I recently completed the Herbal Academy’s online herbalism course and wanted to share my experience with others considering enrolling. This is my Herbal Academy review. As someone always interested in herbal medicine, I was excited to find a comprehensive course that allowed me to study at my own pace and on my own schedule.
The Herbal Academy’s curriculum is well-structured, covering everything from the basics of herbal medicine to more advanced topics like formulation and medicine making. The course is designed to be accessible to both beginners and experienced herbalists, with plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning and practical application.
The instructors are knowledgeable and passionate about their subject matter, and are always available to answer questions and provide guidance. Overall, I found the course to be an excellent investment in my herbal education, and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about this fascinating field.
Overview of the Herbal Academy
Here is an overview of the Herbal Academy, including its history, mission, accreditations, brand, and community presence.
History and Mission
Marlene Adelmann founded the Herbal Academy in 2011 to make herbal education accessible and affordable worldwide. What began with a handful of online courses has grown into a diverse catalog that now includes introductory, intermediate, and advanced programs.
At its core, the Academy embraces a mission to “promote a lifestyle of wellness and vitality through the use of herbs, sound nutrition, and optimal health practices.” To fulfil this vision, it provides courses that explore herbalism, nutrition, and overall wellness, giving students practical tools to integrate plant-based knowledge into daily life.
Accreditations and Recognition
The Herbal Academy is accredited by the American Council for Holistic Medicine, a non-profit promoting holistic practices. The academy is also recognized by the American Herbalists Guild, a respected professional organization for herbalists.
Brand and Community Presence
Herbal Academy maintains a strong brand presence, with a user-friendly website and a Facebook group of more than 34,000 members. Various publications, including Mother Earth News, Natural Health, and Herb Quarterly, have featured the Academy, further strengthening its reputation.
A vibrant community supports the Academy, with professional herbalists leading its courses and guiding students. Courses emphasize interaction and hands-on learning, keeping students actively engaged. To complement the lessons, the Academy provides a wide range of resources such as books, videos, and online forums, ensuring learners have ongoing support throughout their studies.
Courses Offered – Herbal Academy Review
As an Herbal Academy student, I can access courses for both beginners and advanced herbalists. The courses provide a comprehensive understanding of herbalism, plant identification, wildcrafting, herbal preparations, and remedy formulation.
Introductory Herbal Course
The Introductory Herbal Course is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in herbalism. It is a self-paced online course that covers the basics of herbalism, including plant identification, herbal preparations, and formulating herbal remedies.
The course is divided into several units, each of which focuses on a specific aspect of herbalism. The course also includes hands-on activities, quizzes, and assignments that help students apply what they have learned.
Intermediate Herbal Course
Students who complete the Introductory Herbal Course or already hold prior knowledge of herbalism can advance to the Intermediate Herbal Course. This program explores more complex topics, including anatomy and physiology, herbal energetics, and advanced herbal preparations.
Advanced Herbal Course
Students who complete the Intermediate Herbal Course or already hold a solid foundation in herbalism can advance to the Herbal Academy’s Advanced Herbal Course. This program explores complex topics such as clinical herbalism, herbal therapeutics, and advanced formulations.
Learners also engage in hands-on activities, quizzes, and assignments that reinforce their knowledge and help them apply what they’ve studied in practical ways.
Short Courses and Pathways
Herbal Academy provides a wide range of short courses and learning pathways tailored to specific interests and goals. Students who want to support their family’s health and wellness can follow the Family Herbalist Path. Those aiming to become professional clinical herbalists can pursue the Clinical Herbalist Path, while aspiring entrepreneurs can take the Entrepreneur Herbal Course to build a herbal business.
In addition, the Academy offers short courses on specialized topics such as herbal fermentation, herbal skincare, and herbal gardening, giving learners the chance to deepen their knowledge in focused areas.
Curriculum and Educational Content – Herbal Academy Review
As someone who has completed the Herbal Academy’s Intermediate Herbal Course, I can confidently say that the curriculum and educational content are well-structured and comprehensive. The course is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in herbalism, covering everything from the basics of herbal therapeutics to advanced medicine-making techniques.
Course Structure and Topics
The Herbal Academy’s courses are divided into modules, each of which focuses on a specific aspect of herbalism. For example, the Intermediate Herbal Course is divided into 10 modules, covering topics such as botany, body systems, therapeutics, and materia medica. Each module consists of several lessons, which are delivered through a combination of video, PDF printouts, charts, and other materials.
Teaching Methods and Materials
Herbal Academy uses teaching methods that keep students engaged and encourage interaction. Video lessons showcase knowledgeable instructors who bring passion for herbalism into every session. PDF printouts and charts deliver clear, concise information in a well-designed format, giving learners practical resources to support their studies.
Herbalism Specializations
One thing that sets the Herbal Academy apart from other herbalism schools is its focus on specialization. The Academy offers a number of specialized courses, such as the Herbal Self-Care for Stress Management course and the Herbal Fermentation course.
These courses allow students to delve deeper into specific areas of herbalism and develop expertise in those areas.
Practical Applications and Hands-On Learning – Herbal Academy Review
As someone who loves hands-on learning, I felt thrilled that Herbal Academy offers practical assignments to apply knowledge. Here are the practical applications I found most valuable during my time studying with the Herbal Academy.
Making Herbal Preparations
One of the most exciting aspects of the Herbal Academy is the emphasis on making herbal preparations. From tinctures to syrups, decoctions to herbal teas, the Herbal Academy teaches you how to make a wide variety of herbal remedies.
In addition to learning the basics, the Herbal Academy also offers courses on herbal fermentation and botanical skin care.
Gardening and Wildcrafting
If you’re interested in growing your own herbs, the Herbal Academy has you covered. They offer a gardening course that covers everything from seed starting to harvesting, as well as a wildcrafting course that teaches you how to ethically and sustainably gather herbs in the wild.
Creating Herbal Recipes
After learning herbal preparations and growing herbs, the Herbal Academy encourages creativity by guiding students to craft their own recipes. They offer herbal recipe courses and a spice course that teaches how to use herbs and spices to flavor food.
Student Experience and Support – Herbal Academy Review
To begin with, I found the level of support and community engagement to be exceptional. The academy offers a platform for students to interact, share knowledge, and establish a solid foundation in herbalism.
Community and Peer Interaction
One of the best aspects of the Herbal Academy program is its vibrant student community. Through the platform, learners connect, exchange knowledge, and ask questions in a supportive space. Students come from diverse backgrounds and bring varying levels of experience, which enriches the discussions. That diversity fosters a dynamic learning environment that inspires exploration and experimentation.
Instructor Guidance and Feedback
The Herbal Academy’s course instructors are knowledgeable and supportive. They provide guidance and feedback to students throughout the course, which is essential in building confidence and mastering the material. The instructors are available to answer questions and provide additional resources, which helps clarify concepts and reinforce learning.
Assessment and Certification
Herbal Academy designs its courses to be comprehensive and rigorous. Students face a thorough assessment process that includes assignments and quizzes to test their knowledge and understanding of the material. Certification demands the same level of rigor, ensuring graduates gain the skills and expertise needed to practice herbalism safely and professionally.
Costs and Financial Considerations – Herbal Academy Review
As with any educational pursuit, cost is an important consideration when deciding whether or not to enrol in the Herbal Academy. Therefore, I will provide an overview of the various costs associated with the Herbal Academy, including information on discounts and affordability options, as well as the potential return on investment.
Course Pricing
The Herbal Academy offers a range of courses, from the Introductory Herbal Course to the more advanced Entrepreneur Herbal Course. Prices for these courses vary, with the Introductory Herbal Course starting at $45 and the Entrepreneur Herbal Course priced at $2,995.
It’s important to note that the Herbal Academy also offers payment plans for some of its courses, making it easier for students to manage the cost of their education. Additionally, the Herbal Academy frequently offers discounts on its courses, which can be a great way to save money.
Discounts and Affordability
The Herbal Academy offers a number of discounts and affordability options for its courses. For example, they offer a 10% discount to members of the American Herbalists Guild, as well as a 10% discount to members of the United Plant Savers.
The Herbal Academy also offers a scholarship program for their courses, which can be a great option for students who may not have the financial means to pay for their education upfront. Additionally, the Herbal Academy has an affiliate program, which allows students to earn a commission by referring others to the Herbal Academy.
Return on Investment
The potential return on investment for an education from the Herbal Academy can be significant. Graduates of the Herbal Academy’s courses have gone on to start their own herbal businesses, work as herbalists, and even publish books on herbalism.
Of course, the return on investment will vary depending on a number of factors, including the course taken and the individual student’s goals. However, for those who are passionate about herbalism and willing to put in the work, the Herbal Academy can be a great investment in their future.
Holistic and Cultural Perspectives – Herbal Academy Review
First, I believe in taking a holistic approach to health and wellness. This means considering the whole person, including physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Moreover, the Herbal Academy’s curriculum reflects this foundation, incorporating traditional wisdom and cultural perspectives into its teachings.
Incorporating Traditional Wisdom
One of the things I appreciate most about the Herbal Academy is its focus on incorporating traditional wisdom into its curriculum. This includes teachings from Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Indigenous cultures.
By learning from these different perspectives, students gain a more comprehensive understanding of how herbs work within the body and how to approach health and wellness from a holistic perspective.
Understanding Energetics and Body Systems
The Herbal Academy’s curriculum also emphasizes the importance of understanding energetics and body systems.
This includes learning about the different organ systems in the body, as well as the nervous system and how it relates to stress and overall health. By understanding the energetics of different herbs and how they interact with the body, herbalists can better tailor their approach to each individual.
Approaches to Health and Wellness
The Herbal Academy teaches health and wellness approaches, including internal and external herbal use. This includes topical applications for skin conditions and headaches, plus internal use supporting immunity and body systems.
Additionally, the Herbal Academy offers a Family Herbalist program, which teaches students how to use herbs to support the health and wellness of their entire family.
Before You Go – Herbal Academy Review
The Herbal Academy empowers learners by offering structured, accessible courses that bring herbal wisdom into everyday life. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or expanding advanced knowledge, the Academy equips you with practical skills, trusted resources, and a supportive community.
Before you go, remember that herbal education thrives when you apply what you learn, experiment with recipes, grow your own herbs, and integrate plant-based practices into your daily routine. By investing in your learning, you not only deepen your understanding of herbalism but also cultivate a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle.
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References – Herbal Academy Review
Little Herb Encyclopedia, by Jack Ritchason; N.D., Woodland Publishing Incorporated, 1995
The Ultimate Healing System, Course Manual, Copyright 1985, Don Lepore
Planetary Herbology, Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., Lotus Press, 1988
Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, by James A. Duke, Pub. CRP Second Edition 2007
The Complete Medicinal Herbal, by Penelope Ody, Published by Dorling Kindersley
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Frequently Asked Questions – Herbal Academy Review
What are the common complaints about the Herbal Academy?
As with any educational institution, there are always some complaints. However, after researching reviews and forums, I found most Herbal Academy complaints involved website issues or slow support. These issues seem to be rare and are quickly resolved by the support team.
How does the Herbal Academy compare to the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine?
Both schools provide high-quality herbal education, but there are some differences.
The Herbal Academy offers comprehensive courses covering herbal energetics, formulation, clinical skills, and many other topics. On the other hand, the Chestnut School emphasizes practical herbalism, including growing, harvesting, remedy-making, and wildcrafting. Ultimately, the choice between these schools depends on your personal preferences and educational goals.
Does the Herbal Academy offer any accredited certification programs?
No, the Herbal Academy does not offer accredited certification programs. However, they provide various courses that build a solid foundation in herbalism and prepare students for professional practice. Many students have successfully used Herbal Academy education to start herbal businesses or work as herbal consultants.
What are the experiences of students who have taken the free course offered by the Herbal Academy?
Many students reported positive experiences with the free Herbal Academy course.
They found it informative, engaging, and well-organized. Some students later enrolled in Herbal Academy’s advanced courses after completing the free course.
How do reviews on Reddit reflect the quality of the Herbal Academy?
Reviews on Reddit are mixed, with some users praising Herbal Academy’s comprehensive courses and experienced instructors. However, others criticize the school for being overpriced or lacking depth. It is important to note that Reddit reviews are subjective and may not always reflect the school’s overall quality.
What is the general reputation of the Herbal Academy on the Better Business Bureau (BBB)?
The Herbal Academy has an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website. This shows the school maintains a strong reputation and resolves complaints promptly and professionally. This is a positive indication of the school’s commitment to quality education and excellent customer service.