The intent and goal of the Second Year Program is to provide the framework, tools and knowledge necessary to inspire and enable second-year students to become active community herbalists. Herbalism as I teach it is far more than knowing how to administer herbs to treat illness. It is a truly holistic healing modality, beginning with a view firmly planted in the “paradigm of interconnection,” both inner interconnection (body, heart, mind and spirit continuum) and outward interconnection (with our clients, all our relations, nature, and Earth itself). It also begins with the holistic tenet that we are innately self-correcting organisms, and that the job of the practitioner is to keenly (intellectually, intuitively, empathically) observe and assess clients in need, and guide them – with the help of clear presence and communication, lifestyle advice, nutritional suggestions and herbs – to understand, embrace and walk their own healing path. The ability and confidence to do this grows from the solid foundation of work done and information gathered during the First Year Program. The diligent work of absorbing this knowledge, allowing it to percolate within so that we may make it our own, becomes the healing wisdom we share with others. Then everything in our lives and all our learning and experiences become potential medicine to help others. This is the intended fruition of the inner work of the First Year Program, and we continue to cultivate these fruits as we interweave them into new and familiar areas of exploration.

The outer work of the Second Year Program consists of re-visiting the human organism (via its organ-systems) through the lenses of Chinese, First Nation and Western herbal medicine in order to help people with major health and wellness concerns, whether they are the normal stages and transitions of life and aging or the acute and chronic imbalances that afflict us. Students are expected to put in the time, which includes doing essential homework and meeting in study groups between classes. The areas covered include, in no particular order, the following:

• Major Diseases Afflicting Multiple Systems: Lyme Disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, HIV-AIDS, and more.
  
• Lymph-Immune System: Cancers, Autoimmune Disorders, Allergies, Candida, and other chronic diseases directly related to the immune system.
  
• Endocrine System: Diabetes and Hypoglycemia, Thyroid Disorders, Adrenal-Pituitary-Hypothalamus Imbalances and more.
  
• Gastro-Intestinal and Digestive System: Dental Concerns, Reflux and GERD, Gastritis and Ulcers, IBS, Colitis, Celiac, Food Sensitivities, and more.
  
• Liver, Gallbladder, and Blood: Hepatitis, Blood Disorders, Obesity, Migraines and more.
  
• Heart and Cardiovascular System: Heart Disease, Heart Irregularities, Vascular Disease, High Blood Pressure, Anemia and more.
  
• Lung and Respiratory System: Sinus Ailments, Asthma, Acute and Chronic Respiratory Sickness, and more.
  
• Muscular-Skeletal System: Arthritis and Joint Disorders, Osteoporosis and Bone Disorders, and more.
  
• Skin: Acute and Chronic Rashes, Acne, and more.
  
• Nervous System: Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders, Depression and Depression Disorders, Pain, Fibromyalgia, Sleep Disorders, ADD, Age-related Disorders, Allergies and Sensitivities, and more.
  
• Genito-Urinary and Male Reproductive System: UTIs, Kidney Disease, Edema, Prostate Health, Libido Issues, ED, Maintaining Male Health through Transitions, and more.
  
• Female Reproductive System: Maintaining Health through Transitions (Menarche through Post Menopause), Libido, Menstrual Irregularities, Cysts, Fibroids, Endometriosis, Reproductive Cancer, and more.
  
• Pregnancy, Labor and Childbirth, Infancy
  
• Children's Health: Childhood Concerns and Diseases, First Aid, Supporting Normal Growth, and more.

Throughout the course, we never lose sight of the big picture of the essential goal of “Cultivating Community Herbalism”: meeting the crucial need for and understanding the role of active community herbalists (and herbalism in general) in a fast-changing, early 21st Century world.

The Second Year Program also includes workshops and courses listed in On Going Classes. Successful completion of Year 2 includes: at least 4 more units (and optimally 5 units) of “Materia Medica,” 2-4 more “Herbal Preparations” workshops, 4 more “Herb Gathering and Medicine Making” workshops, 4 more “Seasonal Habitat Herb and Nature Walks,” and it is strongly recommended they revisit “Opening to the Wisdom of the Plant World: and Indigenous Language of Plants,” all of which are included in the Second Year Program tuition.

Pre-requisites for Second Year Program: Students must have successfully completed the 2 “Foundations” courses that are part of the First Year Program, “Cultivating the Healer Within,” as well as the following courses from On Going Classes: at least 4 units (and optimally 5 units) of “Materia Medica,” “Opening to the Wisdom of the Plant World: an Indigenous Language of Plants,” 4 “Seasonal Habitat Herb and Nature Walks,” 3-4 “Herb Gathering & Medicine Making” workshops, and 2-4 “Herbal Preparations” workshops.