The Practicing Herbalist

200 HOUR CERTIFICATE PROGRAM Taught by herbalists Lupo Passero and Ilana Sobo

Is it time to take your herbal medicine studies to the next level? Would you like to learn how to begin to work with family, friends and community members to help them to find health and wellness through herbalism? Have you already studied herbalism and participated in courses earning over 300 hours of study? Then this course is for you!

This 9 month immersion course is meant to help you take the steps to becoming an Herbal Practitioner.  Skills you will learn include holistic approaches to disease, how to take a health history, traditional assessment skills, how to determine what herbal remedies to use, holistic counseling skills, and energetic medicines as well as a in-depth training on traditional approaches to Ayurvedic healing.  Advanced herbal students will participate in a variety of experiences including, observing seasoned herbalists, round table learning exercises, putting your herbal education into practice and beginning to professionally work with friends, family and community members.

What will you learn?

  • Communication and Mindful Listening Skills

  • Assessment Skills (tongue/facial)

  • Holistic Intakes and Forms

  • Apothecary Herbalism

  • Ayurvedic Approaches to Herbalism

  • How to Properly Research Herbs & Drug/Herb Interactions

  • Intuitive Herbalism

  • Basic Health Assessment Skills

  • Recognizing Red Flags,

  • Popular Supplements

  • Herbal Legalities

  • Ethics and Boundaries

  • Community Outreach and Marketing

  • Community Herbalism in Action

  • Setting up a Clinical Practice

Enroll Now

“There are many choices out there for herbal education. However, Twins Star’s Practicing Herbalist program is the only one I have found that approaches the many facets of being a practicing herbalist—providing consultation and support to others on their wellness journey. This program is taught by two Wise Women who bring decades of diverse and practical experience, deep knowledge and love of the plants, and a genuine and intuitive understanding of nature’s energy and spirit. No other program I have found stresses the importance of setting boundaries, launching a practice, and all of the logistics and considerations for success. Most impressive was the overlay of various approaches to understanding wellness. Lupo Passero is an intuitive and knowledgeable herbalist and shares her deep knowledge of Western Herbalism, Flower Essences, and how to run and grow a successful business while Ilana Sabo brings her vast experience and understanding of Ayurvedic wisdom and plant energy. The program combines a classroom approach with plenty of case studies and practical experience. Beyond the classroom, we had a semester of providing consultation in tandem with a classmate, and with the support of Lupo and Ilana as mentors. This student practitioner opportunity helped me launch herbal consultation with confidence by providing support, guidance and feedback. Together, Ilana and Lupo have built a program that more than prepared me to launch my own consultation services here at Moon Mama Herbals.”

Kris F. of Moon Mama Herbals 2021 Graduate

What makes us unlike any other clinical training program?

  • Integrating Ayurveda Practices and Herbology into Western Herbalism

  • Emphasizing Each Individuals Unique Constitution

  • Utilizing Herbal Energetics for Protocols Specific to Each Client

  • Spiritual, Mental, and Physical Alignment (for both Practitioner and Client)

  • Addressing the Root Cause of Chronic Illness with Flower Essence Therapy

  • Food as Medicine, Holistic Nutrition and Natural Supplementation

  • Integrative Experience Emphasizing Both Folk & Clinical Applications of Botanical Medicine

  • Dedicated Individual 1:1 Herbal Mentorship

  • Skills to Make a Living as a Professional Herbalist

  • Intimate Training with TWO Professional Herbal Clinicians (with 50+ years herbal experience combined)

“Lupo and Ilana are a dream team. I felt so blessed to learn from them. They gave so much support, encouragement, and wisdom. And I am so honored to have them on my team in the future!”

Tina P, 2024 Graduate

WHEN DO WE MEET?


This is a two-part online course:

Part One - April through August
Classes held twice a month April through August are on a variety of topics above and meet online from 9 am to 5 pm est.

Part Two - September through December
Students will be responsible for offering 8 independent herbal consultations with clients, with dedicated and fully supported herbal mentorship time (per consult) with Clinical herbalist Ilana Sobo. In each clinical mentorship session, students review their cases in depth, share their holistic protocol, which includes herbal and nutritional support and flower essences. Students utilize this very unique opportunity to refine their clients protocols and formulations as needed, check in about any potential contraindications, and ask pertinent questions regarding the clients individual needs. In addition, these mentorship sessions provide emotional support for the students, such as boundary work and energetic hygiene, which encourages the budding practitioner to find their own unique voice, instilling within them, the confidence needed to create affective and efficacious herbal practices and protocols. All classes, consultations and mentorship time will meet online via zoom.


2025 Class Dates:

Tuesdays from 9 am to 5 pm - April 15 & 22, May 13 & 20, June 3 & 10, July 8 & 15, August 5 & 19

2025 Mentorship Dates:

Available by appointment Tuesdays from September through December

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PRE-REQUISITES FOR THIS PROGRAM

  • Graduation from combined 300-hour herbal education programs (Twin Star’s Foundations of Herbalism, Practice and Protocol of Herbalism are accepted prerequisites)

  • •Flower Essence Training or ability to show equivalent training or mentorship (Twin Star’s The Art of Flower Essence Therapy course is accepted as a prerequisite)

  • Introduction to Ayurveda: This is a 4-hour class and is available for purchase HERE.

  • Students are expected to know basic anatomy and physiology, medicine-making skills, flower essence therapy, and have compiled a materia medica portfolio.

MEET YOUR TEACHERS

Lupo Passero

Lupo Passero has been practicing as a Clinical Herbalist, Herbal Teacher and Apothecary and Natural Products Specialist for the two decades. A Community Herbalist with over 20+ years of experience in the field of herbalism and natural health. Trained as a Clinical Herbalist, after graduating from the North Carolina School of Natural Healing, under the tutelage of Herbalist and RN, Roshani Tobias in Asheville in 2003, Lupo has been working closely with folks of all ages and backgrounds, helping them to create healing herbal regimes for better health and wellness as well as to help support specific ailments. Lupo has worked closely throughout the years within the natural products industry serving as a staff herbalist in a variety of local health food and herbal stores and has served as a full-time educator and as a consultant for over 20 years for some of the best manufacturers of herbal medicine in the country.

Lupo takes her years of knowledge and intimate relationship and understanding of the plants and essences and pairs them with a deep appreciation for the healing connection between the mind, body and spirit. As owner of Twin Star Community Apothecary, for nearly seven years, she is always grateful to help create a custom tea blend or herbal remedy for those in need and enjoys supporting an individual’s innate ability to heal themselves with simple and effective plant potions.

Ilana Sobo

Ilana Sobo is a community herbalist, Ayurvedic Practitioner and Yoga Instructor and offers courses, classes and consultations in Connecticut and Vermont. She has spent over 22 years in the fields of Ayurveda, Yoga and Herbalism and has worked with & apprenticed for several of the pioneers in Botanical Medicine & Ayurveda in the US. Her time at the Ayurvedic Institute studying and working in the clinic was greatly formative. Ayurveda is the thread of continuity in all Ilana’s work and she is honored to help pass down the ancient wisdom shared by her teacher Dr. Vasant Lad. Ilana also has unique apothecary training spanning over 20 years and regularly compounds tinctures, salves, essential oil blends, teas and flower essences for her local community. She is available for consultations and classes on Ayurveda, Yoga and herbology by appointment.

You can visit her at www.shaktibotanica.com.

“Together, Ilana and Lupo have built a program that more than prepared me to launch my own consultation services.”

K. Foss 2021 Graduate

Investment

Please note that an application and interview are required before acceptance to this program. You may fill out an application by clicking the enrollment form button below.

STEP ONE

$500

SECURE YOUR SPOT

Fill out the enrollment form below to set up an interview. Once accepted into the program, you may pay the deposit to secure your spot before selecting your payment option.

STEP TWO

$3500

pay in full

Choose to pay the full price for the program and save $500. If you choose this option you are able to waive the deposit.

$333

PAYMENT PLAN

Reach out to choose our monthly payment plan option and register to save your spot. Please make sure you pay the deposit first.

What others are saying

  • “The Practicing Herbalist program ties together all the previous courses offered Twin Star. I see this program as the icing on the cake! It applies everything I have learned over the past few years and gave me the confidence and experience I needed to become a practicing herbalist.”

    Chris C. DAc, LAc, Dipl Ac, CES of acusporttherapy.com 2021 Graduate

  • “I am so happy I took The Practicing Herbalist course! It truly helped me feel confident in going out into the community and working with clients. Getting to do the practice herbal consultations was my favorite part and really helped me to put all that I’ve been learning in Levels I, II, & III together! Having the mentor meetings was invaluable. Lupo & Ilana are wonderful teachers and shine in teaching this course!”

    Shannon Monroe LPC, ATR 2023 Graduate

  • “This course was a a true gift with what was offered on a practical manner of what it will look like stepping into the role of a clinical herbalist. Learning more on incorporating Ayurveda in to my practice and formulations has been really really helpful when meeting an individual and their constitution. It has also been a safe and comfortable space to be vulnerable with what comes up as I step into this role, my experience and feeling like I have somewhere to bring up questions. Meeting with clients, formulating and having follow up meetings with Ilana has really help build my confidence and feel supported as I walk this path.”

    Clara Pagliaro 2023 Graduate

  • “This course was such a great hands on education on how to take your knowledge of herbs to the next level & share it with the world as a clinician. I thoroughly enjoyed the material we learned, from learning how to read blood work, a fantastic intro into essential vitamins, minerals, dietary supplements, & Ayurvedic philosophy. This course will help you gain the experience & confidence to get the ball rolling on starting your own herbal practice.”

    Marissa Lucia Brown 2023 Graduate

  • "Lupo, this course is filled with so much amazing content that covers a huge amount of information. I love that I have such an abundance of resources after finishing this course. The course book is beautiful. I loved the depth in which we get into in level three, it really helped me to piece herbalism as a whole, together. Thank you for all you put into these courses! It was so incredible having the opportunity to learn from Ilana. I found her teaching style to  break down complicated material into digestible parts. She makes class very magical. Thank you for bringing all that inspiring energy into this course!”

    Stephanie T 2024 Graduate

  • "I wanted the skills to be able to see clients as a professional Herbalist and I definitely did get those - plus so much more!”

    Lindsey S. 2024 Graduate