Practical Herbalism Series

This hands-on series gets you in the kitchen crafting, blending, formulating, and making medicine with herbs!

Herbalism is true grassroots, for-the-people medicine. It is available and accessible to all. My goal is to empower you to make healing herbal medicine for yourself and your family, while imbuing you with the joy that comes from knowing these amazing, powerful herbs. 

Practical Herbalism is designed to give you practical tools for staying healthy and empower you to use herbs for your wellness needs. 

This series is excellent for beginners or for those who wish to go deeper with specific health topics.

By the end of the course you will:

  • Have a home apothecary that’s bursting with herbal medicine

  • Know 50+ medicinal herbs

  • Be able to make a variety of herbal remedies

  • Have a toolbox of herbal techniques to keep you and your family healthy

  • Have a new group of local, wellness-minded friends

  • Feel empowered in your wellness

No experience is necessary.

The series is held on Thursday evenings from 6-8pm.

Classes in the series:

  • 3/21 - Intro to Herbalism

  • 3/28 - Allergy Care Part 1: Immune Health

  • 4/4 - Allergy Care Part 2: Ear, Eye, Nose & Throat Health

  • 4/18 - Heart Health & Cardiovascular Care

  • 4/25 - Focus & Brain Care

  • 5/9 - Deep Sleep

  • 5/16 - Stress, Depression, & Anxiety

  • 5/23 - Detoxification (Liver & Lymphatic Health)

  • 5/30 - First Aid & Skin Care

  • 6/6 - Self-Care (aka Herbal Spa)

You don’t have to take all the classes in the series — you can take just one, or as many as you wish. However, the classes do build upon one another.

Pre-registration is required. Please register at least 8 hrs in advance.

Two payment options: One payment of $375 or four monthly payments of $95.

CLASS LOCATION

Classes are located at Vaux Studio in Center City, Philadelphia.

CLASS AND CANCELLATION POLICY

Please register at least 8 hours prior to the start of class so we can be prepared for the right number of people.

 If you need to cancel, please cancel at least 8 hours before start of the class via email, call, or text. If you cancel fewer than 8 hours before the start of the class, or simply do not attend the class, we cannot refund your class payment.

Class Descriptions

Intro to Herbalism

We’ll explore the different schools of herbalism while delving into the history of this ancient practice. We will discuss the basic tenets of working with plants, practice connecting with our herbal intuition and explore the different types of herbal remedies. You’ll learn Botanical Safety - aka how to know if an herb is safe for you. We will sip herbal tea and learn how to make a medicinally potent herbal infusion.

This class will give you a foundation for the rest of the classes in the series. 

Medicine-Making: Infusions. You take home an Infusion blend.

Allergy Care Part 1: Immune Health

Spring is a great time, right? We can finally be outside, enjoying nature… but then allergies hit. Allergies can be a serious buzzkill to any sort of outdoor fun, from a back patio to a camping trip. In this two-part class we’ll explore how herbs can help to prevent or minimize allergic response and how to support yourself when allergies descend.

In Part 1, you’ll learn how to support your immune system with herbs. This is helpful for both allergies and for general immune health.

Medicine-Making: Decoctions. You take home a decoction blend

Allergy Care Part 2: Ear, Eye, Nose & Throat Health

Explore herbs + techniques for dealing with the symptoms of allergies, such as oozing eyes, congestion, sneeziness, sinus pressure, itchy face — all the unpleasantries that make allergy season unbearable.  While this will be geared toward allergies, you’ll leave with an herbal toolkit for dealing with colds as well as other assorted issues that affect your face.

Medicine-Making: Steams, Throat Spray, Compresses. You take home an herbal throat spray.

Heart Health & Cardiovascular Care

We’ll explore herbs that can support long-term heart and circulatory system health. We’ll discuss tonic herbs for the circulatory system and the heart as well as hypotensive herbs, which affect blood pressure, and vascular tonics, which support the arteries and veins.  We delve into the fun yet messy art of making herbal pills and capsules. If heart issues run in your family, or your someone who has cold hands & feet, this class is for you!

Medicine-Making: Pills & Capsules. You take home hand-rolled herbal pills and herbal capsules.

Focus & Brain Care

We’ll explore herbs to sharpen your focus, improve brain function, and support long-term brain health. Topics include: circulation & oxygenation; memory issues, mental clarity & brain fog; healing from traumatic brain injury; inflammation & neurodegenerative diseases; preventative brain care.

Medicine-Making: Tinctures. You take home 4 oz. of herbal tincture (there will be an alcohol free option).

Deep Sleep

We all know that sleep is important, but for some of us, sleep can be elusive. This can be a frustrating and complex issue. We’ll explore: herbal sedatives, nervous system support, how to relax the body, the nuances of different “sleep herbs” and how to make the right blend for you.

Medicine- Making: Oxymels. You take home a 4 oz. oxymel (a sweet & sour herbal syrup)

Stress, Depression, & Anxiety

Mental health is complex. Issues can be chronic or acute, situational, environmental, or stemming from an experience deep in your past. There is no one solution for managing stress and anxiety, but herbs can be a helpful tool. We’ll learn about adaptogens and nervines and how to use herbs for both ongoing and acute challenges.

Medicine-Making: Glycerites. You take home 4 oz. of herbal glycerite.

Detoxification (Liver & Lymphatic Health)

We’ll go beyond basic notions of “detoxing” to explore how herbs can support you liver and lymphatic system — two major players in keeping you healthy.

Medicine-Making: Herbal Oils. You take home 4 oz. of herb-infused oil.

First Aid & Skin Care

Herbs provide extremely effective first aid for cuts, scrapes, bruises, and various weird skin situations. We’ll explore some stellar first aid herbs and learn to use herbs to heal your skin.

Medicine-Making: Salves. You take home a 1 oz. tin of first aid salve.

Self-Care (aka Herbal Spa)

We’ll learn how to make various luscious concoctions, such as scrubs, bath blends, soaks, and more. We’ll do an herbal face mask together and do a plant spirit meditation.

Medicine-Making: Sugar Scrubs & Face Masks. You take home a 4 oz. herbal sugar scrub.

FAQ

Do I have to take all the classes in the series?

 Nope! You can take as many as you want. But please know that while each class can stand alone, they do build on each other. So for instance we’ll talk about Tulsi in the Brain Health class. Even though Tulsi is relevant for other classes, such as Stress, Depression & Anxiety, we won’t go in-depth with Tulsi again.

To sign up for individual classes click on the individual class in the Apothecary.

Do you have payment plans available?

Yes, there is a 4-month payment plan of $95/month. Click here to access that option.

Do you have scholarships available?

Yes, we offer one 50% scholarship. It is first-come, first-served. If you’re interested, please email Amanda at info @ locustlightfarm.com.

What’s the parking like?

There is parking available at three nearby lots.

Is the classroom accessible?

Unfortunately, no. There is a small staircase leading up to the entrance of the building. Class will be held on either the first floor of the building. We will sit on chairs around a table for class.

What’s your cancellation policy?

If you need to cancel, please cancel at least 8 hours before start of the class via email (info @ locustlightfarm.com). If you cancel fewer than 8 hours before the start of the class, or simply do not attend the class, we cannot refund your class payment.