Green Medicine: A 4-Month Training in Herbalism

Led by Peeka Trenkle, with Drew DiVittorio, Dipl (NCCAOM), and David Winston

Herbal medicine has been in use for thousands of years, each culture having its own unique system based on the herbs of its bio-region. In the last hundred years, we have steadily moved away from our ability to use herbs in a daily way for nourishment and healing, and have all but lost the ability to use herbs medicinally for treatment of acute illness. We no longer cultivate physic gardens in which families used to grow their own medicine or keep recipe books of remedies that healed illnesses in our communities. Foraging of wild plants for food has also largely been lost as a skill. Industrialization has led to a fear of nature, and several generations have now grown up believing that natural and herbal remedies are quaint but impotent and that pharmaceutical drugs are the only effective treatment for illness. All the work of healing has been delegated to the “experts,” both mainstream and alternative.

This course will give you a comprehensive overview of Western herbs for medicinal and nutritional uses, and our guest speakers will broaden the scope by presenting in-depth information from other various cultures. We will cover each of the body’s systems, the anatomy and physiology of each system and its functioning. You will learn about herbs for tonification, herbal treatment programs for illnesses relating to each system and how to prevent illness, promote vitality and maintain balance in the body through the use of herbs.

We will also cover the history of Western herbalism and how we got to where we are now, and the legal considerations of being an herbalist. In addition, we’ll discuss the use of herbs in an ecological context so that we can wisely choose the most effective herb and not be using endangered or threatened species.

The herbal materia medica in this course primarily focuses on herbs from the northeast United States, including a few from other regions of North America, in order to foster a bio-regional understanding: Our region can, in fact, produce all the plants necessary for our healing.

Note: A certificate of completion will be given upon completion of course requirements.   There will be a $30 materials fee for course manual, payable to the instructor at the first session.

COURSE SCHEDULE
A 4-Month Training
April 1-July 29, 2013
plus field trip on June 9
Monday sessions (all led by Peeka Trenkle) will be from 7:45–9:45pm.
Saturday & Sunday workshops will be from 10am–5:30pm.
The field trip will be from 11am–4:30pm.

A Brief History of Western Herbalism
Monday, April 1

Basic Chinese Diagnostic Techniques
with Drew DiVittorio
An introduction to Chinese diagnostic techniques including pulse taking, tongue and complexion examinations, and reading symptoms and signs.
Sunday, April 7

Preparations & Dosages
Monday, April 15

The Digestive System and Liver
Monday, April 22

Herbal Pharmacy: Making Herbal Products
A one-day hands-on workshop with Peeka Trenkle in making extracts, salves, balms, poultices, etc. There will be an $8 materials fee.
Sunday, April 28

The Respiratory System
Monday, April 29

Herbal Energetics
David Winston will discuss simple techniques for matching herbal qualities with the energetics of an individual’s symptoms, using concepts from Chinese and Cherokee medical systems.
Sunday, May 5 (Ends at 5pm)

The Nervous System and Brain
Monday, May 6

The Endocrine System
Monday, May 13

The Circulatory System: Blood and Lymph
Monday, May 20

The Skin
Monday, June 3

Field Trip with Peeka Trenkle
We will identify, taste and study herbs and wild foods at Stephen and Robin Larsen’s Stone Mountain Farm in the mid-Hudson Valley.
Sunday, June 9

Women’s Reproductive System
Monday, June 10

Men’s Reproductive System
Monday, June 17

Seasonal Healing: Herbal Therapeutics and the Cycle of the Year
Monday, June 24

Herbal Treatment and Management of Chronic Illnesses: Eastern and Western Approaches
A one-day workshop with Drew DiVittorio.
Saturday, June 29

Musculo-Skeletal System
Monday, July 1

Urinary Tract and Kidneys
Monday, July 8

Materia Medica/Herbal Medicine Chest
Monday, July 15

Case Taking Skills I
Monday, July 22

Case Taking Skills II
Monday, July 29

Full Payment: 13WHG25LA
$1,300 (No Member Discount)

Payment Plan: 13WHG25LB
$1,450 (No Member Discount)

A non-refundable deposit of $400 is due upon registration.  Three further payments of $350 are due April 22, May 20, & June 17.  To register for the payment plan call 212-219-2527 x 2.

Automatic credit card payments only.
For CEUs click here

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