The Commons Brooklyn

The Program is designed to provide students with a sound foundation in botanical medicine from a clinical perspective, for those who are more serious about home use of herbs or who are considering going on to a possible profession in herbal medicine in the future.  It is intended for people who have already studied introductory herbal medicine or have some prior experience with herbs, such as the nine week course taught at the Commons.  (Students should contact the instructor about this if they have any questions). 

The class will meet for nine months, on the first Monday from 6:30-9:30 pm and third Saturday from 10 am-4 pm of every month (*see calendar for exceptions to this).  Meeting for a full day each month will also allow us to hold class outside or occasionally go on botany outings to study and gather herbs and prepare remedies.  Richard Mandelbaum RH(AHG) is the primary instructor, guest instructors will be invited as well. 
The curriculum will include:
• Botany, Field botany identification, and harvesting skills, including regional field trips (we will ask students to pitch in for gas and tolls when leaving the city)
• Physiological systems and holistic protocols
• Diagnostic and Clinical Skills – Intakes and Formulations
• Materia medica- approximately 50 medicinal plants in depth
• Clinical Cases: in class and at home assignments
• Medicine making and formulations
• Diet and nutrition
• Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Introduction to Phytochemistry
• Legal and regulatory issues revolving around the practice and manufacturing of herbal medicine
• Safety and toxicity

Class will meet:
Mon 3/5
Sat 3/17
Mon 4/2
Sat 4/21
Mon 5/7
Sat 5/19
Mon 6/4
Sat 6/16
*Mon 7/23
Sat 7/21
Mon 8/6
Sat 8/18
*Mon 9/10
Sat 9/15
Mon 10/1
Sat 10/20
Mon 11/5
Sat 11/17

Richard Mandelbaum RH (AHG) has been an avid student of plants for more than twenty years,  He is a clinical herbalist with a private practice in Brooklyn and in Sullivan County, NY, in which he gives personalized holistic health recommendations, and is the former director of the Clinical Herbalist Diploma Program at the Lehigh Valley Healing Arts Academy in Emmaus, Pennsylvania.  In addition to teaching on a diverse range of clinical subjects, he often leads workshops on field botany, wild edible plants and mushrooms. Richard is a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild.