Sweetgrass School of Herbalism

Robyn's Recommended Reading

Bozeman, Montana

Contact Robyn: at rrreading.com

Herbal Education for the Year 2006

Robyn Klein, M.S., is a professional (peer-reviewed) member of the American Herbalists Guild and a graduate of Dominion Herbal College (1982) and the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine (1995), and Montana State University (Masters of Science Degree, Plant Sciences, 2004). She is currently on the faculty of the Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology at Montana State University.

Robyn teaches medical botany, herbal medicine, and plant identification classes primarily through The Burns Center for Continuing Education on the campus of Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana; and the Master of Science in Science Education on the campus of Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana

Mission Statement: I am committed to raising awareness of the useful plants and connecting people to the Earth and the plants around them. May we protect and sustain the knowledge of how to employ medicinal plants for our children's children's children

See Herbal Education for an overview of plant science and biology courses available at Montana State University: www.rrreading.com/herbal_education.html

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2006

January 11 to April 28, 2006: PS 280: HERBAL MEDICINE LABORATORY, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

One credit course at Montana State University, Bozeman, MT. For more information, contact the Burns Center for Continuing Education at: http://btc.montana.edu 204 Culbertson Hall, PO Box 172200, MSU, Bozeman, MT 59717-2200. 406/994-6683. For an overview of the course: http://www.rrreading.com/PS280 LAB.html

April 8 & 9, 2006: Southwest Conference on Botanical Medicine, Tempe, Arizona

The eleventh annual conference. Speakers: Paul Bergner, Ryan Drum, PhD, Deborah Frances, ND, Cascade Anderson Geller, Rosemary Gladstar, Phyllis Hogan, Mimi Kamp, Michael Moore, Bill Mitchell, ND, Kenneth Proefrock, ND, Jill Stansbury, ND and Donald Yance. Topics include botanical therapies for headaches, managing leukemia, allergies, respiratory disease, inflammation, irritable bowel syndrome, declining cognition at any age and a two-part series on the latest research for cancer prevention and treatment. Herb walks at the Desert Botanical Garden. CE credits for health professionals. Information 800-252-0688 or www.botanicalmedicine.org

June 3-5, 2006: Medicines from the Earth Herb Symposium, Black Mountain, North Carolina

Annual symposium on herbal medicine at Blue Ridge Assembly near Asheville, NC. Workshops include: pre-conference intensive on case studies with Bill Mitchell, ND, Artemisia for cancer and malaria, therapeutic uses of medicinal mushrooms, making medicinal honey, herbs for environmental diseases, botanicals for pain associated with cancer, iridology intensives, essential oils for immunity and botanical therapies for the newest health challenges: drug-resistant TB, avian viruses and hepatitis C. CE credits for health professionals. Information 800-252-0688 or www.botanicalmedicine.org

June 19-23, 2006: PS 548: FLOWERING PLANTS OF THE NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAINS, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

A field oriented study of the flowering plants of Montana with an emphasis on plant keying skills. Objectives are: 1) to identify the parts of flowering plants and become familiar with botanical terms; 2) to learn morphological characteristics of common plant families; 3) to learn how to use a plant key to successfully identify flowering plants; 4) to apply plant identification skills to the classroom. Discussion will emphasize application of these skills and botanical texts to the classroom. Mon-Tues are class/lecture days; Wed-Fri are day field trips to local trailheads. Click here for syllabus.

PENDING APPROVAL:

July 3-8 (no class July 4), 2006: PS 580: PLANTS, PEOPLE AND HEALTH, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

This interdisciplinary course investigates how plants and people intersect, with a focus on the current popular and scientific interest in using plants and their compounds for health and medicine. The subject will be applied to ethnobotany, botany, and phytochemistry. Enhancing the links between the natural world and the classroom can bring meaning to all the sciences and instill an interest in the investigation of plants and their uses. Primarily lecture with some laboratory exercises (making herbal products) and herb walks. Click here for syllabus. Note: this is a new course and I am still fine tuning the course to meet instructor and student objectives.

PENDING APPROVAL:

June 25-27, 2006 - MSU SUMMER SEMESTER PS 280: MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PRAIRIE, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

1 credit course. Are you intrigued by medicinal plants and hunger to learn more? Meet the little-known medicinal plants of the prairie in the heart of Montana. Echinacea, prickly pear cactus, scarlet mallow, and marsh skullcap all have a colorful history of use by many cultures. This course will familiarize students with wild medicinal plants of Montana and aid in the development and appreciation for their medicinal uses in herbal medicine today. The format for this course will be in the form of field trips to various public lands where lectures and discussions will ensue while observing the live plant. Covering many different plants, the course will explore wildcrafting laws and guidelines for harvesting plants, identification characteristics of each plant, along with look-alikes, and the most poisonous plants of Montana and their identifying characteristics. Students will learn the properties, primary chemical constituents, uses, energetics, dosage, contraindications and safety concerns of each plant species covered. Expect minimal hiking of up to 2 miles a day and group camping. For more information, contact The Burns Center for Continuing Education at: http://btc.montana.edu/courses/credit/index.htm 204 Culbertson Hall, PO Box 172200, MSU, Bozeman, MT 59717-2200. 406/994-6683. For an overview of the course see http://www.rrreading.com/PS280_Med_Plants_MT.html

PENDING APPROVAL:

July 22-24, 2006 - MSU SUMMER SEMESTER PS 280: MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE MOUNTAINS, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

1 credit course. Same format as above, only different plants and mountain ecosystems. For more information, contact The Burns Center for Continuing Education at: http://btc.montana.edu/courses/credit/index.htm 204 Culbertson Hall, PO Box 172200, MSU, Bozeman, MT 59717-2200. 406/994-6683. For an overview of the course see http://www.rrreading.com/PS280_Med_Plants_MT.html

August 19-21, 2006: #815 WILD EDIBLE PLANTS & MEDICINAL HERBS

Yellowstone Association Institute, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

The blue camas meadows, ponds, aspen groves, and coniferous forests in the Bechler area between Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks were an important food and medicine gathering area for early Americans. This is an exceptional area to study the edible and medicinal properties of many native plants of the West. Field identification of wild plants, major poisonous plants of the area, and gentle-harvesting techniques will be emphasized. Participants will learn to develop their own wild food meals and herbal preparations. Our headquarters will be a Forest Service cabin in the Caribou-Tarhee National Forest, near the little-known South Entrance to the park (Bechler). Be prepared for short, leisurely walks of 1 to 3 miles with an elevation gain/loss of 300 feet. Participants should come prepared to camp out at the cabin, or stay in a motel in Ashton, which is less than an hour away. Details and registration information will be posted in January at http://yellowstoneassociation.org/institute/fieldSeminars/courseCalendar.aspx

PENDING APPROVAL:

August 28 to December 8, 2006 – MSU FALL SEMESTER: PS 480: NATURAL PRODUCTS INSECT TOXICOLOGY, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

Co-taught by Florence V. Dunkel, Ph.D. and Robyn Klein, M.S.

Natural products have exploded in importance in the US pesticide arena in the past 10 years. In some respects the US and parts of other European-based cultures are far behind other cultures in understanding the value of natural products in pest management. This course will give students a background in this fast changing and growing field, a field whose employment opportunities are increasing for graduate students completing their degrees. We will examine the development history and current status of biopesticides such as pyrethrum and neem; the use of plants to protect stored beans in Africa; and the evolution of natural signaling compounds such as food attractants, pheromones and steroids. Students will learn and experience, in part, the processes of discovery, evaluation, patenting, registering, and commercializing insect-active plant products.

FUTURE COURSES PLANNED FOR 2007:

PLANNED (dates not set): January to April. 2007: MSU SPRING SEMESTER PS 280: MEDICAL BOTANY, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

Three credit course at Montana State University, Bozeman, MT. For more information, contact the Burns Center for Continuing Education at: http://btc.montana.edu 204 Culbertson Hall, PO Box 172200, MSU, Bozeman, MT 59717-2200. 406/994-6683. For an overview of the course: http://www.rrreading.com/PS280MedicalBotany.html

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See also many other plant courses available through the YELLOWSTONE ASSOCIATION INSTITUTE

http://yellowstoneassociation.org/institute/fieldSeminars

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AMERICAN HERBALISTS GUILD

The American Herbalists Guild suggests that herb students acquire 1200 hours of education in: the basic sciences (200); materia medica/therapeutic herbalism (400); herbal pharmacy (80); plant identification and botany (60); western herbalism (40); career preparation (20); and clinical skills (400). Additionally, 400 hours of clinical experience is recommended for a total of 1600 hours. Accomplishment of these hours can lead to professional membership in the American Herbalists Guild. For more information or to join the American Herbalists Guild, contact the main office: 1931 Gaddis Rd., Canton, Georgia 30115. 770/751-6021 or ahgoffice@earthlink.net or see the AHG website at: http://www.americanherbalistsguild.com/

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