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.

Check out the "Holistic Pharmacology for Herbalists - Free Intro" to get a feel for the class dynamics.


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. 

About the Classes:

  • Class 1 - Introduction to Holistic Pharmacology: 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: 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: We explore what taste and scent can tell us about the energetics and the pharmacology of plants.
  • Class 4 - Warming Plants: We explore the pharmacology of warming and stimulating plants, and their use to address the depressed and stagnant tissue states.
  • Class 5 - Cooling Plants: We explore the pharmacology of cooling and sedating plants, and their use to address the excited tissue state.
  • Class 6 - Moistening Plants: We explore the pharmacology of moistening and nourishing plants and their use in addressing the tissue state of atrophy.
  • Class 7 - Astringent Plants: We explore the pharmacology of astringent plants and their use to address the lax tissue state.
  • Class 8 - Relaxing Plants: We explore the pharmacology of plants that relax tension and their use to address the constricted and stagnant tissue states.
  • Class 9 - Bitters: We explore the pharmacology of bitter medicines and their use to address the stagnant and constricted tissue states
  • Class 10 - Adaptogens: We explore the pharmacology  of adaptogens and how they help the body navigate stress
  • Class 11 - Modern Additions to Pharmacology: Essential fatty acids, protease inhibitors, and hormones.
  • Class 12 - Herbs and Neurotransmitters: Dopamine and Norepinephrine
  • Class 13 - Herbs and Neurotransmitters: Serotonin and DMT: We explore the nature of serotonin and DMT and the herbs that effect their levels and function in the human body.
  • BONUS CLASS!
    Class 14 - Tonics: We explore the pharmacology of tonic herbs and how they help the body navigate stress
  • Class 15 - Cannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid system: 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.

Bonus Content

Take a moment to watch the "Holistic Pharmacology for Herbalists - Free Intro."

Includes

  • Support Materials

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

  • 2 year access to materials and Q&A

    2 years to view and review content, ask questions and discuss with fellow students and teachers.

  • 37 hours of teaching

    37 hours of in-depth teaching with Seán and Matthew Wood.

Course curriculum

  1. 1

    • Welcome Message
  2. 2

    • Pharma Intro Class - Video

    • Pharma Intro Class - Audio
  3. 3

    • About Non-Downloadable Documents

    • Pharma Class 1: Introduction - A Brief Guide to the Six Tissue States by Matthew Wood (24 pages, not downloadable)

    • Pharma Class 1: Introduction Handout by Sean (6 Pages, downloadable)

    • Pharma Class 1: Introduction by Matthew Wood (10 pages, not downloadable)

    • Pharma Class 1: Introduction - Webinar Chat Text

    • Pharma Class 1: Introduction - Video

    • Pharma Class 1: Introduction - Audio

    • Tests and Certificates

    • Pharma Class 1: Introduction Test
  4. 4

    • Pharma Class 2: Families of Constituents - Webinar Chat Text

    • Pharma Class 2: Families of Constituents - Handout by Sean

    • Pharma Class 2: Families of Constituents - Video

    • Pharma Class 2: Families of Constituents - Audio

    • Pharma Class 2: Families of Constituents Test
  5. 5

    • Pharma Class 3: Taste and Pharmacology - Webinar Chat Text

    • Pharma Class 3: Taste and Pharmacology - Handout by Sean (3 pages, downloadable)

    • Pharma Class 3: Taste and Pharmacology - Video

    • Pharma Class 3: Taste and Pharmacology - Audio

    • Pharma Class 3: Taste and Pharmacology Test
  6. 6

    • Pharma Class 4: Warming Plants - Webinar Chat Text

    • Pharma Class 4: Warming Plants - Handout by Sean (4 pages, downloadable)

    • Pharma Class 4: Warming Plants - Video

    • Pharma Class 4: Warming Plants - Audio

    • Pharma Class 4: Warming Plants Test
  7. 7

    • Pharma Class 5: Cooling Plants - Webinar Chat Text

    • Pharma Class 5: Cooling Plants - Cooling Herbs Handout by Sean (2 pages, downloadable)

    • Pharma Class 5: Cooling Plants - Video

    • Pharma Class 5: Cooling Plants - Audio

    • Pharma Class 5: Cooling Plants Test
  8. 8

    • Pharma Class 6: Moistening Plants - Webinar Chat Text

    • Pharma Class 6: Moistening Plants - Moistening Herbs Handout by Sean (3 pages, downloadable)

    • Pharma Class 6: Moistening Plants - Video

    • Pharma Class 6: Moistening Plants - Audio

    • Pharma Class 6: Moistening Plants Test
  9. 9

    • Pharma Class 7: Astringent Plants - Webinar Chat Text

    • Pharma Class 7: Astringent Plants - Astringents Handout by Sean (3 pages, downloadable)

    • Pharma Class 7: Astringent Plants - "Solar Remedies" by Matthew Wood (not downloadable)

    • Pharma Class 7: Astringent Plants - Video

    • Pharma Class 7: Astringent Plants - Audio

    • Pharma Class 7: Astringent Plants Test
  10. 10

    • Pharma Class 8: Relaxing Plants - Webinar Chat Text

    • Pharma Class 8: Relaxing Plants - Relaxing Herbs Handout by Sean (5 pages, downloadable)

    • Pharma Class 8: Relaxing Plants - Tension Tissue State by Matthew Wood (not downloadable)

    • Pharma Class 8: Relaxing Plants - A Selection of Nervines by Matthew Wood (not downloadable)

    • Pharma Class 8: Relaxing Plants - Video

    • Pharma Class 8: Relaxing Plants - Audio

    • Pharma Class 8: Relaxing Plants Test
  11. 11

    • Pharma Class 9: Bitters - Webinar Chat Text

    • Pharma Class 9: Bitters - Bitters Handout by Sean (2 pages, downloadable)

    • Pharma Class 9: Bitters - Video

    • Pharma Class 9: Bitters - Audio

    • Pharma Class 9: Bitters Test
  12. 12

    • Pharma Class 10: Adaptogens - Webinar Chat Text

    • Pharma Class 10: Adaptogens - Stress, Adaption, and Adaptogens Handout by Matt and Sean (5 pages, downloadable)

    • Pharma Class 10: Adaptogens - Video

    • Pharma Class 10: Adaptogens - Audio

    • Pharma Class 10: Adaptogens Test
  13. 13

    • Pharma Class 11: Modern Additions to Pharmacology: EFS's Protease Inhibitors, Hormones - Webinar Chat Text

    • Pharma Class 11: Modern Additions to Pharmacology: EFS's Protease Inhibitors, Hormones - Herbs and Steroid Hormones by Sean O'Donoghue (4 pages, downloadable)

    • Pharma Class 11: Modern Additions to Pharmacology: EFS's Protease Inhibitors, Hormones - Proteases by Matthew Wood (25 pages, not downloadable)

    • Pharma Class 11: Modern Additions to Pharmacology: EFS's Protease Inhibitors, Hormones - Video

    • Pharma Class 11: Modern Additions to Pharmacology: EFS's Protease Inhibitors, Hormones - Audio

    • Pharma Class 11: Modern Additions to Pharmacology: EFS's Protease Inhibitors, Hormones Test
  14. 14

    • Pharma Class 12: Herbs and Neurotransmitters: Dopamine and Norepinephrine - Dopamine and Norepinephrine by Sean O'Donoghue (6 pages, downloadable)

    • Pharma Class 12: Herbs and Neurotransmitters: Dopamine and Norepinephrine - Neurotransmitters by Matthew Wood (10 pages, not downloadable)

    • Pharma Class 12: Herbs and Neurotransmitters: Dopamine and Norepinephrine - Webinar Chat Text

    • Pharma Class 12: Herbs and Neurotransmitters: Dopamine and Norepinephrine - Video

    • Pharma Class 12: Herbs and Neurotransmitters: Dopamine and Norepinephrine- Audio

    • Pharma Class 12: Herbs and Neurotransmitters: Dopamine and Norepinephrine Test
  15. 15

    • Pharma Class 13: Herbs and Neurotransmitters: Serotonin and DMT -The Indoleamines - handout by Sean (11 pages, downloadable)

    • Pharma Class 13: Herbs and Neurotransmitters: Serotonin and DMT - Webinar Chat Text

    • Pharma Class 13: Herbs and Neurotransmitters: Serotonin and DMT - Video

    • Pharma Class 13: Herbs and Neurotransmitters: Serotonin and DMT - Audio

    • Pharma Class 13: Herbs and Neurotransmitters: Serotonin and DMT - Indoleamines Test
  16. 16

    • Pharma Class 14: Herbal Tonics - Webinar Chat Text

    • Pharma Class 14: Herbal Tonics - Definitions of “Tonic” by Matthew Wood (2 pages, not downloadable)

    • Pharma Class 14: Herbal Tonics - Tonics Handout by Sean (3 pages, downloadable)

    • Pharma Class 14: Herbal Tonics - Video

    • Pharma Class 14: Herbal Tonics - Audio

    • Pharma Class 14: Herbal Tonics Test
  17. 17

    • Pharma Class 15: Cannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid System - Webinar Chat Text

    • Pharma Class 15: Cannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid System - Cannibinoids Handout by Sean (16 pages, downloadable)

    • Pharma Class 15: Cannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid Systems - Video

    • Pharma Class 15: Cannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid System - Audio

    • Pharma Class 15: Cannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid System Test
  18. 18

    • Please share your thoughts

 

 

Documents are not downloadable. Please note that Matthew often adds manuscripts of upcoming books and is allowing students early access to these works-in-progress; therefore, they are available as 'view-only' documents and are not downloadable.

Access this Fascinating Course

2-year access to this course

The Library Bundle

Access to this course and many more.
(Full list can be found on The Library page.)

Start at any time! Complete the lessons at your own pace.

Certificates designed and signed by Matthew Wood are available for purchase to those who successfully complete all tests with a passing grade of 70% or better. More details regarding herbal course certificates are here.

Tests are multiple-choice, and multiple attempts are permitted.

For those of you seeking clinical hours, we have a list of all classes/courses with corresponding accreditation hours.



5 star rating

Excellent

Miranda Capuano

I loved that this course combined both Matt & Sean & their teaching styles. I also loved that I could go at my own pace. Thanks so much

I loved that this course combined both Matt & Sean & their teaching styles. I also loved that I could go at my own pace. Thanks so much

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5 star rating

Excellent course

Luana M

This class was very well presented by Matt and Sean who have tons of knowledge and experience in this area. There is so much excellent information that you ...

Read More

This class was very well presented by Matt and Sean who have tons of knowledge and experience in this area. There is so much excellent information that you will want to go over it more than once. Highly recommended.

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5 star rating

Holistic Pharmacology for Herbalists

Janice Walker

I loved this course. Matt and Sean are an amazing teaching duo. The material is fascinating and opened me up to new ways of thinking about plants.

I loved this course. Matt and Sean are an amazing teaching duo. The material is fascinating and opened me up to new ways of thinking about plants.

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5 star rating

Holistic Pharmacology

Kelsey Cunningham

The combination of technical biochemical explanation, folk use, and case histories offers a truly holistic model for thinking about the interaction between ...

Read More

The combination of technical biochemical explanation, folk use, and case histories offers a truly holistic model for thinking about the interaction between humans and plants.

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5 star rating

Wonderful Journey

Kat Magoon

These lessons have been invaluable. I looked forward to the classes every month (and missed them when we took a break during the holidays) and always learned...

Read More

These lessons have been invaluable. I looked forward to the classes every month (and missed them when we took a break during the holidays) and always learned such beautiful information about the plants from Matt and Sean. Insights from Tara and the other peers in the class were always enlightening as well. This has helped expand my herbal knowledge and how the herbs play into different aspects of the body. Thank you so much!

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5 star rating

Fantastic, in-depth program!

Heather Fairfield

I haven't encountered any other resource that went so in depth into the phytochemistry and energetics of plants. I learned soooo much and will be referring b...

Read More

I haven't encountered any other resource that went so in depth into the phytochemistry and energetics of plants. I learned soooo much and will be referring back to my notes from this course for years to come!

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5 star rating

Holistic Pharmacology for Herbalists

Joseph Waters

Great class! Challenging but the gems of information that pop up from Matt and Sean's discussions are priceless. The last 5 classes were really good. I was s...

Read More

Great class! Challenging but the gems of information that pop up from Matt and Sean's discussions are priceless. The last 5 classes were really good. I was surprised how much I liked the class on the Cannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid System.

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5 star rating

great

edward coughlin

great course , deep introduction to herb pharmacology.

great course , deep introduction to herb pharmacology.

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5 star rating

Magnum Opus

Annalisa Nardi

Spectacular series. Anyone wanting to develop sophisticated skills as an herbalist, will want to take this course. A treasure of knowledge and experience, pe...

Read More

Spectacular series. Anyone wanting to develop sophisticated skills as an herbalist, will want to take this course. A treasure of knowledge and experience, perfectly woven together.

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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.

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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...

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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.

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5 star rating

Excellent

Angela Batson

excellent

excellent

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