6 Best Online Herbalist Courses & Training [Updated June 2023]

The use of herbs for treating ailments as well as for holistic healing is a centuries-old practice. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda are two of the most popular and ancient forms of medicines that use different parts of plants to treat maladies. Even though modern medicine and pharmaceutical giants have taken over the healthcare sector, a majority of the world population still relies on traditional medicine. Traditional medicine does not simply treat the disease but aims at improving your overall health with no side-effects.

As a result, a lot of people have turned towards alternative healing practices or seek to supplement traditional herbal remedies. This has led to a rise in demand for herbalists worldwide.

An herbalist, in simple terms, is a person who works with medicinal herbs for therapeutic healing. Apart from people trained in herbal medicine, herbalists also include botanical writers, herb harvesters and dealers, medicine makers, midwives, acupuncturists, and naturopaths. Unlike conventional medical professionals, herbalists do not attain a license for practicing. They do, however, get accreditation from regulating bodies.

While becoming an accredited practitioner requires expertise in herbal medicine, if you are simply intrigued by the idea of using plants for holistic healing and wish to explore the field yourself, you are not out of options. You can take up an online herbalist course to learn the basics and then as you progress, improve your skills with professional online herbal medicine courses.

We at TrumpLearning, along with 12 expert herbalists have created for you a list of the best online herbalist courses that may serve varied interests. These courses include a mini online herbalist course, an introductory level course to learn herbalism online, use of common kitchen herbs for healing, medicine making, and a professional online herbalist course. Continue reading to understand what each course has in store for you and choose the one you wish to take to get your herbalist training online.

6 Best Online Herbalist Courses & Training

1. Introductory Herbal Course [The Herbal Academy]
2. Herbalism: Introduction and Medicine Making [Certificate] [Udemy]
3. Herbalism for Everyone – Professional Herbalism Course [Udemy]
4. Herbalism: Medicinal Kitchen Herbs/Spices [Certificate][Udemy]
5. Herbal Medicine By University of Minnesota [Coursera]
6. Free Becoming an Herbalist Mini Course [The Herbal Academy]

1. Introductory Herbal Course [The Herbal Academy]

 

The first in our list of the best online herbalism courses is this beginner’s course offered by The Herbal Academy. The course has been divided into six modules or units with 34 lessons covering topics such as the importance of different herbs and the ways of using them to make teas, tinctures, poultices, ointments, etc. The course elaborates on different body systems such as the respiratory system, the immune system, the reproductive system, and the nervous system. This online herbalist course teaches how the herbs can be used to address different conditions in these systems, the ways herbs help to improve skin, reduce aging, reduce stress, and at the end contribute to holistic healing. The course broken down in 6 modules covers the following areas:

 

• Basics of Herbs
• Kitchen Herbs
• Use of herbs for common complaints
• Herbs and the Nervous System
• Herbs for Skin and Hair
• Herbs for Holistic Healing

 

This course can be purchased in three ways; you can either pay a one-time fee for accessing the online herbalist course or get a printed version along with the online content with some extra payment or pay for the course in six monthly installments. While the academy suggests you to spend at least a month on each module, you can complete the course at your own pace as the course can be accessed for up to 12 months.

 

This is certainly one of the best online herbalist courses as it is loaded with videos and downloadable and printable handouts, charts, eBooks, recipes, and herbal monographs. Students will have to undertake quizzes at the end of each module. You will be granted a certificate after passing all the quizzes in this course.

 

Review by J.S:

“

Just want to say how much I am enjoying your herbalist course online and to tell you that your heart, sensitivity and good will come through in everything you are producing. I am very impressed and feel blessed to be a party to your social and educational world.

 

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2. Herbalism: Introduction and Medicine Making [Certificate] [Udemy]

 

Brought to you by the creator of best online herbal medicine courses on Udemy, this course can help you kick-start your journey in herbal medicine. If you wish to learn about preventive care using herbs or improve your overall wellbeing, this course is meant for you.

 

With 31 on-demand video lectures spread over two hours, this beginner’s level online herbalist course covers the basics of herbalism, how herbs work, and how to use them to make herbal medicines. The course aims at building a strong foundation. It will create a solid ground for you if you wish to take up herbalism as a profession.

 

The herbalist training online classes under this course have been divided into seven modules covering the following topics:

 

• Introduction to Herbalism
• Herbal medicine for internal use - tinctures, herbal honey, teas, and syrups
• Herbal medicine for external use - oils, salves, poultices, and harvesting dry herbs
• Ways to combine herbs
• Considerations while using herbs - safety, storage, and sustainability
• Resource library - ingredients, supplies and recommended books for beginners

 

Created by Elizabeth Heck the course has a rating of 4.6 with 27,987 students already enrolled. You can enroll this best online herbalist course by paying a one-time fee which also comes with 30 days money-back guarantee. The course does provide you with a certificate of completion.

 

Review by Sari Olschewski:

“

I did enjoy a lot about this course! I was expecting to see more recipes since it's titled a professional introduction to herbalism. But the content itself was good and helpful.

 

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3. Herbalism for Everyone – Professional Herbalism Course [Udemy]

 

Rated as a bestseller amongst the best online herbal medicine courses, this course is a fit for anyone who wants to get close to nature by developing their understanding of plants and herbs. This two hour long course comprises 41 herbalist training online videos that cover topics such as the basics of herbalism, how the herbs support our everyday functioning, the types of herbal preparations, and the basic solvents. The other topics covered in this course are:

 

• Herbs that can be used every day –herb actions, safety scale, dosage, etc.
• Infusions and decoctions – How to make water-based herbal preparations
• Sweet-based herbal preparations using honey, syrup, glycerites, etc.
• Alcohol-based preparations- tinctures and liniments
• Oil-based preparations – salves and infused oils

 

This online herbalist course is mentored by Tania Magdalene, a spiritual teacher, herbalist, and aromatherapist with more than 37 years of teaching experience. You get lifetime access to the online herbalist course by paying a one-time fee. This online herbalist course has a rating of 4.3 on Udemy with 2475 students enrolled already. You are also provided with a certificate upon completion.

 

Review by Anna Snyder:

“

I loved this course. It really validated the interest I have in herbalism. After completing this course, I am now more than ever interested in becoming a herbalist. Thank you for this course.

 

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4. Herbalism: Medicinal Kitchen Herbs/Spices [Certificate][Udemy]

 

Herbs and spices from your garden can be used in multiple ways for common ailments such as cold and flu, headaches, muscular pain, etc. In case you have been looking for the best online herbalism course that teaches you these remedies quickly, you have come to the right course.

 

This hour-long course comprises 25 lectures to teach you how to use kitchen spices for common illnesses and injuries. The course also teaches using healing foods and herbs to reduce oxidation and inflammation in order to prevent and treat chronic conditions.

 

In one of the modules, the course elaborates on the uses of key spices such as cinnamon, black pepper, garlic, cloves, and fennel. In another module, the course covers benefits and medicinal uses of the most widely used herbs such as basil, mint, oregano, rosemary, and thyme.

 

Another bestseller in online herbal medicine courses, this course too has been created by Elizabeth Heck, top herbalism expert on Udemy. This online herbalist course has a rating of 4.4 with 4576 enrolled students. The course can be accessed on TV and mobile and offers a certificate of completion.

 

Review by Diana Stoyanov:

“

I enjoyed the course. The information in this course helped expand my knowledge on herbs and spices. I liked that it was not overwhelming and focused on the most common herbs we use.

 

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5. Herbal Medicine By University of Minnesota [Coursera]

 

Healthcare professionals and medical students searching for online herbal medicine courses can enroll themselves in this course. This intermediate course is the third course in a five-course specialization in Integrative Health and Medicine. It has been designed in line with the Minnesota Board of Nursing to meet the continuing education requirement. You can also check with your regulatory board if it allows self-documenting of continuing education activities and if this course is eligible for the CE credit.

 

The course teaches healthcare providers to incorporate alternative medicine in the course of treatment of their patients. You will learn how to prepare and use herbal medicines, how to assess patients for any drug-herb interaction or other contradictions.  You will also learn about quality control and safety parameters for using herbs as an alternative treatment.

 

The online herbalist course is mentored by May Taylor, MD, and assistant professor at the University of Minnesota.  It takes approx. 17 hours to complete and is divided into six herbalist training online modules spread over six weeks. This is a subscription-based course that also offers a seven-day full access trial. It has been rated 4.9 with 6881 students already on board. You will also earn a certificate on completion.

 

Review by MW:

“

Very good course and it suits for everyone who likes herbal medicine.The instructor and a presentation doing very well for a course.I really like it and will keep going on for my botanical approach.

 

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6. Free Becoming an Herbalist Mini Course [The Herbal Academy]

 

While the rest of the online herbal medicine courses focus primarily on the concept of herbalism and the why’s and how’s of using different herbs, this course focuses more on the commercial aspects of being an herbalist. As mentioned earlier, herbalists are not only medical practitioners but also writers, herb growers, naturopaths, acupuncturists, etc. If you wish to explore herbalism and understand your career options before taking any detailed course, this free online herbalist course will give you a much clearer picture.

 

The course is divided into five lessons or modules. It provides details on the kind of certification or licenses you can obtain if you wish to practice herbalism. One of the modules covers words that you can or cannot use to avoid any legal glitches as an herbalist, especially since it is majorly an unlicensed practice. You also learn about the ethics to be followed in this profession, the key considerations for starting an herbal business, and lastly staying updated about the latest developments and clinical researches in this field.

 

The online herbalist course has free three-month access; however, you can purchase a printed format of the course. No certificate is provided under this course but you do earn a completion badge that is visible on the student dashboard.

 

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Conclusion

Best Online Herbalist Courses Reviewed by 12 Herbalist Experts 4.6