This innovative herb program, now in its 14^th year, weaves together learning about healing herbs with a profound understanding of the rhythm of the seasons and the timeless elements of traditional healing. 

           Our program’s purpose is to strengthen your innate ability to heal yourself and others, and to broaden your knowledge of herbs so that you will use them with confidence throughout your life.

The 2009 Certification Program begins in February and ends in November. Classes meet one weekend a month for ten months. Class times are Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Program combines lectures, field studies, hands-on workshops, case studies and lively discussions.

Topics Covered
Dates
Location
Tuition
How to Register
Certification
Syllabus
Payment Plans
Work Exchange/Barter
Faculty
Is This Program Right for You?
Testimonials from Past Students
Refund and Cancellation Policy
Program Information (PDF download)
Application (PDFdownload)
Contact us with questions, e-mail or phone 706-746-5485.

Topics Covered:

• Principles of traditional healing systems (Five Phase Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine).

• Medicinal properties of more than 60 herbs.

• How to make herbal tinctures, infused oils, teas and more.

• Herbs that heal specific body systems (cardiovascular, reproductive, etc.).

• Health assessment techniques.

• How to create herbal formulas to treat everyday health problems.

• Herbal strategies to improve your own health.

• About drug-herb interactions.

• How to use essential oils (aromatherapy).

• Basic field botany and plant identification.

Program Dates: February 21 & 22, March 14 & 15, April 18 & 19, May 16 & 17, June 27 & 28, July 18 & 19, August 15 & 16, September 12 & 13, October 17 & 18, November 14 & 15, 2009. Class dates are subject to change before November 1, 2008.

Program Location: Classes are held at The Center on Warwoman in Clayton, Georgia. Clayton is in Rabun County, in the northeast corner of Georgia, approximately 100 miles northeast of Atlanta and 90 miles southwest of Asheville, North Carolina.For information about local accomodations, see Visitors Guide to Rabun County.

Tuition: $2,200.00 ($220.00 per weekend). Tuition includes 140 hours of instruction, detailed class materials, some medicine making supplies and membership in an online discussion group moderated by Patricia Kyritsi Howell. A monthly payment plan (financing) is available; please contact us for details. We accept Visa/MasterCard. Limited work exchange or barter may be possible; see Work Exchange and Barter Options. In addition to tuition costs, students may expect to spend about $300 for books and supplies throughout the program.

Registration: All students must submit a Program Application (downloadable PDF), along with a non-refundable deposit of $250.00. (Deposits are not processed until the applicant has been accepted into the program.) Full balance of tuition is due at the first class unless other arrangements have made. See our Refund and Cancellation Policy.

Certification: We award a “Certificate of Completion” to students who meet all Program requirements. The certificate acknowledges that a student has successfully completed the Program and demonstrated proficiency in herbal therapeutics, basic field botany, energetic healing systems, medicine making techniques and knowledge of sixty herbs. We do not confer any titles such as certified, registered or master herbalist.

Certification requirements include:

• Attendance and participation in all Program sessions.

• Preparation of herbal medicines for final class including: three original tincture formulas; two original herbal tea blends; two original salves or medicinal oils; and one preparation of choice.

• A score of 80 or higher on the final exam.

• Average score of 80 or higher on two plant identification tests given throughout the Program.

• Payment in full of all tuition fees.

This program has received Continuing Education Approval from the American Herbalists Guild. Course hours may be included in applications for professional membership to the Guild. For more details, see Is This Program Right for You?

2009 Syllabus

February 21 & 22

Introduction to basic concepts of energetic herbalism. The language of herbalism: herbal actions, taxonomy basics, medicinal preparations and more. Introduction to the Materia Medica. Definitions of health and healing.

March 14 &15

Introduction to Five-Phase Theory, Fundamental Substances and other energetic principles. Materia Medica.

April 18 & 19

Hands-on medicine making workshop and demonstration.

May 16 & 17

Aromatherapy and the clinical uses of essential oils for psycho-spiritual healing and the treatment of infection. Introduction to field botany.

June 27 & 28

Five-Phase Theory. The immune system. Herb walk. Materia Medica.

July 18 & 19

Five-Phase Theory continued. Clinical skills: Introduction to health assessments. Body systems: digestive, respiratory. Herb walk. Materia Medica.

August 15 & 16

Health assessment skills and practice. Body systems: nervous, cardiovascular, endocrine. The art of herbal formulation. Case study. Materia Medica.

September 12 & 13

Body systems: musculo-skeletal, skin, urinary, male and female reproductive. Case studies. Formulation practice Herb walk. Materia Medica.

October 17 & 18

Skills for intake interviews. Case studies. Program review. Materia Medica.

November 14 & 15

Review of the Materia Medica. Final exam and Medicine Show. Celebration!

Payment Plan Options:

As a courtesy to our students, we offer the option of making tuition payments throughout the course. We are negotiable about the amount of each payment you make. You may choose to make one payment each month. For example $216.67 per month each month for nine months, or you may arrange to make several larger payments throughout the program, for example four monthly payments of $487.50 each. All payments are due on first of the month. We accept payment by check, debit or credit card. We accept Visa and MasterCard. Debit or credit card payments are automatically processed on the first of the month. If you choose to pay by check, you must also provide a debit or credit card number. If your check does not arrive by the first of the month, the amount due will be charged to your debit or credit card.

Note: All students must submit a deposit of $250.00 with their application. All Payment Plans agreements must be finalized before the first class on February 21, 2009.

When Your Payments Begin: You may begin making tuition payments as soon as you register for the program, or after the program begins in February. All tuition must be paid in full by October 1, 2009.

To Apply for the Payment Plan: Please send us a letter via postal mail that lists proposed payment dates and amounts along with your Visa or MasterCard number and expiration date. Do not send credit card information via e-mail! We’ll be in touch to negotiate any changes, if needed. Once your payment agreement is finalized, we require your signature on a legally binding promissory note outlining the terms of your payment agreement. A promissory note will be mailed to you. Once we receive your signed promissory note, our agreement will be activated. Send your written proposal to: BotanoLogos, PO Box W, Mountain City, GA 30562. In the unfortunate event that you are not able to complete the program for any reason, the terms of your payment plan will remain in effect and payments must continue to be made as agreed.

Work Exchange/Barter Options: We offer a limited number of work exchange and barter options each year and early application is recommended.

The equivalent of $700.00 is the maximum amount of tuition that may be waived through work exchange or barter. The balance of the tuition, $1,500.00, is payable in full at the first class or through arranging a Payment Plan. The dollar amount equivalent to any remaining work exchange hours or barter not completed by October 22, 2009 must be paid in full before the last class.

Note: All students must submit a deposit of $250.00 with their application

Work Exchange To receive the $700.00 maximum amount of work exchange offered, 47 hours of work are required (calculated at $15.00 per hour).There are two options for work exchange. Option I: Four Student Work Sessions are scheduled for the summer and early fall. Students help with various projects such as gardening, house projects, herb harvesting/medicine making, canning, or whatever needs to be done given the time of year at Patricia’s home in Mountain City, Ga. Option II: If you have special skills they may interest us, send a detailed description of what you are offering.

Barter We barter only for things we genuinely want or need, and we’re open to creative barter options. We have bartered classes for such things as: hand-made clothing; vegetables; art work; gourmet meals; furniture; firewood; kefir; and nursery plants. Send a detailed description of what you have to barter and the value of each item.

2009 Program Faculty:  Patricia Kyritsi Howell, Registered Herbalist (American Herbalists Guild), is author of Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians (2006) and director of the BotanoLogos Herbal Studies Certification Program. She is a clinical herbalist, author and teacher. In her classes, lectures and practice, she combines sixteen years as a practitioner, a solid background in the therapeutic use of herbs, and an in-depth knowledge of medicinal plants native to the Southern Appalachians.

Since 1995, she has been a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild. She advises the Atlanta Botanical Garden about medicinal herb programming, is the co-founder of the Georgia Herbalists Guild, and is the former president of Georgia Organics. In addition to her work with native Appalachian plants, she also leads travel seminars on herbs and traditional foods on the Greek island of Crete. Patricia lives in Rabun County, Georgia (USA) and in Greece.

Other 2009 faculty members to be announced.

Is This Program Right for You?

Deciding whether to enroll in a lengthy course of study deserves careful consideration. Below is some information about the program that may help you in your decision making process. We are also available to speak with you by phone at 706-746-5485.

Herbal beginners are welcome. If you have no previous knowledge of herbs, it may be helpful to read some basic herb texts before the first class and during the first few months. After we review your application, we’ll let you know if we think you would benefit from supplemental reading before the class begins.

Students who attend our program come from a variety of backgrounds. Past students have included: stay-at-home moms and dads; artists; veterinarians; landscape designers; cooks; pharmacists; health food store owners; accountants; doctors; nurses; and high school or college students. We welcome anyone who enjoys learning in a stimulating, creative and supportive environment. The course is designed to address the needs of herbal beginners as well as medical professionals. Whatever your background or previous experience with herbs, we are committed to providing the support you need to become a confident and effective herbalist. 

Yes, you will have homework covering a wide scope of reading matter. Each month between classes, students are expected to devote between four and six hours to reading, studying and medicine making activities. During the program, you’ll receive a detailed list of homework assignments. The more time you devote to reading about individual herbs and applying the techniques you’ve learned, the more you will gain from the program.

Basic anatomy and physiology classes are not part of the program. Before enrolling, students are expected to have a basic understanding of the body and how it works. If you have never formally studied the human body, or you could use a refresher course, we can recommend some well-written books that will help you prepare for the program. Please contact us for study recommendations.

Self-taught herbalists love this program. If you have read a number of herb books over the years, you’ve probably noticed that the information presented by one author sometimes conflicts with what another writer says about how to use medicinal herbs. While we don’t claim to be the keepers of the truth about herbal medicine, we do pride ourselves in helping you to integrate and incorporate what you already know as you develop your own elegant and effective way of practicing herbal healing.

If you plan to become a professional herbalist, this program is a good place to start. Many people contact us about the program because they think they may want to pursue a career in herbal medicine. Completing this program alone does not qualify you to be a professional clinical herbalist, but it will give you a solid foundation in herbalism that will help you to decide whether you want to pursue in-depth herbal studies. At the end of the program, we will be happy to discuss additional training options that lead to becoming a professional herbalist. Our former students who have enrolled in herbal degree programs report that the scope of the materials covered in this program gave them a clear advantage. Our program is approved by the American Herbalists Guild and successful completion of the program may be used by students pursuing professional membership in the Guild.

Our classrooms include fields and forests of the mountains. The best way to learn about herbs is to spend time with them. Fortunately, the mountains of Rabun County are lush with medicinal plants! Almost every weekend of the program, we will spend some time outside. During the growing season, moderate day hikes are regularly part of the curriculum.

Students must be able to walk two miles at a steady pace on uneven ground, be prepared for seasonal climate variations and being outdoors in wet weather. Although summer temperatures in the mountains are cooler than those in most other parts of the Southeast, it can be quite hot here during July and August. Spring and autumn temperatures are often very cold. At all times of the year, we can count on plenty of rain, as this area of the country is a temperate rain forest.

We can help you to create a payment plan that works for you. If

you sincerely want to attend the program but need to find a creative way to finance the program costs, please contact us. We offer a variety of options, including custom payment plans, automatic debit payments using your Visa or MasterCard, and work exchange or barter. Any special arrangements regarding payment options or non-cash payments must be arranged before the Program begins.  The number of available work exchange and barter opportunities is limited. Please contact us at least two months before the first class to discuss availability and options.

BotanoLogos Refund and Cancellation Policy - Effective March 1, 2008

Deposit Refunds: Deposits are non-refundable.

Tuition Refunds: The balance of your tuition is due in full at the first class unless other arrangements have been made. No tuition will be refunded after the end of the first Program session. Even if a student is unable to complete the Program for any reason, after signing a promissory note payable to BotanoLogos, Inc, even if she/he is still liable for the full amount of tuition. 

                     

Cancellations: Due to severe weather, it may be necessary to cancel a class. If this happens, we will contact you by 5:00 PM on the day before the class at the telephone number(s) you have provided on your registration application. In the event that inclement weather is expected, please check our BotanoLogos voicemail after 5:00 PM the day before class, as we will leave up-to-the-minute cancellation information (706-746-5485). Local weather forecasts are available at Visitors Guide to Rabun County.

Rescheduled Classes: If we must reschedule a class, we’ll do our best to find a time convenient for all enrolled students. However, we reserve the right to make the final choices regarding all rescheduled classes. In the event that a student cannot attend a rescheduled class, no refunds will be given. However, upon request, we will do our best to make a digital recording of rescheduled classroom lectures and make these CD’s available at no cost to students who cannot attend.