs.

Module 5 - Basic Preparation of Herbs

This module contains practical information which will provide the opportunity to discover and use skills which you can practice in your own home. All you need is enthusiasm and a kitchen!
You will learn how to; make herbal teas and decoctions, tinctures, syrups, ointments, lotions, herbal oils and waters, herbal powder mixes for poultices and talcs and much more. All of which will be very useful to you and your family for internal and external use.

Module 6 - Food & Nutrition

This module is intended to encourage a reappraisal of food nutritionally, environmentally and for healing. Viewing herbs and food as medicine is a very old concept and these ideas are revived and brought back to life in a very vibrant and tactile way that will appeal to everyone be they young or old.
It covers many important areas from digestion to blood sugar levels as well as specific information about organic foods, flavours and their benefit to the body. It also discusses the main traditional areas of food consumption.

Module 7 - Cleansing & Detoxification

In this module the emphasis is on safe, steady detoxification, particularly for the liver, kidneys and colon. The body is able to self heal by expelling excess toxins, this can be achieved by performing these programmes.
You are encouraged to do all these cleanses for yourselves, with assistance from one of our qualified herbal practitioners who will act as a mentor and provide support by phone. The herbal material you will need in order to undertake these cleanses will be provided.

Module 8 - Natural Healing

This module focuses on the gentle use of natural healing methods to prevent and treat imbalances of body, mind and soul. It includes such methods as massage, water treatments (hydrotherapy), skin brushing, meditation, movement of the body and breathing exercises. You can achieve greater energy levels, whole body rejuvenation and reduce stress through very simple, everyday activities that can be carried out inexpensively and easily within the home.

Module 9 - Immunity, Common Ailments & Herbal First Aid

This module pulls together the concepts and information contained in the rest of this course. It highlights the simplicity, beauty and importance of combining herbs, food and natural healing practices together to form a successful and wholistic treatment programme.
It discusses in detail the layout of the immune system and its importance in the prevention of imbalances within the body; common ailments such as constipation, cystitis, coughs, hay fever and pre-menstrual syndrome which are examined with safe, simple remedies for their resolution and continued balance.
The final section of this module is dedicated to safe, simple first aid remedies.

Module 10 - Materia Medica

Instructions on making your own materia medica with a large selection of herbal pictures for you to identify and profile.