ENVS 195 – Therapeutic Herbalism
CRN# 15618
Barbara Ellen Raab braab@uvm.edu 802-373-1496
Kate Westdijk Katherine.Westdijk@uvm.edu
802-870-0982
Class Schedule and Reading Assignments
Spring 2016
Meets once weekly: Mondays, 4:05 — 7:05 pm; Rowell room 115
Full Disclosure Disclaimer: The content of this course is intended to be for educational
purposes. The instructor of this class is not a physician. The ideas, protocols, and suggestions
presented in this class are intended to supplement, not replace, the medical and legal advice of
trained, licensed medical professionals. Any attempt to diagnose and/or treat an illness should
be done under the direction of a health care professional. The instructor is not responsible for
any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of any suggestions, preparations,
formulas, or procedures discussed or possibly sampled in class. The instructor maintains a
teacher-student relationship with students and not a practitioner-patient relationship with same.
In addition, this course is not sufficient training to qualify any student as a “trained, practicing,
or clinical herbalist.”
Course Objectives: To familiarize the students with the holistic (natural medicine) approach
to health and healing; the relative safety-toxicity spectrum of botanicals; and the role of
nutrition, botanicals, and lifestyle support in preventive health.
To familiarize the students with aspects of clinical practice in botanical medicine. In addition,
factors that affect dosage determination; current issues in herbalism; an understanding of herbdrug interactions; the making of a standardized tincture; and exploring herbal monographs are
covered.
To familiarize the students with specific pathologies and conditions, the phytotherapeutic
approaches to treating them, including supportive lifestyle changes.
Requirements: One midterm exam (100 points) and one final exam(100 points); four
assignments (#1 Licensing issue reflection; #2 Self-assessment of your health status; #3 The
Bauman “Eating for Health” model and self-assessment; #4 Garlic as immune system support)
(100 points)
Students: You are responsible for checking your UVM email daily as my communications to
you will be via this medium. There will also be announcements posted on Blackboard from timeto-time.
Office Hours:
Barbara does not have an office on campus. Please feel free to stay after class if you need
to discuss any questions or concerns. You can reach Barbara via email at braab@uvm.edu or
by (C) 802-373-1496. It Is possible to arrange a time to meet on campus if you need to
discuss anything in person. Barbara is on campus on Mondays this semester.
2.
Attendance:
For satisfactory completion of this course you need to attend all classes and stay the entire
class time. Unexcused lateness or absences will result ¡n points off your final grade (5 points
per class). Inform Barbara ¡n advance of any attendance changes. including the need to leave
class early. Absences are excused ¡n case of extreme sickness, death in the family, or other
extreme documented circumstances. Please do not be late to class. Three (3) or more
unexcused absences result in an automatic failing grade of F.
Student Conduct:
Students are expected to maintain a positive and respectful attitude and to be ¡n class for
the duration of the class (except during the class break). Refrain from using cell phones or
other hand-held electronic devices during class.
Religious Holidays:
Students should inform the instructor ¡f students will be missing classes so that they may
observe their religious holidays. All course work needs to be made up and ¡t is the student’s
responsibility to find out what was missed in her/his absence.
Late Assignments:
To be fair to students who submit their work on time, 2 points are taken off for each day
that an assignment is late. If there are pressing circumstanœs such as those mentioned above
(see Attendance), the student and Instructor will work out a revised assignment due date.
Academic Integrity and Honesty:
All written ideas and expressions that are submitted without attribution to other sources
must be the creative product of the student. Properly cite all text passages taken from the
works of other authors. Students may not claim as their own work any portion of any
assignment or exam that was completed by another student. See the University of Vermont
Code on Academic Integrity.
Grading:
If the student has a concern about a grade received, bring this up with the instructor within
5 days of receiving the grade. The following ¡s grading criteria for this course:
33% (100 pts): Midterm exam
33% (100 pts): Final exam
33% (100 pts total): 4 assignments:
(20 pts) #1: Licensing, certification, registration issue
(50 pts) #2: Self-Assessment of Student’s Own Health Status
(20 pts) #3: The Bauman “Eating for Health” Self-Assessment
(10 pts #4: Garlic Monograph
3.
Syllabus and Reading Assignments:
Readings are from:
Code:
Sharol Tilgner’s Herbal Medicine — From the Heart of the Earth………….T
DK’s Human Body ………………………………………………………………………….HB
Chris Bohjalian’s Midwives……………………………………………………….Read in entirety
*Murray and Pizzorno’s Ency. of Natural Medicine… *out-of-print………….MP
Francis Brinker’s Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions……………B
Also read your Coursepack in its entirety, in addition to any handouts you may receive
in class. You may want to consult the various books that are on reserve at Bailey
Library as well (possibly under ENVS 195 — Plant-Based Healing Medicine). The
Medical School Library has helpful resources as well.
Date/ Subjects/Topics Covered
Readings/Assignments:
Jan. 25
Review of holistic approach to health and healing;
Midwives read entirely
The relative safety-toxicity of botanicals;
MP 1 — 80 C
Self-assessment observations;
T “Preface” + “Foreward”
Practicing in the clinical setting
C: Basic Foundation: “Review of Holistic Approach to Health & Well-Being”
Raab, “Sequence of ‘Study’ Events When Learning….Herbalism”
Raab, “Weaning Patients Off Pharmaceutical Drugs, etc.”
Murray and Pizzorno, “Principles of Natural Medicine”
Raab, “The New Emerging Medical Paradigm – The Bridge”
Raab, [Ed.], “Healing” quotes
Dr. Richard Schulze, “20 Steps to a Healthier Life”
Raab, “Information That Needs to be Known About Plants in
Order to Practice Medical Herbalism”
Raab, “Botanical Nomenclature”
Raab, “The Relative Safety-Toxicity of Plants”
Sarah Kelch, “Why We Need Water”
Raab, “Possible Ways to Eat, (i.e., “Diets”)
Raab, “The Role of Diet, Nutrition, Botanicals, and Lifestyle Choices
In Health and Well-Being”
Raab, “Eating Healthfully”
Raab, “Superfoods”
Raab, “Conscious Eating……”
Rosemary Gladstar, “Acid-Alkaline Foods”
Dr. Ed Bauman, “Eating for Health Model, 10 Eating for Health Tips”
C: “Clinical Practice”
Raab, “Guidelines for the Practice of Herbalism:
Boundaries and Parameters of Treatment”
4.
Raab, “Informed Consent and Full Disclosure Form”
Raab, “Format for Journal/Diary Entries”
Raab, “Patient Health History”
BEGIN Working on Your Self-Assessment Patient Health (Medical) History
Feb. 1
Turner’s theory: The onset and progression of disease
(Acute, Chronic, Degenerative/Terminal);
C: “Onset and Progression of Disease”
Raab, “Acute and Chronic Illnesses”
Raab, “Theory: The Onset and Progression of Disease”
Raab, “NIDDM: Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus”
Nicolson and Ngwenya, “Dietary Considerations for Patients with
Chronic Illnesses and Multiple Chronic Infections”
Observations That You Can Make About Yourself to Assess Your Health + Well-Being
C: Raab, “Observations That You Can Make About Yourself to
Assess Your Health and Well-Being”
Factors that affect dosage determination………………………………… T “Dosages” 299-307
C: Raab, “Dosage Calculations: Vocabulary”
Raab, “Factors Affecting Dosages and Calculations, etc.”
Raab, “Blood Perfusion”
David Hoffmann, “Recommendations for Dosing”
Raab, “Further Recommendations for Dosing”
Feb. 8
Current issues in herbalism:
Licensing (Midwives as springboard for discussion);
C: Raab, “The Licensing Issue in Herbalism”
Laurel Vukovic, “Should Your Herbalist Be Certified?”
Stephen Harrod Buhner, “Some Arguments Against the Standardization
Of Herbalists”
Standardization of herbal products;
C: Raab, “Standardized Extracts aka ‘Phytopharmaceuticals’”
Michael Tierra, “Standardization Doesn’t Necessarily Make an Herb
More Potent or Effective”
Slides of medicinal plants (if we have time)
DUE:
Self-Assessment Patient Health History =
(“Observations” + “Health History” + Your Summary of both)
5.
Feb. 15 No Class – President’s Day
Feb. 22
DUE:
Herbs to be used with caution
B 209-222, 227 – 250, 269 – 281
C: Raab, “Herbs to be Used with Caution”
Raab, “Ditto Above – Pregnancy and Lactation”
Raab, “Ditto Above – Due to Potential Allergic Response”
Raab, “ “
“
- Due to Potential Photosensitizing Effect”
Raab, “ “
“
- Due to Local Irritant Effects When Fresh”
Raab, “
“
“
- In Acute Inflammation of the Urinary Tract”
Raab, “
“
“
- In Gastrointestinal Irritation
Raab, “
“
“
- In Hypothyroid Conditions or Euthyroid Goiter
Reflection on Licensing Issue
Feb. 29
Actions of herbs in the body: ………………………………………….T 14—26
Video: Dr. Tieraona Low Dog (Foundations in Herbal Medicine course):
“Herbal Pharmacology — Review of Actions of Botanicals”
C: Raab, “The Actions of Herbs”
Raab, “The Actions of Herbs” (a comprehensive listing of actions)
Mar. 7
NO SCHOOL - SPRING RECESS!!
If you can get to the ocean or a waterfall. meditate next to the pounding surf or
the spilling water......
Mar. 14
Herb-drug interactions: …………………………………..see Feb. 9th assignment
C: Raab, “Herb-Drug Interactions” (see “Herbs to Be Used With Caution” in C)
Raab, “
“
“
-Modifying Intestinal Absorption of Medicines”
Raab, “
“
“
-Potentiating Cardiotonic Medicines”
Raab, “
“
“
-Potentiating Sedative or Tranquilizing
Medications”
Raab, “
“
“
-Modifying Blood Sugar in Insulin-Dependent
Diabetics”
Raab,”
“
“
-Modifying the Effects of Anticoagulants”
Raab,”
“
“
-Incompatible Gastrointestinal Tract
Medications”
Raab,”
“
“
-Potentiating the Effects of Weight Loss
Pharmaceuticals”
Mar. 21
6.
MIDTERM – Class Following:
Inflammation and the Inflammatory Response; Treating Inflammation
Naturally
We are beginning pathologies/conditions and therapies/protocols (botanicals. nutritional and
lifestyle support). Each student should review anatomy and physiology on her/his own in DK’s
Human Body, or comparable, for the appropriate system or part of the body that we are
covering (e.g.. for herpes and bums: the Integumentary system; for chronic stress: the
Endocrine and Nervous systems). In addition, study each of the formulas in Tilgner’s book that
is recommended for each condition. For example, for chronic stress look up “stress” in the
index and then look at each formula listed in the index under “stress.”
Mar. 28
Apr. 4
DUE:
Nervous system: Chronic Stress..........................................MP 175 — 187
T “stress” in index 382
C: Hilary Hitt, “Students Need Nurturing Environment”
Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, “Hormonal Cascade Initiated by Stressor”
Merck Manual, “Regulating Blood Pressure, etc.”
Christopher Hobbs, “Summary of Specific Actions of
Adaptogenic Herbs”
Raab, “The Relative Energy Spectrum”
Anonymous, “Breathing Techniques”
Raab, “Enhancing Memory”
Tincture-making: Using the Standardized Method……………… T 28 — 30
T 325 — 334
C: Raab, “Terminology for Tinctures and Tincture-Making”
Raab, “ENVS 195 – Tincture-Making: Standardized Method”
Raab, “Tincture-Taking and Dosing Options”
Raab, “Solvents”
Chanchal Cabrera, “Maximum Daily & Weekly Doses…”
Dr. Tieraona Low Dog/Asher, “Herbal Preparations”
Bauman “Eating for Health” Assignment
Apr. 11
7.
The Skin:
Herpes Simplex Virus I and II………………………………..MP 520 – 523
Burns: 1st, 2nd, 3rd degree………………See Merck Manual online or on Reserve
T: “Herpes Formula” and “Herpes Simplex”…………377
T: any readings on “Burns”
C: Raab, “The Skin”
Raab, “Facial Plastic Surgery at Home”
Raab, “Barbara’s Green Seaweed Masque for All Skin Types”
Integrative Medicine, “Herpes Simplex Virus”
Integrative Medicine, “Burns”
Raab, “Therapies for Treating Minor, 1st or 2nd Degree Burns”
Apr. 18
The Immune System……………………………………………….. T 179 - 194
C: Raab, “Materia Medica for the Immune System”
Raab, “The Immune System (IS)”
Christopher Hobbs, “Strengthening Immunity Naturally”
Christopher Hobbs, “Weakening Immune Factors”
Raab, “Nourishing Immune System Support Broth”
Apr. 25
The Live-r (get it? It’s written this way because you can’t live
without it!!! )
Liver Formulas……………………………………………………T 195 – 202
Detoxification………………………………………………..…. MP 104 - 125
C: Raab, “Materia Medica for the Liver”
Robert Rountree, M.D., “Boosting the Liver’s Detoxifying Power”
Christopher Hobbs, “Cleanse Your Liver With a Liver Flush”
DUE:
Garlic Monograph Assignment
May 2
Herbal monograph: Astragalus membranaceus..........................T 35, 193
C: Raab, “An Herbal Monograph”
Decant tincture; tincture is given to students at next meeting!
May ? Final Exam scheduled: 00:00? Rowell ?
Barbara Raab
braab@uvm.edu
Kate Westdijk
Katherine.Westdijk@uvm.edu