Fundamentals of Herbal Medicine

This 7-session course is meant to give the student an understanding of the fundamental concepts of western herbal medicine. The level of learning will be appropriate for those who are just starting to learn about the subject, or those who have explored the subject without any structured approach. By the completion of the course the student is meant to have a level of knowledge suitable for addressing minor health issues for themselves as well as others. In addition, the class is structured so as to provide a firm launching point for further study. Topics that will be covered include basic anatomy and physiology, plant identification, harvesting technique, medicine making, strengths and weaknesses of different preparation methods, medicinal plant usage, ecological and social issues pertaining to herbal medicine use, history of herbal medicine, legal considerations, and more. Two of the sessions will be held in the field. About the Teacher: Joshua Muscat is a practitioner of western herbal medicine in his fourteenth year of practice. He founded and runs San Francisco Botanical Medicine Clinic, sfbmc.org. Class meets Sundays May 2, May 16, May 23, June 6, June 13, June 20, June 27. Course Tuition: $245 general, $220 EC members -- payment in advance upon registration. Registration required.