Herbal Medicine Making
with Karen Aguiar and Terri Jensen
Saturday & Sunday, April 14 & 15, 10am - 4 pm
2 day course, $160-$125 sliding scale
Why buy herbal products when it’s so simple and empowering to make your own? This hands-on class includes instruction on harvesting, drying, preserving and preparing medicinal plants. Learn how to make medicinal teas, infused oils, salves, tinctures, vinegars, glycerites and more. We’ll also discuss the principles of ethical harvesting. Includes samples of tinctures and medicines made in class.
Herbal Essentials
CSHS Staff and Guest Teachers
five Monday afternoons from 1 - 5pm. April 23, May 7 & 21, June 4 & 11
tuition: $325 - $275 sliding scale
Come join us in the vibrant springtime garden at CSHS! What is growing in the garden will guide each class as we focus on the medicinal plants that are ready to harvest and utilize this season. Our exploration will span from the medicinal to the magical, and the cultural to the culinary. Each session is a blend of lecture and hands-on time in the garden and lab. We will also discuss growing medicinal plants by cuttings and seed. This class is designed for the beginning student, though all levels are welcome.
• Learn to identify, harvest and use spring medicinal plants
• Empower yourself with the knowledge to make herbal teas, flower essences, tinctures and medicinal oils.
• Hands on demonstration and introduction to basic medicine making.
• Recipes, samples and lots of tastings!
Growing Medicinal Herbs
with Autumn Summers and Bryan Bowen
Saturday, May 12, 10am-3pm
$75 - $60 sliding scale
Come learn how to grow medicinal plants from seed, cuttings, and divisions. We will talk about how to be successful propagating medicinal herbs in the Bay Area. We will use the 350 plus plants in the CSHS garden as our teachers, seeing where they thrive and what we can do to grow them successfully. You will go home with cuttings and seeds to grow in your own garden.
Herbal Skin Food Formulation Fundamentals:
advancing our herbal skin care technology
with Trinity Ava
Saturday, June 2, 10am-4pm
$75 - $60 sliding scale
Join us to learn how to feed your skin and body with some of the most acclaimed herbs, fatty oils, hydrosols and essential oils used in skin care today. We will demystify current skin care trends, learn about beneficial skin antioxidants, and address occasional acne & other common skin challenges. Learn how to formulate recipes incorporating “super foods” into facial serums, masks, and toners to nourish and protect your skin. This class is geared towards all levels of students, including those moving towards the clinical setting, or already in practice. This class is the foundation for Herbal Skin Care for the 21st Century, when we will create many amazing skin care products. We encourage students to take both classes .
Herbal Skin Care for the 21st Century
with Trinity Ava
Sunday, June 3, 10am-4pm
$80 - $65 sliding scale Includes materials fee
Luxuriate and nourish your skin and body in Emerald Valley! Join us for a day of creating your own custom designed skin care products. We will create a home spa experience making luxurious and nourishing skin care products for the whole family. Learn advanced formulation strategies for natural preservation systems for creams, lotions, toners, masks and more to treat common skin issues from eczema, psoriasis, acne, scars and helping to slow the signs of aging. This class is geared towards all levels of students, including those moving towards the clinical setting, or already in practice. All participants will leave with abundant samples and formulation strategies for creating incredible skin care products at home for clients, friends and family.
with Shad Reinstein
Thursday, June 14, 6 - 8:30pm,
$40 - $25 sliding scale
This is a feminist history of women in the healing arts that intends to inform and inspire us. We will start in Ancient Egypt and end in the 1920’s in the United States. We will address such questions as: Do you know why the development of the printing press directly led to the loss of much of the wealth of the herbal knowledge of women? Who was Trotula and why was she so important in the history of herbalism? Who and where were the women healers during the Renaissance? Please joins us for a special evening of information you are not likely to get elsewhere. These and many other questions will be discussed
Seaweed as Food and Medicine
with Autumn Summers
Friday, June 22, 6:30-9pm (class) & Saturday, June 23, 7:30-9:30am (field trip)
$75 - $60 sliding scale
From ancient times to the present, seaweeds have been used by coastal people all over the world to nourish themselves and their gardens, as well as to treat disease. The Sonoma coast is incredibly rich in seaweeds that can be used as foods and medicines. Learn how to identify, use and collect, in an ethical way, this abundant resource. Evening class will be at CSHS. Maps will be given out for Sunday morning field trip location during the Saturday evening class. Field trip location is 40 minutes from CSHS campus.
Plants Of Pomo Canyon ~ Herb walk
with Autumn Summers
Saturday, June 23, 10:30am - 3:30pm
$30 - $25 sliding scale
Discover the edible and medicinal plants on one of the most beautiful hiking trails in Sonoma County. On our walk we will journey through redwood, Douglas fir and bay forests to coastal grasslands and creeks and learn about mugwort, huckleberry, trillium, yerba buena, turkey tails and much more. Meet at 10:15 at Shell Beach for car caravan to Pomo Canyon. Map will be sent along with confirmation.
back to top >
Herbal Energetics - A Native American Perspective
with Visiting Herbalist Karyn Sanders
of the Blue Otter School of Herbalism
Saturday June 23 & Sunday, June 24 10:00am-4:00pm each day
2 day course, $160-$125 sliding scale
Come join Karyn for the weekend and immerse yourself in another perspective toward herbal healing. She will share herbal energetics from a southeast Native American perspective. This class will focus on looking at energy in the body, how it moves through, and what it takes to be in balance. We will talk about seeing energy, the energetics of the medicinal plants and also animal medicine. Class includes time meditating with and experiencing different plant medicines.
Medicine Show and Herbal Bazaar
Brought to you by the students of CSHS
Friday, June 29, 4pm -7pm
tuition: FREE!
This gala event presents the culmination of a semesters worth of medicine making and herbal endeavors by our full-time students. Come and taste herbal teas, tinctures, elixirs and foods. Meet the staff and students and learn about what we do here. Parking is limited. Please register early!
To Register email CSHS@cshs.com
back to top >
Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine
with Shad Reinstein
Thursday, August 30, 6 - 9pm,
$40 - $25 sliding scale
This class is a brief, fun introduction to the concepts of Chinese Medicine (TCM). We will explore how energy flow, herbs and nutrition are combined with the concepts of Qi, Yin and Yang and the Chinese organ systems to bring the body into a dynamic healing balance.
Can be taken with -
Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine Series (Five Monday afternoons) Sept. 17- Nov. 12
Strategies for Treating Blood Sugar Disorders
with Visiting Herbalist Christa Sinadinos
of the Northwest School for Botanical Studies
Saturday September 8 & Sunday, September 9 10:00am-4:00pm each day
2 day course, $160-$125 sliding scale
This course will cover strategies to treat blood sugar disorders including hypoglycemia, syndrome X, and type II diabetes. An overview of the effects of the hormone insulin, glucagon, and cortisol, as well as methods for testing and monitoring blood sugar will be covered. Students should walk away with an understanding of natural therapies including herbal medicines, a low glycemic diet, and healthy lifestyle choices that aid in the prevention and treatment of blood sugar disorders.
Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine Series
with Shad Reinstein
five Mondays from 1 - 5pm. September 17, October 1, 15 & 29, November 12
tuition: $295 - $265 sliding scale
This series of classes will provide a framework to understand Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). We will explore how this knowledge can be combined with Western Herbal knowledge and nutrition to improve our work as healers in our own lives.
The first two classes will focus on tonification and rebuilding our body from a TCM perspective. We will cover an introduction to yin & yang, qi, blood and the zang-fu (the Chinese Organ systems). Then we will discuss both Chinese nutrition strategies and Western herbal treatments to rebuild our bodies.
The third and fourth classes will discuss illness from a Chinese perspective. What are pathogenic factors? What problems are likely to occur with qi, blood, yin and yang? What are the 8 principals of diagnosis? If there is time we will discuss a few simple case studies.
The fifth class will discuss Chinese Tongue Diagnosis. When we look at the tongue what qualities are we looking for? What does it mean? How will it change over time? How do we use it to help determine herbal treatments?
Treating Colds and Flu from a Chinese Perspective using Western Herbs
with Shad Reinstein
Saturday, September 22, 10am-2pm,
$65 - $55 sliding scale
How can we keep our families from getting sick during this oncoming winter? If we do get sick, how do we get better quickly?
This class will start with a brief description, from a Chinese perspective, of the functions of the lung and how it relates to immunity and the“pathogens” which make us ill.
Given this information, and using the Chinese framework, what are the different types of colds and flu we will face this winter and how do we treat them with the Western herbs in our yards and in our gardens?
Delectable Wild Edibles
Autumn Summers
Saturday, October 6, 10am - 4pm
$75 - $60 sliding scale
Come learn about the abundant foods of the forest through lecture, slides and walks in the CSHS garden and along our medicine trail. In the afternoon we will venture into the kitchen to make and taste the local bounty. Learn how to process acorns into tasty food - including a savory dip and pancakes, roast bay nuts, bake with cattail pollen and rhizomes, make yummy greens from milk thistle leaves and more.
back to top >
Functional Foods - Medicinal Plants in Your Kitchen
with Trinity Ava
Sunday, October 7, 10am - 4pm
$75 - $60 sliding scale
“Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food”. Learn how to infuse your cooking with delicious and nourishing herbs for health, wellness and preventative care for the whole family. Learn how to make herbal Kimichi, fermented beverages, herbal tonic soups, herbal treats for kids & adults, seaweed snacks, mushroom delights, and how to cook with intoxicatingly decadent essential oils.
back to top >
Herbal Medicine for Digestive Disorders
with 7Song
Friday, October 12, 6pm - 9pm
$50 - $40 sliding scale
This class will look at a broad range of digestive disorders including digestive pain, chronic disorders such as IBS and Crohn’s, and acute problems such as stomach flu’s and bacterial infections. We will discuss some of the pathophysiological underpinnings of these disorders and cover specific remedies that can be used to relieve pain and help with long-term treatment.
back to top >
The Herbalist in Practice
with Visiting Herbalist Candis Cantin Kiriajes
of EverGreen Herb Garden and School of Integrative Herbology
October 20-21, November 10-11, December 8 - 9
tuition: $545 - $495 sliding scale
This program is geared toward the herbalist who has a strong herbal foundation and wants to take the next step to become a community herbalist. With many years of clinical experience in counseling and herbal therapeutics Candis will give the students tools for counseling, formulation, constitutional evaluation in Ayurveda and Chinese Systems, tongue diagnosis, and herbal preparations that are appropriate for the client (pastes, powders, foods, soups, baths etc.) This is an exciting program for students who want to deepen their understanding in a practical way that is geared toward the modern life and current health situations that are very prevalent in these times.
Wild Mushroom Walk
with Autumn Summers
Saturday, November 10, 10am - 3pm
$35 - $25 sliding scale
Come forage and learn how to accurately identify the delicious edible and medicinal mushrooms that flourish on the Sonoma Coast and the greater Bay Area. Depending on weather conditions these may include Chanterelles, Boletes, Turkey Tails and more... Walk will meet at Salt Point State Park north of Fort Ross. Map will be sent along with confirmation.
Herbal Holiday Gift Making
with Trinity Ava & Autumn Summers
Saturday, December 1, 10am - 3pm
$80 - $65 sliding scale
Handmade holiday gifts are a valued treasure! Create holiday magic with unique and inspiring hand crafted herbally inspired gifts. Learn how to create decadent and cost effective gifts for the entire family that will have them begging you to make more year after year! You will learn how to make: luscious lip balm, healing salve, skin nourishing cream, anti-oxidant packed facial serum, bath salts and more. Recipes, samples and packaging examples will be provided to each student.