Herbs & Nutrition for the Digestive System

Herbal Foundations Certificate Course

Students can join for the weekend or sign up for a single day.

Please email your questions to: MidAtlanticSchoolofHerbalism@gmail.com

June 4th-5th, 10am-3pm

Herbalists say the Digestive System holds the key to health. The old saying ‘We are what we eat’ should be revised to ‘We are what we are able to assimilate!’ Good digestion depends on the smooth working of the alimentary tract from mouth down to the ‘other end’.

Saturday, June 4th

10am-12pm: Herbal Actions for the Digestive System

The morning, class will begin with an introduction to the digestive system and an overview of GIT herbal actions such as bitters, laxatives, astringents, demulcents, carminatives, and anti-spasmodics, and the herbs that correspond with those actions. We’ll also explore some elementary approaches to digestive issues such as chronic constipation, diverticulitis, and IBS.

1-3pm: Digestive Physiology & Nutrition

This afternoon, we’ll begin with an overview of gastro-intestinal physiology and discuss the importance of a well-functioning GIT for whole body health. This includes eating a balanced diet, rich in nutrient dense foods and herbs as well as cultured and fermented foods, to build a diverse microbiome to prevent issues such as intestinal dysbiosis and candida.

Sunday, June 5th

10am-12pm: Tonics for the Liver

The morning we’ll dive into hepato-stimulant herbs, targeting the liver and gallbladder. These include hepato-protectives, chologogues, and chloretics, as well anti-microbial herbs that target the digestion.

An overview of liver detoxification will include a personalized herbal protocol for liver cleansing and simple protocols for liver and gallbladder issues.

1-3pm: Materia Medica for the Digestive System

This afternoon class will cover the materia medicia of herbs that act as digestive stimulants, promoting and enhancing the process of digestion and nutrient absorption. Herbal relaxant herbs, which act as demulcents, carminatives, and anti-spasmodics will also be covered.

These herbs actively relax and soothe the tissues of the gastro-intestinal system (GIT) by reducing overactivity and inflammation and restoring normal function. Finally, we’ll look at simple protocols for heartburn, GERD, and food intolerances.

Please email your questions to:

MidAtlanticSchoolofHerbalism@gmail.com

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Intrigued by herbs? The herbalists at Mid-Atlantic School of Herbalism (MASH) have a combined experience of using them for more than 100 years! We’d love to share our expertise with you. Come and join our Foundations of Herbalism Certification at MASH at our home at the Smile Herb Shop. This certification course is currently taught online via Zoom in executive format, one (1) weekend (Saturday & Sunday, 10 am-12 pm, 1-3 pm) each month (except August) with a follow –up study group webinar 1 ½ weeks after the weekend classes. Assignments and study between classes are required for certification. Classes are recorded so they can be made up if missed. Each weekend is $199, which includes class recordings, power points, handouts, study material and the follow-up webinar. Enrollment is on a rolling basis so you can join at any time.

The one-year program consisting of 11 months of study, leads to a Foundations of Herbalism Certificate. For those who are interested in clinical practice, students can continue on for a second year of study to gain a Professional Herbalism Certification. This advanced course also consists of 1 weekend a month, over a period of 11 months and concentrates on protocols and a clinical component. If both years are completed with accompanying assignments and case studies, students receive a Certificate of Advanced Therapeutic Herbalism or a Diploma of Clinical Therapeutic Herbalism (depending on clinic choices).