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The Appalachian Center for Natural Health offers three certificate programs of instruction and training, with an emphasis in Southern and Appalachian Folk Medicine. Family Herbalist Program, and Community Herbalist and Herbal Practitioner Programs. The Family Herbalist Program is a nine month program with an emphasis in Traditional Western Herbalism and Southern and Appalachian Folk Medicine. It explores ways to build and maintain good health and reduce risk factors for chronic diseases and we'll study a different body system each month. You'll also begin building your materia medica and learn basic home herbal medicine-making skills.

The Community Herbalist and Herbal Practitioner Programs are composed of the Community Herbalist and Herbal Practitioner Programs (Intermediate and Advanced levels) and discusses clinical skills, intake, and assessment with an emphasis on the endocrine system and its influence on health. You'll continue your studies of Southern and Appalachian Folk Medicine but will also learn about Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. This can also be followed by a year of Mentorship for those interested in becoming community or clinical herbalists. The Practitioner Herbal Program takes a deeper look at the functioning of the human body, disorders and ailments and the role herbs and foods in rebuilding health.

Community Herbalist Program (Intermediate)

The Community Herbalist Program is an intermediate level of study. Pre-requisites to this program include previous studies from an approved herbal program or the completion of ACNH Family Herbalist Program.

The Community Herbalist Program is a nine month program with an emphasis in Southern and Appalachian Folk Medicine and Western herbs and the second year of the Practitioner Program. The emphasis in the Community Herbalist Program is on the endocrine system and its importance in maintaining good health, reducing risk factors for chronic illness and longevity. In addition, we’ll also take a more in-depth approach to Southern and Appalachian Folk Medicine and assessment techniques.

The Community Herbalist Program is a certificate program, held one weekend a month for nine months, beginning in March and ending in November. Class times are 9:30 am - 5:00 pm on Saturday and 9:30 am - 5:00 pm on Sunday. Tuition is $2,160.00 for nine months, or $240 per month.

Full-tuition, $2,160.00, is due the first day of class unless other arrangements have been made. A monthly payment plan option of $240.00 per month is available for your convenience, but must be worked out in advance.

There is a limited number of barter or work exchange programs available. These go fast so apply early if you are interested. A student can get up to one-half of their tuition waived in work study. At the maximum, a student may pay $120.00 per month and work/study the remaining $120.00 per month.

Please contact the school if you are coming in from out-of-town and need overnight accommodations.

Weekend classes include lecture, demonstration, discussion and assignments. Homework can be submitted online or brought ot the next class, however, all homework must be completed before the awarding of the course certificates. You'll continue to build your herbal materia medica primarily focusing on the medicinal herbs of the Southeast. Please keep in mind that many of these plants grow from the Gulf Coast to Maine, in the Midwest, in the canyons of the West and along the West coast.

The following textbooks are required for the class. They can be found at Barnes and Noble, Books A Million and online at Amazon.com.

• Botany In A Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification by Thomas J. Elpel

 Recommending Readings

•  Trying to Give Ease: Tommie Bass and the Story of Herbal Medicine by Crellin and Philpott
• Herbal Medicine: Past and Present by Crellin and Philpott
• Life and Times of an Appalachian Herbalist by Hassan Amjad, M.D.
• Green Pharmacy by Barbara Griggs
• The Book of Herbal Wisdom by Matthew Wood
• The School of Natural Healing by Dr. John Christopher

I highly encourage you to start your own herbal/health library.

Community Herbalist (Intermediate) Program Syllabus for 2012

March 10 and 11- The Hypothalamus: function, hormone produced, disorders.  Principles of Vitalism. Doctrine of Signatures. Laws of Opposite and Similiar. Basic nutrition. Plant walk. Homework: 1) For one week, keep a food journal of your meals. At the end of the week, assess the nutritional quality of the meals based on class lecture. Write a brief summary of the results. 2) Complete Lessons 1 and 2 in plant identification course.

April 14 and 15 - The Pituitary: function, hormones produced, disorders. Brief history of Western and American herbalism. Thomson, Physio-Medicalist,  Eclectics, Tommie Bass. Immune system. Nail assessment. Plant walk. Homework: Create a protocl for seasonal and food allergies. 2) Complete Lessons 3 and 4 in plant identification course.

May 19 and 20 - Pineal gland:function, hormones produced, disorders. Principles and practices of Southern and Appalachian herbalism, an overview. The Six Tissue States and applications. Lip assessment. Plant walk. Homework: Create a protocol to improve psychospiritual activity. 2) Complete Lessons 5 and 6 in plant identification course.

June 9 and 10  - The Thyroid: function, hormones produced, disorders. Metabolic Typing. Case Analysis. Tongue and pulse assessment. Plant walk. Homework: 1) Determine the metabolic type of 3 persons. Summarize in a short paper. 2) Complete Progress Test assigned in plant identification course.

July 14 and 15 - The Thyroid and Parathyroid: function, hormone produced, disorders. Weight loss strategies. Southern Blood Types and elements. Face assessment. Plant walk. Homework: Determine the Southern Blood Types of 3 persons. Summarize the assessment in a short paper. 2) Complete Project assigned in plant identification course.

August 11 and 12 - Adrenal glands: function, hormones produced, disorders. Stress. Acid/Alkalline balance. Case study. Plant walk. Homework: 1) Create a protocol to hellp re-establish alkalinity and acidity using foods and herbs. 2) Complete Final Exam in plant identification course.

September 8 and 9 - Pancreas: function, hormones produced, enzymes, disorders. Enzymes. Type 2 diabetes. Plant walk. Homework: Create a protocol for each of the following: type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and high blood pressure.

October 13 and 14  - Ovaries and Testes -  function, hormones produced, enzymes, disorders. Herbs for Women's Health. Herbs for Men's health.  Botany. Plant walk. Homework: Create a protocol for uterine fibroids, heavy menstrual flow, PMS and enlarged prostate.

November 10 and 11- To be announced. Wrap-up. Great food! Fun time! Certificates.

Homework - May either be turned in online at the yahool group or brought to the next class. The plant identification course based on Botany in a DAy, will be completed online. You will receive the course via the yahoo group which you can download. Answer the questions at the end of each assignment, complete the final exam and upload to the group site or turn in at next class.

Herbal Practitioner Program (Advanced)

The final year, the Herbal Practitioner Program, is an advanced level of study which emphasizes clinical skills, intake, assessment and the business skills need by practitioners. Pre-requisites to this program includes previous studies from an approved herbal program or the completion of ACNH Family Herbalist and Community Herbalist Programs.

In the third year, we bring our previous studies and skills together for a well-rounded approach to practice. The program emphasizes Western and Southern and Appalachian Folk Medicine, however, we will also explore Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. The Herbal Practitioner Program takes a deeper look at the functioning of the human body, disorders and ailments and the role herbs, foods and lifestyle choices in reducing risk factors for chronic disease and rebuilding health.

For those going into practice, the Herbal Practitioner Program can be followed by a year of Mentorship.

The Herbal Practitioner Program is a certificate program, held one weekend a month for nine months, beginning in March and ending in November. Class times are 9:30 am - 5:00 pm on Saturday and 9:30 am - 5:00 pm on Sunday. Tuition is $2,160.00 for nine months, or $240 per month.

Full-tuition, $2,160.00, is due the first day of class unless other arrangements have been made. A monthly payment plan option of $240.00 per month is available for your convenience, but must be worked out in advance.

There is a limited number of barter or work exchange programs available. These go fast so apply early if you are interested. A student can get up to one-half of their tuition waived in work study. At the maximum, a student may pay $120.00 per month and work/study the remaining $120.00 per month.

Please contact the school if you are coming in from out-of-town and need overnight accommodations.

Weekend classes include lecture, demonstration, discussion and assignments. Homework can be submitted online or brought ot the next class, however, all homework and projects to be completed before the awarding of course certificates. The student continues building an herbal materia medica primarily focused on the medicinal herbs of the Southeast and Western herbs. Please keep in mind that many of these plants grow from the Gulf Coast to Maine, in the Midwest, in the canyons of the West and along the West coast.

Recommended Readings - The following books can be found at Barnes and Noble, Books A Million and online at Amazon.com.

• The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety
• The Practice of Traditional Western Herbalism by Matthew Wood
• Business Mastery by Cherie Sohnen-Moe

Herbal Practitioner Program Syllabus for 2012

January 21 and 22 - Food as Mediicne; comprehensive lecture. Saturday, we'll cover vitamins, excess and deficiency symptoms and food sources. Sunday, we'll cover minerals. Physical signs of nutritional deficiencies. Orthomolecular concepts. How to write a case study. Plant walk. Homework: Go to www.westonaprice.org. Click on Health Topics. Select 3 articles or videos to read or watch and write a short summary of each along with your impressions. Upload the finished homework to the yahoo group. 2) Write a case study using a family member or friend.

February 18 and 19 - Self-Actualization Support System (SASS) based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Prochaska's Model of Change. How to do an intake, intake forms and informed consent. using assessment and educational language. Legal issues for the practitioner. Ethics in practice. Case study. Homework: 1) Create your own intake form and upload to yahoo group. 2) Write a case study.

March 17 and 18 - Listening and counseling skills. Marketing your practice. Building a working relationship with allied healthcare professionals. Face assessment techniques. Creating individual formulas. Plant walk. Case study. Homework: 1) Create individual formulas for the following: a) A Fire person with seasonal allergies, headache, dry nasal passages and achy body. b) A Water person with swollen ankles and legs, shortness of breath and fatigue. 2) Assess 3 family or friend's faces. Write a short summary of your findings. Plant walk.

April 26 and 27 - Overview of Ayurveda. Formulation and dispensing. Building an apothecary. Healthy immune system. Plant walk. Homework: 1) Determine the dosha of 3 family members or friends. Was this what you expercted? How does this compare with Southern and Appalachian Folk Medicine constitutions? 2) Create an immune system formula.

May 19 and 20 - Overview of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Demonstration of acupressure. Creating community outreach. Healthy Aging. Plant walk. Homework: 1) Keep a food journal for one week. Determine the primary flavors of foods and beverages consumed during this time based on TCM. Analyze the diet for taste/element imbalances. How does this compare with Southern and Appalachian Folk Medicine tastes? 2) Create a formula for healthy aging.

June 16 and 17 - Reflexology. Hair analysis. Eye reading. Kinesiology. Cell salts. Plants walk. Homework: Read the eyes of 3 family members or friend and write a brief summary. 2) Case study with cell salts.

July 21 and 22 - Aromatherapy blending. Bach Flower Remedies. Case study. Plant walk. Homework: Formulate an aromatherapy product and bring to next class. 2) Case study with Bach Flower Remedies.

August 22 and 23 - Reiki and Therapeutic Touch. Energy medicine. This weekend will be a combination of lecture and hands-on. Continued studies of Southern and Appalachian Folk Medicine. Case study. Plant walk. Homework: Practice Reiki or Therapeutic Touch on 10 people. Document.  

September 22 and 23 - Herb/Drug Interactions. Herbs for mental health. Natural approaches to addictions. Case study. Plant walk. Homework: Create herbal formulas for anxiety, depression, ADD/ADHD, and autism. 2) Create formulas for the following addictions: nicotine, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, alcohol, food, exercise and sex.

October - No class.

November - To be announced. Guest teacher. Great food! Fun time! Certificates.

Case Study - As assigned, you'll bring one case study to class for discussion. The case study will be taken from your experiences, must be written and uploaded to yahoo group and should be about 1-4 pages in length. It should include this general information: Client Presentation/History, Lifestyle Influences, Assessment, Recommendations, Follow-up. Remember to use educational language.

Mentoring - As advanced students in the Herbal Practitioner Program you will be responsible for monitoring the yahoo groups of the Family and Community Herbal Programs and answering any questions that might arise.

Course Project - You have been asked to speak at a local fibromyalgia support group on natural approaches to the disorder. Write the copy for an educational handout that provides information on natural approaches to fibromyalgia including herbs, nutrition and lifestyle choices. Remember to use educational language.

Continuing Education Units - The following courses have been approved for 7.2 continuing educational units for nurses, nursing home administrators, physical therapists, and occupational therapists and 6 hours for social workers.

• Food as Medicine
• Herb/Drug Interactions
• Therapeutic Touch
• Healthy Aging