Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course
Study Herbalism with
Gail Faith Edwards

HERBAL MEDICINE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE

This course has just been completely revised, expanded and updated for the 2011 semester.

"Dear Gail, It is a pleasure and a blessing to be a part of your herbal correspondence course. Thank you for the lifetime's work that you have pulled together to share with us - the hours in your garden; in deep listening to others, to the plants and to your own heart; your hours in research and contemplation; your hours in laughter and dreamtime; in cultivating presence and care in your medicine-making; your hours in observation and attentiveness; your hours in prayer. All of this that you have woven together to share with us, I deeply appreciate and hope to do my best to both receive, integrate, and make good use of in service to myself and others. Blessings to you, Nicole"

Consider joining me for an outstanding learning experience in the world of herbal medicine. Begin your studies in November with the thoroughly enjoyable and highly praised Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course.

The Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course extends for a full year and a half (18 months) of study and consists of 18 comprehensive written lessons; each lesson accompanied by 4 weekly webinars, approximately 65-72 audio classes in all, with Gail Faith Edwards as your personal guide and instructor.

A three day weekend during the summer of 2012 compliments the distant learning process and is included in your fee; hands-on, in person learning with the plants is critically important and will ground the herbal knowledge you will be accumulating during the course of our correspondence study. All meals (prepared with fresh organic ingredients) while on the farm, as well as all plants and materials required for making herbal medicines (jars, alcohol, honey, vinegar, oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, etc.) are also included in your fee.

The entire 18 lesson correspondence course lesson plan is outlined below. The Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course serves as the first half of the 3 year Community Herbalist Program. All students enrolled in this program have the opportunity to continue their studies at the Blessed Maine Herb Farm School of Herbal Medicine in the 3 year Program, if they desire to do so.

"In an unassuming and gentle presentation, Gail Faith Edwards has taught me more practical and hands on knowledge about herbs than I would have thought possible from a correspondence course. She captures the true essence of herbal medicine with her knowledge of folklore, scientific facts, and her wise spirit. Thank you, Gail, for giving me the foundation to make herbal nutrition and medicine a part of my daily life."

"I can't believe how much I have grown personally and spiritually. Your herbal medicine class was a wonderful enrichment. You taught me patience and opened my eyes to the wonderful local herbs available right under my nose. I just wanted to thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"Gail Faith Edwards has been a wonderful teacher and mentor. Always available to answer questions and give great feedback. She has encouraged, praised and challenged me. Most importantly, as a true wise woman, she has passed on to me the deep, spiritual respect for the earth and all that grows here. My wild heart sings with the knowledge I've gained through this course and the memories that have been awakened. Thank you, Gail."

This herbal medicine home study course is designed to provide you with a strong foundation of herbal knowledge that you can build upon for the rest of your life. Its purpose is to empower you to use herbs safely and with complete confidence to nourish and heal yourself, family, friends and community.

The course offers the serious student of herbalism an excellent springboard from which to build a well grounded career as an herbalist. Nurses, healers and complimentary health care providers have always reported finding this course to be especially inspiring and fruitful for their work. It is expected to be all the more so given its recent expansion and revision.

THE HERBAL MEDICINE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE PACKAGE includes: At the beginning of each month you will receive a PDF file containing the current month’s lesson as well as a list of suggested and required reading. You will also receive, via postal mail at the start of the program, signed copies of two of my books; Opening Our Wild Hearts to the Healing Herbs (the new revised edition – available only to students) and Through the Wild Heart of Mary; Teachings of the 20 Mysteries of the Rosary and the Herbs and Foods Associated with Them, which will serve as work and reference books, as well as several dried herb samples and other herbal goodies.

Each Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course student will have ample individual attention and will find that the direction of the course is tailored specifically to their personal interests and needs. You also have the opportunity for ongoing, unlimited email discussion with me to review and comment on your work and progress, answer questions and offer clarifications and guidance for a full year and a half. This mentoring aspect of the program is invaluable for the aspiring herbalist. Additionally you'll attend four interactive webinar's per month, focusing on the lesson work we are attending to that month.

In addition to all of the above, we will also have use of a private facebook page, Blessed Maine Herb Farm Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course, to use as a class forum and a support group during the class, if you wish. This will be a place to ask questions, talk over your current learning projects together and post activities, photos and links you would like to share. You will all be focusing on the same material - sharing ideas with each other will enhance your experience as well as help us develope a deep sense of community.

A Certificate of Completion will be awarded to you upon successful completion of the 18 month course. Note that there is no legal certification for herbalists available anywhere in the United States of America.

Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course fee is $1850. A non-refundable deposit of $100 is due upon registration and the remainder is due before the Correspondence Course package is sent. A mutually agreeable payment plan may be made available to earnest students in need.

"I am amazed by the transformation that has occurred in me over the last year since beginning your course. This is a profound, completely unexpected, and much appreciated effect your course has had on me. Thank you so much."

"This was my first introduction to herbs. I knew I had a LOT to learn, but was so amazed at how my knowledge of herbal uses and the body and its systems had soared by the end of the class."

HERBAL MEDICINE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE - LESSON PROGRESSION - Note: The fall semester starts with Lesson 1 then moves to Lesson 7 and will be further adjusted so that we're working on the gardening/gathering/medicine making lessons in tune with the seasonal progression.

Lesson 1 - Foundation - The Way of the Wild Heart, Opening Our Wild Hearts to the Healing Herbs, The Heart as an Organ of Perception, Choosing an Herbal Ally, Sacred Plant Medicine, Earth Awareness, Women's History, Great Goddess, Shamanism, Reclaiming our Traditions, Plants and Spirituality.

Lesson 2 – All life, and therefore health, springs from the ground. Introduction to Organic Herb Gardening – The life of the soil, nourishing the soil, seed planting and plant harvesting according to phases of the moon, concepts and practices of permaculture, compost, sheet mulching, weeding and cultivation, the importance of pollinators and planting specific plants and trees to attract them to the garden, Spring Tonics, Basic Botany for Herbalists.

Introduction to Materia Medica runs concurrently with the following 4 Medicine Making lessons and continues throughout the remainder of the course.

Lesson 3 – Protecting our Herbal Heritage - Harvesting and Processing Herbs - Wildgathering with reverence and respect, ground rules and considerations, techniques for properly drying herbs, appropriate storage. What to look for when purchasing dried herbs. Herbal Medicine Making, part 1 – pills, pastiles, powders, suppositories, washes, baths, poultices and compresses. Delivery, dosages, contraindications.

Lesson 4 – Medicine making, part 2 - Water Based Medicines - effective preparation techniques and choosing which herbs to prepare as teas, infusions, decoctions, syrups, meads and fermented beverages, the healing properties of honey & yeasts, herbal water baths, spiritual bathing. Delivery methods, dosages, contraindications.

Lesson 5 - Spirit Based Medicines - Making herbal tinctures in alcohol, vinegar and glycerin, using both fresh and dried plant material and experimenting with different preparation methods, how to choose the most effective menstrum and ratios based on plant constituents, decanting and storage, dosages, delivery methods, contraindications.

Lesson 6 - Oil Based Medicines - making infused oils from fresh and dried plant material, cautious use of essential oils, aromatherapy, making salves, butters, lotions and creams. The skin is our largest organ of assimilation. Herbal skin care. Rashes, itches, skin afflictions and herbs that address them.

Lesson 7 - Plant chemistry – Herbal constituents and actions, terminology of the herbalist, tastes and herbal energetics, the Vitalist or Natural approach to healing, choosing appropriate herbs to treat the whole person, introduction to case study work.

Lesson 8 - Laying the Groundwork of Nourishment - Nourishing Ourselves to Optimum Health & Vitality, Vitamins & Minerals - well developed information on each vitamin and mineral, the importance of each, what they do, where to find them, specific herbs and foods that offer them, how to recognize and overcome vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Lesson 9 - The Digestive System - Physiology and Pharmacology, what foods and herbs do we consume to support over-all digestive health and vitality and how are they best prepared. In-depth examination of the role the digestive process plays in our health. Planning and executing a health supportive dietary regime. Digestive fire. Vital essence. Bitters. Food allergies.

Lesson 10 - The Reproductive and Endocrine Systems - Physiology and Pharmacology, Herbs for Women's Health, Herbs for Men's Health, fertility & reproduction, PMS, menopause/andropause, hormonal chemistry, choosing herbs that nourish, strengthen, tone and balance these systems, delivery methods, dosages, contraindications.

Lesson 11 - The Immune and Lymphatic System, Physiology and Pharmacology, herbs to nourish our immunity, herbal antibiotics, herbs, roots, lichen, fungi that enhance immunity, move lymph fluids, methods of delivery, dosages, contraindications.

Lesson 12 - The Nervous System & Brain, Physiology and Pharmacology, Nervines and Restoratives, herbs to nourish, strengthen and tone the nervous system, herbs to alleviate stress, anxiety, depression, addressing addiction and brain chemistry imbalances, herbal antidepressants as alternatives to Prozac, etc., Herbs for Mind and Spirit. Delivery methods, dosages and contraindications.

Lesson 13 - Chronic and Acute Pain, Physiology and Pharmacology, herbs that relieve pain, applications, dosages and contraindications.

Lesson 14 – The Endocrine System - Physiology and Pharmacology. Adaptogens - the importance of understanding the uses of this unique class of herbs, adaptogens as a bridge between the immune, nervous and glandular systems, their importance in increasing metabolic efficiency and reducing susceptibility to illness and disease. Homeostasis and the effects of adaptogens on the whole body/mind/spirit. Delivery methods, dosages and contraindications.

Lesson 15 - The Skeletal and Muscular Systems - Physiology and Pharmacology, choosing herbs to support, heal and maintain strong bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons and ligaments throughout life. The role of exercise in maintaining the health of our skeletal and muscular frame. Delivery methods, dosages and contraindications.

Lesson 16 - The Excretory System - Physiology and Pharmacology, choosing appropriate herbs to support and maintain the health of the kidneys and bladder, homeostasis, maintaining the balance between acid, water and salt base of the blood, the role of the kidneys in hormonal production, herbal delivery methods, dosages, contraindications.

Lesson 17 – Heart, Lungs & Circulation System - Physiology and pharmacology, transporting blood, water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and waste throughout the body. Choosing appropriate herbs to support, nourish, strengthen and heal the heart, nourish the blood and blood vessels, lungs, air passageways, throat, mouth, and nasal passages. Delivery methods, dosages, contraindications.

Lesson 18 - Council of the Herbal Allies – Organs and Body Systems Review. Materia Medica Review. Earth Songs Heal Her - Initiation and Commencement

Correspondence Course Refund Policy: There are no refunds or cancellations accepted once materials are sent.