I've been looking at various distance learning courses online, also been searching the posts on here but I could do with some advice.

I have some herbal knowledge but want to learn a lot more. LOL I will be honest my herbal knowledge is more magickal than medicinal ! It is the medicinal side of it I want to study more thoroughly. My only option is a distance learning/online course. What I would like from here is a few recommendations, preferably by people who have either done the courses themselves or know about the course providers' reputations.

The 3 courses I have seen so far that caught my eye are by

Stonebridge

Learning Institute

and also the New Vitality course.

I believe the only one recognized by the BHMA is the New Vitality course, but to be honest I can't see that I will have the option in the future to go into higher learning in this area so that accreditation isn't 100% necessary for me.

All help greatly appreciated !

Hi Deborah

There are two main introductory distance learning courses in the UK, both of which are feeders into degree courses if you wish to go that route - New Vitality and the one run by the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine. They are both the same quality and similar prices. Details are on the Herb Society website.

If you want to go further afield there are excellent distant learning courses run by Kiva Rose of the Anima Centre, 7Song, Susun Weed and others. The late Michael Moore's distant learning course is still running and you might want to find out whether Paul Bergner also runs distant leaning modules from his School. I know he offers CDs on particular subjects. Rosemary Gladstar has retired from personal involvement with teaching but her centre on Sage Mountain is still running courses.

You will learn a great deal by joining Henriette Kress' email list, the Herbwifery Forum and 7Song is also running a yahoo email group for herbal students which is very well thought of.

The people I have mentioned are all people I know from net contact and I value their herbal perspectives which they offer freely. There are other American herbalists who also offer distant learning courses, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend them.

Good luck!

Sarah

Hi Deborah,

Just to add my penny's worth to what Sarah said - I would certainly recommend the New Vitality course.

Even if you don't plan to continue your studies further, it's worth bearing in mind that this course has received accreditation because of the quality of tuition it offers. I am myself enrolled in the course and am something of a failed student since I still haven't got very far at all. Having said that, if you have the time to spend on it (which I generally don't), I can guaranteee a good quality learning experience. The teaching materials are comprehensive, the staff very passionate and friendly and the twice yearly seminars a massively useful addition if only you are able to attend them (though they aren't a necessity).

The Scottish School is another option and may be more up your street. I would suggest you give them a browse, they have a very strong following from those with more spiritual leanings.

I think you're right to ask around though. I've seen several distance learning courses advertised which really aren't up to much. Be careful how you spend your money.

I'm happy to answer any questions I can about New Vitality if you like, but there are many other more model students on here who could probably advise you better.

All the best,

Kristina

I'm slowly getting through the NVT course like Kristina I'm finding it hard to get the work done with everything going on, but it is an excellent course and I can highly recommend it, the seminars held twice yearly are also wonderful, the next one in Oct has a herb walk, the people are so knowledgeable and the course materials are excellent and extensive.

If you're wanting to leanr how to make tinctures, creams and balms though then this course isn't what you want, it deals with the medicinal side of herbs there effects, constituents and properties, how to discover what is wrong and which herb you'd use to treat the condition, there's some anatomy thrown in as well, the parts I've done so far have taught me things about my own body that I never knew and also helped me identify a way to treat a urinary infection I had that was recurrent, now I no longer suffer There's excellent support for the course providers as well. Hope that helps?

Debs

 

I have been studying on the New Vitality course since January and am greatly enjoying it. For what it's worth I am a really keen gardner who has not studied anything seriously science-y for over 20 years but I find the mix of anatomy, physiology, history, culture and of course horticulture really fascinating. The anatomy and physiology parts are important form the perspective of understanding how different herbs contribute to a healthy body - but it can take a while to assimilate (well for me anyway!).

In addition to the distance learning modules which you send back in your own time, there are two seminars a year. The seminars take place at University of Reading (quite a schlep from Newcastle where I am based but well worth it!). The highlight for me was the herb walk around the Harris Garden - 5 acres of plants and herbs to explore!

Hope this is of use and good luck with your course.

Best wishes -

Louise

Thank you so much for these replies, I've been googling like crazy lol, the people and websites mentioned are fantastic !

I've decided to go for the New Vitality course. Will have to dig my chequebook out though, would be much easier if you could pay for it online !

Thank you again, I will keep trawling the info on this forum and no doubt ask many stupid questions!

Hi Deborah,
I'm pleased that you have found the feedback from group members to be helpful.
I have heard nothing but good comments about New Vitality,and I wish you well.I think this course is an excellent choice for someone who either wishes to expand their knowledge for personal reasons or wants to use it as an access route to other courses that will enable you to become a qualified medical herbalist.
For those embarking on their practitioner training, I cannot think of a better school than the Scottish School.

Please don't apologise for asking "stupid " questions--they are not at all.I work on the theory that if you need an answer to a problem, the only intelligent action to take, is to ask someone who might know !!
Please keep us updated on how your learning goes and keep asking those intelligent questions.

Regards
Linda

You can pay bu card over the phone to Pam the lovely lady who does the admin for NVT, contact her via the NVT website or let me know your email address and I'll send you her details, I have regular contact with her and she's a lovely lady.

In the interests of fairness I should point out that one of the directors of the NVT course is also a council member of the Herb Society. This is NOT why  I recommended the course, I did it because its a superb, useful and informative course.

Debs