Health: CL:Plant-Based HealingMedicine

Intermediate courses on health topics beyond the scope of departmental or college offerings. See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.

Online course meets synchronously on Zoom 2-4pm Thursdays and also include asynchronous work; Colocated with ALE 2990 OL1; Total combined enrollment = 25; Special Topics courses cannot carry CC designations.

“I loved the hands-on aspect of this course and our ability to interact with our community. A perfect blend of science and humanities with a little spice of something different and engaging.” - Student Testimonial Join local Community Herbalist and Co-founder of Spoonful Herbals and RAILYARD Apothecary & Clinic, Katherine Elmer, to explore the historical and perspectives of Herbalism, as well as its present-day context through the lens of many cultures, herbal justice and activism, and the realms of complementary/integrative health and Western allopathic biomedical models. The sustainable harvesting, preparation, and storage of herbs are covered in addition to the use of herbs as support for general health and well-being. Video "Weed walks” to meet and harvest medicinal plants growing on the UVM campus as well as guidance exploring your own backyards and green spaces will be included in this online course offering. A "kitchen medicine-making kit" may be shipped to students so that they may practice the skills of herbal teas, poultices, salves, etc. at home. Guest speakers include area herbalists, gardeners and integrative health practitioners.

Course is mostly asynchronous online (through Brightspace) but also meets for 2 hours on Thursday afternoons via Teams for discussion and concept integration. This course is taught by a white, queer, femme, cis gendered herbalist of european descent. Herbalism, when conducted by white herbalists with ignorance of Eurocentrism, institutional racism, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) histories, and cultural appropriation, runs the risk of contributing to racism and perpetuating harm. Herbalism can also be a movement to combat oppression and dispossession and to heal the fragmentation and unworthiness created by centuries of settler colonialism and capitalism on this earth. This course strives to introduce and encourage the practice of herbal medicine through this critical lens everyday.

Students will be evaluated based on their participation in online discussions, 2 home medicine-making assignments, and their reading and lecture comprehension as shown through 4 small writing and research paper assignments. Class Participation (Attendance, completion of home lab activities, and participation in class discussion) - 20% 2 Critical Reflection Papers (15% each) - 30% 3 “Plant of the Month” journals - 10% Group project and presentation - 10% Plant monograph research - 10% Final Critical Reflection Paper - 20%