Dandelion Botanical Company Storefront

Our Classroom

Our Break room

This course prepares students to pass the entrance examination for membership in the professional association for herbalists, the American Herbalists Guild.
Herbal Medicine is gaining interest and popularity across the country. Consumer demand for more information and qualified practitioners in the field is growing at a very rapid pace. K.P. Khalsa, D.N.-C., has developed this professional level training course to meet these growing needs. This program draws from the wisdom and experience of traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine, and European and Native Herbalism. It is a nine month training program and is structured into three conveniently scheduled modules. Each module is scheduled for three weekends throughout the quarter. It is focused on gaining knowledge about the different herbs, their use and the traditions from which they come. Previous herbal experience is helpful. Modules are not necessarily sequential. You can start the program with any module, and they can be taken in any order.

Fall Module: Modern Phytotherapy, Herbal Classification, Remedy Selection and Dose, Materia Medica, Digestive System, Preparations I, Herbal Literature, Introduction to Energetics, Plant Chemistry I, Cardiovascular System, Ayurvedic Herbs I, Chinese Herbs I, Integrative Healing I.

Winter Module: Materia Medica, Respiratory System, Preparations II, Nervous System/Eye, Plant Chemistry II, Urinary System, Ayurvedic Herbs II, Chinese Herbs II, Integrative Healing II.

Spring Module: Materia Medica, Reproductive System, Preparations III, Musculoskeletal System, Skin/Topical Therapies, Plant Chemistry III, Immune System, Endocrine System, Young and Elderly, Ayurvedic Herbs III, Chinese Herbs III, Integrative Healing III, Case Management

Fall Quarter/Module 1: September 18-19, October 16-17, November 13-14
Winter Quarter/Module2: January 8-9, February 12-13, March 12-13

The deposit is $200. Please make out the check to "KP Khalsa"
Herbalist College contact information: (541) 242 3314 integrative_education@msn.com
*All fees and tuition paid are nonrefundable if the class takes place*

Ronny Vardy moved to Seattle in 2006, she began her career as a painter in Los Angeles where her fan base developed in the famous San Diego comic con. Ronny's journey as an artist began somewhere much farther than California. She was born in Israel and was raised by two peace loving hippies in the 70's. The artist was brought up in a very liberal and free thinking environment where art, beauty and an open mind were revered most. Her training took place at the American Animation Studio, and Mission Renaissance in Ca. Her art studies focused on traditional classical methods of painting in oils, watercolors, and pastels. She is currently enrolled, and is training for her Waldorf teaching certificate, as well. With a strong back ground in sketching, illustration, anatomy and the figure. Ronny is most recognized for her humorous, yet magical and slightly misbehaving watercolor illustrations of fairies. Her oil paintings reveal a different side of the artist mind, and emotional expression, subjects in her pieces are Often feminine, sensual, and contemplative figures. Her middle eastern roots soften display themselves as an integral part of the work. Ronny has been published in art books in and magazines in the U.S. and around the world. She has self published Little Girls That Bite in 2004, and is now working on her second book. Ronny has been featured in many venues around Seattle, you may have seen her at Dandelion, Monster Art, Gargoyles, Chocolati in Wallingford, and the Edge of the Circle Books. Here is a link to her web site: http://www.ronnyvardy.net/

In this class the students are prepared to learn watercolor techniques, and methods used by classical masters. Students will discover color theory,and brush stroke styles, while improving drawing skills, Budding artists in this class are encouraged to explore their own artistic voice, and Imaginative expression. This watercolor painting course is a fun way to relax, while acquiring a new skill, and being part of a group who enjoys learning, and creating.

Things to bring for class:
Brushes - water color brushes round tip sizes: 12, 6, and 2.
Paper - the higher the quality the better the results.
Paints - tubes, or dry cakes. Quality not as important as paper.
Masonite board, with clips.
Paper towels, or rags.
Large empty can, old coffee can, or yogurt container is good.
Tape, pencils, erasers.

Tuesday nights

An exploration into the herbs surrounding us, this course is designed to introduce you to 20 herbs that are integral to herbal medicine. Each two hour class will cover the materia medica of two herbs via delving into the specific characteristics that define the herb; including: the family it belongs to, botanical characteristics, native region, preferred habitat, constituent content, actions on the body, traditional and current uses, plus any folk lore surrounding the herb, and which medicinal preparations can be made utilizing the herb's vital force.

We will cover herbs that are either native to the Pacific NW, or that are easy to grow in your garden in order to bring us all closer to the plant spirits that surround us and are just waiting for us to use them in building an herbal medicine chest.

Module 1: 2-4pm
Sept. 25th -Yarrow and Calendula
Oct. 9th - Comfrey/Plantain and Marshmallow
Oct 23 - Elder and Dandelion
Oct. 30th- Devil's Club and St. John's Wort
Nov. 6th - Echinacea and White Willow Bark

Module 2: Dates TBD, beginning in April
Poplar and Nettle
Chamomile and Gotu Kola
Hawthorn and Licorice
Arnica and Lavender/Mint
Oregon Grape Root and Garlic

*note date changes above - and time change below

Shamans, or indigenous healers, have a very intimate relationship with plants that goes far beyond their uses for only physical ailments. This is because they have a deep connectedness with the spiritual essence of plants, and understand how to relate with their intelligence through a dynamic flow of communication. Moving away from a limited definition of shamanic plants as merely being psychotropic in nature, we can come to a deeper understanding of the sacredness expressed in the botanical kingdom; all plants are shamanic. In this class, we will discuss the shamans perspective of plant medicines for the body, soul and spirit and how they establish heart centered relationships with them to learn the medicine from the plants themselves. We will go over various shamanic uses of plants, such as smudging, protection and power, offering, and visionary/ceremonial uses, as well as how plants can be understood in their relationship to the Medicine Wheel. There will be a study of specific plants used in North and South American shamanic cultures, including their botany, pharmacology, animal associations, habitat, medicinal uses, and shamanic/ceremonial uses.

This class will be a comparative study of numerous plants used from
around the world within a shamanic context with discussions on:
• Plant consciousness, the realm of the sacred, and the intelligence of nature
• The perception of the shaman and accessing plant intelligence through heart centered perception
• The importance of plant songs
• Understanding plants and their relationship to the Medicine Wheel
• Specific plants used for healing, ceremony, offerings, protection, power, dreaming, and to enter visionary states of consciousness.
• We will cover the botany, distribution, habitat, pharmacology, ceremonial, traditional and common medicinal uses of plants such as: Tobacco, Sage, Devils Club, Peyote, Mugwort, Ayahuasca and many more....

Sajah Derek Popham holds a degree in herbal sciences from Bastyr University and is owner of Organic Unity, a local spagyric tincture company based off traditional alchemical principles. He is an herbalist, alchemist, and shamanic practitioner, focusing on Plant Spirit Healing. Sajah seeks to assist people on their path by healing the body, balancing the mind, and mending the heart, to access the Spirit. He can be contacted at (206) 753-7101 or sajah@organicunity. com for private healing consultations.

Sunday, September 26th

“Chakras are made of symbolic patterns of our own mental and physical programming. This programming governs the way we behave.... To work with the chakras is to heal ourselves of old constricting patterns lodged in the body or the mind, or habitual behavior.” Anodea Judith

The chakra system has its roots in the ancient sciences of India. It is a pattern in which all of our life experiences, thoughts, feelings, and other subtle energies can be understood on a deeper level in their connection to the universe as a whole. By understanding the patterns of information contained in these main organs of the energy body, one can reach greater heights of health and self knowledge.
This pattern of the chakra system can be used to understand plant medicines on a deeper level as well; from their correspondence to a particular element or planet, to their actions on our mental and emotional processes. In this class, we will explore the connections between plants and the chakras, how to use plants to cleanse, open, and rebalance certain chakras, and how to determine which plant corresponds to which chakra through the Doctrine of Signatures. We will go into depth on the energy body, its subtle architecture, and how it relates and corresponds to the energetic anatomy of the botanical being. The use of oils, tinctures, teas, and plant spirit meditations to bring our chakras into balance and to keep them maintained, opened, and clear. Through using plants to heal our chakras, we are able to break out of limiting beliefs, ancestral patterns, and habitual thought and emotional processes.

Sajah Derek Popham holds a degree in herbal sciences from Bastyr University and is owner of Organic Unity, a local spagyric tincture company based off traditional alchemical principles. He is an herbalist, alchemist, and shamanic practitioner, focusing on Plant Spirit Healing. Sajah seeks to assist people on their path by healing the body, balancing the mind, and mending the heart, to access the Spirit. He can be contacted at (206) 753-7101 or sajah@organicunity. com for private healing consultations.

Sunday, September 11th

Kombucha is an ancient fermented beverage with profound healing, rejuvenating, and detoxifying benefits. We will discuss what kombucha is, where it comes from, along with its wide range of healing benefits- especially for the digestive, immune, nervous and metabolic systems. Through discussing the vast and unique constituent profile of kombucha, we will gain insight and understanding as to how it achieves its amazing results. We will give special attention to studying the benefits of enzymes, probiotics, and organic acids. Brewing techniques, secret tips and hints, recipes, and resources will all be shared, as well as a tasting. You will also be gifted with a culture of your own so you may start your own brew at home!! Pre-registration is required so the number of cultures to bring will be known beforehand

Sajah Derek Popham holds a degree in herbal sciences from Bastyr University and is owner of Organic Unity, a local spagyric tincture company based off traditional alchemical principles. He is an herbalist, alchemist, and shamanic practitioner, focusing on Plant Spirit Healing. Sajah seeks to assist people on their path by healing the body, balancing the mind, and mending the heart, to access the Spirit. He can be contacted at (206) 753-7101 or sajah@organicunity. com for private healing consultations.

Friday, September 24th