ALL CLASSES ARE ONLINE
Herbal Practitioner Program (HPP) ~ Intermediate Herbal Training
The Herbal Practitioner Program is a nine month program with an emphasis on endocrine activity, nutrition, and common complaints.
The focus of the Herbal Practitioner Program includes:
- the interaction of body systems with the thyroid and adrenal glands, the functional physiology of the endocrine system, and the deep workings of the processes of homeostasis, methylation, detoxification, and energy production;
- a deep dive into autoimmune disorders, detoxification techniques, and how the liver actually works;
- the properties of hot, cold, wet, dry as they pertain to herbs, to the body, to disease or disorder processes, and to homeostasis;
- fertility, female and male hormones and influences, and common disorders of the reproductive system; and
- common complaints and first aid.
Pre-requisites
To enroll in the Community Herbalist Program, the student must have completed the Family Herbalist Program or a comparable program.
Dates and Times
March 15 – November 16, 2026
The Community Herbalist Program is a certificate program, generally held the first weekend of every month, for nine months, beginning in March and ending in November. Class times are 9:30 am – 4:30 pm on Saturday and 9:30 am – 4:30 pm on Sunday. The class will generally meet the second weekend of every month unless otherwise noted, and there are occasional exceptions. Check the class schedule for current dates.
Recording: No worries if you can’t make a class. Each class will be recorded for you to view at your leisure.
We’ll meet on some Tuesday nights during the year to further explore a topic or go over homework. Those dates will be designated after class begins.
| 2026 CLASS DATES: |
|---|
| March 15-16 |
| April 19-20 |
| May 24-25* |
| June 21-22 |
| July 19-20 |
| August 16-17 |
| September 20-21* |
| October 18-19 |
| November 15-16 |
*Note: The May and September classes will not be held on the 2nd weekend but the 3rd weekend.
ALL CLASSES ARE ONLINE
Tuition
Tuition is $2,250.00 for nine months (125 hours of instruction). A $50.00 non-refundable deposit is due at the time of registration for new students but not for returning students.
Please make checks out to: Phyllis D. Light at 341 South Main Street, Arab, AL 35016. If you would like to use PayPal or another app, please use phyllisdlight@hotmail.com. Also, please send Friends and Family.
Full-tuition, $2,250.00, is due the week before the first class. An optional monthly payment plan of $250.00 is available after a down payment of half the tuition ($1,125). The payment plan must be worked out in advance with a down payment. Email if you are interested.
******Please note: Once you commit to the program, you are responsible for the month’s payment even if you miss a class or are paying by the month. All classes are recorded and available for viewing.
Refund Policy
Please carefully consider your commitment to the program whether you are paying in advance or making monthly payments.
If you pay in advance and withdraw before the program begins, you’ll receive 100% refund minus a $50 transaction fee. If you pay in advance and withdraw after the first month but before the third month, you’ll receive a 50% refund minus a $50.00 transaction fee. No refund will be given after the third month of classes. The same timeline is applicable if you are paying by the month.
Application
Please download the PDF application for enrollment. (Fill out the PDF, save the file, and email it back to the office. Or, you can print it and snail mail to the office, 341 South Main Street, Arab, AL 35016.
Certificate of Completion
A Certificate of Completion will be rewarded at the end of the program if all criteria has been met. Keep in mind that you’ll get out of the program what you put into the program.
Doing the homework in a timely manner helps increase understanding of the material.
Class participation and attendance also helps increase understanding of the material.
The completion of the monthly homework and the fulfillment of a class project will be required to receive a Certificate of Completion. If you choose to audit the class, the price will be the same but no homework is required and no certificate of completion will be awarded.
General Course Information
Note: There will be homework. A schedule of homework will be emailed the first weekend of classes. There is also a class project due the last class.
Completing your homework in a timely manner is encouraged. You’ll get the most out of the course if you complete the assignments. You can expect to spend at least 10-15 hours a month on homework and in-home practice.
Handouts
Handouts and notes will be furnished for each session. In addition, the following book is highly recommended (but not required) for the class:
Southern Folk Medicine, Healing Traditions from the Appalachian Fields and Forests by Phyllis D. Light, MA
I highly encourage you to start your own herbal/health library.
Community Herbalist (Intermediate) Program 2025 Curriculum:
March
Southern Folk Medicine
Origins, the four elements, the four tastes, practices and principles.
SFM constitutions. Stories about Tommie Bass, Granny, and my early training.
Herbs by Taste Handout
April
Southern Folk Medicine Constitutions
Basic nutrition: water, protein, carbohydrates, fats, fat-soluble vitamins, water-soluble vitamins, minerals.
The role of basic nutrients in preventive health measures.
The effects of deficiency or excess of nutrients in specific disorders.
Recommended quantities of basic nutrients and their food sources.
May
Understanding the liver – Actions and processes of the liver not related to digestion.
How the liver processes toxins. Phase I and II detox systems.
Understanding methylation.
Understanding epigenetics.
Herbs, nutrients, and lifestyle support for good liver health, methylation, and epigenetics.
June
Endocrine: hypothalamus, pituitary, pineal.
Function, hormones produced, disorders, herbs and nutrients, lifestyle support.
Herbal energetics/properties: hot/cold; wet/dry.
Concepts of excess/deficiency.
Guidelines for creating herbal formulas.
Properties of herbs
Spices as medicine
July
The Krebs cycle and how we make energy.
The role of mitochondria in health and disorders.
The Thyroid and Parathyroid – functional activity, hormones produced, effect on the body, common disorders of excess and deficiency.
Herbs, supplements, nutrients, and lifestyle approaches.
August
Understanding the Adrenal glands.
How stress affects the body.
Role of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems in stress.
Herbs, adaptogens, supplements, nutrients, and lifestyle support for healthy adrenal glands.
September
Understanding the Pancreas: function, hormones produced, common disorders of excess and deficiency.
Type 1 and 2 diabetes – Herbs, supplements, nutrients, and lifestyle support.
Understanding weight management.
October
Female and Male Reproductive systems (biological) – in-depth look at reproductive hormones and their activities and function.
Hormones produced, common disorders of excess and deficiency.
Herbs, supplements, nutrients, and lifestyle support.
November
Present Projects.
We’ll be meeting an occasional Tuesday night to go over any questions, talk about herbs, and have additional class discussions.