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The Naturally Healthy Family Home Study Course
Frequently Asked Questions

What materials are required for the Family Herbalist course?

The required course materials (all included in the price of the course) are: The Naturally Healthy Family Course Manual (750+pages): Mommy Diagnostics, Naturally Healthy Woman, Naturally Healthy Pregnancy, Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology by Valerie C. Scanlon as well as the Student Workbook (we will substitute The Human Body: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made by Dr. Jay L. Wile for high school students if preferred), Encyclopedia of Healing Foods, Growing 101 Herbs That Heal, the Herb Walk Video by LeArta Moulton, and the herbs necessary to make your medicines in your lesson projects. There are several additional books that are recommended for reading but are not required for completion of the course. All required reading is supplied to you when you pay for your course as part of the course fee.

What herbs are included to make my medicines in my lesson projects?

Calendula, catnip, comfrey, echinacea, elderberry, fennel, German chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, oatstraw, Oregon grape, peppermint, red raspberry, sage, and thyme.

What is the fee for the course?

Only $350.00, including all required course materials, if you pay in full. Payment options are available. If you own all of the required reading books and video, except for the NHF course manual, your cost for the course is only $150.00 (paid in full).

How many hours each day must I spend in study to complete the course in one year?

If you commit to spending 1 hour three days per week on study or 1 1/2 hours of study two days per week or 1/2 hour five days per week, plus leaving your required reading books lying about to read when you catch a moment of time, you can complete the course in 36 weeks as designed.

How long will it take me to complete the course?

We have designed the course to be completed within one year’s time; however, we understand that some students will complete the course in a quicker time frame due to motivation and time availability and others will take more than that amount of time due to family time expectations. This is a self-directed course, and we will not have any time expectations upon you. Go at your own comfortable pace.

Will I have any personalized instruction from Shonda?

Although Shonda cannot teach each person the complete course, you are encouraged to participate in an online message board administered by Shonda. Only students who have purchased the herbal study course will be admitted to the message board.

Will I have any face-to-face opportunities to learn from Shonda and other health professionals?

Yes. Shonda travels and speaks for the purpose of mentoring students, families, and healthcare providers seeking to enhance learning. Check the website frequently for updates for workshops offered.

Do you provide additional student interaction opportunities?

In the spring of 2008, we will begin offering weekly teleconference classroom opportunities to those students wishing more accountability in completing their lessons. These tele-classes will provide instruction from Shonda, with time for student questions. Two fee options will be available for students: An all-inclusive course fee to include the full year of learning with materials and Shonda-instruction; a per quarter fee for those students desiring to pay by quarter; and a per class fee for those students who only desire to gain help with certain lessons. Fee structure will be posted as soon as the final arrangements are made and dates are chosen.

What happens after I’ve gone through the materials?

We’ve now designed the course so that each student can self-evaluate through tests during the course of study, as well as administering a final exam at the end of the course. The first half of the course involves actual question and answer testing, while the second half involves testing through projects and evaluations of family members utilizing the techniques taught in course lessons.

Several of my friends and I want to study together. Do you offer a group discount?

We decided upon a course price that would be reflective of our desire to place the educational tools of herbal and nutritional home health care directly in the hands of parents and those professionals wishing to serve them without causing financial burden; however, we also recognize that some people just learn better when studying with others. To this end, we encourage groups studying together to separately have each person purchase a manual for $150. You can gather the additional required materials, or choose a variety of materials to study through together. Students studying with various resource books will be able to have livelier conversations together as they evaluate what they are each reading and learn to combine their shared learning into information they can put into practice in their homes.

Is the basic course of study a professional certification?

No. The basic course of study allows you should to learn to care for your family at home, knowing when to seek outside help as well as being able to minister to your community as needed. If you desire to pursue professional certification, the course will provide the “book learning” or distance classroom instruction needed to fulfill professional herbalist requirements. You will also find in your course textbook a listing of schools providing further professional study in herbal medicine.

Professional Herbalist course of study

How do we seek certification?

The NHF course has been revised to provide all of our students with the necessary distance classroom requirements on the road to certifying as a Clinical Herbalist, with more intensive study required of our professional students (1200 total hours of study). After completion of the NHF Herbal Study course, and the grading of all lesson reports and projects, professional herbalist candidates will then be examined during a workshop intensive by Shonda Parker. If the student passes the oral and written exam, the student will then be awarded a certificate of completion of Professional Herbalist study by The Institute for Family Herbal Care. Professional students are then eligible to teach Naturally Healthy materials in their community or begin their own herbal/nutritional consulting practice with referrals passed on from those contacting Naturally Healthy.

What additional books do you recommend students purchase if seeking professional certification?

The following are a sampling of books I would not be without while counseling others in herbal medicine.

Will my Professional Herbalist Certification be recognized by any state health licensing agencies?

No. In the United States, there is no current governing body that regulates herbalists or officially certifies herbalists. No school providing herbal education can promise certification that will be recognized by the state or federal government, as there is no licensing or registration body. The American Herbalist’s Guild (AHG) is an independent organization working to set standards for practicing herbalists, and each of the students certified through our own Institute for Family Herbal Care is responsible for seeking their own recognition through the AHG, if they so desire. We do provide education for you to meet AHG’s core requirements for AHG certification, excepting the personal mentoring and private practice requirements added in recent years.

So, what exactly does my Professional Herbalist Certification do for me?

The certification we provide acknowledges the education you have earned which qualifies you to meet the needs of your community as an herbalist or begin a professional practice as an herbalist. It also provides you with the potential for referrals from those folks contacting Naturally Healthy for consults.

What is the cost to attend one of the Professional Herbalist Intensive workshops to achieve certification?

The cost is: $300.00 for the Professional Herbalist Intensive. (We will not be responsible for providing certification for students unable to pass course requirements; your tuition payments do not guarantee Professional Certification). The IFHC certified Professional Herbalists are then eligible to teach Naturally Healthy materials in their community or begin their own herbal/nutritional consulting practice. You can then apply, if you desire, for membership with the American Herbalist Guild. We make no guarantees about your acceptance as a professional member with their organization, but we do know that we fulfill the general requirements for professional instruction.

So if I want professional certification, are there more requirements other than the Professional Herbalist Intensive?

For your benefit when attempting to be recognized by AHG, we recommend you document your hours of study, projects, and any clinical practice carefully, as well as keeping a book of case studies as you care for those around you. Your manual tests and project reports will be examined for completion during the Intensive. Students desiring to professional practice are encouraged to participate in additional learning opportunities via herb and midwifery conferences, workshops, and our tele-classes.

Why do I not see a return policy?

We are an educational institution offering a program of study; we are not simply a curriculum seller. Each student enrolled in our courses is given access to group study opportunities. If you have questions regarding our course of study, please e-mail or phone us with your questions, and please consider your purchase carefully to make certain you understand what you are purchasing. We do not offer refunds on the NHF Herbal Study Course.