Explore Our Herbal Programs
Find Your Herbalism Path
Whether you're called to reconnect with the wild, support your community’s healing as a herbalist, or learn an alternative to conventional medicine, we have a path for you.
At the Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine, we offer a range of programs designed to meet you right where you are – whether that means dipping your toes into kitchen herbal medicine or diving deep into herbalism through a clinical lens.
Each of our classes is taught with heart by Author and Clinical Herbalist CoreyPine Shane, together with a diverse circle of teachers, and grounded in place-based, experiential learning. We believe the forest is our best classroom, and in-person classes are the best way to learn.
Holistic herbal medicine is a beautiful art, combining plant wisdom, intuitive and scientific diagnosis, and skillful treatment.
We are an established herbal medicine school in Western North Carolina (running for more than 25 years!), helping students become confident, connected, and clinically educated herbalists.
We look forward to welcoming you into this rich tradition of learning and lifestyle.
Below is a comparison of all of our classes, so you can pick the best fit for you.
“CoreyPine Shane and his teaching staff offer a challenging, diverse curriculum that is filled with important plant wisdom and knowledge. The in-person, hands-on training and education was invaluable. I will forever hold the experience close to my heart with deep gratitude in having an opportunity to receive such a high level of instruction and coursework from BRSHM and to also share with the spirit of the plants.” – Amy Burns, Class of 2021
Our Teaching Philosophy
This is not just about memorizing Latin names or filling your brain with facts. Here, we learn through our senses, our stories, and our shared humanity.
We teach:
Herbal medicine with both science and soul
Diagnosis through both tradition and intuition
Plant relationships built through touch, taste, and time in the woods
Community care and personal empowerment
Our approach blends folk traditions with clinical tools, weaving Western herbalism with Chinese diagnostics and a focus on bioregional plants.
You’ll learn to:
Work with the plants growing right outside your door
Tend your and your loved ones’ health with confidence
Learn a holistic way of healing, not simply symptom suppression
Compare Our Core Programs
|
Program |
Schedule |
Focus |
Ideal For |
Tuition |
|
Essentials of Herbalism Course Curriculum |
Weekends (8 months) |
Kitchen medicine, plant ID, home medicine making |
Beginners, community caregivers |
$2,499 |
|
Holistic Herbalism Course Curriculum |
2 days/week (6 months) |
Clinical herbalism, Chinese medicine, diagnosis, plant walks |
Serious students, future practitioners |
$5,599 |
|
Wild Medicine Internship Immersive Plant walks |
Saturdays (4 weeks) |
Experiential learning, field botany, backpacking |
Nature lovers, beginners |
$360 |
Ways to learn with us
Essentials of Herbalism
A beginner-friendly course to help you reclaim your health and confidence,
naturally.
Learn how to:
Make tinctures, salves, syrups, and herbal teas
Identify and harvest herbs ethically
Use "food as medicine" and create your own wellness rituals
By learning these things, you realize we aren’t powerless about our own health, and have more options than just relying on the pharmacy. We can walk right outside and make teas, syrups, and elixirs that help us maintain health.
Perfect for:
Curious beginners
Parents and community caregivers
Folks wanting to start their herbal journey without feeling overwhelmed by learning it all online with free resources
Holistic Herbalism
A deep dive into the art and science of herbal healing.
This is our most comprehensive program.
You'll meet several hundred plants, do a deep dive with 80, study Chinese diagnostic
theory and holistic treatment, learn how to make high-quality herbal preparations,
and even go on an unforgettable camping trip to the Joyce Kilmer old-growth forest.
Learn how to:
Create custom formulas for real people
Understand the root causes of imbalance
Develop the confidence to serve your community as a herbalist with clinical training
Graduates see the world in a different way – seeking balance instead of quick fixes. They know how the body works and how to truly help people.
Perfect for:
Aspiring herbal practitioners
Healing professionals wanting to expand their skills
Committed students seeking transformation
Wild Medicine Internship
A 4-week immersion into the wild heart of herbalism.
Make herbal medicine. Walk ancient forest trails. Learn to trust your senses.
In this plant walk based program, you’ll:
Practice field botany and ethical wildcrafting
Make medicine in the woods, from the woods
Connect deeply with the plants, the land, and yourself
Every day is hands-on. You won’t just memorize herbs – you’ll meet them.
Perfect for:
Adventurous spirits
Visual, tactile, and kinesthetic learners
Anyone craving reconnection with the Earth
Looking for something shorter but still sweet?
Our Online Classes are a great way to dip your toes in.
From anxiety to insomnia to pain support, these pre-recorded offerings give you real tools you can use immediately – no matter your background. All taught by CoreyPine Shane with warmth, clarity, and a dash of humor.
Our Values: 8 Core Principles
At the heart of our school is a living set of values that guide how we teach, learn, and care for one another:
COMMUNITY – The classroom is a space of learning and growing, and having the support of our fellow students creates a stronger learning environment than learning on your own or online.
RESPECT – Respect for the plants and for nature, independent of human needs. Respect for other people, no matter their background, race, culture, sexual orientation, or choices. Our school stands in solidarity with those facing oppression.
CONNECTION – Herbal medicine is based on a deep connection to the world around us. We teach students how to reconnect with the natural world and bring that wisdom into their lives and communities. Herbalists act as a bridge between the natural and human worlds.
HUMILITY – We all have much to learn, and much to unlearn. True learning begins with setting aside preconceived notions and being willing to listen more than speak. Learning a different way of thinking about health and disease means seeing the world from a different place.
EMPOWERMENT – Herbal medicine is, at its heart, a folk medicine validated by science and experience. We believe all people deserve access to plant medicine and support the ability of herbalists to earn a living providing care.
CRITICAL THINKING – We encourage students to make the material their own, to ask questions, and to think deeply. We teach how to differentiate between good practices and pseudoscience. We also fully acknowledge that cultural traditions are as valid sources as scientific studies.
RESPECTING THE SOURCE – In all of our teaching, we strive to both acknowledge and celebrate the original cultures who used these plants for medicine.
CELEBRATION – The world is intense and there are challenges, and we choose to celebrate the joy and beauty of this magical world we live in. Understanding and connecting to plants more brings us back into our bodies and our lives in a more meaningful and joyous way.
Which Path Is Yours?
Whether you’re just starting or ready to go deep, there is a plant, a teacher, and a forest in Western North Carolina is waiting for you.
Let’s find your next step.
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