| Diploma Program - Western Herbalism |
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Western Herbalism The Western Herbalism Diploma program offered at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts in Tempe, Arizona is a unique 600 hour career-oriented herb course designed to give students opportunities to experience every aspect of plant medicine, from seed to sale. This program is designed to enhance the students’ connection with the earth and plants from a spiritual and energetic point of view, as well as from the photochemical perspective. Healing with holistic plant medicine is far from a new practice, however it is regaining popularity as more health-care practitioners are recognizing the need for natural nurturing. The experienced herbalists who teach the core classes enhance the exploration of botanical properties and preparations, while introducing students to an array of vocational choices after the program is complete. Ample support is provided for each student to pursue his or her own unique dream in the field of botanical medicine. Field work in the desert allows the class to become familiar with local plant life and encourages sustainable wild-crafting practices. There is also an externship which includes opportunities for community education, supervised clinical intake, retail experience and a research thesis. This vocationally-oriented, hands-on program is a one or two year academic and clinical course of study that offers a student herbalist the study, skills and experience needed to be a professional herbalist. The externship includes opportunities for community education, supervised clinical intake and protocol generation, retail experience and a research thesis. Upon full completion, the graduate will have all prerequisite knowledge and experience to become an Associate Member of the American Herbalist Guild. With two years of additional experience, one may apply for professional status. After completion of this diploma, the student is prepared for an entry-level position either as self-employed or in relation to companies and educational institutions. Herbalists may be clinicians. In this capacity, depending on years of experience, fees range from $40 to $100 per session. May make and sell custom herbal teas and extracts as part of clinical work which increases potential income. May be educators in school settings, to the public at large, or for national herbal manufacturers. Teaching compensation range from $25 to $75 per hour. May work in the natural foods industry, most notably in a retail setting. Full time herb department managers earn between $20,000 to $35,000 annually, depending on store size and individual experience. May take advantage of areas of opportunity that are quickly coming to the forefront for interested and knowledgeable Herbalists. They include medical consultation, pharmaceutical consultation, cultivation, formulation, and research. The Western Herbalism program starts only twice a year - either in October or January with the Foundations for American Herbal Studies 40 hour class. This introductory class is beneficial to anyone interested in a comprehensive over view of Western Herbology and the the cornerstone on which the diploma program builds.
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The program has been researched, written and designed by JoAnn Sanchez. JoAnn has nearly three decades of study and experience in the herb industry including a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Development and graduate study in botany. She has been a self-employed Herbalist since 1989 and is the owner of Botanica, where she mentors and supervises new teachers of herbal studies.Since 1998, JoAnn has been an adjunct professor at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences in the Department of Botanical Medicine, and caretaker of a medicine garden there. JoAnn is recognized as a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild.
