Spring 2010 herbal medicine classes with Sylvan School of Botanical Medicine

Classes offered by SSBM give a foundational and exploratory context to engage plants and their therapeutic properties.   Field trips are very family and child friendly.  More information can be found at http://www.sylvanbotanical.com/ .

Herbal Materia Medica (12 weeks – 36 hours)*

Wednesdays February 24 – May 12                  6:30 – 9:30 pm

This course will feature a discussion of individual medicinal plants from a wide variety of healing traditions and perspectives. This is a great class for someone wanting an introduction to herbal medicine or for a seasoned practitioner looking to expand their repertoire of plants.

Herbs for the Mind, Mood, and Emotions (4 weeks – 12 hours) *

Tuesdays April 6 – 27                                    6 – 9 pm

This course will offer a survey of herbal practices for influencing mental states. We will look at perspectives from Western and Chinese herbal traditions and explore the existing evidence base for the application of herbs for treating psychiatric conditions. This is an excellent course for therapists and psychiatrists who want to gain a better understanding of how to use botanical medicine to support their clients.

Weekend Intensives (Held in Oakland, CA)

Medicine Making (12 hours)*

Saturday and Sunday March 13 & 14               9:30 am – 4:30 pm

Learn the basics of making effective herbal remedies from harvesting to finished
product. In this hands-on weekend we will make teas, tinctures, syrups, oils, salves,and other topical preparations. Participants will go home with a variety of medicines they’ve made in class.

Herbal First Aid (12 hours)*

Saturday and Sunday April 24 & 25                 9:30 am – 4:30 pm

This fun and practical class will teach how to respond to commonly encountered first aid and emergency situations with Western and Chinese herbal medicine and other therapeutic strategies. Participants will develop an herbal first aid kit for treatment of wounds, trauma, infections, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and emotional emergencies. Basic assessment skills will be developed or refreshed and attention will be paid to when a higher level of medical intervention may be necessary.

Cooking with Herbs (12 hours)

Saturday and Sunday Dates TBA                  9:30 am – 4:30pm

Learn to incorporate healthful herbs and medicinal foods into your diet during this delicious weekend. We will discuss, prepare, and taste examples of traditional Chinese dietary therapies, dishes that highlight wild and garden-grown herbs and seasonal vegetables, and the medicinal uses of common culinary herbs.

Field Trips

Herbs of the Southern California Desert – Location TBA (10 hours)*

Saturday and Sunday March 27 & 28              9:30 am – 4:30 pm

This trip presents an opportunity to explore Southern California’s stunning desert flora and landscape. Participants will develop the skills of field identification, wild-crafting, and herbal preparation. The folkloric and clinical uses of plants will be discussed as well as the application of these native plants in the context of Chinese medicine.

Botanical Field Study – Los Padres National Forest (10 hours)*

Saturday and Sunday April 10 & 11                 9:30 am – 4:30 pm

Learn about the medicinal uses of California native plants during wildflower season in the beautiful Central Coast hills.

Bay Area Herb Walks (Locations TBA)

Sunday March 7                                          1 – 5 pm

Friday April 2                                              3 – 6 pm

Friday April 23                                             3 – 6 pm

Sunday May 16   (with special guests)            all day