Study online or by Distance Education -Medicinal Herb Course
Learn about more than 100 medicinal herbs, how to identify herbs accurately, how to grow them, harvest herbs, types of herbal medicines, chemical components of herbs, herbal preparations, safety and caution with using herbs; what herbs are safer to use; and lots more.
Herbs can be helpful or harmful. It depends how much you use, and how they are used. Even in cooking, or as scented plants, some can be dangerous if you don't understand them. What you learn here is a foundation for knowing and using herbs more effectively and more safely, for life.There are 8 lessons in this course:
When herbs are grown for medicinal use, we want to achieve the optimum levels of the medicinally important chemicals in the plant tissue. In short the same plant can have lots of or very little medicinal chemicals in its tissue - depending on how we grow it and when it is harvested.
There are many different factors which can affect the quality and quantity of oil which can be extracted from particular herbs. These factors include:
These factors are not fully understood, and for some herbs, little knowledge is available at all.
Nevertheless, for many herbs, if you can work out the best variety to grow, how to grow it, and how to harvest it; you will then gain a serious competitive edge in the market place.
Examples from the Journal of Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants, Vol 1, No's 1/2:
Research has shown that dill (Anethum graveolens) has increased levels of essential oil at increased light levels. By testing and selecting better varieties of chamomile (Chamomila recutita), growers in Slovakia have achieved higher oil concentrations, and significant improvements in the chemical make up of oils extracted.
Many plants that are not usually recognised for their herbal properties are useful as medicinal herbs. Liriodendron tulipifera (the tulip tree) is one such plant. A beautiful garden specimen, the bark can be used as a stimulant. Another such plant is Passiflora edulis, the commonly grown passionfruit. Both the flowers and the plant can be used medicinally as an antispasmoic and a sedative. Following are some common herbs used as medicinal plants:
Allium sativa (garlic) - is a commonly grown herb with many healing properties. Generally speaking, it helps overcome the toxic effects of the environment on our body. Garlic reputedly builds up the body's resistance to disease, as well as relieves cramps, fight intestinal disorders, help overcome respiratory infections and expel gases. There are many other uses for garlic, including its use an antiseptic.
Mentha sp. (mints) - is another commonly grown and widely known medicinal herb. Mentha piperita (peppermint) is used in a variety of compound medicines, often only to make an unpalatable preparation more palatable. It can also be used as a stimulant and carminative. There are many other uses and these vary between countries, for example in India mint is sometimes hung in the doorway as the smell gives the impression of coolness.
Salvia officinalis (sage) - though once a very popular medicinal herb, is now mainly grown as a condiment. It is also sometimes used as an aid to digestion.
You will understand a lot more about how to identify, grow, harvest and use what you harvest from medicinal herbs. With an increased knowledge and awareness, you will be able to use this learning experience as a foundation to better use herbs at home, or at work.
This course will enlighten and help:
You can enrol at anytime and start the course when you are ready. Enrolments are accepted all year - students can commence study at any time. All study is self paced and ACS does not set assignment deadlines.
Please note that if a student is being assisted by someone else (e.g. an employer or government subsidy), the body offering the assistance may set deadlines. Students in such situations are advised to check with their sponsor prior to enrolling. The nominal duration of a course is approximately how long a course takes to complete. A course with a nominal duration of 100 hours is expected to take roughly 100 hours of study time to complete. However, this will vary from student to student. Short courses (eg. 100 hrs duration) should be completed within 12 months of enrolment. Certificates, Advanced Certificates and Awards (eg. over 500 hours duration) would normally be completed within 3 -5 years of enrolment. Additional fees may apply if a student requires an extended period to complete.
If a student cannot submit their assignments for 6 months to ACS, they should advise the school to avoid cancellation of their student
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If you are under 18, we need written permission from your parent/ guardian for your enrolment to continue, we can arrange that after you have enrolled.
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We aim to teach you the essentials without you having to purchase any specific computer program.
We recommend that you have access to a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs, so that you can easily complete and submit your assignments.
You sure can. We are here to help you learn whatever your abilities.
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If you have limited computer skills, we can make special arrangements for you.
This is possible, it depends on the institution. We recommend that if you would like to use our courses that you contact the institution first. Our Course Handbook is a good resource for this.
Our courses are written in English and we only have English speaking academic staff. If you can read and complete your assignments in English, our courses are ideal for you.
Our courses are designed to build knowledge, hands on skills and industry connections to help prepare you to work in the area, running your own business, professional development or as a base for further study.
This course has been designed to cover the fundamentals of the topic. It will take around 100 hours to complete, which includes your course reading, assignment work, research, practical tasks, watching videos and anything else that is contained in the course. Our short courses are a great way to do some professional development or to learn a new skill.
It’s up to you. The study hours listed in the course are a rough guide, however if you were to study a short course (100 hours) at 10 hours per week, you could finish the course in 10 weeks (just an example). Our courses are self-paced, so you can work through the courses in your own time. We recommend that you wait for your tutor to mark and return your assignment before your start your next one, so you get the benefits of their feedback.
The course consists of course notes, videos, set tasks for your practical work, online quizzes, an assignment for each lesson (that you receive feedback from your tutor from) and ends in an exam (which is optional, if would like to receive the formal award at the end), using our custom built Learning Management System - Login.Training.
Our courses are designed for adults to gain professional development and skills to further their careers and start businesses.
Our custom online learning portal allows you to conduct your learning online. There may be practical tasks that you can do offline. You have the option of downloading your course notes or print them to read later.
There is also the option to pay an additional fee for printed course notes and or USB (availability limited to location and deliverability).
Yes, if you don’t have access to the internet, you can receive the course as paper notes or on a USB stick for an additional fee. We can also make alternative arrangements for you to send your assignments to us.
We offer printed notes for an additional fee. Also, you can request your course notes on a USB stick for an additional fee.
Yes, your tutor is here to help you. Simply post any questions you have in your login.training portal or contact the office and we can pass on a message to your tutor.
We are more learning focussed, rather than assessment focussed. You have online quizzes to test your learning, written assignments and can complete an exam at the end of the course (if you want to receive your certificate). You will not receive a pass/ fail on your course work. If you need to add more details on your assignment, we will ask you to resubmit and direct you where you need to focus. If you need help, you can ask your tutor for advice in the student room.
Each module (short course) is completed with one exam.
Exams are optional, however you must sit an exam if you would like to receive a formal award. You will need to find someone who can supervise that you are sitting the exams under exams conditions. There is an additional cost of $60 incl. GST for each exam.
More information is here
There are practical components built into the course that have been designed to be achieved by anyone, anywhere. If you are unable to complete a task for any reason, you can ask your tutor for an alternative.
When you complete the course work and the exam and you will be able receive your course certificate- a Statement of Attainment. Otherwise, you can receive a Letter of Completion.
You can bundle the short courses to create your own customised learning bundle, Certificates or Advanced Certificates. More information is on this page.
Yes, our courses are built to be applicable for people living anywhere in any situation. We provide the fundamentals, and each student can apply their own unique flair for their own interests, region and circumstances with the one-on-one guidance of a tutor. There is also a bit of student directed research involved.
Employers value candidates with industry skills, knowledge, practical skills and formal learning. Our courses arm you with all of these things to help prepare you for a job or start your own business. The longer you study the more you will learn.
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ACS Distance Education have been educating people for over 40 years.
We are established and safe- we have been in education for over 40 years.
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You can enrol at any time, you can work on your course when it suits you and at your own pace.
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Our courses are not accredited by the Australian Government. However many of our courses are recognised and held in high regard by many industry bodies.
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Yes, we have many students who are in locked facilities, such as prisons or hospitals. We can cater by also offering paper notes at an additional cost.
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If students require a reproduction of their certificate, an electronic copy can be provided at a cost of AUD$35 incl GST. Printed copies are not available.
The following academics were involved in the development and/or updating of this course.

Writer, Manager, Teacher and Businessman with over 40 years interenational experience covering Education, Publishing, Leisure Management, Education, and Horticulture. He has extensive experience both as a public servant, and as a small business owner.
John is a well respected member of many professional associations, and author of over seventy books and of over two thousand magazine articles.

Broad expertise in horticulture and crop production. She travels widely as a partner in Suntec Horticultural Consultants, and has clients in central America, the USA, Caribbean, South East Asia, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand.

Maggi is regarded as an expert in organic growing throughout the UK, having worked for two decades as Education Officer at the world renowned Henry Doubleday Research Association. She has been active in education, environmental management and horticulture across the UK for more than three decades.
Some of Maggi's qualifications include RHS Cert. Hort. Cert. Ed. Member RHS Life Member Garden Organic (HDRA) .

Former operations manager for highly reputable Landscape firm, The Chelsea Gardener, before starting her own firm. Jacinda has over 20 years of industry experience in Psychology, Landscaping, Publishing, Writing and Education. Jacinda has a B.Sc., Psych.Cert., M. Psych. Cert.Garden Design, MACA.
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