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In a time of great cultural change, now is the time to discover and deepen our relationship with Plants: our greatest teachers. In this dynamic, comprehensive and transformative online program, you will learn the eloquent language of herbalism.
Through experiential group learning, you will be rooted in a community of fellow herbalists. With hands-on, practical teachings, you will cultivate a knowledge beyond any textbook.
May 2021 - October 2021

If you are ready to awaken to the deep magic, grounded science and creative potential of plant medicine, this course is for you.


SESSION 1
Saturday May 29, 2021
Collective Plant Journey: Rose
Live Session: Establishing connection with the Green Bloods upon the lands we live. Activating our nervous system to receive the wisdom of plants.
Video Sessions:
- Introduction to Herbal Medicine (Peter Conway)
- The Wild Medicinal Plant Walk (Amanda Howe)
- The Art of Medicine Making: Internal Preparations (Seraphina Capranos)

SESSION 2
Saturday June 26, 2021
Collective plant journey: Comfrey
Live Session: Deciphering the ways in which plants speak to us; a lesson on herbal energetics.
Video Sessions:
- The Art of Herbal Medicine Making – External Preparations (Amanda Howe)
- Herbal Body Products & Gift Making (Dr. Marisa Marciano)
- The Medicinal Kitchen (Jennifer Brott)

SESSION 3
Saturday July 24, 2021
Collective Plant Journey: Milky Oats
Live Session: The vital force: maintaining and replenishing.
Sexual Health and Core Energy
Video Session:
- Materia Medica Introduction (Amanda Howe)
- Materia Medica history, medicinal uses, growing and harvesting tips for more than three dozen herbs (Amanda Howe)

SESSION 4
Saturday August 28th, 2021
Collective Plant Journey: Pine
Live Session: Protecting our Qi, preparing for Winter.
Video Sessions:
- Herbal Therapeutics: Introduction to herbal actions, dosing and formulating (David Cauldwell)
- The Digestive system and Cardiovascular system (David Cauldwell)

SESSION 5
Saturday September 25, 2021
Collective Plant Journey: Holy Basil
Live Session: Anxiety & Depression
Video Sessions:
- Herbal Therapeutics; The Respiratory system and The Nervous system, & The musculoskeletal system and Skin Health (David Cauldwell)

SESSION 6
Saturday October 23, 2021
Collective Plant Journey: Elecampane
Live Session: Ancestral Healing Practices, The essence of nourishment and protecting our vital force
Video Sessions:
- The reproductive system, urinary system and tonics and adaptogens (David Cauldwell)
Included: Pacific Rim College Home Herbalist Course
The Alchemy of Herbal Medicine offers incredible value to students as it includes access to the full Pacific Rim College Home Herbalist Course through Pacific Rim College Online (PRCO). The PRCO Home Herbalist Course focuses on the classical teachings of Western Herbalism and offers an excellent background for the home herbalist.

This in-depth herbal program invites you to explore the richly varied, endlessly creative botanical universe. Delight in the wisdom that is revealed both in traditional knowledge and modern naturopathic practice. Access your innermost instincts as a healer, and embody the principles of self-care that are integral to the life of a medicine-maker.
Included are:
- A total of 18-hours of Live teaching sessions with Seraphina
- A total of 46 hours of pre-recorded video lessons with easily accessible, step-by-step guidance from master herbalists via Pacific Rim College Online - Home Herbalist Course
- One 490-page e-book (plus the option to buy a hardcopy) with lusciously detailed, beautiful instructions to follow along with every video lesson
This course is carefully calibrated to balance intuitive learning with practical knowledge.
Plant medicine is a lifelong journey: whether you are newly dipped in the herbal elixir or have been steeping for many years, this course will bring you nourishment and inspiration.
May 2021 - October 2021
INSTRUCTORS

Seraphina began a professional study of natural medicine at Emerson College of Herbology and then completed a 4-year training in classical homeopathy. She been teaching herbal medicine for 15 years.

Peter Conway trained as a Medical Herbalist in the UK where he ran a clinical practice for over 20 years. In addition to seeing patients, Peter has taught herbal courses at several UK universities and other academic institutions.

Amanda Howe has been a Herbalist for over thirty years. She trained in England in the early ’80s and became a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists. She went on to receive her MSc in Herbal Medicine from the University of Wales.

Dr. Marisa Marciano is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor & Registered Herbalist (AHG) with expertise in both the education and clinical applications of phytotherapy. She strives to empower both her patients and her students to take a “hands-on-herbal approach” to learn the arts & science of herbal medicine.

David Caudwell studied Herbal Medicine at the College of Phytotherapy and the University of Wales. He has a passion for the world’s indigenous medicine systems, which has led to travel on five continents.

Jennifer Brott is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist. Her expertise and private practice are rooted in an unwavering commitment: to empower individuals to reach their health and wellness goals by providing them with the tools to thrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
This course is for the person who has a desire to deepen their relationship with herbs. They wish to understand the sacred, scientific, medicinal and mystical message of our green allies. This course is for the individual who wants to better understand: healing, wholeness, health, disease, and form their own personal definitions of these words. It is for the individual who enjoys learning with like-minded people, and who can appreciate the diversity that exists among a group setting
This course is likely not the right fit for you:
- if you are interested solely in the medical approach to botanical medicine
- if online learning is a challenge for you
- if you are averse to a group setting or impatient with class discussion
- if you do not have access to a computer with video and microphone capabilities.
Yes, in the Pacific Rim College Online Home Herbalist certificate there is online submissions of medicine making assignments, developing materia medica/plant monographs of individual plants and short online module quizzes. However, these are all optional.
I teach a select group of herbs deeply. I was taught that a successful herbalist knows over a hundred uses of just one herb, rather than knowing just one use of a hundred herbs. I have found this to be true. The focus is on herbs that are common to the western herbal tradition such as elderberry, yarrow, calendula, echinacea and many more. Like many herbs, these are "weeds" and fairly easy to grow across various regions or even in pots. I do not believe that herbal medicine needs to be expensive, nor should people rely solely on buying herbs commercially. In the case of the recent pandemic relying on commercial herbs made it challenging to acquire herbs. Also relying on commercial herbs, you may know where the herbs were grown but what about soil quality, harvesting practices, were the herbs wild-crafted or cultivated, were pesticides used etc. Herbalism is about using the bounty of herbs growing in your backyard and your neighbourhood.
I teach the energetics of herbs based on a medicine wheel, and weave the wisdom of materia medica and client care based on my background as a classical homeopath.
After completing the Home Herbalist Course from Pacific Rim College Online you will receive a certificate as a home herbalist, however this is not sufficient training to set up a clinical practice. While anyone can call themselves a herbalist and offer herbs to people, you can not prescribe or “see patients”. You may educate about herbs, diet and lifestyle habits and make suggestions to help people to find balance or homeostasis. I recommend you pursue professional training beyond this course. Not just in herbs but in anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, diagnostics, ethics and so forth that culminates in at least a two-thousand-hour program. The practice of herbalism is not officially regulated and certification is complicated.
The training that is required to become a qualified health practitioner is much greater than the Home Herbalist Certificate and what I have to offer at this time. I recommend naturopathic college, Pacific Rim College’s Diploma of Phytotherapy, Homeopathy School, Acupuncture School or another professional program. In addition, I recommend seeking hands-on training with an experienced herbalist/mentor where you see clients and gain feedback from your mentor.
Yes, all Zoom video calls will be recorded for later viewing for a maximum of one year after the program ends. This provides the opportunity to watch and re-watch at anytime to maximize your learning. You will have life-time access to the Pacific Rim College online videos.
Students may be refunded 80% of course registration price within the first 7 days of the course start date. There are no refunds after 7 days of course registration, including for those students on payment plans.
TESTIMONIALS














One Payment $1500


Two Payments of $760


Three Payments of $550
Experienced Herbalist Option

Are you already an experienced medicine-maker? Or already enrolled in a qualifying Herbalist Program? I am offering my mentorship program without Pacific Rim's Home Herbalist Program & guidebook for $750 to qualifying applicants. Please email us with your experience to enrol: [email protected]

Scholarships are filled. Please check back 2023.
In recognition that financial circumstance often correlates to systems of privilege and oppression, there are some scholarship spaces set aside for BIPOC. Scholarships are limited and on a first come basis.
We welcome all genders, all gender histories, all races, all ages and sexual orientations and all those differences of life situation, background, and ability that increase our diversity. As we know, nature prefers diversity as it creates strong, healthy ecosystems.
All living beings are worthy of respect. All are supported by the sacred elements of air, fire, water and earth. We work to create and sustain communities and cultures that embody our values, that can help to heal the wounds of the earth and her peoples, and that can sustain us and nurture future generations.
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