In my lifetime of learning and collaborating with our plant relatives I have witnessed the dramatic healing they are capable of when used skillfully. In my early years, I hesitated to call my self an herbalist because I did not see myself as worthy of that title yet. I was lucky to have role models who practiced at a level of mastery that still inspires and humbles me today as I exceed 20 years of practice. There is much more to being an herbalist than just knowing the common uses for plants. For example; methods of preparation change how they act in the body, where they grow determines their nature, and the origin of disease is an essential factor in choosing the right herbs.

It is for the love of all these subtleties that I have resisted teaching “light” herb classes in the past. Since 2023, I am excited to offer a comprehensive apprenticeship addressing the depth and subtlety that herbal medicine deserves. This is not a basic class nor is it exhaustive. As with all my offerings, I value quality over quantity. Instead of skimming the surface of a huge materia medica, we will take a deep look at the concepts and strategies that inform my clinical practice.

Each weekly class will cover one subject in depth. We will discuss key herbs along with relevant energetics, theory, strategy, pathology and physiology. The knowledge I share will be a synthesis of my clinical experience and background in Chinese, Western and Native American herbal traditions. At the end of each class there will be discussion time to promote a broader understanding of the material.

Students who sign up will have access to all recordings, class outlines, supplemental materials, group discussion forum, and email support. Near the end of the course, students will have an optional opportunity for hands-on integration in the Sonoran Desert surrounding Tucson, Arizona, for which additional costs for food, lodging and supplies may apply.