Course CodeBHT227Fee CodeS2Duration (approx)100 hoursQualificationTo obtain formal documentation the optional exam(s) must be completed which will incur an additional fee of £30. Alternatively, a letter of completion may be requested. Learn to Grow and Use Medicinal Herbs Explore the fascinating world of herbs, and lay a foundation for understanding how these fascinating plants can be used to compliment our state of health and wellbeing. Herbs have been used for medicines over thousands of years. Some can be very effective if used appropriately, while others have the potential to be dangerous. Lesson Structure There are 8 lessons in this course: Introduction to Medicinal Herbs Scope and Nature of Herbal Medicine Being Cautious Growing and Knowing Medicinal Herbs Accurate Plant Naming Pronouncing Plant Names Finding Reliable Resources Culture of Medicinal Herbs What is a Herb Soils and Nutrition Cultivation Fertilizing Herbs Compost, Mulch, Watering Propagation Pest and Disease History Introduction Hippocrates Chinese Herbalists Egyuptian Influence Greek Influences The Dark Ages German and English Herbals Other Influences Main Medicinal Herbs Introduction and Varieties to Grow Production Plan Improving Soil Fertility Cover Crops and Legumes Cultivation, Growing Methods, Compost Growing and using Ginger Garlic Culture Echinacea Culture Herbal Remedies Alternatives Anthelmintic Astringents Bitter Tonics Calmatives Carminatives and Aromatics Cathartics Diaphoretics Dietetics Demulcents Emollients Expectorants Nervines Relaxants Vulnerary Herbs Common Herbs with Medicinal Properties Nervines as Healing Agents Natural Chemicals in Plants and their Affect on Health; saponins, phenol glycosides, anthro glycosides, flavonoids, mustard oils, polysaccharides, prussic acid, glycosides, coumarin, tannins, bitters, essential oils, alkaloids, purines, essential minerals Chemistry of Herbs Herbal Sources for Human Nutrients Preparing Herbal remedies Infusion Decoction Poultice Medical Preparations Problem of Accurately Formulating Herbal Medicines How herbalists used to work The Difference Today Harvesting Material for Herbal Preparations Post Harvest Handling of Herbs Post Harvest Preservation; Fresh, Modified Atmosphere Packaging Herbal Preparations for Teas, Rinses and Baths Producing Essential Oils; Water distillation, Steam distillation Uses for Eucalyptus Oil Poisonous Plants Introduction Review of Plant Poisons Hazardous Herbs Carcinogens, Photosensitisers, Allergens, Hormone Like Affects, Teratogens, Respiratory Inhibitors, etc Toxic Plant Constituents Developing a Production Plan Managing a Market Garden Deciding What to Grow Production Planning Types of Problems Standards Crop Schedules Farming Medicinal Herbs Production Requirements for Different Herbs Aims Distinguish between medicinal herbs in cultivation including twenty-five different genera and fifty different varieties. Discuss the history of medicinal herb usage. Compare the chemical components of different medicinal herbs in terms of their general affect on the human body. Prepare simple and safe herbal remedies in a domestic situation. Explain the potential dangers involved in dealing with plants. Prepare a schedule of cultural practices for a medicinal herb crop. Develop a production plan for a medicinal herb crop. What You Will Do Define the term "medicinal herb" according to both horticultural and naturopathic meanings. Compile a resource file of fifty different sources of information regarding medicinal herbs. Distinguish between fifteen different plant families which common medicinal herbs belong to. Prepare a plant collection of fifty different medicinal herb varieties. List ten different medicinal herbs which were often used more than one hundred years ago, but are no longer commonly used. Identify modern trends in the use of herbs in medicines in your country. Discuss the role of home remedies in modern society. Discuss the role of the naturopath in modern society. Summarise the history of medicinal herbs since early civilisation, to modern times. Explain the characteristics of different types of chemicals found in medicinal herbs. Write brief definitions to explain the mode of action of different herbal medicines. Write an essay describing the chemical actions which two different herbs have upon the human body. Explain various factors which can influence the effectiveness of active constituents of a herb. List herbal remedies derived from forty different commonly grown herbs. Identify the morphological parts of fifteen different herbs which are used medicinally. Explain thoroughly how to prepare six different types of simple medicines, including a: Poultice Infusion Decoction Tincture. Develop a list of safety procedures to follow when preparing a given herbal medicine. Explain methods to administer six different herbal medicines which are safe and appropriate for an unskilled person to make and use at home. (ie. medicines which do not have any dangerous risks if prepared or administered incorrectly). Describe, in summaries, twelve commonly occurring plants which contain poisonous substances, including: names (botanical and common) dangerous parts of the plant poisonous substances mode of action of poison remedy (if any). List five herbs that should never be taken internally. List five herbs which should never be used by pregnant women. List three herbs which should never be used by children. Describe, including at least two specific examples, precautions when dealing with unknown herb materials. Develop guidelines for the culture of a specified variety of medicinal herb. Explain natural pest and disease control methods for five medicinal herb varieties. Prepare a sample of soil suitable for growing a specified herb variety in the open ground. Demonstrate propagation techniques for five different medicinal herbs. Produce container plants of two different medicinal herbs, propagating and growing on the plants to a marketable stage and condition. Record the development of two medicinal herbs in a log including a summary of the condition of the plant, growth, and cultural practices carried out. Develop a list of criteria for selecting the most commercially viable variety of a nominated medicinal herb species available. List thirty different varieties of a medicinal herb species which are readily available for purchase as "reliable" seed or tubestock. Compare different varieties of six nominated medicinal herb species to determine a commercially viable variety to grow in your locality. List tasks to be undertaken in the production of a selected medicinal herb variety, including: soil preparation planting growing practices harvest and post harvest. Write a production schedule for a medicinal herb variety which designates tasks to be undertaken systematically at each stage of crop development. Explain the facilities which would be required to produce a specified commercial medicinal herb crop, including: equipment materials land. Estimate the cost of producing a specified medicinal herb crop, itemising the cost components into at least five categories. Medicinal herbs are plants which contain chemicals which have an effect upon the body (usually the human body, but sometimes animals as well). The effect of medicinal herbs may be mild or strong depending on a number of things including: The species and variety of plant - NB: there can be subtle but important differences between two plants which may appear to be identical. For example, many herbs now sold are cultivated varieties of the original species and may not have the chemical constituents of the species form. Species that have the same common name but are totally different and unrelated - one could be highly poisonous the other benign How it was grown i.e. herbs that are over fertilised and watered tend to have a lower concentration of the important chemical constituents. The part(s) of the plant used. (e.g. root, leaf, stem, flower, fruit, mature or new growth, etc). Harvest time – i.e. time of day, time of year, weather conditions at the time, etc. The preparation of the medicine (e.g. as an oil, tablet, tea, ointment etc). The storage of the medicine NB: some medicines store well, but generally fresh is best). How it is used - (e.g. some herbs may be safe to use externally, but the same herb may be a serious problem if taken internally. Some may be beneficial in a certain concentration, but dangerous in a different concentration). WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM THIS COURSE? The herb enthusiast Those wanting to take more control over their health by using herbs for minor ailments Those looking to work in this area or start a medicinal herb farm HOW TO ENROL Click box below on left hand side -follow instructions. IF YOU NEED ADVICE - click here to use our FREE ADVISORY SERVICE