Proposed Course: Be Your Own Herbalist - An Introductory Course
Course Overview
The purpose of the Be Your Own Herbalist course will be to educate laypeople on the basics of herbalism, so they can be better informed about choosing and using herbal remedies and related supplements. The focus of this course will be on educating students to think like an herbalist, and understand the various frameworks for herbal selection, including Ayurveda and TCM. Students will also learn when herbs might be helpful for a condition, and when Western intervention may be necessary. Safety is one of the main focuses of this course; thus, a good portion of the content will focus on the importance of being well-informed about herbal medicine. At the end of the course, students will be encouraged to continue their studies in herbalism.
I am a board-certified Ayurvedic Practitioner (Ayurveda is not yet licensed in the United States) as well as a trained herbalist. I have an Illuminated Herbalism certification from David Crow and completed a comprehensive herbal internship with the renowned herbalist KP Khalsa, who helped found the American Herbalists Guild.
Knowledge Gap
In the advent of the covid pandemic, more and more people have turned to alternative methods of healing. Here in the West, we do not have a strong infrastructure for herbal medicine knowledge or training, and cultural biases often lead to a dismissal of alternative medicine as “pseudoscience.” (In contrast, countries like India have government agencies such as AYUSH that promote the safe use of herbal remedies.) Thus, Western doctors are often poorly trained (if at all) about herbs and their potential interactions with medicines.
Patients, often frustrated with a lack of results from Western medicine, are turning to herbal medicine without any training or knowledge. For whatever the reason, many of these patients are also not seeking help from alternative medicine practitioners or herbalists. Some of this may be due to financial considerations, but some online sentiment seems to indicate a distrust of “experts” in general. Based upon trends observed in online communities, many of these people end up resorting to online communities of peers to get herbal treatment recommendations for everything from fibromyalgia to cancer.
For example, the “Herbalism and natural cures” channel on Telegram has over 61,000 members. While not all the information is bad, there is an alarming tendency for people with no clinical knowledge of herbalism to hand out possible “cures” and canned “protocols” for others in the chat. This is potentially dangerous and counterproductive, leading to negative perceptions of alternative medicine as being unsafe, flaky, or at minimum, ineffective.
The Be Your Own Herbalist course is designed to help promote responsible use of herbs as well as mitigate some of the damage being done by online communities that encourage “armchair herbal diagnostics.” Students will be taught the basics of herbal medicine and how to approach the subject safely and with integrity. They will also be better equipped to distinguish between good and bad advice offered on online forums.
Finally, the course will aim to instill in students a strong respect for the discipline of herbalism and the years of training that go into it. This will hopefully inspire students to either pursue advanced training on
their own or, when prudent, consult with professional herbalists and knowledgeable integrative doctors.
Learning Theories
Andragogy (Adult Learning Theory)
Andragogy emphasizes that adults learn best when they are self-directed and see the relevance of what they are learning. This course will provide learners with opportunities to choose their own learning paths, such as selecting herbs they are most interested in. Additionally, the course will clearly connect herbal knowledge to practical, real-life applications—like creating home remedies or understanding the benefits of specific herbs for health and wellness. By framing the content in a way that directly impacts their daily lives, the course will be more engaging and valuable for adult learners.
Strengths:
Self-Directed Learning: Adults learn best when they are self-directed and see the relevance of what they are learning.
Relevance to Daily Life: Connecting herbal knowledge to practical, real-life applications makes the content more engaging and valuable.
Limitations:
Individual Differences: Each adult learner may have different prior experiences and learning styles, which can affect the effectiveness of self-directed learning.
Potential for Overload: If the course is too self-directed, some learners might feel overwhelmed without sufficient guidance.
Design Choices:
Flexible Learning Paths: Allow learners to choose their own learning paths, such as selecting herbs they are most interested in.
Practical Applications: Incorporate activities that directly impact daily life, like creating home remedies or understanding the benefits of specific herbs for health and wellness.
Guided Reflections: Provide opportunities for learners to reflect on their prior experiences with herbs and natural remedies, ensuring a well-rounded understanding.
Examples of Learning Activities:
Herb Selection Activity: Ask learners to research and select herbs for specific conditions, reflecting on their prior experiences and integrating new knowledge.
Home Remedy Project: Encourage learners to create their own herbal blends or home remedies, applying their understanding of herbal actions and energetics.
Constructivism
Constructivism suggests that learners build new knowledge upon their existing knowledge and experiences. This course will incorporate activities that encourage learners to reflect on their prior experiences with herbs and natural remedies. It will use problem-based learning scenarios where learners can apply their current understanding to solve new challenges, such as identifying herbs for specific conditions or creating their own herbal blends.
Strengths:
Building New Knowledge: Learners build new knowledge upon their existing knowledge and experiences.
Problem-Based Learning: Encourages learners to apply their current understanding to solve new challenges, enhancing practical application.
Limitations:
Dependence on Prior Knowledge: The effectiveness of constructivist approaches depends on the learners' prior knowledge and experiences.
Potential Misinterpretation: Without clear guidance, learners might misinterpret their prior experiences or apply them incorrectly.
Design Choices:
Problem-Based Scenarios: Use problem-based learning scenarios where learners can apply their current understanding to identify herbs for specific conditions or create their own herbal blends.
Reflective Journaling: Encourage learners to keep a reflective journal where they document their experiences, thoughts, and insights about herbalism.
Collaborative Learning: Incorporate collaborative activities where learners can share their experiences and learn from each other.
Examples of Learning Activities:
Identifying Herbs Activity: Present learners with case studies of common conditions and ask them to identify suitable herbs based on their current understanding.
Herbal Experience Reflection: Have learners try an herbal tea for a specific period of time and journal about their experiences with the tea. Reflections can be optionally shared in the discussion forum.