Community Herbalist Program

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You are here » Home / Faculties & Programs / School of Phytotherapy / Community Herbalist Program

The Community Herbalist Program is a unique 4-month program that introduces students to the incredible world of plants and their medicinal uses according to various cultures. This program explores of the history of plant-based therapies and how to identify and cultivate herbs, use plant-based foods to maintain health, and make and apply herbal remedies to restore health.

Graduates of this program can use knowledge and experience gained to establish a community-based herbal clinic to assist family and friends, work in the health and wellness retail sector, grow and maintain herbal gardens, create herbal preparations or matriculate into the Diploma of Phytotherapy program at PRC.

To facilitate an easy transition into the Diploma of Phytotherapy, 4 courses (Materia Medica, Energetics of Herbal Medicine, Practical Herbal Pharmacy and Natural Emergency Medicine) within the CHP program are directly transferable into the 3-year diploma program.

Below are the courses that comprise the Community Herbalist Program. Successful completion of all components is necessary for graduation with a Community Herbalist Certificate.

Materia Medica
This is the study of plants as medicines, the essence of any program in Herbal Medicine. Students learn about the medicinal effects of 40 plants through both personal experience and herbal monographs prepared by modern and traditional Herbalists.

Energetics of Herbal Medicine
This is the study of the energetic principles used to determine the action of plant-based medicines in the human body. Instructors with specialties in various healing traditions share their knowledge about the use of plants for optimal healing. The energetic principles covered include philosophies of North American and European indigenous cultures, Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Practical Herbal Pharmacy
Students begin the study and practice of transforming fresh plants into medicines by creating various herbal products. The class focus is equally divided between theory and practical work to ensure that students have a firm grasp of concepts. A variety of preparations are covered including Infusions, Decoctions, Tinctures, Syrups, Ointments, Lotions, Poultices, Clays, Capsules, Infused Oils, Salves and many others.

Introduction to Herbal Medicine
All cultures around the world have used plants as medicines either as their sole health care modality, or as a complementary or alternative option. This class explores the history of plant use in various cultures around the world and examines the similarities and differences of their systems of healing.

Flower Essences
PRC's courtyard and herbal gardens

A powerful and effective way of using plants as medicines is through Flower Essences. Bach Flower Remedies are perhaps the most well known Flower Essences. This class introduces students to the theories behind the creation and use of Essences and also teaches students to create their own Essences and blends.

Aromatic Medicine
Aromatherapy is the art of using the scent or aroma of a plant to produce an effect within the body through the nervous system response. This class introduces students to the concepts and ideas about the practical use of Aromatherapy.

Ethnobotany
This course provides an introduction of the science of studying native and traditional plants as medicines. Students learn about research tools and techniques used to ascertain ethnobotanical data and also look at the relationships of various cultures with the plant world.

Natural Emergency Medicine
Whether on a family trip or at home, people rely on First Aid for the treatment of acute conditions. For thousands of years for humans and animals this reliance has been on the plant world. This component introduces students to the application of plants and pressure points for treating emergency situations.

Herb Walks
This class gives students the opportunity to learn Herbal Medicine by exploring living plants as they exist in the natural world. Students learn proper identification of medicinal plants and the types of environments in which they naturally grow.

Herbal Clinic
Essential to the application of Herbal Medicines is the ability to properly assess health conditions of people and to effectively determine which plants would help restore health. In Herbal Clinic students learn the art of consulting and how to create a treatment plan to assist with healing.

*Courses that transfer into the Diploma of Phytotherapy program.

The Community Herbalist Program is offered twice yearly, with programs beginning in January and September. All components are offered on Thursday and Friday evenings and Saturday and Sunday days.

Throughout the second half of the Community Herbalist Program, students gain valuable clinical experience by working in PRC's Student Clinic under the guidance of a Medical Herbalist.

Graduates of the Community Herbalist Program can use knowledge and experience gained to establish a community-based herbal clinic to assist family and friends, work in the health and wellness retail sector, grow and maintain herbal gardens, create herbal preparations or matriculate into the Diploma of Phytotherapy program at PRC.

To facilitate an easy transition into the Diploma of Phytotherapy, 4 courses (Materia Medica, Energetics of Herbal Medicine, Practical Herbal Pharmacy and Natural Emergency Medicine), 10 credits, within the Community Herbalist Program are directly transferable into the 3-year diploma program.

Entering students into the Community Herbalist Program at Pacific Rim College must have a high school diploma, be of good moral character and have an interest in herbal medicines. In addition, all non-native English speaking applicants must demonstrate a mastery of written and spoken English. Any foreign applicant may be required to submit an official score report from an English proficiency exam such as TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Test System).

To register for the Community Herbalist Program, please complete and submit a Program Registration Form available through the button below. For further information, please contact an admissions officer at admissions@pacificrimcollege.ca or by phone. For all registrants, your space in the program will not be reserved until a $200 enrolment deposit has been paid.

International students are welcome to attend Pacific Rim College and are encouraged to apply. Canadian law requires foreign students to have a valid study permit to study in Canada. Pacific Rim College provides international students with the necessary documentation to receive a valid study permit. In some cases students can apply for and obtain a permit upon entering Canada.

Canadian law requires that foreigners obtain a work permit for work within Canada during academic studies. See http://www.cic.gc.ca/ for more information.

Fall 2010 Community Herbalist Program
September 2 - December 5		Fall Break October 8-10
Thursdays	3:30pm - 6:30pm
Fridays	3:30pm - 6:30pm
Saturdays	9:00am - 5:00pm
Sundays	9:00am - 5:00pm

Winter 2011 Community Herbalist Program
January 6 - April 21		Holidays TBA
Thursdays	3:30pm - 6:30pm
Fridays	3:30pm - 6:30pm
Saturdays	9:00am - 5:00pm
Sundays	9:00am - 5:00pm

Tuition for the Fall 2010 Community Herbalist Program is $3700. A $200 non-refundable enrolment deposit* is due at time of registration, and full tuition payment is due on August 19, 2010.

*Any student determined by the college to be ineligible for program enrolment will receive a refund of the enrolment deposit.

Community Herbalist Program

Total Requirements

Materia Medica*
Energetics of Herbal Medicine*
Practical Herbal Pharmacy*
Introduction to Herbal Medicine
Flower Essences
Aromatic Medicine
Ethnobotany
Herb Walks
Natural Emergency Medicine*
Herbal Clinic

45 hours
45 hours
45 hours
18 hours
18 hours
21 hours
12 hours
12 hours
12 hours
12 hours

This program is approved for Canada Student Loans. Please visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca for information about Canada Student Loans. Students must submit a paper application for student loans. The online application process is not available to PRC students at this time. Please print an application from the Canada Student Loans website or pick up an application from PRC or any other academic institution registered with Canada Student Loans.

For a list of all financial aid programs available to PRC students, please visit our Financial Aid page.