Certificate of Medicinal Herbs

Whether you’re new to herbalism or want to develop your natural health skills further, this course provides a strong foundation for personal or community-based practice.

The Certificate of Medicinal Herbs is a professional development course that offers foundational knowledge in herbal medicine by combining traditional wisdom with contemporary science.

In this herbalism course, you’ll explore how herbs work in the body, study systems like Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, and learn about herbal actions, energetics, and holistic treatment approaches. You will also gain practical skills such as identifying, growing, and ethically harvesting herbs, with a focus on common Australian medicinal plants.

You will also learn to prepare a variety of herbal remedies, including teas, tinctures, salves, and more, using safe methods and simple equipment suitable for home use. You will also explore herbal safety, dosage, legal considerations, and how to set up your own home apothecary.

On completion of this course, you will feel confident in incorporating medicinal herbs for personal and family wellbeing, as well as in community settings or wellness practices.

Printed learning materials may be available free to print for this course. Requests can be made by contacting us.

Course Structure

Unit - Medicinal Herbs

Unit 1: Introduction to Medicinal Herbs

Introduction to medicinal herbs
Indigenous Australian plant medicine
Key concepts in herbal medicine
Herbal actions: how plants affect the body
Energetics and constitutions
The doctrine of signatures
Synergy
Individualised and holistic treatment
Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, and western herbalism
Ayurveda
Traditional Chinese medicine
Western herbalism
Understanding active compounds in herbs

Unit 2: Plant Identification and Harvesting

Common medicinal herbs in Australia
Identifying herbs
Growing herbs at home
Ethical harvesting practices
Understanding plant parts used for medicine
Seasonal and regional considerations in herbal medicine

Unit 3: Herbal Preparation Methods

Herbal preparation methods
Herbal teas and infusions
Herbal tinctures
Herbal decoctions
Salves, oils, poultices, and compresses
Herbal salves
Herbal oils
Poultices
Compresses
Safety, hygiene, and storage
Equipment and basic kitchen lab setup

Unit 4: Herbal Actions and Body Systems

Herbal actions and body systems
How herbs interact with the body
Anti-inflammatory, adaptogenic, and antimicrobial
Matching herbs to body systems
Building effective herb blends

Unit 5: Medicinal Herbs and Healing Plants Reference Guide

Unit 6: Herbal Safety and Legal Considerations

Herbal safety and legal considerations
Dosage and toxicity
Allergies, drug interactions, and pregnancy guidelines
Herbal medicine and the law
Responsible practice
Professional indemnity and insurance

Unit 7: Building a Home Herbal Practice

Setting up a home apothecary
Tracking and documenting herbal use
Ethical sourcing and sustainability
Community education and sharing knowledge

Estimated Duration

30 hours

Course Delivery and Start

Start anytime, self-paced and 100% online

Assessment

Assessment will be comprised of written exercises, including short-answer questions, reflective tasks, short reports and/or projects. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.

Approval and Recognition

Australian Online Courses Pty Ltd is an approved and recognised member of IARC. The IARC is an International association that recognises quality and excellence in tertiary education providers.

Printed Materials – Free to Print

Course materials for this program are available to print at no extra cost.

Career Outcomes

Professional Development for:-

Herb Farmers
Nurserymen
Herb Product Manufacturers or Retailers
Consultants and writers
Students of horticulture or health science
Anyone with a passion for herbs

Studying with Australian Online Courses was an efficient and highly flexible experience. The structured layout of the Certificate of Medicinal Herbs allowed me to work through the material independently and at my own pace. The course content balanced historical foundations with practical, evidence-based phytochemistry that has immediate, real-world utility. Navigating the submission process via email for larger files was straightforward, and the guidelines provided clear metrics for achieving competency.