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Year 2: Therapeutics

Pathophysiology 90 hours
Review of imbalances in the human physiology from an herbalist’s perspective. Lectures will explore disease states within the context of the health of the whole being. Focus will be on conditions relevant to herbal practice, and how to recognize when referral is necessary. Particular emphasis will be placed on balancing a modern biochemical understanding of pathology (microscopic – tissue level and macroscopic – organ level) with more traditional perspectives (energetics and traditional tissue states). Students will research and present information on conditions of their choice.

Herbal Therapeutics/Considerations for Special Populations I 90 hours
An overview of practical strategies for addressing pathologies in the human system using herbal preparations, nutritional approaches, and lifestyle suggestions. The class will not only review generally accepted standards of herbal practice for specific conditions, but also explain how to tailor herbal formulas to individual constitutions, assess dosage and formulation requirements, and make recommendations for particular populations (such as children, elders, and pregnant women).

Herbal Preparations II 20 hours
Review of basic herbal pharmacy (tinctures and extracts, teas, hydrosols, powders, salves, oils, homeopathic preparations, flower essences, compresses and poultices) and exploration of more advanced techniques for herbal preparations (percolations, emulsions and creams, gels, hydrotherapy, elixirs, syrups, cordials, boluses and suppositories, candies and cough drops, oxymels, medicinal baths and steams). Students will craft and present their preparations at the annual medicine show.

Pharmacology & Formulation 20 hours
An understanding of the synergy and relationship between plant actions and constituents, including a deeper exploration of plant chemistry. Students will learn to craft a safe, effective, and well-balanced formula from the materia medica, drawing on formulation theories from various herbal traditions.

Applied Energetics II/Traditional Constitutional Assessments 50 hours
Continued exploration of the ideas introduced in Energetic Systems (year 1), including detailed review of the models presented by Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda and Sheldon (ectomorph, endomorph, mesomorph). Practical instruction will include tongue, pulse, face and body assessment techniques from a variety of perspectives. Students will be expected to document a minimum number of individual practice assessments.

Practitioner Skills/Rapport 50 hours
Training in the basic skills of a clinical practitioner. Practical instruction will include the intake form and process, record keeping, documentation of assessment and therapeutic protocol, and scheduling. Experience-based classes will teach how to develop rapport with clients and work within their worldview while maintaining professional boundaries and a heart-centered practice.

Ethics / Legal Considerations 20 hours
An exploration of the ethical and moral considerations relevant to the healthcare field, and specifically to health educators such as herbalists. The class will discuss the legal status of herbalism as a therapeutic modality and emphasize concepts such as confidentiality, informed consent, scope, and professionalism.

Materia Medica II 50 hours
Continued review of fifty additional botanical medicines, including: botany, harvesting, identification, preparation, dosage, indications and contraindications, phytopharmacology, energetics, historic and modern use, sustainable use, and relevant research. Students will research and prepare personal monographs.

Herbal Safety 10 hours
Covers the safety concerns relevant to using herbs with specific populations, such as pregnant and nursing women, children, and elders, as well as those with particular health conditions. Students will also be given the tools to critically examine the claims for herb-drug interactions commonly found in the media and to evaluate their relevance to clinical work. An understanding of the physiological basis for interactions and an ability to assess the likelihood of an interaction will equip the student for safe and responsible practice.

Research Skills 10 hours
An overview of research, collection, and citation skills needed for ongoing study and development, continuing education credits, and journal publication. Students will explore Internet and print resources, prepare short articles on personal research reviews, and practice skills essential to the research component of other classes.

Nutritional Supplementation 40 hours
From basic vitamins to cutting edge products, an exploration of ways supplements can be useful adjuncts to a holistic protocol. This class will give students a good understanding of the bioavailability of various forms of nutrients and the uses of supplements like CoQ10, fish oil, alpha-lipoic acid and more.

Intro to Clinic/Observation & Roundtable 60 hours
Observing clinical herbalists at work in the free clinics and their private practices, including on-location clinics. The course will include ongoing case review and roundtable discussion, and students will participate in research and protocol formulation for ongoing cases.

Field Experience 25 hours
Group journey to a location of particular botanical and herbal interest (3 days). This immersion will give everyone an opportunity to practice, alone and as a group, the skills of ecology, field botany, wild-harvesting, direct plant communication, and field medicine learned in their first 18 months of school. Students will create a presentation based on their experiences for the rest of the VCIH community.

Year 2 Total: 525

Back to the VCIH 3-year program; back to current classes

how to apply