Study Guide

Here is my outline for my studies.  I created it from several online outlines, combining them and changing them to make what I think is a pretty comprehensive outline.  If I can spend time learning all I can about each area, and anything else I come up with, I will have a pretty great education.

Here goes:

Herbal Studies - My Own Study Guide

Herbal Traditions and History

• American Botanical Movement
  
• the Humoral System
  
• Other Botanical Traditions
  
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
  
• Ayureveda
  
• phytotherapy
  
• herbal energetics
  
• Global healing traditions
  
• Healing strategies
  
• Modern medicine and holistic healing – how they can work together
  

Herbal Basics

• choosing herbs, determining what are good quality
  
• where to get good herbs
  
• herbal actions
  
• storing herbs, collecting and drying
  
• herbal teas and tinctures, the basics
  
• syrups
  
• topical applications
  
• herbal actions
  
• anatomy overview
  
• growing herbs
  
• creating a materia medica – what is it and how to best make it work
  
  • describe herbs – parts, what types of roots, the seeds shape, size, color, name and habitat, shape of leaves, color and size, common names, flowers, petals, scent, height, habitat, shrubs, trees, etc absolutely everything about them all
    

Making medicine with herbs

• science vs art
  
• solubility and proper menstruums
  
• determining proper dosage
  
• the menstruum table
  
• herbal preparations
  
• creating herbal formulas
  
  • guidelines for formulas
    
• herbal extractions
  
• plant constituents and solubility
  
• the apothecary
  
  • garden
    
  • therapy in horticulture
    
  • planning a growing area
    
  • growing techniques
    

Herbal Intermediate

• Herbal first aid – create a flip book or quick reference guide
  
  • compress and poultices
    
  • plantain poultice
    
  • stimulants and stimulation therapy – when to use and not
    
  • making a first aid kit
    
• herbal actions, energetics and constitutions
  
• simples and creating formulas – making effective formulas
  
  • traditional ways
    
• balancing and directing the energy
  
• side effects and safety
  
• remedies for radiation
  
• survival tactics
  
• nutritional antidotes
  
• Materia Medica of herbs discovered in this unit
  

Botany and Phytochemistry

• plant identification and taxonomy
  
  • eight steps to plant identification
    
  • botany – understanding plants
    
• plant chemistry
  
• pharmacognosy and pharmacology
  
• herb / herb / drug interactions
  
• materia medica
  

Common Complaints

• the immune system
  
• prevention is the best medicine
  
• detox and cleansing
  
• cold, flus, and viruses
  
• respiratory system
  
• herbs that are good for kids
  
• herbs for her and for him
  
• Materia Medica basics
  

In the Kitchen

• What's in the kitchen cupboard?
  
• Spices and their magic
  
• Materia Medica for the kitchen
  
• kitchen remedies
  
• wildcrafting and foraging
  

Food as medicine

• the kitchen cupboard
  
• vinegars
  
• oils
  
• honey
  
• edible and medicinal plants
  
• foraging
  
• wild crafting
  
• plant savers
  
• Materia Medica
  

The Nervous System

• the nervous system overview
  
  • the central nervous system
    
  • the peripheral nervous system
    
  • the enteric nervous system
    
• stress
  
• headaches and migranes
  
• essential oils for nerves
  
• sleep and insomnia
  
• materia medica for the nervous system
  

The Holistc Approach to life

• History
  
• Conventional medicine
  
• The Holistic model of medicine
  
• The holistic body
  
• herbalism – what is it? More than just herbs
  
• holistic approaches
  

The Digestive System

• digestive system overview
  
• common ailments
  
• imbalances of digestive system
  
• good health for the digestive system
  
• herbal remedies
  
• materia medica
  

The Immune system

• building our immune system and health
  
• prevention
  
• common problems
  
• materia medica
  

The Cardiovascular system

• anatomy of the heart
  
• blood pressure
  
• cholesterol
  
• heart strong health
  
• herbal remedies and therapeutics
  
• diet
  
• glycosides
  
• the energetic heart
  
• materia medica
  

The Liver

• liver overview
  
• liver health
  
• liver imbalances
  
• herbal remedies and tonics
  
• materia medica
  

The Respiratory System

• overview
  
• breathing
  
• asthma
  
• lung imbalances and common complaints
  
• herbal tonics and remedies
  
• materia medica
  

Urinary System

• Urinary and Kidney health
  
• Urinary Tract Infections
  
• Bladder Health
  
• Materia medica
  

Children and Herbs

• common complaints
  
• formulas and recipes
  
• building health
  
• safe herbs for kids
  
• dosing
  
• materia medica
  

The Blood, Lymph and Mucous membrane systems

• anatomy review
  
• blood, lymphatic and mucous membrane functions
  
• common conditions
  
• herbs and healing
  
• materia medica
  

The Endocrine system

• Anatomy overview of the endocrine system
  
• players and messengers of the system – the ultimate messaging system
  
• general health and wellness
  
• common ailments
  
• the herbal approach – conducting a symphony
  
• materia medica
  

Male Health

• the male reproductive system
  
• youth and puberty
  
• ageing
  
• general health care
  
• the male heart
  
• the prostate
  
• male hormones and balance
  
• male stressors and common complaints
  
• materia medica
  

Female Health

• female reproductive system, hormones, reproductive system
  
• youth
  
• ageing
  
• general health care
  
• breast health
  
• female complaints
  
• fertility, pregnancy, miscarriage, birth
  
• menopause
  
  • signs of
    
  • general guidelines
    
  • specific treatments for
    
  • estrogen replacement therapy
    
• materia medica
  

The Musculoskeletal System

• Bones and Muscles – anatomy
  
• physiology of
  
• inflammation, spasms, and damaged bones
  
• health of the ms system
  
• common conditions
  
• managing pain
  
• materia medica
  

Healthy Ageing

• longevity, vitality, and prevention
  
• ageing and the elderly – social and cultural considerations
  
• the ageing skin
  
• illness and disease
  
• materia medica
  

Weight management

• overweight and obesity
  
• the brain / gut connection and psychology of food
  
• energetics of food
  
• sugar
  
• food allergies and sensitivities
  
• fasting and detox
  
• daily living with herbs
  
• dieting
  
• materia medica
  

Healing

• the nature of healing
  
• the energy of healing
  
• the mind body connection
  
• regeneration and rejuvenation
  
• reaching the spirit
  
• aromatherapy in the healing process
  

Body Care

• Intro to the skin
  
• body care recipes
  
• external health
  
• internal health
  
• salves, balms, lotions and butters
  
• topical oils for the skin
  
• scrubs and cleansers
  
• herbal baths
  
• moisturizers and toners
  
• hair care
  
• Materia Medica for the skin
  

Extras

• assessing a body and complaints
  
• advanced formulations
  
• becoming an herbalist
  
  • defining your path – what do you want to do with it
    
  • valuing your worth
    
  • useful resources and organizations
    
  • setting up a practise
    
  • seminars
    
  • classes
    
  • writing
    
• flower therapy / flower essence therapy and overview
  
• reflexology
  
• yoga
  
• tibetan medicine
  

Making and Selling Herbal Products

• labelling, sourcing, creating brand and marketing your product
  

Herbal Resources and Organizations









Aromatherapy Studies

• aromatherapy history
  
  • substances used by ancients for medicinal purposes and how they were used
    
  • chi, yin, and yan
    
  • vibrational medicines
    
• curative powers of smell and the olfactory pathway
  
• essential oils, extraction, mixing and blending
  
  • essential oil industry, why these oils are different from others
    
  • how they penetrate the skin and how long it takes
    
  • three methods of obtaining an essential oil
    
  • evaporation of the oils
    
• carrier oils
  
  • what is a carrier oil
    
  • five carrier oils
    
  • top, middle, and base note oils – make a list
    
  • how long each note lasts
    
  • the most versatile of all oils and two which are very expensive
    
  • contra-indication and examples of how it applies
    
• materia medica of essential oils
  
  • tables of oils
    
  • using oils for – alopecia, catarrh, bronchitis, dermatitis, earache, menopause, migraine
    
• tables of essential oils
  
• stress and aromatherapy
  
  • stress
    
  • burnout
    
  • managing stress
    
• aromatherapy massage
  
  • centering yourself
    
  • benefits
    
  • meaning of massage and why you should oil
    
  • effleruage massage is.... and how to apply
    
  • petrissage massage ... method of application
    
  • the functions of the bladder meridian
    
• massage
  
  • relaxing, stimulating
    
  • how to perform a massage sequence of the back area
    
  • massage of the stomach
    
• setting up a therapy practise