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Southeastern Institute
for Traditional Herbal
Studies
Medicinal plants and
their uses are the lifeblood of Southern Heritage here in the
Appalachian Mountains. For generations, our people have had an
intimate relationship with the plants and animals surrounding
them in the hills and valleys of this botanically diverse
region. Because of the diversity of the region, the more
agrarian nature of its peoples and the blending of European,
African and Aboriginal Indian cultures, the South has developed
and retained a unique herbal tradition that cannot be matched by
any other region of the country.
Whether it was a "Granny Woman" like Aunt
Molly Kirby, who birthed every baby in Cherokee County and
treated the people with herbs around the turn of the 19th
century or, her student Tommie Bass who gathered literally
thousands of medicinal plants for 88 years on the side of
Lookout Mountain, there have always been herb doctors in every
Southern community serving in many cases as the primary provider
of "medical" help for those too poor too afford the services of
a doctor or simply for those wanting an
herbal "alternative".
It is the goal of The Southeastern
Institute for Traditional Herbal Medicine to pass along this
unique approach to health and healing to its' students. Our
philosophy is that if a person wants to truly be an herbalist
for their family, friends or community, it takes an intimate
knowledge of the plant world to fully understand the craft.
Classes consist of the standard classroom skills that any herb
school has but what sets SITHM apart from the others is the
field time each student receives. Darryl Patton studied with
Tommie Bass for 12 years as his apprentice. For Darryl and
Tommie, 12 years studying consisted of going to to the woods
with Tommie several days a week, assisting Tommie in gathering
medicinal plants. These would then be taken back to Tommie's
shack and processed into the salves, tonics and formulas sought
after by people from around the country.
By the time Tommie passed away, he had
taught Darryl how to identify and use over two thousand plants
found in the South. It is this knowledge that is passed down to
the students of SITHM. When you have finished our programs, you
will have the knowledge and confidence to gather and use a
minimum of two to three hundred medicinal plants.
Herbalist Level I -
Herbalist Level I is a one year program
designed to provide students with the basics for becoming a
"home herbalist". By completing the program, you will have the
confidence to begin treating your family and community with
simple herbals, using herbs as a modern day
homesteader/survivalist or having an herbal pharmacopoeia to
fall back on in cases of emergency. Basic diagnostic and
treatment skills will be taught along with understanding of how
to make simple herbal products such as tinctures, salves,
decoctions, boluses etc... Students will be taught
anatomy/physiology basics, identification of a minimum of 200
medicinal plants, the history of medicine and will learn how to
write an herbal protocol for a all of the plants which they
study. Students will be required to complete a number of out of
class projects.
Cost: $1,500 which can be paid in
installments. A discount is offered for payments split into two
installments.
Herbalist Level II -
Herbalist Level II is a one year program
designed to take the basic herbalist beyond the "basics" of herbalism. This course is for those students who wish to take
their skills to the next level and possibly open a clinical
practice. In-depth diagnostic techniques will be taught at this
time and students will be required to demonstrate proficiency in
diagnosing and treating a wide range of conditions in both a
classroom setting as well as at a local clinic. Successful
progress in the clinics as well as in individual diagnostic
modalities will be required for graduation from this program. At
this level, the more complex aspects of herbal medicine making
will be explored. We will go beyond the making of the "Simplers
Tincture" making to more complex aspects of the art. More
specific medicinal formulas will be learned for the various
ailments graduates might encounter in their practices. Advanced
skills in writing herbal protocols will be taught at this level.
Participants will be required to complete all classroom time
along with individual one on one mentoring with the instructor.
Students will be required to complete a number of out of class
projects. Completion of Herbalist Level 1 is required before
admittance to Level 2.
Cost: $1,500 which can be paid in
installments. A discount is offered for payments split into two
installments.
* There is a final exam required for those
interested in receiving a certificate in Herbal Medicine.
Apprenticeship Program
This program offers the unique opportunity
for the rare individual who desires to make a long term
commitment to studying as an apprentice under Darryl Patton.
This is strictly a one on one program in which the student and
instructor will work together to pass down the specific
knowledge and skills taught Darryl Patton by his mentor Tommie
Bass. Time and length will arranged by the student and
instructor. Completion of Herbalist Level 1 and 2 or commensurate
program with another school is a requirement for admittance to
this program.
Cost: To be decided upon by instructor and
apprentice
Current students can click on either
Pdf's or
herbschool/Podcasts for more resources.
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