Overview
The CHP was created for people with a basic training in human health or with foundation experience of herbalism who want to go deeper. The 10 month course covers anatomy, physiology, pathology, wellness and disease as well as herbal, nutritional and other natural approaches to healing. It follows the body systems to build a holistic and comprehensive understanding of the body in health and disease, and practical applications of herbs and natural medicines. Designed as an ‘intermediate’ level course, CHP Level 1 provides a solid foundation in clinical herbalism and the tools and skills to use herbs safely and effectively.
The program is intended to empower individuals to provide herbal and other natural care to their family, friends and community, for common complaints and for promotion of wellbeing. It is not a certification to practice herbal medicine as a clinician, but rather it supports students to be a resource and a coach or guide for people to seek their own best healing.
The CHP Level 1 Program is also a preparatory course for the keen student to progress into the Community Herbalist Program Level 2 and on into the supervised clinic practicum.
Philosophical Underpinnings
At the core of natural or holistic medicine, from herbal medicine to nutrition to prayer, is the fundamental belief that the body can get well and be well; that the natural state is ‘well’ and that all our healing agents are designed to move us towards this state.
This foundational belief that nature governs us as well as heals us – that we are of nature not separate from nature – is fundamental to the practice of holistic herbal medicine. The herbalist assesses balance and imbalance on every level of the body and develops therapeutic protocols based on restoring natural harmony and functions. Excess or deficiency, heat or cold, wind or stagnation, there are herbal strategies to regulate and normalize these metaphoric or literal pathologies.
The CHP Level 1 Programis taught as a holistic overlapping of science and practical skills, of taking abstract classroom concepts and visualizing them in the body, and of learning how to use ancient healing knowledge in a modern bio-mechanical world.
Competancies
The CHP is divided into 2 Levels, each comprised of 10 weekend intensives, with additional hours in CHP Level 2 for specialty courses. CHP Level 1 is designed to be a ‘stand alone ‘ course; it provides a solid understanding of the human body, how it is put together, how it works and how it goes wrong, along with a sound review in the practical application of herbs. Taught by a medical herbalist, a chiropractor and a naturopath with a strong focus on self care, it will give a solid foundation in holistic health and community care. Level 2 will build on what was taught in Level 1 and is designed to introduce clinical and practice skills, to teach assessments and evaluations, and to introduce students to clinical practicum skills.
Graduates of the CHP Level 1 training will be competent to make constitutional and energetic assessments, wellness evaluations and to make appropriate recommendations for enhancing balance and harmony in the body, mind and spirit. They will know how to determine time and reason and resources for referrals. An introduction will be made in how to ‘read’ the body, to assess and evaluate subtle clues such as tongue or pulse assessment, as well as overt signs and symptoms such as blood pressure, urinalysis and lymph node palpation. Blood, urine, saliva and stool testing will also be introduced. We will discuss diet and nutrition for specific conditions as well as other natural medicine modalities where applicable.
CHP Level 1
- Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology of 9 the different body systems
- Primary Materia Medica for the body systems
- Understanding herbal actions
- Constituents and pharmacology
- Applications and safe dosing
CHP Level 2
- Assessments and Evaluations – the constitutional and holistic approach
- Formulating and Treatment Planning
- Dispensary Skills and Clinic Management
- Record Keeping for the Herbalist – SOAP notes and more
- Professional / Business Ethics
- Herbalists as Educators
- Growing, Harvesting and Processing Herbs
- Medicine Making
- Guest Speakers (clinicians) describing their clinical approaches
CHP Level 1
10 weekends (one per month)
September 2013 to June 2014 (Dates in 2014 tba)
Friday 6.30 pm – 9.00 pm
Saturday 9.30 am – 5.30 pm
Sunday 9.30 – 4.00 pm
15 teaching hours / weekend x 10 weekends = 150 hours
These hours may be applied toward Canadian Herbalists Association of BC or American Herbalist Guild requirements for professional training
Curriculum shall include
- Advanced Anatomy and Physiology
- Western Bio-medical Pathophysiology
- Assessments and Testing of wellness – in-office assessments and lab work
- Constitutional Definitions (Ayurvedic and Western)
- Definition of Vitalism and Tissue states
- Energetic Assessment of patient and herbs
- Therapeutic Protocols for different body systems
Three of the weekend intensives will be taught by a guest lecturer, Dr. Nik Vizniak, chiropractor, author and director of Professional Health Systems (prohealthsys.com). These sessions introduce the student to a holistic and integrated view of the structure and function of the human body. These weekends will demonstrate the magic and the mystery of the body, as they explain how it is put together and how it works.
The remaining weekends are centered on a specific body system – reviewing anatomy, physiology, pathology and materia medica. Each weekend covers physiology, pathology and clinical assessments of different body systems (taught by Dr Erika Kneeland, ND), as well as the diseases and disabilities that affect different systems, how we get sick, and the practical applications of herbs and holistic healing principles, treatment principles and materia medica for the body systems (taught by Chanchal)
Each Friday class begins with a 30 minute question and answer session covering materials from the previous class.
Assessments
There is no pass or fail on this course, but in order to get the certificate of attendance you do need to attend a minimum of 80% of the class time and submit work for review. This must be completed before advancing into CHP Level 2.
There are two assignments to be completed before graduation. Both of these must be presented by the final class.
One
Write up a report (1200 – 1500 words) on a herbal treatment you have administered and what you learned from doing so. You can discuss how you assessed the patient, how you chose the herbs, how you administered the herbs, what the outcome was and what you learned from doing it.
Two
Make a herbarium of 6 pressed plants and write a monograph on each.
Curriculum Details: CHP Level 1
Introduction to Clinical Herbalism Chanchal September 27/28/29, 2013
- Overview of plant chemistry
- Overview of actions, energetics, and constitutions – clinical applications of herbs
- Herbarium – set assignment of 6 herbarium specimens and monographs
- Plant attunement and plant meditation
- Dosing and dispensing – Strategic thinking and Clinical Formulating
Introduction to Human Anatomy Dr Nik Vizniak Session 1 October 18/19/20, 2013
- Structure and function of the human body
- Surface anatomy
- Musculoskeletal structure and connective tissue
(bone, muscle, tendon, ligament, cartilage, superficial fascia and skin)
The Immune System Erika / Chanchal November 15/16/17, 2013
- Physiology of immunity – what are white blood cells and how do they operate
- Inflammation – mediation and modulation with natural medicines
- Fevers – diaphoretics, fever treatments
- Primary / innate immunity – mucolytics, expectorants
- Secondary / acquired immunity – anti-microbials, immune stimulants
- Lymphatic system – lymphatic stimulants
- Auto-immunity – immune tonics, anti-inflammatories
- Allergies – mucolytics, anti-allergenics, decongestant
- Testing the immune system
The musculoskeletal system Erika / Chanchal December 13/14/15, 2013
- Bone and bone marrow
- Broken bones, osteoporosis
- Muscle, tendon and ligament
- Cartilage and synovial membranes and fluid
- Connective tissue repair
- Skin and dermatology
- Detoxification
- Connective tissue repair
Introduction to Human Anatomy Dr Nik Vizniak Session 2 January 10/11/12, 2014
- The nervous system
- The endocrine system
- The reproductive systems (male and female)
The Nervous System Erika / Chanchal February 8/9/10, 2014
- Sympathetic and parasympathetic balance
- Stress and anxiety, insomnia, tension headaches, PTSD
- Stimulants and sedatives – alkaloids
- Headaches and migraines
- Mental health – depression, schizophrenia, OCD
- Pain management
The Endocrine System Erika / Chanchal March 14/15/16, 2014
- Hormones and the neuro-endocrine interface
- Pineal gland – melatonin
- Pituitary gland – TSH, ACTH, LH, FSH, GH,
- Thyroid and metabolism – hypo / hyper thyroidism
- Adrenals and metabolism and immune regulation – General Adaptation Syndrome
- Pancreas and diabetes – blood sugar stabilizers
- Men’s and Women’s reproductive health
- Steroidal saponins, hormone balancers
- Testing endocrine systems
Introduction to Human Anatomy Dr Nik Vizniak Session 3 April 2014 tba
- Internal organs / viscera – lung, heart and circulation, digestion, kidney, spleen
The Respiratory System and the Cardiac System Erika / Chanchal May 2014 tba
- Lung infections, fibrosis, COPD
- Anti-microbial
- Soothing & stimulating expectorants
- Connective tissue repair
- Hypertension
- Vasodilators, diuretics
- Arrhythmia and palpitations, flutter and fibrillation
- Cardiac sedatives and regulators / tonics
- Cholesterol, atheroma and heart attack
- HDL / LDL
- Testing the lungs and heart and blood pressure
The Digestive System and the Kidneys Erika / Chanchal June 2014 tba
- Cephalic, mechanical and chemical phases of digestion – bitters, enzymes
- Liver, bile and pancreas – hepatics, choleretics, cholagogues
- Renal excretion – diuretics, demulcents, anti-lithics
- Bowel function – anthraquinones, fibre
- Testing digestive, liver and kidney function
Highly recommended texts (not included in the fee)
- From our teacher, Nik Vizniak – The Muscle Manual available at ProHealthSystems http://prohealthsys.com/products/muscle_manual.ph
- David Hoffmann – Medical Herbalism
- Debra St Claire – The Herbal Medicine Chest
- Kerry Bone – A Clinical Guide to Blending Liquid Herbs
- Matthew Wood – The Practice of Traditional Western Herbalism: Basic Doctrine, Energetics and Classification, Earth wise Herbal: Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants and Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to New World Medicinal Plants
- Stephen Buhner - The Lost Language of Plants and Secret Teachings of Plants
- David Hoffmann – Medical Herbalism
- Simon Mills and Kerry Bone – Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy
- Simon Mills and Kerry Bone – The Essential Book of Herbal Safety
Recommended texts (not included in the fee)
- Barbara Griggs – Green Pharmacy
- Dennis McKenna, Kenneth Jones, Kerry Hughes – Botanical Medicines: The Desk Reference for Major Herbal Supplements
- Donald Yance – Herbal Medicine, Healing and Cancer
- Francis Brinker – Herb Contra-indications and Drug Interactions
- Francis Brinker – The Toxicology of Botanical Medicines
- James Green – Herbal Medicine Makers Handbook
- Kurt Schnaubelt – Advanced Aromatherapy
- Michael McGuffin, Chris Hobbs, Roy Upton, Alicia Goldberg – Botanical Safety Handbook
- Mitchell Stargrove, Jonathan Treasure and Dwight McKee – Herb Nutrient and Drug Interaction
- Peter Bradley – British Herbal Compendium Vol. 1 & 2
- Thomas Epel – Botany in a Day
- Thomas Bartram – Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine
CHP Level 2 (Draft Outline)
10 weekends (one per month)
Held in 2014 and 2015
5 day summer intensive
1 day per month of clinical practicum (10 days total) = 300 hours total
These hours may be applied toward Canadian Herbalists Association of BC or American Herbalist Guild requirements for professional training
Curriculum Shall Include:
- Assessments and evaluations – the constitutional and holistic approach
- Formulating and treatment planning, advanced therapeutics and materia medica
- Dispensary skills and clinic management
- Growing, harvesting and processing herbs
- Medicine making
- Guest speakers (clinicians) describing their clinical approaches
- Handling clients in follow up and long term
- Deepening Research skills
- Community work/projects
- Designing a Business/Vision Plan
Suggested Instructors for Level 2 – to be confirmed
Matthew Wood – Holistic Assessment Skills (5 day intensive)
Keith and Maureen Robertson, MNIMH – Clinical Practice Skills
Katolen Yardley, MNIMH – Medicine Making (1 weekend)
Erika Kneeland, ND – Assessing & Testing: blood, urine, stool and saliva testing
(1 weekend)
Clinical Practicum
Students will sit in on clinic 1 day per month to observe professional herbalists hold interviews with patients.
Students will also practice clinical skills with each other under supervision
Case Studies
Case presentation and round table discussions are held monthly.
Total Training for Community Herbalist Program Level 2: 300 hours
Registration
Pre-requisites: CHP Level I or equivalent
To register, print and return the Registration and Waiver of Liability and return with payment. Also please check the Cancellation and Withdrawal Policy.
OR, pay online through paypal:
*Paypal rates include the $150 non-refundable Deposit. Please see Cancellation & Withdrawl Agreement for important details on refunds.Early Bird Rate
(10% off if paid by September 9th, 2013)
Regular Rate
(Paid by September 27th, 2013)
Or contact Chanchal for more information about the Community Herbalist Program:
- Call 250 338-8767
- Email Chanchal@chanchalcabrera.com
