We are now accepting registration for the 2012 Arlington Program which begins on April 21, and meets one weekend a month through October. Students get hands-on experience making tinctures, teas, salves oils, herbal sprays, and flower essences etc. and are exposed to such various herbal traditions as Chinese, Ayurveda and Western Herbalism. Each month we cover a different body system and the herbs that nourish and support it. We focus on plant identification and do medicinal plant walks each weekend.

The Advanced Training Program has three components: Diagnostic classes, Herbal Clinics and two Intensive weekends with prominent herbalists.

The diagnostic classes meet Saturday from 10:00-5:00 p.m. The first three classes will emphasize consultation skills and will involve intensive instruction and practice. Students will learn tongue, pulse, nail, sclera and facial diagnosis as well as formulation. There will also be assignments to practice diagnostic skills during the month in between classes.

The Herbal Clinic will meet Sunday from 10:00-3:00 p.m. Students will have the opportunity to do consultations and receive guidance and feedback.

The Herbal Clinic is a required part of the course and, each month students will be asked to do consultations and develop their own style of doing an initial intake. You will receive several good models for intake forms. The focus is on teaching essential skills to be a clinical herbalist. The clinics meet on Sunday from 10:00-3:00 p.m. on January 29, February 19, March 11, April 15, and May 20.

Tommy and Madelon will be available to mentor and support those of you who would like to go on to do clinical work.

Advanced Training Weekends

The weekend intensives will cover materia medica, assessment skills, case histories, and stories from the herbal practices of prominent herbalists.

• The focus will be on how to get to the root cause of physical complaints. The classes cover advanced anatomy and physiology and the inter-relationship among body systems. This year Patricia Harpell, a Reiki master and trainer as well as herbalist, will offer an intensive weekend on reiki and the transmission of plant energy and Phyllis Light, a nationally known herbalist, will teach about natural approaches to serious mind/body imbalances and addictions.

In this intensive weekend students will be taught the art and science of Reiki combined with the healing energy of plants. Students will receive Reiki one and Reiki two attunements and will learn how to transmit herbal healing energy to themselves, each other and to those at a distance. At the end of this class, students will be certified as Reiki two practitioners. No previous Reiki experience is needed. Those practicing Reiki can receive attunements to further enhance their channeling capabilities. Students will learn how to:

• give a Reiki treatment in person and at a distance;
• scan a client for dis-ease;
• send herbal healing to a distant client;
• enhance communication with plants through Reiki;
• test and increase the potency of herbs with Reiki;
• sense where Reiki and herbal energies are flowing in the body (with clients who are near and at a distance).

With so many Americans using psychotropic medications, it is critical for herbalists to have an understanding of major mind/body disorders. In this seminar, Phyllis will describe how imbalances in neurotransmitter functioning and methylation as well as oxidative stress contribute to emotional and spiritual dis-ease. She will focus on how herbal and nutritional protocols and lifestyle changes can help address ADD/ADHD, bipolar disorder, autism, obsessive compulsive disorder and various forms of depression and anxiety. Finally, she will show how the liver, brain and nervous system work together to keep us healthy and balanced.

Some herbs covered: wood betony, valerian, passionflower, St. Johnswort, wild lettuce, hops, oatstraw, California poppy, nettles, mimosa and gingko. We will also look at blessed thistle, milk thistle, fo-ti, bupleurum, cascara sagrada, golden rod, red clover and sumac.

Any type of addiction takes more than just a strong will or good intentions to stop. In this intensive, we will take a look at different types of addictions - drugs, alcohol, food, exercise, sex, etc. and how they affect the brain and body. Phyllis will discuss herbs, nutritional supplements and other natural remedies to alleviate symptoms of withdrawal, fortify the mind/body connection, and support vital systems and willpower. Be prepared to have some your beliefs about addictions challenged. Phyllis will talk about constitutional propensities and Prochaska’s 'Stages of Change' model, which is useful for dealing with clients with addictions and other problems as well.

Some herbs covered: hops, kudzu, milk thistle, skullcap, lobelia, corydalis, California poppy, nettles, St. Johnswort, valerian, mimosa, blessed thistle and nutritional supplements.

The fee for the whole training (which includes the three components) is $1295. The diagnostic classes and Herbal Clinic are $795 and the weekends with visiting herbalists are $500. For those who have financial concerns, students will be able to make payments with a credit card. Please let us know if you would like to join.