Academy of Scottish Herbalism

Academy Of Scottish Herbalism
Intermediate Course Syllabus

 Text book:
Edible And Medicinal Plants In Wild And Not So Wild Places
 by Steve Brill  

Comprising 126 hours of tuition, completion qualifies a student to dispense, perform light manufacturing, propagate & grow plant starts, plan & care for medicinal gardens, assist with plant research projects

Intermediate Level –Second Trimester

April 18-June 11,  2006        90% attendance is required

Comprising 126 hours of tuition, completion qualifies a student to additionally dispense, perform light manufacturing and to propagate and grow plant starts. This is a prerequisite to the advanced level. A score of 85% or better in testing on the introductory course work is required to enter this level of study.

The Intermediate trimester of the course includes:

Botanical Pharmacy; Intermediate medicine making processes and procedures; practical knowledge and skills in making tincture extracts and therapeutic use oils using dried plant materials, making glycerite extracts, crafting respiratory syrups, medicinal bath salts, powders, lip balms and laundry vinegars & bags, sweet bags & potpourri. Processing of extracts, infused oils & honeys. Intermediate level styles and traditions of herbal formulating, Ingredient measurement and measurement conversion.

Presentation, packaging and merchandising; independent packaging design assignment and presentations. Effective self promotions.

Materia Medicas; in depth discussion of research on the twenty-one plants of the Intermediate trimester. Observation of the relationship between Plant chemical constituents and plant actions. Tasting and experience of each plant. Profiles on thirteen fixed carrier oils and their use in Herbalism & healing.

Therapeutic Applications; herbal preparations and protocols for health concerns requiring intermediate level knowledge. Adjunct healing using nutrition and the actions of vitamins and minerals on various body systems and functions. Utilizing herbs for nutrition and nutrition for healing.

Human Anatomy and Physiology; Intermediate level for the Herbalist.

Understanding Technical Terms; of the Herbalist including Intermediate level medicinal actions and defining terms of herbal preparation.

Herbal botany; lectures and plant identification walks with keys to plant families and wild plant community observations.

Wildcrafting; ethics, selection, preserving sustainability and insuring health of plant stands and plant communities. Moon phase harvesting observances & wild propagation ethics. Harvesting, drying and storing the twenty-one plants of the intermediate trimester.

Gardening; Composting; structures, components & techniques. Choosing, planting and caring for a medicinal tree. Selection, handling & maintenance of tree care tools. soil and growing requirements for the twenty-one plants of Intermediate trimester. Planning and planting a Hedgerow garden. 

History & Philosophy; Ancient and modern Scottish Herbalist history. Ethno-botany, animism and mystical belief toward the natural world and healing processes. Culture specific meditation techniques for healing and plant research. Gaelic hospitals, monastic sites & physic gardens; their structure, contents and philosophy. Up to date legalities of words used in Herbalism and how to legally say what you mean. Recognizing intellectual property rights and protecting your own. The must-have books and resources to build an Herbalist’s library.