We are starting to receive applications for the following 2021-22 school year! The deadline is April 1st, 2021.
We are an in-person program. We have temporarily moved our classes online for the 2020-21 school year due to Covid. We are following legal requirements closely, and we intend to return to our classroom in Dumbo, Brooklyn when it’s safe to do so.
Our ‘full-time’ program is 1 day a week (Wednesdays 9-5) and 1 weekend a month (Saturdays and Sundays 9-5). The schedule dates are below.
If you have any questions about our programs or application process, please email ask@arborvitaeny.com.
To apply for the Foundational Year Professional Herbalism Program:
Please download & complete this application: ArborVitae Year 1 Application 2021-22 (PDF) OR ArborVitae Year 1 Application 2021-22 (DOC)
The 1st year curriculum offers a comprehensive introduction to the art and science of herbal medicine, and stands as a strong foundation for further studies or as a basis for effective and knowledgeable home practice. The class blends science with tradition, offering a holistic focus on supporting healthy function. Fundamentals of traditional herbalism that have evolved in North America underpin the course content, though the approach is eclectic and integrates herbal and holistic principles and practices from throughout the world.
More information is available on applying and tuition.
Here is the ArborVitae Year 1 Book List
Here is the ArborVitae Year 1 Materia Medica
Here is an example syllabus from 2019 – Year 1 Syllabus
Class Dates: Year 1
**Foundational Year classes for the 2021-2022 school year will be held weekly on Wednesdays from 9 am to 5 pm, plus one weekend a month.**
The program year includes a total of 367 program class hours, with 46 additional (optional) hours of Q&A time at no extra cost (413 total hours). There will be opportunities for extra educational hours via additional classes, mentorship meetings, and special events.
Year 1 Fall 2021 Semester
Weekdays: Wednesdays 9 – 5
- Sept 15, 22, 29
- Oct 6, 13, 20, 27
- Nov 3, 10, 17 *Harvest break 11/18 – 11/29
- Dec 1, 8, 15
Weekends: Saturdays & Sundays 9 – 5
- Sept 25-26
- Oct 23-24
- Nov 13-14
- Dec 4-5
Year 1 Winter & Spring 2022 Semester 
Weekdays: Wednesdays 9 – 5
- Jan 12, 19, 26
- Feb 2, 9, 16, 23
- Mar 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
- Apr 6, 13, 27 *Spring break 4/15 – 4/22
- May 4, 11, 18
Weekends: Saturdays & Sundays 9 – 5
- Jan 22-23
- Feb 12-13
- Mar 12-13
- Apr 2-3
- May 14-15
*Dates are subject to change.
The 1st year curriculum offers a comprehensive introduction to the art and science of herbal medicine, and stands as a strong foundation for further studies or as a basis for effective and knowledgeable home practice. The class blends science with tradition, offering a holistic focus on supporting healthy function. Fundamentals of traditional herbalism that have evolved in North America underpin the course content, though the approach is eclectic and integrates herbal and holistic principles and practices from throughout the world.
History and Philosophy of Herbal Medicine
The class provides an overview of the history and philosophy of herbal practices throughout the world, with a focus on more recent history in Europe and U.S. Lessons include an introduction to core concepts of a diversity of approaches to herbal medicine.
Botanical Materia Medica
Over 60 medicinal plants and mushrooms are reviewed in depth, including plants & fungi that grow in North America as well as medicinal herbs from other regions. Teachers introduce students an abundance of other botanicals throughout the curriculum. Students will build their own materia medica based on their studies, and will learn about herbal monographs and components: Latin name, common name, botanical information, herbal actions, energetics, system affinities, current and historical uses, specific indications, and herbal toxicity and safety.
Traditional Herbalism and Holistic Assessment
The class provides a survey of various holistic approaches to healing. It focuses on the traditions of herbalism that have evolved in the U.S. incorporating Western European/ Greek systems, tissue states, Vitalist and Eclectic concepts, folk traditions, as well as the use of Native American plants and wisdom adopted from Native traditions. We also provide a comprehensive introduction to concepts and energetics in Arurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Basic concepts from other healing traditions throughout the world will be introduced as well. Energetics, actions, and flavors, as well as specific signs and patterns are covered. Course content includes basic assessment tools like ways to gather information from tissue states, pulse and tongue.
Herbal Apothecary: Gathering, Preparation and Use
The curriculum reviews various types of herbal preparation, including how, why, and when to use different forms of herbal medicine. Students learn about the ethics of wildcrafting, and methods for harvesting, drying, and preparing roots, stems, leaves, flowers, seeds, and mushrooms into various herbal remedies, and receive hands-on in-depth lessons in the preparation of:
♦ Tea infusions decoctions ♦ Tinctures / liquid extracts ♦ Powders (cooked & raw herbs) ♦ Oxymels, herbal vinegars ♦ Topical: salves, ointments, creams,poultices, linaments ♦ Herbal oils /fats (internal & external) ♦ Medicinal food preparation: herb broths, herbal preserves
We also present introductory information about the preparation and use of other forms of herbal medicine including:
♦ Succus ♦ Syrups, herbal honey ♦ Suppositories ♦ Flower essences ♦ Homeopathy ♦ Essential oils / aromatherapy ♦ Herbal baths and soaks ♦ Herbal douches & enemas ♦ Herbal nasal irrigation ♦ smoke and inhalants ♦ Herbal skin care: hydrosols, lotion, scrubs ♦ Topical: plasters
Students also learn the basics of formulation and management of a personal apothecary.
Botany and Plant Identification
As an important part of the first year program, students are exposed to a survey of botanical science to inform the connection between healing and the physical plant world. Field botany includes identification skills, plant families, classification, and structure. The Doctrine of Signatures and other traditional concepts are interwoven with class material.
Herbs in the Environment
A number of class days in fall and spring are spent outside on field trips in the wilds of New York City and beyond the city. Botany, plant ID, basics of herb cultivation, wild crafting and wild food foraging will be covered out in the field.
Herbs in the Cycles of Life
Each period of life has special considerations, challenges and needs. The curriculum integrates herb considerations and wellness practices, along with nutrition and flower essences, for supporting healthy infancy and childhood, puberty, fertility, pregnancy and elder years.
Herbs as Food and Food as Medicine
Traditional foods and nutrition are prominent among course material. Students learn of Aruvedic nutritional principles, specific foods for the various organ systems and for common ailments. In addition to traditional nutrition, students are exposed to nutritive constituents such as vitamins and minerals, as well as secondary compounds, and their roles in healthy body functions. Ways to incorporate both tonic and medicinal plants into meals are explored along with wild food gathering and preparation, and principles of traditional & medicinal food preparation.
Herbal Therapeutics: Properties, Actions and Chemistry
Various aspects of the curriculum highlight the importance of plant tastes: bitter, sweet, pungent, sour and savory, which are considered in their properties and applications. Plant actions, phytochemistry, introduction to herbal constituents, and whole plant poly-pharmacy (synergy versus standardization) are taught.
Herbal First Aid
The first year program includes lessons on dealing with acute injuries using holistic and herbal protocols. Students are introduced to methods for assessing the extent of injuries and applying herbs for basic first aid needs.
Herbal Safety
Students are introduced to the crucial topics of herbal contraindications, how dosage relates to safety, herb-herb interactions, herb-drug interactions, safety during pregnancy and lactation, and how our current knowledge of phytochemical constituents of plants can inform safe use.
Herbs as Flower Essences
Students are presented with an overview of how and when to use flower essences, as well as their energetic benefits for emotional and mental health. These lessons include consideration of emotional trauma and its effects on physiology.
Extra Q&A Sessions
Included in the curriculum and tuition, we offer extra (optional) Q&A sessions, which enable students to meet with the core faculty in a more intimate setting and ask any questions they may have. The sessions are held outside of classroom hours and are optional; however, students receive additional credit hours for attending the sessions. Dates and times of sessions are announced at the beginning of the school year so that students can plan ahead if they would like to attend a session.
Additional Outline of Curriculum Topics
Body Systems, Bioscience & Western Medicine
Anatomy, physiology and body systems
Herb affinities, actions, interactions and pharmacology
Pathology and medical terminology
Energetics and Assessment Methods
Traditional European, Chinese and Ayurveda energetics
Traditional assessment methods including face, tongue, and pulse reading
states and Constitution
Materia Medica (60+ plants)
Nomenclature
Herbal actions
Energetics
Specific indications and use
Safety
Historical and botanical information
Botany & Plant Identification
Botanical science
Doctrine of Signatures and Energetics
Field work
Phytochemistry
Ethical and quality harvesting
Medicine Making & Use
Infusions and decoctions preparation methods
Various Tincture preparation methods
Topical herb preparations: poultices, salves, creams, powders
Herbal vinegar, oil, electuarys, oxymels
Flower essences
Introduction to use of other applications
Life cycles
Birth and infancy
Childhood and adolescence
Adulthood, fertility and pregnancy
Menopause and andropause
Elder years and death
Nutrition
Traditional nutrition practices
Nutritional science
Nutrition for particular times of life and ailments
Food as medicine
Wild and foraged food
Herbal History & Philosophy
Lineage of ‘Western’ European medical and herbal traditions from prehistory to present
Lineage of North American herbalism
World Herbal Traditions
European – Greek, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda
Introduction to other traditions throughout the world
Law & Practice
Legal issues with herbal practice
DSHEA: Language
GMPs and the herbalist
Working with People
Developing holistic and herbal protocols
Initial approaches and follow up
Ethics