Certified Family Herbalist Program

The Certified Family Herbalist Training covers Modules 1 and 2 (24 lessons) of the Journey Christian Herbalist Training Course. This self-paced course provides the foundation for your journey to a healthier life and a basic knowledge about herbs. You may take up to one year to complete the course, though most people can finish it in two semesters.

Self-Paced, Progress-Reviewed, Certificate of Completion Awarded upon final grade of 75%

Who Might Be Interested in the Certified Family Herbalist Course of Study?

• Those interested in instructional oversight and evaluation of progress as they seek to understand how to choose and prepare healthful food for one’s own family
• Those interested in learning to oversee family health care and administer home health care in self-limiting, and some chronic, diseases, knowing when to access outside help when necessary and how to blend conventional medicine with complementary nutrition and herbal therapies
• Those interested in the possibility of pursuing one of the other programs of the Journey Christian Herbalist Training Course– Certified Community Herbalist/Family Health Educator, Certified Women’s Health/Women's Health Educator, or Clinical Herbalist.
• Those desiring to approach the ministry of health to their family and others from a Christian perspective

What Materials and Services are Included in the Certified Family Herbalist Course?

• Journey Christian Herbalist Training Course Modules 1 and 2 in PDF format
• 24 Video Classes
• Evaluation and Review of each of the lessons in Modules 1 and 2 (Lessons 1-24) plus your Final Project and Exam (though not required for Family Herbalists, we encourage you to complete it in case you want to continue to Module 3 and complete your Certified Community Herbalist/ /Family Health Educator)

Note: Our plans are to include additional learning opportunities like these when they become available:

• Three 1.5-hour Teleseminars in MP3 format: Dietary Evaluation and the Impact of Nutrient Deficiencies; Ancient Herbs, Ancient Medicine: Herbal Therapeutics; Body Systems Health: Herbal Intervention Strategies

What Additional Materials Are You Required to Purchase?

Family Herbalists must purchase:

• Naturally Healthy Babies and Children, by Aviva Jill Romm, MD
• The Daniel Plan, by Rick Warren, D. Min.; Daniel Amen, M.D; and Mark Hyman, M.D (There is an alternate assignment available.)
• An Anatomy and Physiology textbook, chosen to correspond with your individual goals

Community Herbalist, Women’s Herbalist, or Clinical Herbalist Programs, you must also purchase:

• Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy, Second Edition by Simon Mills and Kerry Bone, 2nd Edition
• The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety, 1st ed., by Simon Mills and Kerry Bone

What Will You Accomplish in the Certified Family Christian Herbalist Course?

Learn:

• The Foundations of Health in Trusting God as the Great Physician
• How to Make Your Home as Naturally Healthy as possible
• How to Evaluate Your Own Family’s Health
• Introduction to Herbs

Are Other Books/Resources Recommended, Though Not Required, for Reading Should You Want to Pursue Further Study at Some Point?

• Books by Shonda Parker: Mommy Diagnostics; Naturally Healthy Woman; Naturally Healthy Pregnancy; Naturally Healthy Cuisine. These books may be out of print. We have a source for some of them.

What Amount of Time Will I Spend Studying the Course and In What Areas?

• Pathophysiology: 26 hours
• Medical Terminology: 12 hours
• Biochemistry: 30 hours
• Nutrition: 48 hours
• Materia Medica/Therapeutic Herbalism: 100 hours
• Pharmacy, Pharmacognosy, and Dispensing: 52 hours
• History & Philosophy of Herbal Medicine: 20 hours
• Total Study Hours: 288 hours (average 12 hours per week)

Lesson Structure:

• Module One
  • Lesson 1: Nourishing the Spirit: Health Attitude with Altitude
  • Lesson 2: Nutritional Foundations: Whole Health for the Whole Family
  • Lesson 3: Nutrient-Dense Foods: Carbs, Proteins, Fats, and Fiber
  • Lesson 4: Vitamins
  • Lesson 5: Minerals
  • Lesson 6: Nutrient Needs of the Pregnant Mama
  • Lesson 7: Evaluating Dietary Practices/Trends by the Word
  • Lesson 8: Evaluating Dietary Practices for Health Concerns
  • Lesson 9: Mommy Diagnostics: Evaluating Family Health
  • Lesson 10: Prevention and Intervention: Health Tools, Vaccinations, Acute Crises
  • Lesson 11: Using Herbs for Medicine: Herbal Properties & Actions
  • Lesson 12: Equipping a Naturally Healthy Household
  • Module 1 Project: Dietary Strategies for Specific Health Concerns
  • Final Grade for Module 1 after Review

  Module Two

  • Lesson 13: Ancient Herbs, Ancient Medicines
  • Lesson 14: Pharmacognosy & Herbal Therapeutics; Making Herbal Infusions
  • Lesson 15: Plant Gums & Mucilages- Materia Medica; Making Herbal Decoctions
  • Lesson 16: Immune-Stimulating Polysaccharides- Materia Medica; Making Oxymels
  • Lesson 17: Glycosides: Anthraquinones and Alcohol/Salicylate- Materia Medica; Making Fomentations & Poultices
  • Lesson 18: Glycosides: Aldehydes and Cyanophose- Materia Medica; Making Suppositories, Enemas, and Private Washes
  • Lesson 19: Glycosides: Phenols- Materia Medica; Making Glycerites
  • Lesson 20: Fixed Oils and Plant Acids- Materia Medica; Making Lotions, Salves, Ointments, and Oil Infusions
  • Lesson 21: Glycosides: Volatile Oils (Essential Oils) and Terpenoids- Materia Medica; Making Tinctures
  • Lesson 22: Alkaloids- Materia Medica; Making Elixirs and Syrups
  • Lesson 23: Growing and Wildcrafting Herbs for Herbal Preparations- Wildcrafting Formulation Project; Optional: Making Capsules
  • Lesson 24: Herbal Formulations: The Art and the Science- Making Herb Gels and Gummies
  • Module 2 Project: Making Your Own Formulation

• Final Exam and Final Grade – Certificate Awarded with passing grade of at least 75%
• Total Credit Hours: 288 hours

The Certified Family Herbalist Course is custom-tailored for those individuals wishing to have personalized interaction with their instructor as they learn how to use herbs safely and effectively for their own families.

In this 24-lesson course, you’ll learn valuable lessons including the foundations of health, how to make a healthy home, and how to use herbal preparations for your family. You’ll also learn how to evaluate your own family’s health.

Do you desire more knowledge about family health care and administering home health care in self-limiting, and some chronic, diseases? How about knowing when to access outside help when necessary and how to blend conventional medicine with complementary nutrition and herbal therapies? The Certified Family Christian Herbalist Course is the right course for you!