Herbal Education in the Vitalist Tradition at Boulder's new herbal school
North American Institute of Medical Herbalism, Inc

NAIMH, INC




Introduction
Overview of Distance Learning
NAIMH Standards
How our courses work
Contintuing Education Credit
Courses for 2005-2006
        First Course in Medical Herbalism (Beginning) 
        Fundamentals of Herbal Actions and Formulation (Intermediate) 
        Vitalist Therapeutics and Acute Symptoms (Intermediate)
        Adverse Effects of Common Herbs (Intermediate)
        Insulin Resistance: Pathophysiology and Natural Therapeutics                                                                     (Intermediate/Advanced)
        Materia Medica Intensive  (Advanced) 

Introduction
Our Distance Learning courses are currently under development. Once complete, and, subject to approval by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, each will lead to a continuing education certificate. We expect to have 2 courses avialable in late 2005, and 4 more ready in early 2006. We have a 300-hour Distance Learning herbal certificate program under development, and we hope to have it available in early 2007. (Its completion depends on response to our initial courses, and we can't guarantee that we will eventually offer it). 
Each course is written and reviewed by practicing clinical herbalists and professional herbal educators.
Study  materials for each course include lecture tapes, in CD-ROM format, in addition to printed materials. These are actual lectures taped in a classroom setting in a school of medical herbalism, then digitally edited for clarity in a distance-learning format.

Overview of Distance Learning
Distance Learning has emerged in North American education in the last decade as a major delivery method of education, losing a previous stigma attached to "Correspondence Course" education. Most modern universities have Distance Learning courses available for full academic credit. Distance learning is now also common in the field of occupational education. This method of learning suits the needs of millions of North Americans who are highly motivated to learn, but cannot leave their localities to obtain the education they want. Distance Learning is especially well-suited to the study of medical herbalism and clinical nutrition, since these topics are taught in a relatively small number of locations in the country, and the great majority of individuals wanting this education cannot relocate to acquire it. (The clinical aspects of herbalism cannot be taught in this manner, and require on-site training.)

NAIMH Standards
The North American Institute of Medical Herbalism maintains the highest educational standards in our Distance Learning, including:
1) Our school and its courses are approved and regulated by the Colorado Department of Education, Private Occupational Schools Board. Each Distance Learning Course is specifically approved for Distance Learning, Internet, and Continuing Education formats.
2) The great majority of our courses have a primary audio component, with recordings of actual lectures delivered in a classroom format, in addition to text materials, notes, and readings.
3) Students are assigned a faculty member to give personalized feedback through written, internet, or phone contact.
4) Students may also engage with faculty and other students taking their course through an internet Listserv.
5) Student support includes an online reference library, and direct contact with administration representatives for technical assistance with problems relating to enrollment or administrative issues.

How our courses work
Courses usually include both written and audio materials. The audio CDs and tapes are actual recordings of classes at our institute, digitally edited and modified for a Distance Learning format.  The student sends in an application and enrollment for each course, with appropriate fees and a tuition deposit, and purchases the audio materials, textbooks, and supplies. Each course is divided into lessons, with exams or projects required to complete the lesson. Tuition is not all paid up front, but in four payments as the lessons are completed.  This way, if the student decides not to complete the course part way through, they do not lose their entire tuition.  The student is allowed a specified time to complete each course, requiring approximately three hours of study and/or project work each week. As each course is completed a Certificate for Continuing Education is awarded. 

Continuing Education Credits
Any of our courses may be taken for continuing education credit, and we maintain a transcript of your work at the school.

The following courses have been approved by the Colorado Department of Education


Available Now
First Course in Medical Herbalism
36 hours reading, audio, and lab (projects)
Course objective: The course will introduce the student to the methods of study of medical herbalism, to five important categories of herbal action,  and to some uses of herbs in chronic or minor self-limiting illnesses.
Prerequisites: High school diploma or equivalent
Course length: This eight lesson course is to be completed within sixteen weeks.
Cost:    
Tuition:$120 
Materials: $30 Application Fee: $10
Study materials and CDs: $40
Total: $200
Lessons (each lesson includes 3 hours of reading and/or tapes, and averages 1 hour of projects:)
Lesson 1.  How to study herbalism, herbal forms, and herbal actions
Lesson 2.  4 Alterative herbs.
Lesson 3.  2 Immune-enhancing and antiseptic herbs
Lesson 4.  4 Sedative herbs
Lesson 5.  2 Herbs for women
Lesson 6.  2 Energy tonics
Lesson 7.  Healing strategies, with case studies
Lesson 8.  Herbs and common medical conditions Available Now

Fundamentals of Herbal Actions and Formulation
36 hours reading and audio
Course objective: The course will develop the concepts of herbal actions learned in the earlier courses, and present the most important concepts in formulation.
Prerequisites: High school diploma or equivalent, First Course in Medical Herbalism or equivalent, and previous herbal study sufficient to become familiar with the properties and main uses of at least 40 herbs.
Course length: This 6-lesson course is to be completed within twelve  weeks.
Cost:    
    Tuition:$120 Application fee: $10 
    Study materials and CDs: $160
    Total: $290
Lessons
Each lesson includes 2-3 hours of lecture and 2-4 hours of projects.
Lesson 1.  Herbal Actions overview and review
Lesson 2.  Clinical definitions of herbal actions
Lesson 3.  Introduction to Herbal Formulation
Lesson 4.  Pairing in Herbal formulation
Lesson 5.  Classical Herbal formulas I
Lesson 6.  Classical Herbal formulas II

Vitalist Therapeutics and Acute Symptoms
72 hours reading, audio, and projects
Anticipated release in August of 2008. Call 303-541-9552 to check for availability.
Course objective: This 12-lesson course covers the physiology, pathology, nutrition, pharmacology, herbal actions, and vitalist and constitutional considerations for acute symptoms
Prerequisites: 36 hours of previous studies in herbalism
Course length: This twelve-lesson course is to be completed within twenty-four weeks.
Cost:    
Tuition:$200
Study materials and CDs: $240
            Total: $450
Lessons (each lesson includes 3 hours of tapes and reading and 3 hours of projects)
Lesson 1. Upper, Middle, and Lower Gastrointestinal Tract Conditions
Lesson 2 Blood purifiers, alteratives, the Bad Blood Syndrome, and the Skin
Lesson 3 External and internal treatments for the skin
Lesson 4 Wounds, burns, and chronic ulcers
Lesson 5. Catarrh, chronic mucous, and lymphatic conditions
Lesson 6. Fever
Lesson 7. Coughs, Eyes, and Ears
Lesson 8. Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety, Insomnia
Lesson 9. Pain
Lesson 10. Bladder and Kidney
Lesson 11. Menses
Lesson 12. Pregnancy and breast health

Herbal Safety Seminar: Adverse Effects of Common Herbs
24 hours reading and audio
Course objective: The course will introduce the student to the basic concepts of adverse effects, drug-herb interactions, and toxicology, and cover the safety aspects of 35 common herbs in detail.  Prerequisites: 36 hours of previous studies in herbalism.
Course length: This 8-lesson course is to be completed within eight weeks.
Cost:    
Tuition:$120
Application fee: $25
Study materials and CDs: $160
        Total: $335
Lessons
Each lesson includes 2-3 hours of lecture.
Lesson 1. Introduction to Adverse Effects and Drug-Herb Interactions
Lesson 2. The Milieu of Iatrogenic disease
Lesson 3. The Adverse Effects of Common Herbs  I  (8 herbs)
Lesson 4. The Adverse Effects of Common herbs  II  (8 herbs)
Lesson 5.  The Adverse Effects of Common Herbs III (9 herbs)
Lesson 6.  The Adverse Effects of Common Herbs IV (10 herbs)
Lesson 7.  The toxicology of essential oils
Lesson 8.  The Fragile Patient: Considerations in the Elder patient

Insulin Resistance: Pathophysiology and Natural Therapeutics
24 hours reading and audio

Course objective: The student will learn the pathophysiology of insulin resistance, and the influence of diet, exercise, nutrition and herbs on the condition.
Prerequisites: 36 hours of previous studies in herbalism
Course length: This eight-lesson course is to be completed within eight weeks.
Cost:     
    Tuition:$120
    Application fee: $25
    Study materials and CDs: $190
    Total: $335
Lessons (each lesson includes 3 hours of tapes and reading)
Lesson 1. The Pathophysiology of Insulin Resistance  1
Lesson 2. The Pathophysiology of Insulin Resistance 2
Lesson 3.  The Influence of Stress and Sleep Debt on Insulin Resistance
Lesson 4.  Exercise therapeutics, Growth Hormone, and Insulin Resistance
Lesson 5.  Pathophysiology of Diabetes Types I and II
Lesson 6. Therapeutics for Insulin Resistance, Obesity, and Diabetes 1
Lesson 7. Therapeutics for Insulin Resistance, Obesity, and Diabetes 2
Lesson 8. Therapeutics for Insulin Resistance, Obesity, and Diabetes 3

Materia Medica Intensive
24 hours reading and audio
Occupational objective: The student will study herbal materia medica in-depth, with an emphasis on understanding constitutional actions, and on differentials between similar herbs.
Prerequisites: 36 hours of previous studies in herbalism
Course length: This eight-lesson course is to be completed within eight weeks.
Cost:    
    Tuition:$90
    Application fee: $10
    Study materials and CDs: $160
    Total: $260
Lessons (each lesson includes 2-3 hours of taped lecture)
Lesson 1. Physiomedicalist actions of herbs
Lesson 2. Humoral actions and materia medica differentials
Lesson 3. Mucous Membrane remedy differentials
Lesson 4. Digestive Tract remedy differentials
Lesson 5. Respiratory tract remedy differentials
Lesson 6. Nervine and sedative remedy differentials
Lesson 7. Female system remedy differentials



     
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