Tai Sophia's Master of Science in Herbal Medicine program, the nation's first, is designed and delivered by an international faculty with the clinical and research background to redefine the practice of herbalism. Our graduates are leaders in the field with the scientific knowledge, the clinical skills, and the apothecary's craft to convert plants into safe, effective remedies.

Herbal Medicine Overview

Herbs have been the foundation of healing systems around the world for thousands of years. Traditional peoples from all cultures and continents, relying on the resources available locally, have used plants to help promote spiritual, emotional and physical health.  Although the scientific study of these plants is relatively new, centuries of empirical evidence provides a deep bed of knowledge that shapes the study and use of plant medicines today.

There are many ancient and highly developed systems of herbal medicine that serve as the foundation for modern herbal practice. Some of the most common traditional systems include Ayurveda from India, the Unani-Tibb system of the Middle East, the Greco–Roman tradition and the Chinese herbal medicine tradition.  North American herbal traditions include both American Indian practices as well as homegrown medical movements of the 1800s and early 1900s.

Online or retail store purchases by the general public accounts for the majority of herbal use in the US today. Consumers are often unclear as to which herbal products will best suit their individual needs and are looking for further guidance. Trained herbal practitioners, knowledgeable from both the traditional and modern perspective, can provide this service. The contemporary herbalist offers individually formulated combinations of herbs while teaching basic principles of self-care and fostering a deeper connection with the natural world.

Program Overview

The Herbal Medicine program is a graduate program leading to a Master of Science degree in herbal medicine. Integrating modern scientific knowledge with traditional wisdom, the curriculum provides an understanding of varied health and wellness paradigms as well as the bio-psycho-social constructs that inform them. It engages nature as teacher, using natural rhythms of the living world to guide the model for client care and broader practices. The educational environment serves as a catalyst for meaningful change and empowers our graduates to serve as facilitators of change in others.

Students who have completed the program will possess a solid knowledge of the theory and practice of supporting health and wellness; be able to consult safely and communicate their competence effectively; and have a positive, knowledgeable understanding of the potential of herbs.

The program’s main emphasis is clinical study, and all students are required to complete a set amount of clinical work. Students who choose not to focus primarily on clinical work may pursue a self-guided independent study project with approval from the director.

Graduates will:

• Have the competence and experience to be successful, practicing clinical herbalists.
• Provide guidance to practitioners, academic researchers, industry leaders and policy makers concerning the standards of efficacy, quality, and safety of herbal products.
• Contribute to national efforts to promote the professional practice of herbal medicine and increase awareness of the value of herbal medicine and its role in integrative medicine.
• Provide educational programs for the wider community in the practice of herbal medicine.
• Develop a body of knowledge that will inform and assist clinicians and consumers in their use of herbal products.
• Build a bridge between conventional and herbal medicine practitioners.

Herbal Medicine — The People's Medicine

The Herbal Medicine program and Tai Sophia Institute do not promote or advocate licensure for herbalists in the United States. Rather, we advocate that all citizens be afforded the education, accessibility and freedom to make informed healthcare choices that they feel will best serve themselves and their families. Likewise, we advocate that all healthcare practitioners be given the opportunity to practice freely, so long as they represent their training and credentials to the public with absolute integrity.

The Herbal Clinic for All is a collaborative effort of faculty, staff, graduates and students to bring community herbalism to a population who typically would not be able to afford the cost of an herbal consultation and a personalized herbal preparation. This donation-based community herbal clinic offers the services of community herbalists one day a month at the Tai Sophia student clinic in Silver Spring, Maryland. 

Master of Science in Herbal Medicine

Program Highlights

The program provides students with a solid familiarity of the foundation of herbal medicine, human biology, and varied healing traditions. Each student will build a knowledge base of over 100 herbs, their traditional usage, the clinical research validating their usage, their dosage as well as known pharmacological effects and contraindications, toxicity, and possible drug interactions. The program offers:

• The country's first Master of Science in Herbal Medicine, providing students with a comprehensive, in-depth education in understanding the rich history, science, and complexity of herbal medicine.
• Founded by Simon Mills, co-author of two of the world's leading textbooks on herbal medicine, president of the British Herbal Medicine Association, and secretary of the European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy (ESCOP).
• Led by Director James Snow with highly experienced and prestigious core faculty, along with distinguished guest lecturers.
• Over 1000 hours of clinical training and experience, as well as, extensive training in the preparation and formulation of herbal remedies.
• An opportunity to collaborate on the Extract database - an international partnership that is creating an academically rigorous and accessible database on herbal medicine for healthcare professionals.
• A rich 5-day field trip to a nationally renowned plant sanctuary in Ohio.
• The opportunity to learn about medicinal plants from one of America's leading experts, James A. Duke, Ph.D., at the "Green Farmacy" garden three miles from the Tai Sophia campus.
• Hands-on experience in the Institute's on-campus herb garden and woodlands.
• Full access to the outstanding on-site library, which houses James A. Duke's ethnobotanical library as well as extensive resources for research in herbal pharmacology, materia medica, human physiology, and the philosophical foundation of holistic healing.

Professional Opportunities

Graduates are working in medical centers, private consulting practices, and independent clinics as advisors, teachers, consultants, and practitioners.

Graduates have also been presented with many offers to write and teach, and opportunities exist for graduates to work in the herbal product industry. As the public demands more natural remedies, and the media and regulators become more investigative, the need for trained herbal medicine professionals is increasing.

Program Faculty

Program Director

Program Founder

Simon Mills, M.A., FNIMH, MCPP

Division Chairs

Bevin Clare, B.S., RH (AHG), Clincal Division

Core and Residential Faculty

Tom Balles, L.Ac. (U.K.), M.Ac., Dipl.Ac. (NCCAOM)
Dianne M. Connelly, Ph.D., M.Ac. (UK), Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM)
Robert M. Duggan, M.A., M.Ac. (UK), Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM)
Camille Freeman M.S., CNS  (RH) AHG
Simon Mills, M.A., FNIMH, MCPP
Andrew Pengelly FNHAA (AHG)
Kevin Spelman, RH (AHG), MCPP

Distinguished Lecturers and Visiting Faculty

7 Song, RH (AHG)
Mary Bove, N.D., CPM
Jerry Cott, Ph.D.
Amanda Mcquade Crawford, MNIMH, RH (AHG)
Robin Dipasquale, N.D., RH (AHG)
James Duke, Ph.D.
Tina Lightner, M.S., RH (AHG)
Jill Stansbury, N.D.
Roy Upton, RH (AHG)
Claudia Joy Wingo, B.S.N., DMH
David Winston, RH (AHG)
Eric Yarnell, N.D.
 

Learn more about the faculty.

Research & Scholarship

Highlights