The Best Online Herbal Education Experiences
Being an herbalist is a wonderful way to connect with both plants and people — I like to think of herbalists as the ultimate matchmakers between herbs and humans. There are so many different magical ways to be an herbalist: you can be an herbal products maker, a kitchen witch, a clinical herbalist, an herb farmer, an herbal teacher, and more. And just as there are many ways to be an herbalist, there are also many different ways to learn about herbalism.
You might learn about your ancestral herbal traditions from your family and beloved community. Perhaps you apprentice at a local apothecary. Or maybe you go to herb school. Now, especially with so many online classes, there is a wealth of accessible herbal knowledge for folks to find exactly what herbal educational experience they're looking for.
Last year I wrote about LearningHerbs' favorite in-person herb schools, and this year I'm going to dive into our favorite online herbal education offerings. Here it goes in no particular order...
Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine
Founded by Juliet Blankespoor, the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine offers several online herbal courses, including an immersion program, a medicine making course, a foraging course, and an herbal safety course. In these classes, Juliet draws on her decades of experience to support your herbal journey — she is also joined by a number of other expert herbalists along the way.
The School of Evolutionary Herbalism
Herbalists Whitney and Sajah Popham offer a variety of online courses through the School of Evolutionary Herbalism that can support beginners and advanced practitioners alike. They offer in-depth materia medica and bring a unique astrological and alchemical perspective to their work.
HerbMentor
HerbMentor is LearningHerbs' affordable online herbal education platform. For just $1 you can join and get access to classes on herbal basics, remedy making, first aid, folk herbalism, food as medicine, herb gardening, and more. Classes are taught by beloved herbalists like Rosemary Gladstar, 7Song, Thomas Easley, and Shereel Washington.
bibi + ni
Founded by Naomi Spector and Sarah Serrano, bibi + ni offers several herbal classes rooted in the instructors’ ancestral traditions. Classes include but aren't limited to "African Herbs for Children's Health" and "Jewish Plant Traditions for Birth."
HerbRally Schoolhouse
HerbRally Schoolhouse has a number of online courses with expert teachers like Maria Noel Groves, Elizabeth Guthrie, and more. This enriching site can help support both beginning and seasoned herbalists.
Peoples Medicine Project
Based in upstate New York and facilitated by amanda david, the People’s Medicine School works to serve all by centering BiPoC, Queer, Trans and those with a liberatory focus in finding their roots in plant medicine. The school offers an in-depth online program.
Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine
Founded by Thomas Easley, the Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine offers three self-paced online certification programs in foundational herbalism, community herbalism, and clinical herbalism. Topics covered range from herbal medicine for acute care to scope of practice for the herbalist to medicine making and more. These courses are great for the professional herbalist who wants to deepen their herbal practice.
The Free Herbalism Project
Organized by Mountain Rose Herbs, the Free Herbalism Project is a free virtual event that offers free classes with expert herbalists. This past year herbalists Dr. Susan Leopold, Nathan Wright, Mimi Prunella Hernandez, and Lucretia VanDyke each offered a free class through the event.
The International Integrative Educational Institute
Led by K.P. Khalsa, the International Integrative Educational Institute offers training on several herbal traditions, teaching the fundamentals of Ayurveda, western herbal traditions, and Chinese herbalism.
Herbs with Rosalee
Rosalee de la Forêt offers foundational online herbal classes that can help you get started on your herbal path, dive into the power of herbal tea, and break down marketing for herbalists. Rosalee's straightforward approach leaves learners feeling empowered and ready for the next step on their plant path.
PS... Before I go, I couldn't help but answer a few frequently asked questions about herbal education...
What herbal books should I read?
There are so many incredible herbal authors and books out there. Check out my article on my favorite books for herbalists here.
Do I need to do a certificate program to be an herbalist?
The term "herbalist" is not regulated, so you technically don't need to study or train at all to call yourself an herbalist; however, if you want to connect people with plants, it's important to make sure you have taken the time to learn about plants and sharpen your herbal skills. You can learn through a certificate program, ancestral familial traditions, an apprenticeship, online classes, and more.
I want to go to an in-person herbal school. Where should I go?
If you want to go to an herbal school in person, you can check out my list of our favorite in-person herb schools here.
The Herbal Remedy Vault has all of our printable recipe cards...
