2026 Essentials of Vital Herbalism Course - Enrollment opens October - ask to be notified.
2026 Essentials of Vital Herbalism Course
Roots, Understory, Overgrowth, Veriditas & Blossom
Step onto the plant path of herbalism with the guide of our comprehensive Essentials of Vital Herbalism Course, created to equip you with the essential knowledge and practical skills to commence a transformative journey of healing and self-discovery. Whether you're a beginner seeking to build a solid foundation or an experienced practitioner looking to deepen your understanding, this course offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the principles of Vitalism and the foundational energetics that brace the art and science of herbalism. Through a blend of engaging online lectures, livestream Q & A, and the option for interactive herb walks, and hands-on medicine-making workshops, you'll gain a profound appreciation for the interconnectedness of nature and the human experience. The course curriculum is curated by an experienced herbalist, guiding you through the intricacies of plant medicine and empowering you to cultivate a deep level of discernment in your practice.
At the heart of this course lies the principle of Vitalism, a holistic approach that recognizes the inherent life force within all living beings. From this foundation, we build a library of the foundational energetics that shape the way plants interact within their own environment, as well as the human body, mind, and spirit. Through immersive experiences and insightful discussions, you'll learn to harness the power of plants to support your overall well-being, from physical ailments to emotional and spiritual nourishment.
Choose between two paths of study, the Stream Path or the Field and Stream Path
Stream Path
The online course. Those enrolled will have access to:
- Monthly online lessons - A new branch will be available every month. Every month the classes will be updated with 4-6 hours of lessons, up to 36-48 hours of herbal lessons. *See the in depth course coverage below
- A LIVE stream review of the lesson which we call “Roundtable Review” - These live streams with the instructor will give the student the access to ask questions, share their experience, or do anything that will help with clarification.
- Online Community Portal - A rich community portal to share all work, or ask any questions. This is where we can post recipes, field questions (“does anyone know this plant?”) insights, and enrich the group with unique individual talents. Additionally, the instructor will use this space to post any addendums or examples from our class.
- Downloadable PDF handouts of the lessons - designed with illustrations for clear comprehension.
- A Certificate upon completion
Field and Stream Path
Our in-person and online course. Those enrolled will have access to:
- All that is offered in the Stream Path Course *See above
- In-Person Field Classes “Herb Walks” - The in-person herb walks which take place one Sunday a month. The friendships and bonds formed during this course, with people and plants alike, have proved to be lasting and valuable in incalculable ways. More detail below.
- Medicine Making Course and Homework - Each month the student will be instructed to make a different kind of herbal medicine. This item will belong to the student to stock their home apothecary, and the skill will be there to encourage further creation. Herbal Medicine Course includes learning to create:
-Tinctures, beginner and advanced -Infused oil
-Salve and lip balm -Oxymels (vinegar and honey extractions)
-Botanical Incense -Distillation of essential oils and hydrosols
-Introductory first aid items -Botanical and Clay Face Masks
-Herbal infused syrups -Herbal Tea blending
-Formulation technical
- Homework Review - The student is offered feedback and assistance on any project. There is an option to show and tell the medicine making project with the rest of the group. While this is very fun, highlights the unique approaches to each project, and adds wealth to the in-person setting, it is not necessary for student participation.
Classes meet rain-ish or shine from 10 am - 4 pm one Sunday a month. In the event of very drastic weather, we will gather inside for a day of group medicine making, however plan on being outside for these classes. The dates for the in-person herb walks are TBA
Once enrolled in either the in-person learning of self paced online learning, students will be invited to our virtual classroom. There they can create an account and receive details as we get closer to our start date of March 21st, 2025
Who is this course for?
For those who desire a greater understanding of their own health from a holistic perspective and a focused lens of herbal medicine.
For those who have a desire to serve the needs and nurture the health of their family, friends and community.
For those who have been called to explore and honor the gifts of the earth.
For those who have been learning herbal medicine and want to expand their knowledge, but wish for a strong foundational base to build the structure of information.
For those who garden or forage and wish to have a deeper relationship with the virtues of the plants in their environment.
For those who are interested in the craft and skill of herbal medicine making.
For those who wish to find like minded individuals to build bonds and community through lessons and class.
For those who would like to see the wild places of our area with new eyes by knowing more intimately the “trees from the forest,” and finding plant allies along the paths which we share.
For those who are courageous enough to see things as they truly are even if they stand against long held beliefs; there is no lie in nature.
Terms and Conditions
please click the link to read the terms and conditions prior to checkout
Frequently Asked Questions
please click the link to look at these frequently asked questions
Meet the instructor
take a look here to see an interview and if you resonate with the vibe
or
Sign up here for a free class to get the sense of teaching style
About the instructor:
Hi, I’m Kyle Denton—community herbalist and co-owner of Tippecanoe Herbs & Apothecary. My work is rooted in a deep love and respect for the Creator’s creation—Nature—where truth is unshakable and ever-present.
The philosophy that guides my path is what I call Bio-Terrain Vitalism. I believe that the subtle informs the physical, that the unseen shapes the seen, and that spirit gives rise to matter. Health and disease, in this view, are influenced by inputs on the spiritual, emotional/mental, and physical levels—each one connected and capable of affecting the others. I use the term “Bio-Terrain Vitalist” because I see health as a reflection of the vitality and coherence of the whole being—one’s internal terrain in harmony with the living world.
Nature continuously demonstrates the principles of abundance, coherence, and self-organization. In my practice, I view dis-ease as a reflection of disconnection—dissonance from this natural coherence. Plant medicine, to me, serves as a guide—not a cure or savior, but a reminder of our innate design for health and vitality. Plants help us remember who we are, returning us to a place of responsibility, empowerment, and connection with the All.
In my work as a community herbalist, I manage our local apothecary—handcrafting the medicine we stock in our shop and at partner locations. I meet with clients, sometimes in formal sessions, but often in everyday conversations. I forage, teach, run our farmers market stands, and share the medicine in as many ways as I can. If you've been to one of my classes or herb walks, you know that I see teaching as a form of stewardship—passing on what the plants have taught me.
My studies began in Ayurvedic medicine, the "Science of Life," and that led me to the calling of the plants. I expanded my path into Western Herbalism, learning to make medicine from local and wild plants, creating custom formulas for my clients. I started small, selling my creations at a farmers market, and that experience of connecting with so many people led me away from clinical work and toward community service. Eventually, that path brought me to open our brick-and-mortar apothecary.
Along the way, I’ve had many great teachers and some hard lessons—but none greater than the plants themselves, and the people who’ve shared their healing journeys with me. My intention with this course is to pass on the most meaningful lessons I’ve received, so that students may deepen their connection to the living world of plant medicine, and awaken their own unique voice as herbalists. I hope to offer the tools of discernment and presence, so that the path can unfold for each person in their own way.
