Course Description

This 20 week course on Herbalism and Holistic living has weekly lessons and discussions based on herbalism, ways to live more naturally, and to be kind to the earth. You will learn the basics of working with herbs: methods of medicine preparation, history of herbalism, folklore, wildcrafting, beauty and skin care products, replacing chemicals in your home with natural homemade methods, how to eat a whole foods diet (both traditional foods and veganism), and more.

All of our courses are designed with the understanding that you have a busy life, full of commitments — family, jobs, pets, friends, plants, and science experiments with food. ;) (Or maybe it's just us crazy hippies with the science experiments all over the house.) You get an entire year to complete this course and look back on the recipes.


Herb Whisperer

Angelina Shuman

Angelina began her journey to natural health and wellness 18 years ago when she became a mother. Concerned about toxins and effects of common pharmaceuticals and processed foods, she began looking for alternative ways to support her daughter’s wellness. This was back in the dark ages of the late nineties, so the internet was not as easily accessible as it is today. She relied on the library and old family remedies to glean information.Fast forward to 2004-2007, she became very interested in the natural childbirth movement and became a doula. Through her doula studies, she found that her instructor also ran an herbalism school called Heart of Herbs Herbal School. She began formally studying herbalism to go along with her independent research.In 2013, she opened a store, Wild Earth Herbals (formerly known as Herb & Renewal) in Spartanburg, SC. In 2014, Wild Earth Herbals has moved to an online platform provide herbal wellness to a wider audience. “While I thoroughly enjoy making medicine for my clients, my true passion is education. I was frustrated (as were potential clients) that so many people were interested in taking my local classes, but due to our modern lifestyles, carving out time was next to impossible. I realized that if I could set up an online course (that so many people have asked for) in a classroom format so there was peer interaction, that I could reach so many more people. Another issue is expense. So many online courses are just out of people’s budgets. I wanted to make sure that everyone who wanted to take this course would be able.”~Angelina.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    About Planting Roots

    • Introduction

    • Tracking Your Progress

    • Philosophy on Teaching

    • List of Herbs

    • Suggested Materials (OPTIONAL)
  • 2

    What is Intentional Living?

    • Intro to Intentional Living

    • What is Intentional Living?

    • Exploring a Holistic Lifestyle

    • What are your Intentional Living questions?
  • 3

    HEALTHY LIVING GOAL for Weeks 1 - 4

    • Weeks One to Four
  • 4

    Week 1: History of Herbalism

    • Lesson 1

    • ​Week 1 ~ Assignment #1: Main Models of Herbalism

    • ​Week 1 ~ Assignment #2: Self-Evaluation

    • Week 1 ~ Discussion #1 Three Traditions of Healing.

    • ​Week 1 ~ Discussion #2 The Six Steps to Healing

    • Week 1 ~ Materia Medica

    • Week 1 ~ Video - Juliette of the Herbs.
  • 5

    Week 2: Ethical Wildcrafting, Harvesting, and Where to Buy Herbs

    • Ethical Wildcrafting and Harvesting

    • Where to buy herbs and supplies

    • ​Week 2 ~ Homework Assignment: Bioregionalism.

    • Week 2 Materia Medica

    • ​Week 2 ~ Discussion #1: Wildcrafting

    • ​Week 2 ~ Discussion #2:

    • Week 2 Video ~ Burdock Plant Walk

    • ​Week 2 ~ Discussion #3: Invasive Species

  • 6

    Week 3: Essential Oil Safety. Do’s and Dont’s

    • Lesson 3 ~ Page 1

    • Lesson 3 ~ Page 2

    • Week 3 ~ Homework assignment

    • Discussion #1: Hydrosols & Essential Oils

    • Week 3 ~ Discussion #2: Absolutes

    • Week 3 ~ Discussion #3: EO Designations

    • The Quality of Essential Oils

    • Week 3 ~ Materia Medica

    • Week 3 ~ Video: Steam Distillation

    • Regarding essential oil related injuries.

    • Friends Don't Let Friends Drink Essential Oils
  • 7

    Week 4: Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Safety

    • Lesson 4

    • Healthy Living Recipe ~ Plant Based: Pregnancy Tea

    • ​Week 4 ~ Assignment #1

    • Assignment #2 Food Challenge

    • Discussion #1: Galactagogues

    • Discussion #2: Complaints

    • Discussion #3: Contraindications

    • Week 4 ~ Materia Medica

    • Week 4 Video ~ Herbal Stiz Baths & Women’s Health
  • 8

    HEALTHY LIVING GOAL for Weeks 5 - 8

    • Weeks Five to Eight
  • 9

    Week 5: Benefits of a Whole Food Based Diet and Veganism

    • Lesson 5 ~ Page 1

    • Lesson 5 ~ Page 2

    • Lesson 5 ~ Page 3

    • Assignment #1 Diet Changes

    • Discussion #1: Opposite Diets

    • Assignment #2: Food & Nutrition Course

    • Week 5 ~ Materia Medica

    • Week 5 ~ Video: Arguments Against Cow's Milk

    • Week 5 ~ Video: Arguments For Cow's Milk
  • 10

    Week 6: Traditional Food Preparation

    • Lesson 6 ~ Page 1

    • Discussion #1: Food Prep

    • Discussion #2: Ferments

    • Discussion #3: Dirty Dozen / Clean Fifteen

    • Discussion #4: Resources

    • Discussion #5: Seasonal Eating

    • Week 6 ~ Materia Medica

    • Week 6 ~ Healthy Living Recipe: Fermented Kombucha

    • Week 6 Video ~ Fermented Foods:
  • 11

    Week 7: Digestive System and Gut Health

    • Lesson 7 ~ Page 1

    • Lesson 7 ~ Page 2

    • Lesson 7 ~ Page 3

    • Lesson 7 ~ Page 4

    • Lesson 7 ~ Page 5

    • Lesson 7 ~ Page 6

    • Assignment #1 Create Protocol

    • Discussion #1: Yoga

    • Week 7 ~ Materia Medica

    • Week 7 Video ~ Gut Health and Herbal Medicine :

  • 12

    Week 8: Broth & Why You Should Make It

    • Lesson 8 ~ Page 1

    • Lesson 8 ~ Page 2

    • Lesson 8 ~ Video: Raw vs Cooked

    • Week 8 Assignment:

    • Week 8 Discussion: Bone Broth vs Vegetarian Broth

    • Lesson 8 Materia Medica

    • Lesson 8 ~ Healthy Living Recipe: Omnivore ~ Bone Broth Tutorial

    • Lesson 8 ~ Healthy Living Recipe: Plant Based "Vegetarian Baked Beans"
  • 13

    HEALTHY LIVING GOAL for Weeks 9 - 12

    • Weeks Nine to Twelve
  • 14

    Week 9: Herbal Energetics

    • Lesson 9 ~ Page 1

    • Lesson 9 ~ Page 2

    • Lesson 9 ~ Page 3

    • Lesson 9 ~ Page 4

    • Lesson 9 ~ Page 5

    • Lesson 9 ~ Discussion #1

    • Lesson 9 ~ Discussion #2

    • Lesson 9 ~ Materia Medica

    • Lesson 9 ~ Herbal Energetics

    • Lesson 9 Homework:
  • 15

    Week 10: Nervines and Adaptogens

    • Lesson 10 ~ Page 1

    • Lesson 10 ~ Page 2

    • Lesson 10 ~ Page 3

    • Lesson 10 ~ Healthy Living Recipe: Plant Based ~ Medicinal Mushroom Elixer

    • Lesson 10 ~ Homework

    • Lesson 10 ~ Materia Medica

    • Lesson 10 ~ Video: Nervines

    • Lesson 10 ~ Video: Adaptogens

    • Lesson 10 ~ Discussion

    • Lesson 10 ~ Video: Adrenal Glands

    • What Adaptogens Can Do For You

    • Lesson 10 ~ Healthy Living Recipe: Adaptogenic Hot Cocoa
  • 16

    Week 11: Herbs for Immune System

    • Lesson 11 ~ Page 1

    • Lesson 11 ~ Page 2

    • Lesson 11 ~ Page 3

    • The history of Fire Cider

    • Fire Cider Recipe

    • Lesson 11 ~ Video: Fire Cider Cold & Flu Remedy

    • Lesson 11 ~ Materia Medica

    • Lesson 11 ~ Discussion

    • Lesson 11 ~ Assignment:

    • Lesson 11 ~ Video: Reishi Mushrooms
  • 17

    Week 12: Herbs for Respiratory System

    • Lesson 12 ~ Page 1

    • Lesson 12 ~ Page 2

    • Discussion #1

    • Week 12 ~ Materia Medica

    • Week 12 Video: Herbal Therapeutics for the Respiratory System

    • Assignment #1: Protocol

    • Herbal Project: Garlic Mullein Oil

    • ​Simple hot drink recipe for a sore throat:
  • 18

    HEALTHY LIVING GOAL for Weeks 13 - 16

    • Weeks Thirteen to Sixteen
  • 19

    Week 13: Teas and Infusions. Using the Synergy Triangle for Blending Herbs

    • Lesson 13 ~ Page 1

    • Lesson 13 ~ Page 2

    • Lesson 13 ~ Page 3

    • Some further info on Comfrey

    • Assignment #1: Create a tea blend

    • Discussion #1:

    • Video: Herbal Tea Preparation

    • A note about language and terms

    • Week 13 Materia Medica
  • 20

    Week 14: Herbs for Endocrine System

    • Lesson 14 ~ Page 1

    • Lesson 14 ~ Page 2

    • Lesson 14 ~ Page 3

    • Week 14 ~ Materia Medica

    • Discussion #1: ​Adaptogenic herbs

    • Discussion #2: Adrenal Support

    • Week 14 ~ Video: Endocrine System
  • 21

    Week 15: Tinctures and Vinegars

    • Lesson 15 ~ Page 1

    • Lesson 15 ~ Page 2

    • Lesson 15 ~ Page 3

    • Lesson 15 ~ Page 4

    • Lesson 15 ~ Page 5

    • Assignment #1

    • Discussion #1: Weight vs. Volume

    • Discussion #2: Methods

    • Week 15 ~ Materia Medica

    • ​Video ~ Making Herbal Tinctures

    • Video ~ ​Herbally Infused Vinegars
  • 22

    Week 16: Herbal Cleaning

    • Lesson 16 ~ Page 1

    • Lesson 16 ~ Page 2

    • Assignment: Bleach vs. Vinegar

    • Discussion #1: Household Cleaners

    • Week 16 ~ Materia Medica

    • Herbalism Project: DIY Toothpaste

    • Video ~ Herbal Home Cleaning
  • 23

    HEALTHY LIVING GOAL for Weeks 17 - 20

    • Weeks Seventeen to Twenty
  • 24

    Week 17: Infused Oils

    • Lesson 17 ~ Page 1

    • Lesson 17 ~ Page 2

    • Week 17 ~ Materia Medica

    • Video - Infused Oils

    • Assignment

    • Herbalism Project: Onion Syrup
  • 25

    Week 18: Syrups and Oxymels

    • Lesson 18 ~ Page 1

    • Lesson 18 ~ Page 2

    • Week 18 ~ Materia Medica

    • Discussion #1: Syrups vs. Teas or Tinctures

    • Discussion #2: Oxymel vs. Syrup

    • Assignment: Make a Syrup

    • Week 18 ~ Video: Oxymels

    • Herbalism Project: Garlic & Herb Oxymel
  • 26

    Week 19: Herbal Salves

    • Lesson 19 ~ Page 1

    • Discussion: Balm vs Salve

    • Assignment: Make a Salve

    • Week 19 ~ Materia Medica

    • Herbalism Project: Black Drawing Salve

    • Week 19 ~ Video: Calendula Chamomile Salve
  • 27

    Week 20: Skin Care and Personal Care Products

    • Lesson 20 ~ Page 1

    • Lesson 20 ~ Page 2

    • Lesson 20 ~ Page 3

    • Assignment: Vocab Words

    • Discussion: Thin Skin

    • Discussion: Personal Care Items

    • Week 20 ~ Materia Medica

    • Animal Testing

    • Video: Skin Care Products

    • DIY: Basic Bath Soak Recipe
  • 28

    Help Desk

    • Help Desk: Feedback and Contact Info

    • Week 1 ~ Discussion #3 (Optional)