MEDICINAL HERB FOR BEGINNERS

Instructor: Donna Brokaw

Donna has been homeschooling for 35 years and has designed gardens for over 28 years. Her home garden includes 75+ medicinal herbs which she uses for the health and healing of her family. Her Great-Grandmother Nettie (born 1864) was an Eclectic & Herbal Nurse Practitioner. Some of Nettie’s knowledge and practices were passed to Donna, but most were lost. Donna has made it her ambition to recover as much herbal medicinal knowledge as possible and to teach her 4 children, her grandchildren and others what she knows. She is currently studying with Rosemary Gladstar, the nation’s leading herbalist, while also working towards a certification with the Christian Herbalist’s Guild.

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MEDICINAL HERBS FOR BEGINNER STUDENTS & PARENTS

(This is part one of a two-part class.)

Learn to grow, identify, and prepare your own medicine.

Have you wondered how to begin using herbal medicine? In this hands-on class you will discover how to start your journey as a home herbalist. You will become familiar with over 20 herbs, and what body systems they work with best, as you learn to make: infusions, decoctions, oils, salves, syrups, tinctures, and more. You will also begin to build your own herbal recipe book, Materia Medica, that you will add to your home apothecary. 

Target Grade Levels:   13 -  Adult (Parent in Velos)

Herbal Medicine Syllabus (* subject to change)

WEEK - HERBS - MAIN SUBJECT - LAB

Herbal Medicine Syllabus (* subject to change)

WEEK - HERBS - MAIN SUBJECT - LAB
1 Lemon Balm & Red Clover – Endocrine System Herbs - Intro & Garden walk
2 Chamomile & Valerian - Nervous System Herbs - Making Infusions
3 Panax Ginseng & Holy Basil – Immune System Herbs - Making Decoctions
4 Comfrey & Nettle - Skeletal System Herbs - Making Tinctures
5 Calendula & Plantain - Integumentary System Herbs - Making Oils & Solar-infused Oil
6 Dandelion & Burdock - Herbs for the Liver - Making Salve
7 Elder & Licorice - Immune System Herbs - Making Syrup & Cough Drops
8 Lavender & Feverfew – Nervous System Herbs – Making Herb Pillows & Generator
9 Sage, Rosemary & Thyme - Culinary/ Medicinal Herbs - Cooking with Herbs for Health
10 Cinnamon & Orange - Healthy Herbs for Your Holiday Party

You will need: 6 pint canning jars, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, and you'll need to purchase a few herbs (most herbs, tools, containers, and your book are provided).

Schedule and Tuition: 

Thursday  9:30 - 11:00 AM

September 11 - November 13, 2025. (10 weeks)

Tuition :  $275.00 per semester  

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MEDICINAL HERBS 102 

Continue learning to grow, identify, and prepare your own medicine.
This class is for students and parents who have taken Medicinal Herbs for Beginners 101.

(This is part two of a two-part class.)
In this hands-on class you will continue on your journey as a home herbalist. You will become familiar with over 20 more herbs, and what body systems they work with best, as you learn to make: sprays, capsules, pills, herbal baths, compresses, poultices, as well as using essential oils, infusions, decoctions, oils, salves, syrups, tinctures, plus. You will complete your herbal recipe book and Materia Medica for this class. You will learn how to put together a user-friendly, herbal first aid kit and home apothecary.

Prerequisite:  Medicinal Herbs for Beginners 101 (OR teacher's approval)

Grades are optional.

Herbal Medicine Syllabus (* subject to change)
WEEK - HERBS - MAIN SUBJECT - LAB
11 Chickweed & Hawthorn - Circulatory System Herbs - Growing & Drying Medicinal Herbs
12 Marshmallow & Spearmint - Respiratory System Herbs - Making Lip Balm
13 Garlic & Goldenseal – Urinary System Herbs - Making Capsules
14 Echinacea & Mullein - Lymphatic System Herbs - Making Pills
15 St John's Wort & Yarrow - Muscular System Herbs - Making Compresses & Poultices
16 Peppermint & Yellow Dock - Digestive System - Making Herbal Sprays
17 Rose & Aloe - Integumentary System Herbs - Herbal Baths (hand demo)
18 Cayenne & Ginger - Circulatory System - Put it All Together - How to Build an Herbal Apothecary
19 Siberian Ginseng & Turmeric – Muscular & Olfactory - Essential Oils & mixing them
20 Basil & Oats - Integumentary System - Continuing Your Herbal Education

Schedule and Tuition: 

Thursday  9:30 - 11:00 AM

January 29 - April 9, 2026 (10 weeks)

Tuition :  $275.00 per semester