Upcoming Classes & Workshops in The Studio

Foundations of Western Herbal Medicine

with Chris Marano, RH (AHG), MA, BS founder of Clearpath School of Herbal Medicine

This course is part of Clearpath School of Herbal Medicine's First Year Program, "Cultivating the Healer Within." It is a prerequisite for the Second Year Program, "Cultivating Community Herbalism," and counts as credit toward Clearpath School of Herbal Medicine's community herbalist certification.

Overview:
• Historical overview, Comparison with other healing traditions and paradigms, Holism and Allopathy
• Philosophy and Psychology: First Nation and Earth-based cultures sources, Natural Law, Sign and Synchronicity, Medicine Wheel
• Elements, Humors and Tissue States Organ-Systems: introductory anatomy, physiology, health and imbalance
• Diagnostics: eyes, face, nails, pulses, palpation, constitutional types
• Medicinal Herbs: Western energetics and uses
• Food as Medicine: energetics and the Ten Tastes
• Self-empowerment and Self-investigation tools: awareness, sensory, communication exercises

"Foundations of Western Herbal Medicine" both honors and blends the long-evolving healing traditions of First Nation (Native American) medicine and European-based herbal medicine. For any person interested in a deep understanding of herbalism as a practice and becoming an effective healer, cultivating a core philosophy of body-mind-spirit healing and a world-view based in "Natural Law" is as important as knowing medicinal herbs, signs and symptoms.

First Nation and other Earth-based traditions have always stressed the vital importance of grounding intellectual knowledge in a foundation of spiritual wisdom. Knowledge without this core spiritual foundation is, ultimately, separate from the world and "Creation," and ultimately hollow at its center.

This course never loses sight of this connection between the intellectual and the intuitive, between science and the vital spirit of our Western herbal heritage, reaching back on the one hand through Eclectics of the U.S. 1800's and further, through the millennia-old European healing traditions to its origins in the West's classical Greek (and Egyptian) heritage, along with major contributions from the Middle East; and on the other hand keeping firm hold of the rich medicinal heritage of this continent's First Nations people. The course strives to build in students a solid foundational core upon which to grow strong herbal practices, and includes diverse and effective tools for self-investigation and empowerment in order to grow as authentic human beings, as this is where healing wisdom begins.

To accomplish this goal, I draw upon long and continuous initiation, study and training with Medicine Elders of the Cherokee and Anishnaabe nations, formal studies at the Herbal Therapeutics School of Botanical Medicine, pre-medical training at Columbia University, science education training at Columbia Teachers College, and years of direct experience as a clinical herbalist, teacher, meditation instructor, and author. Training in Western, First Nation and Chinese herbal traditions allows me to add a depth and breadth of knowledge and experience that bridges cultures and age-old wisdom, finding patterns and parallels among these three healing paradigms while always honoring and respecting the unique contributions of each tradition.

Topics are divided into four main areas:

(1).Philosophy and Psychology, including Natural Law, Sign and Synchronicity, Medicine Wheel, Seven Directions, Grandfather and Grandmother Teachings, Astrology, Story and Language.

(2).Theories and Principles of Human Health: Four Elements, Four Humors and Constitutions, Six Tissue States, Anatomy (structure) and Physiology (function), health and illness (acute and chronic).

(3).Tools and Principles of Western Herbal Medicine: Western Diagnostic Techniques (eye analysis, face and constitutional types, nails, palpation, more tongue and pulse analysis), Herbs (utilizing knowledge of Western and Indigenous energetics and principles to effectively use medicinal herbs), Food as Medicine and the Ten Tastes.

(4).Concepts and Tools for Self-Empowerment and Outward Empathy: Self-investigation skills utilizing awareness , breath and body to explore, understand and integrate body, mind, heart and spirit, drawing extensively upon wisdom and teachings of Indigenous and Earth-based philosophy and psychology, and practicing awareness, sensory, observation, communication, empathy, synchronicity and communication exercises, as well as ceremony and guided meditation.

For anyone interested in understanding human wellness and illness, and how one can maintain or return to health through lifestyle, nutrition and herbs, this course is an invaluable basis for further, deeper exploration.

Class Location: Classes will be held at The Studio @ Wickford Cove in Wickford, RI

Dates: One Saturday per month - January 15, February 12, March 11, April 15, May 13, June 10.

Time: 9:30am - 5:30 pm with a 45 minute lunch break (please bring your lunch or you may go out to purchase one) and a 15 minute break in the afternoon. Total class time will amount to 42 hours for your certificate of completion.

Cost: $850. Payment may be made in full or participants may pay on a monthly basis.

To Register: Call The Herb Wyfe at 401-295-1140 or email Chris at chris@clearpathherbals.com.Class size is limited so register early to reserve your spot.

Chris Marano is a clinical herbalist with a health-care practice in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts. His health care practice and teachings take him throughout the United States, Canada and the British Isles. He is founder of Clearpath School of Herbal Medicine, dedicated to the teaching of holistic health, herbalism, and Earth-based wisdom; and Clearpath Herbals, offering health consultations and high-quality, custom-blended herbal preparations.

His experience draws upon Chinese, Native American and Western healing traditions. He is a registered herbalist in the American Herbalist Guild (AHG), a professional member and a board member of the Northeast Herbal Association (NEHA), veteran teacher, author, meditation instructor, and has degrees in pre-medicine, Chinese philosophy and science education from Columbia University, a graduate degree from The Herbal Therapeutics School of Botanic Medicine, Zen and Chinese philosophy training from the Institute of Chung-hwa Chinese and Buddhist Culture, and years of training with medicine elders of the Cherokee and Annishnabe tradition. In addition to teaching workshops, courses and apprenticeship programs through Clearpath Herbals in both Western Massachusetts and Coastal Maine, Chris also teaches Clinical Herbalism at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

For more information regarding Chris's practice, classes and preparations, visit www.clearpathherbals.com, email at chris@clearpathherbals.com, or call 978-544-5781

If you have any questions regarding this program please feel free to call Lesley at The Herb Wyfe at 401-295-1140 or email Chris at chris@clearpathherbals.com.