hi, i was just wondering if anyone could pass on details of a good herbalism distance learning course. i am looking for one that will provide me with a viable qualification. i seem to be swamped with options but don't really know which qualification is preferable. any thoughts on stonebridge associated colleges?

Hi Pixie

Have you had a look at the courses listed on our education page http://www.herbsociety.org.uk/education.htm ? You don't say what you want to do at the end of your course, do you just wish to be better informed about herbalism or do you want to work towards becoming a herbalist? I cannot answer all your questions, I hope that one of the 'resident' herbalists will be able to help. I'm doing a distance learning course with New Vitality Tuition, which doesn't give you a qualification at the end of the course, but it is has been accredited by the British Herbal Medicine Association (BHMA). Its a very extensive and informative course, but if you're looking to get certificated straight away it may not be what your require. Hopefully others will be along shortly and offer their experience and wisdom.

Debs

i can see that i would be wise in telling you a little about my background to get some good advice lol. i currently work as a historical interpreter and a heritage actress. most of the characters i play tend to be herbalists in one form or another. i also grow a large medieval herbal on a heritage site. i give herbal talks in this vein. i do not ever profess to be a qualified modern herbalist and all my talks come along with a warning of "this is what we did" i cannot feel justified in giving any modern advice because i don't feel that i am qualified to do this. this however does not mean that my knowledge is in any way wrong. but i would like to be able to give "proper" advice as i seem to have people seeking me out. also i am sure we can all appreciate that none of us get any younger and the qualification to be able to practice and have a secure future is a huge incentive.

Hi Pixie,
Yes, knowing your reasons for wanting to do a herbal course makes it much easier to advise you.

As you don`t want to practice as a herbalist,then i think the course that Debs mentioned,the New Vitality course would be ideal. It is run by very good people and would give you an excellent grounding.

I`m intrigued about where and what you do, I`m sure a lot of other readers would like to know.I`m surprised that Debs hasn`t already got you to agree to write an article for the web site !

I`ve had your problem,only in reverse. I`m a medical herbalist,but some years ago a friend tried to get me to join his re-enactment group,and to take the part of the herbalist .I was acutely aware that my knowledge of the historical use of herbs was zilch,but he kept saying to me that it didn`t matter,as I was able to read some books and do some research.After many months of this, I capitulated and found myself on a merry go round, but i definetly didn`t want to get off.It sparked what has become a passion for me and I quite often find myself to be far happier when i`m "living in the past " The period that I`ve re-enacted is the 17th C,at the time of the Monmouth rebellion,but I`m just really interested in any historical periods.

So,please do tell us all more and good luck with whatever course you do. Bye the way--forgive me for asking, but are you a member of the herb Society? If not, then maybe your employers would pay the cost of your membership as it is very revelant to your work.

Good luck

Linda

Hi Pixie,
In my previous response,i can see that I concentrated on the historical aspect of your work and somewhat ignored your thoughts for the future.

I still think the Vitality course would be the best to start with as it is one that would ,I believe, provide you with an enry qualification if in the future you decided to apply to do a degree. The number of distance learning courses that are available are few and far between. The best one I would recommend is the Scottish school.There would be some parts where you would have to attend seminars and it is going to cost, but the quality of the teaching is of a very high standard and you come out able to practise.
Beware those courses that waffle on about the legislation isn`t yet in place for the requirment to have a specific qualification to enable to practise. The situation in this country is that at the moment,anybody can set up and practise as a herbalist with absolutly no training at all. For some years now, the various different herbal organisations have been working together to agree a core curriculaem and agree to work to an agreed standard and therefore their members will be able to become state registered practitioners,when the government passes legislation that to practise, you have to be properly qualified. It is all abit of nightmare for anyone wanting to do a course that is a distance one. There are plenty of "schools" selling courses that say you would be able to practise after doing their particular course ,but are able to say that ,as you don`t need any qualifications at the moment!.

The irony in this is that, for those of us who are qualified, we are subject to rigorous conditions, applied by our professional organisations including being insured.

Sorry if I have ended up confusing you even more and the best of luck.

Linda

hi Linda,
thank you so much for your reply and kind words. as for courses, i had a look at the scottish one and it seems that doing a corrispondence course at the level required to become a practitioner is far too complicated. I am wondering if perhaps i should start smaller for the time being. i am working two jobs, running my own buisness and raising two children and a husband. Maybe i should just concentrait on getting myself some solid grounding for my current state for the time being. afterall i have my whole life to study. I love learning new things and seem to be the eternal seeker of more. i feel one person can never know enough. but that is just the way i am (drives my husband round the bend) However i still have not yet enroled on a course so any further advice would be welcome.

as for the job, i work for a heritage theatre company based in wales. we provide a variety of differnt and colourful characters. i however seem to spend most of my time playing a herbalist.i also have played a 17th century herbalist. a little earlier than the monmouth rebellion. i bring my character to schools and museums and her back story is that it is 1667 and i am making my way back across the country to wales from london after finding there was less call for my sills. after all much of the plague and pestience was whiped out but the great fire. in this i fit myself nicely into the yr 3 curriculum as i can give first hand experience of the dissater and the plage that came before. this same character i play at notable manors and castles. often peddaling my wares to the vain members of the aristocrasy (madder, belladonna, to name a few. i also do a good deal on rose, lavender, and rosemarie waters. all tied in nicely with the tudor washballs!)
i make pomanders and lavander favours with the kiddies. i have even had a group of younge male offenders skipping out of the cottage exolling the virtues of rosemarie.
however this is not the only period i do and i spend many a bank holiday making carmelite waters in the 14th century.
i have played a 12th century nun based on hildegarde of bingen (credited with the invention of lavender water) in a ruined abbey.
i could go on and on but i am sure i wouldstart to bore you. but last but not least my absolute fave is the grandaughter of the lady of lyn y van vach.

Hi Pixie.

I can see that you are a very busy person and it was fascinating learning of your work.
Re training,given what is going on for you at the moment,I would definetly say that the Vitality course originally suggested would be your best option. Maybe Debs could tell you a bit more about her thoughts on it as she is doing the course.

Good luck and do stay in touch and let us know what you decide to do.and maybe you would pop in on the forum and tell us more about your herbal adventures.

Linda