About this Course

Scientific and Spiritual approaches to herbalism complement each other...

And come together in this unique course exploring the connections between herbal energetics and the chemistry and pharmacology of herbs. Together with, Matthew Wood, Seán Pádraig O'Donoghue will help you better understand the molecular language of Living Nature. No background in biochemistry is expected or required. This course is suitable for the Intermediate or ambitious Beginner student. This course will help you:


  • See the ways in which the chemistry of a plant is a physical manifestation of its spiritual and energetic properties.


  • Understand what the chemistry of a plant can tell you about its energetic properties – and what the scent, taste, and energetic properties of a plant can tell you about its chemistry.


  • Understand how herbs affect our brain chemistry to shift consciousness – and how to think about these shifts in terms of both chemistry and energetics.


  • Gain the skills and knowledge to evaluate scientific studies and determine whether they are relevant to your practice.


  • Better explain the herbs you work with to scientifically-minded clients and other health care practitioners.


Seán Pádraig O'Donoghue is an herbalist specializing in mental, emotional, and spiritual health and an initiated priest in two traditions. He has taught both phytochemistry and herbal energetics to herbalists, nutritionists, and acupuncturists. He will be joined for several classes by renowned herbalist and author Matthew Wood, who has played a central role in the revival and development of Traditional Western Herbalism. Learn more about Seán and our amazing MWIH faculty here.

Includes

During rental period

•  Option to attend live-online classes  •

•  Access to all recordings and materials of classes available at the time •

•  Downloadable handouts for each class from Sean. Some bonus material from Matthew  •

•  Optional tests for each class (20 question multiple choice)  •

•  Certificate of Completion designed and signed by Matthew Wood upon successful completion of all tests with a passing grade of 70% or better  •

•  Life-time access to the online Community  •

•  Online help from teachers!  •

Upcoming Classes

Join Live-Online or Enjoy the Recordings

*All classes are the second Friday of the month at 12 noon - 2pm US Central (Chicago) time - easy time zone converter here.



Class 1 – Introduction to Holistic Pharmacology

Recorded - Available to enjoy at your leisure

Plant chemistries and human biology and the useful and not so useful fictions we use to talk about phytochemistry and herbal pharmacology.


Class 2 -- Families of Constituents

Recorded - Available to enjoy at your leisure

We explore the major families of herbal constituents,  where they are found, and how they interact with human bodies. Matthew contributes how the families fit into the Six Tissues States, herbs, and their actions.


Class 3 --  Taste and Pharmacology

Recorded - Available to enjoy at your leisure

We explore what taste and scent can tell us about the energetics and the pharmacology of plants.


Class 4  --   Warming Plants

Recorded - Available to enjoy at your leisure

We explore the pharmacology of warming and stimulating plants, and their use to address the depressed and stagnant tissue states.


Class 5 --  Cooling Plants

*June 12th

We explore the pharmacology of cooling and sedating plants, and their use to address the excited tissue state.


Class 6 --  Moistening Plants

*July 10th

We explore the pharmacology of moistening and nourishing plants and their use in addressing the tissue state of atrophy


Class 7  --  Astringent Plants

*August 14th

We explore the pharmacology of astringent plants and their use to address the lax tissue state


Class 8 --  Relaxing Plants

*September 11th

We explore the pharmacology of plants that relax tension and their use to address the constricted and stagnant tissue states.


Class 9 -- Bitters

*October 9th

We explore the pharmacology of bitter medicines and their use to address the stagnant and constricted tissue states


Class 10 -- Adaptogens and Other Tonics

*October 23rd

We explore the pharmacology  of adaptogens and other tonic herbs and how they help the body navigate stress


Class 11 --  Modern Additions to Pharmacology

*January 8th, 2021

Essential fatty acids, protease inhibitors, and hormones.


Class 12 -- Herbs and Neurotransmitters: Dopamine and Norepinephrine

*January 29th, 2021


Class 13 -- Herbs and Neurotransmitters:  Serotonin and DMT

*February 12th, 2021

We explore the nature of serotonin and DMT and the herbs that effect their levels and function in the human body.


Class 14 – Cannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid system

*March 12th, 2021

CBD? CBG? THC? We will make sense of the alphabet soup of constituents in the Cannabis plant and explore how they interact with the human body.


*Dates and topics are subject to change. Actively enrolled, paying students will be notified by email of any changes. Please see Welcome section and Welcome email for important details on staying updated.

Start at anytime! Complete the lessons at your own pace. 

Both the monthly and the 2-year payment options give access to pre-recorded and upcoming live-online classes while you are an active monthly *subscriber or during the 2-year rental period. You will receive an email 2 days before class with details and simple instructions on how to attend the live-online class. 

The class will be available as an on-demand webinar recording (meaning you can use the webinar link to view the webinar recording) until the following Monday, when the recording will be taken down from the webinar platform, edited, and then added to the course curriculum.  Please see Welcome section for more details.

To join a single class simply subscribe and then unsubscribe right away (see HELP for details) - this way you will have access to content for 1 month. 

Certificates designed and signed by Matthew Wood are available to those who successfully complete all tests with a passing grade of 70% or better. Once the program is complete there will be a minimum amount of payments required to receive a certificate. This is to be determined.

Course curriculum

Currently 10.5 Hours of Curriculum to Enjoy

  • 1

    FREE 2-hour Intro. Class

  • 2

    Welcome!

  • 3

    NEXT CLASS - Cooling Plants - Friday June 12th, 12 pm - 2pm US Central Time

    • Webinar Instructions

    • ***Webinar Link*** Registration Opens 2 days prior to the event
  • 4

    1 - Introduction

    • Pharma - Introduction - Webinar Chat Text

    • Pharma - A Brief Guide to the Six Tissue States by Matthew Wood

    • Pharma - Pharmacology Intro. by Matthew Wood

    • Pharma - Introduction Handout by Sean

    • Pharma - Introduction - Video

    • Pharma - Introduction - Audio

    • Pharma - Introduction - Test
  • 5

    2 - Families of Constituents

    • Pharma - Families of Constituents - Webinar Chat Text

    • Pharma - Families of Constituents - Handout by Sean

    • Pharma - Families of Constituents - Video

    • Pharma - Families of Constituents - Audio

    • Pharma - Families of Constituents - Test
  • 6

    3 - Taste and Pharmacology

    • Pharma - Taste and Pharmacology - Webinar Chat Text

    • Pharma - Taste and Pharmacology - Handout by Sean

    • 3 - Pharma - Taste and Pharmacology - Video

    • 3 - Pharma - Taste and Pharmacology - Audio

    • Pharma - Taste and Pharmacology - Test
  • 7

    4 - Warming Plants

    • Pharma - Warming Plants - Webinar Chat Text

    • Pharma - Warming Plants - Handout by Sean

    • Pharma - Warming Plants - Video

    • Pharma - Warming Plants - Audio

    • Pharma - Warming Plants - Test

What Students are Saying...

5 star rating

Excellent!

Amy Doeun

I was worried that the science portion would be too much but Matthew and Sean do an excellent job of breaking it down into easily digestible parts.

I was worried that the science portion would be too much but Matthew and Sean do an excellent job of breaking it down into easily digestible parts.

Read Less
5 star rating

I've Been Looking for a Course Like This!

Helena Wu

I have wanted to know more about pharmacology yet come from a holistic herbalist perspective. I am so happy to be taking this course where the two can come t...

Read More

I have wanted to know more about pharmacology yet come from a holistic herbalist perspective. I am so happy to be taking this course where the two can come together.

Read Less

Monthly and 2-Year Rental Options

Get 24 months for the price of 20 with the 2-year rental!

Study at your own pace

With online help from the teachers