Instructor(s):
Debra J. Macking, LMT, MA
Massage Therapist & Healer
Achievinglife@gmail.com

Course Time / Format:
18 hours, 3hrs/wk-6wks: Discussion, Activities

Course Description:
You have heard of herbal supplements, miracle cures using herbs, precautions of St. Johns Wort and other supplements while taking medications, and probably are left unsure and confused. Perhaps you are finding conflicting information, are unsure what constitutes herbal therapies, how to determine safety and benefits of herbs, or you merely want to be a more informed consumer while bringing in more alternative forms of healing. Learning about herbal healing will give you the general knowledge, understanding, and resources to take charge of how you incorporate herbal healing into your life. From folk remedies to eating habits herbal healing is part of your life: take that part and learn more about it with this course.

The course will be include a brief introduction and survey to herbal healing and medicines. The course is focused on defining and understanding what herbal healing is, how to do research into herbal medicines, learning about some common herbal remedies, cautions and considerations in starting to use herbal therapy, communicating with health care professionals regarding hebral remedies, and finding reading materials for further research.Touching on areas of safety, quality, forms of herbs will involve research online and through use of Herbal books and understanding the German Commission and the Physician Desk Reference on Herbal Medicines. Surveying forms of herbal therapies will look at Asian Modalities, Folklore & Home Remedies, Indigenous Traditions, and Indian Homeopathy. Understanding the uses of herbs will address use of supplements, dried herbs/teas/smokes, use of fresh herbs, and both internal and external uses. Research into the cautions and considerations of herbal usage will look at risk factors from drug interactions, lack of clinical research studies, safety and quality of herbs, and both importance of keeping track of herbal use and informing health practitioners of usage.

The purpose of this course is neither to endorse nor oppose the use of herbal therapies. The instructor is not an herbologist nor medical doctor. The primary goal is to help educate the individual to understand Herbal Therapy from an unbiased standing outlining both pros and cons. The course operates by the same safety guidelines it promotes with the caution that herbal therapies discussed and researched do not necessitate safety or fully informed understanding. The use of any alternative therapy should be done with care and ones medical doctors should be informed of the use of alternative therapy, herbal therapy, dietary standards, and other forms of healing therapy that are being used.

Learning Objectives:
*Give examples and definitions of herbal therapy
*Be able to briefly describe general history(ies) of herbal medicine
*Be able to list common herbs that are encountered daily and their possible effects
*List resources for education on herbal therapies that are reputable.
*Know and understand the importance of drug interactions and cautions.
*Be able to describe uses of herbs in healing.

Included Reference Materials:
* Physician Desk Reference For Herbal Medicines: Book & Site: http://www.pdrhealth.com/drugs/altmed/altmed-a-z.aspx
* Natural Medicines Comprehensive Databse: www.naturaldatabase.com
* American Botanical Council: abc.herbalgram.org
* Food & Drug Administration: www.fda.gov
* National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine: http://nccam.nih.gov/

* Various other books and articles related to Herbal medicine and healing therapies.

General Course Outline: Time devoted to class may varry based on primary format of course and interest.
Class - Topic
1. Introduction: What is herbal therapy, what is included
2. History of Herbal Therapy
3. Forms of Herbal Therapy
4. The Body & Medical Considerations
5. Discussing Herbal Medicine to Medical Professionals
6. Researching Herbal Therapy
7. Common herbal therapies and treatments
8. Ethics and needs in area of Herbal therapies.

Grading Scale:
While a non-credit course the class will offer a grading of Surpassed, Passed, and Unsatisfactory. Grading will be based on utilization of course interaction, pass/fail on assignments, and final one-on-one discussion with instructor
Above 80%: Surpassed
Above 60%: Passed
Below 60%: Unsatisfactory