The Family Herbalist Program - 2026
"from the kitchen to the bedside — herbal medicine for every stage of life"
The Family Herbalist Program at Herbal Medics Academy teaches practical, evidence-informed herbal medicine for every member of the family — from infants to elders — through a lifespan lens that is rare in herbal education. Covering pediatrics, women's health, men's health, aging, mental and emotional wellness, family first aid and even pet first aid, this program gives you the knowledge and confidence to make informed herbal decisions at home, alongside conventional care, and through every season of life. THE LIFESPAN PHILOSOPHY
From birth to the end of life — and everyone in between
Very few herbal programs tell the complete story. This one does. Every course in the Family Herbalist Program fits within a coherent arc — not a grab-bag of topics, but a genuine map of herbal support across a human life.
🌿
Kitchen & Home
›
👶
Childhood
›
🌸
Women's Health
›
🌱
Fertility
›
💪
Men's Health
›
🧠
Mental Health
›
🍂
Aging & Elders
›
🐾
Pets
›
🚑
First Aid & WFA
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
How the program works
3
Core Courses
Minimum required – extra core courses count also
4
Elective Courses
Minimum required – extra core courses count also
*NOTE* Any and all courses can be taken whether or not students are planning on finishing a Family Herbalism Program certification.
Core Courses
Core
New Course
Online
Recommended First
Recommended First
Kitchen Herbalism for Families
The front door to the program. Medicine making from your pantry — teas, glycerites, syrups, gummies — using kitchen tools you already own. Acute home care basics, herbs for everyday family life.
We mail herbs & supplies to your door so we can make medicine together as part of the class
10 weeks access | 1 live Q & A Session
Core
Expanding
Online
Herbal Medicine for Elders
Our existing geriatric course, now expanded. Polypharmacy awareness, dementia support, caregiver herbalism, and end-of-life comfort care — practical tools for the real challenges of aging. If you’re caring for aging parents or working with older adults in any capacity, this course was built for you.
5 weeks | 2 Live Q & A sessions
Core
New Course
Online
Men’s Herbal Health
Cardiovascular health, stress and adrenal fatigue, prostate and urinary support, sleep, and metabolic wellness — foundational herbal care for the adult men in your household. Most family herbalism programs skip this population entirely. This one doesn’t. Practical, evidence-informed, and immediately applicable at home.
4 weeks | 1 Live Q & A session
Core
New Course
Online
Pediatric Herbalism
Herbal support for children from infancy through adolescence. Dosing frameworks, childhood illness, fever management, sleep, and immune support — plus the red flags that tell you when to call the doctor instead.
Coming Summer 2027
4 weeks | 1 Live Q & A session
Core
New Course
Online
Women’s Cycles – a TCM Approach
Menstrual and hormonal health through the lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Cycle-phase support, PMS, painful periods, amenorrhea, and irregular cycles — all approached through pattern differentiation. This course teaches you how to read what’s actually happening in the body, not just which herb to reach for.
2 weeks | 1 Live Q & A session
Core
New Course
Online
Pregnancy: Prenatal Herbal Care
Herb safety in pregnancy, contraindications, and supportive herbs for common discomforts. Postpartum recovery, lactation support, and mood care in the weeks after birth. Taught firmly in the context of working alongside — not instead of — your OB, midwife, or prenatal care team.
4 weeks | 1 Live Q & A session
Electives
Elective
Existing
Online
The Health Advocate
Patient rights, legal healthcare terminology, how to access your own lab work, and Medicare and Medicaid basics — plus how to effectively advocate for a family member in a complex medical situation. Healthcare literacy of the kind every family needs and almost no one teaches.
Coming June 2027
3 weeks | 3 Live Q & A session
Elective
Existing
Online
Clinical Physical Assessment
Vital signs, basic clinical observation, and hands-on assessment skills for the informed herbalist. Learn to see what trained eyes see — and integrate that observation with what you already know about herbal care. A skill set that raises the baseline for every other course in this program.
Coming June 2027
3 weeks | 1 Live Q & A session
Elective
New Course
Online
Herbs for Pets: Dogs & Cats
Safe and effective herbal support for dogs and cats — and an equally important list of herbs you must never give them. Basic first aid, vital signs, tips & tricks and herbal first aid for your pets. Your whole household, finally included in your herbal practice.
Coming Summer 2027
3 weeks | 1 Live Q & A session
Elective
Expanding
Online
Menopause & Hormonal Transitions, TCM + Western
Expanding from our popular 2-hour workshop into a full course. Perimenopause, menopause, sleep disruption, mood shifts, bone health, and long-term vitality — all through both a western herbalism and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) lens. If you’re in it, approaching it, or supporting someone who is, this course is for you.
Coming Summer 2028
3 weeks | 1 Live Q & A session
Elective
New Course
Online
Fertility Support — A TCM Approach
Pre-conception preparation and cycle optimization for both partners — not just one. Supportive herbal care during fertility treatments including IUI and IVF, with clear guidance on when to step back and refer. Traditional Chinese Medicine pattern differentiation woven throughout, not bolted on at the end.
Coming Summer 2027
3 weeks | 1 Live Q & A session
Elective
New Course
Online
Family Mental Health — Herbs for Emotional Wellness
Nervines, adaptogens, and botanical support for the full emotional landscape of family life — anxiety, burnout, grief, childhood behavioral challenges, and postpartum mood. One of the most-requested topics in family herbalism, and one of the most consistently underserved areas in herbal education.
3 weeks | 1 Live Q & A session
Elective
New Course
Online
Herbal Safety & Drug Interactions
Plain-language, family-focused herbal safety — no clinical pharmacology, no jargon. Pediatric dosing frameworks, pregnancy contraindications, and polypharmacy awareness for elders managing multiple medications. The foundational knowledge that makes every other course in this program safer and more effective. Take this one early.
2 weeks | 1 Live Q & A session
Elective
New Course
Online
Family Seasonal Wellness
Immune support rhythms, allergy season protocols, fall and winter preparation, and year-round preventive care for every member of the family. Moves your herbal practice from crisis-response mode into genuine ongoing wellness. A natural entry point for students who are newer to the program.
Coming Fall 2027
2 weeks | 1 Live Q & A session
Elective
New Course
Online
Provider Psychological First Aid
Psychological first aid principles for those who show up when others are in crisis — caregivers, community herbalists, first responders, and family members who are often the first line of support. Practical, evidence-grounded tools for holding space without burning yourself out in the process.
2 weeks | 1 Live Q & A session
Elective
New Course
Online
Herbal Approaches to Minor Dental & Oral Health
Toothache, gum inflammation, abscess support, mouth sores, dry socket, and teething — the dental and oral health issues every family faces between provider visits. Learn when to act with herbs, exactly what to reach for, and equally important, when it’s time to get to a dentist.
3 weeks | 1 Live Q & A session
Elective
Existing
Hybrid / Online + On-site
Emergency Childbirth Skills
For those who want to be genuinely prepared when birth doesn’t go according to plan — whether that’s a remote setting, a fast labor, or a system that fails you. Twenty-four contact hours online plus a two-day hands-on on-site component. Taught by an experienced midwifery instructor.
TBA
3 weeks online | 2 days on-site
Elective
Existing
Online
Herbal First Aid
Botanical approaches to wound care, burns, bruising, acute pain management, infection support, and emergency preparedness for everyday life. The essential hands-on companion to any family herbalist practice. Available online only — and a natural pairing with the Wilderness First Aid Certification course.
3 weeks | 1 Live Q & A session
Elective
Existing
Online
Or On-site