Family Herbalist Program ~ Basic Herbal Training
The Family Herbalist Program is a nine-month program with an emphasis on learning about herbs and learning how the body works. This is a beginning course and the foundation for future courses. It emphasizes the major body systems and the functional anatomy and physiology of how these systems work. A basic understanding of how the body works is necessary to help select herbs and foods that support those systems and common disorders associated with them.
The focus of the program is on the major body systems – digestive, immune, nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, musculoskeletal, and reproductive. You’ll learn:
- how the body systems work;
- ways to keep the body systems healthy;
- nutrients and herbs for each body system;
- common disorders of each body system; and
- basic herbal medicine-making skills.
We’ll discuss herbs, nutrients, foods, and supplements which help promote the health of each system or which address major complaints or disorders with the system. The remedies are based on both folk traditions and science. There is an emphasis on using local herbs but doesn’t exclude herbs from other areas.
At home, you’ll study and practice basic herbal medicine-making skills. You’ll make decoctions, tinctures, infused oils, and salves. Instruction will be given in class for your at-home activities. We’ll discuss your results in class.
The goal of the program is to learn your herbs, especially your local herbs, how herbs help build and maintain good health, functional physiology of body systems, and simple home remedies for common complaints.
ALL CLASSES ARE ONLINE
Dates and Times
March 7 – November 8, 2026
The Family 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. There are morning and afternoon breaks and a lunch break. The class will meet the first weekend of every month unless otherwise noted. Please check the class schedule for each month’s time.
Recording: No worries if you can’t make a class. Each class will be recorded for you to view at your leisure.
In addition to the FHP weekend class, we’ll be meeting an occasional Tuesday nights to go over any questions, talk about herbs, and have additional class discussions. Tuesday dates will be announced at a later time.
| 2026 CLASS DATES: |
|---|
| March 7-8 |
| April 4-5 |
| May 9-10 2nd weekend*** |
| June 6-7 |
| July 4-5 |
| August 1-2 |
| September 5-6 |
| October 3-4 |
| November 7-8 |
Tuition & Registration
Tuition is $2,250.00 for nine months (125 hours of instruction) or $250 a weekend. 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. My mailing address is 341 South Main Street, Arab, AL 35016. If you would like to use PayPal or another app, please use phyllisdlight@hotmail.com and use 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 below. (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 awarded 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.
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.
ALL CLASSES ARE ONLINE
General Course Information
There will be suggested homework. This isn’t mandatary to receive the certificate. You’ll get the most out of the course if you complete the assignments. If you decide to complete the optional homework, you can expect to spend at least 10 hours a month on homework and in-home practice.
Handouts and notes will be furnished for each session. In addition, the following books are highly recommended (but not required) for the class.
- A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs: Of Eastern and Central North America by James A. Duke, Steven Foster and Tory Petersen. This can be found at Barnes and Noble, Books A Million and online at Amazon.com.
- The Medicine Maker’s Handbook by James Green.
- Making Plant Medicine by Richo Cech.
- Southern Folk Medicine by Phyllis D. Light
I highly encourage you to start your own herbal/health library.
Family Herbalist Program (Basic) Curriculum:
March Class
Understanding the Digestive System
Common disorders of the digestive system
Building a healthy gut with probiotics, supplements, and foods
At Home: Make a tincture using the Folk Method
April Class
Understanding the Immune System and the lines of defense
Types of Immunity
Herbs and nutrients for a healthy immune system, lifestyle support
At Home: How to make the Southern decoction.
May Class
Understanding the Nervous System
Herbs, supplements, nutrients, lifestyle support for the nervous system
Getting a Good Night’s Sleep
At Home: How to make flower essences
June Class
Understanding the Cardiovascular System
Herbs, supplements, nutrients, and lifestyle support
Importance of exercise
Ethical wildcrafting
At Home: how to make infused oils
July Class
Understanding the Respiratory System
Herbs, supplements, nutrients, and lifestyle support
Coughs, colds, flu, viruses
At Home: making cough syrups
August Class
Understanding the Urinary System
Common disorders of the urinary system
Dietary approaches, herbs, supplements, nutrients, lifestyle support
Hands-on: making an infused oil
September Class
Understanding the Skin and the Musculoskeletal System
Herbs, foods, nutrients, supplements, and lifestyle support for each system.
At Home: how to make salves
October
Understanding the Reproductive Systems
Herbs, supplements, nutrients, and lifestyle support
Common disorders of female and male systems
November
Book Reports. Wrap-up. Fun time! Certificates.