The Naturopathic Institute is excited to present the Herbology Department as one of the nine departments offered in our Emphasis Certification Program. The Emphasis Certification Program is launching in January 2026 in collaboration with the Embassy of Life Mastery.
Department Overview
The foundation to the Herbology Emphasis Program starts with core classes in Nutrition, Herbs and Muscle Response Testing, Field Herbology, The Making of Herbal Medicine, Herbal Science and Forms of Cleansing, Clinical Herbology, and Herbal Adventures. You learn the chemistry, classification, and identification of plants as medicine.
Courses Required · Course Breakdown · 2026 Course Schedule
Courses Required
To earn an Emphasis Certification in Herbology, students are required to take seven core classes and 10 emphasis classes. The Naturopathic Institute’s Emphasis Certification program is registered with the state of Michigan and meets the educational requirements.
Program Core Courses
- NHE: Nutrition
- NHE: Herbology and Muscle Response Testing
- NHT: Field Herbology
- NHT: Making of Herbal Medicine
- NHP: Herbal Science and Forms of Cleansing
- NHP: Clinical Herbology
- CN: Herbal Adventures
Herbology Emphasis Courses
Not all courses are offered each year. Review the class schedule guide to learn what is available in any given year.
There are 10 Emphasis Courses offered in the Herbology Department. All 10 of the following Emphasis Courses (in combination with the seven core classes above) are required to earn an Emphasis Certification in the Herbology Department:
- Biodynamically Growing and Making Herbal Teas
- Chemistry of Herbs and How They Work
- Dining in the Wild
- Growing a Culinary Herbal Garden
- Herbs of the Kitchen
- Make Your Own Tinctures and Salves
- Plant and Planet
- Sacred Geometry in Herbal Gardens and Preparations
- Spiritual Herbology
- Wilderness Medicine
Course Breakdown
Diploma Students
If you are enrolled in the Natural Health Program, you have already completed some of the core classes required to earn the Herbology Emphasis Certification. Below are the additional classes you are required to take, based on the number of years in the program you completed, to earn an Emphasis Certification in the Herbology Department.
| Program Year Completed | Additional Core Classes Needed | Herbology Emphasis Classes |
| Natural Health Educator | 5 | 10 |
| Natural Health Therapist | 3 | 10 |
| Natural Health Practitioner / Certified Naturopath | — | 10 |
Emphasis Certification Only (Non-Diploma Students)
You must complete seven Core Program Classes and the 10 Herbology Emphasis Classes to earn an emphasis certificate.
Personal Development
If you are taking an Emphasis Course for personal development, you will not be responsible for the homework or taking the test.
If you choose to take classes in the Emphasis Program for personal growth, then you are not held to the same academic requirements as Certification Students. Please go to the Emphasis Personal Development Page to fill out and submit the Alumni/Guest Individual Class Registration Form.
Look for this icon when searching for a class from the Herbology Department.
Why This Certification Matters
Whether you’re seeking professional development in clinical herbalism or simply want to deepen your connection with plant medicine, the Herbology Emphasis Certification equips you with both scientific knowledge and traditional wisdom.
By completing this program, you will:
- Develop the skills to create herbal remedies, teas, tinctures, and salves confidently.
- Learn to identify, harvest, and prepare wild plants for nutrition and healing.
- Gain a deep understanding of the chemical and energetic properties of herbs.
- Build a foundation for working in natural health practices, wellness coaching, or self-reliant healing.
- Learn from instructors with experience in Naturopathy and Herbology.
Whether your goal is to integrate herbal knowledge into a health practice, teach others, or support your own family’s wellness journey, this certification gives you the tools, confidence, and insight to do so.
2026 Herbology Emphasis Course Schedule
1-Day Emphasis Courses are held from 9 am – 5 pm at 503 E. Broadway St., Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858, unless otherwise noted.
Not every Emphasis 1-Day Course will be offered every year. Here are the courses in the Herbology Department that are being offered in 2026:
Instructor: Sheila Carroll, Author of Organic Raised Bed Gardening
Course Description: Explore the radiant wisdom of Saint Hildegard of Bingen—Benedictine abbess, mystic, healer, and visionary. Learn Hildegard’s unique approach to healing the whole person—body, mind, soul, and spirit.
Instructor: Becky Parker
Course Description: Travel to a beautiful small homestead that specializes in biodynamic practices for growing their own herbal teas and selling them at local venues and markets. The class will be led by the primary steward, a homeschool mother and entrepreneur. Students will learn how to grow, harvest and prepare herbal teas in a full-day workshop.
Instructor: Jenna Humphrey, CN, ND
Course Description: During a walkabout on a sustainable organic ranch, students will learn how to harvest wild herbs, plants, and tubers for making tasty and extremely healthy meals. The focus will be on incorporating these wild edibles into familiar dishes you already prepare. A few of the plants will serve as side dishes and condiments on their own. Wild seeds will be strongly considered as a staple food and an essential nutrient. The awe and exploration of nature’s abundance will leave a lifetime impression and feeling of abundance.
