Southwest Institute of Healing Arts

Stemming from natural inclinations and experiences with Medicine Plant studying,

A school was formed and continues for 23 years now.

All the many aspects of our herbalist education program courses stem from experiential understandings gained in the past four decades by the author and director, JoAnna sanchez. Our herbalism training is taught by community herbalists who have also answered the calling of herbalism. Together, as a team with expertise in the gamut of herbal skills, academic and immersed education is provided with guidance and council in safe times at our onsite educational space that provides wonderful resources to students both in the classroom and out of doors. By design, the Herbal program at SWIHA is one where many aspects of Herbalism are taught and practiced.



Herbalists do well to be able to identify and know plants in their native habitats, to have understanding of plant chemistry and its solubility for remedy preparation and production, to practice growing and caretaking the living sources of our education and medicines, to have a broad knowing of many herbs, to gain skills in formulation and dispensing, to have the capacity for research and writing and teaching about the plant medicines, and to practice working with others to support goals towards healthy lives with the safe tools of nature’s remedy.



These skills and more are taught within our learning environment in Tempe, Arizona.

Students in our accredited herbalism training program also have the advantage of the larger context of a school that is a wholistic healing environment where other possibilities exist to learn skills that companion with the craft and science of Herbalism well which include holistic nutrition, flower essence training, and physical healing arts and much more.



Are You Called to Become an Herbalist?

Our graduates are serving as herbal remedy producers, guides for plant exploration hikes, teachers of herbal agriculture, chefs, herbal consultants to private clients and more. You will learn to write herbal research literature, speak publicly about the benefits of herbs, create herbal products for retail, and provide one-on-one wellness coaching. We offer many program options, ranging from an introductory certificate in herbal remedies for those interested in personal exploration to an AOS Degree program where you can tailor your education to the vision of your future business. Our Western Herbalism classes are all offered on our main SWIHA campus in Tempe, Arizona.



How Our Herbalism Program Ensures Your Success!

Southwest Institute of Healing Arts is an award-winning, nationally accredited college focused on supporting our conscious community as they become pioneers of modern, holistic wellness modalities. We offer lifetime entrepreneurial support to students and graduates and build business development courses in to our diploma and degree programs tailored uniquely to holistic entrepreneurship.

Our Western Herbalism program is one of the most comprehensive in the United States, focused on native flora and sustainable wild crafting practices. SWIHA is a member of the American Herbalists Guild, an association of herbal practitioners which uplifts clinical herbalism as a viable profession rooted in ethics, competency, diversity, and freedom of practice.



WE OFFER THREE PROGRAMS:

Certificate of Excellence:

Western Herbalism – Holistic Herbal Remedies 100 Hours

If you’re interested in personal development or simply curious about plant medicine, this certificate offers an introductory herbalism training and a well-rounded overview of the essentials of herbalism. You will be introduced to the awe-inspiring world of plants and, most importantly, learn an appreciation for this kingdom and a sense of stewardship for our earth companions. This program gives you entry into the path of the herbalist, providing an ability to proceed in an educated manner to learn, use, and work with plant medicines.



Diploma:

Western Herbalism - 745 Hours

If you want to participate in hands-on herbalism work, including field work in diverse Southwest ecosystems which will allow you to become familiar with local plant life and encourage sustainable wild crafting practices, our diploma program may be a fit for you. You will have practical, guided intermediate application and experience in seven arenas: herb cultivation, research writing, and teaching herbalism in the community, retail work, supervised clinic and botanical pharmacy. The herbalism core is further enhanced with science courses including Pathology, Homeopathy and Biosciences, making the connection between body and earth complete. Completing this program allows you to serve as a professional herbalist and create a productive, enriching, sustainable, successful work life!



Degree:

Western Herbalism - 60 Credit Hours

Earning Associate Degree in Holistic Health Care Concentrations in Western Herbalism gives you the framework and experience to become a professional, successful, qualified Herbalist with a myriad of business opportunities for you to build. Encompassing all topics included in the diploma program, your knowledge of the practice of plant medicine will be enriched by electives such as the psychology of addiction, herbal remedies for babies & children, and a concentration of your choice: Aromatherapy, Holistic Nutrition, Yoga Teacher Training, Whole Foods Culinary Specialist, Life Coaching or Hypnotherapy.



Financial Aid:

SWIHA is a nationally-accredited college approved by the United States Department of Education. Students enrolled in programs of 600 hours or more may qualify for Federal Student Aid in the form of Pell grants and student loans. Title IV Financial Aid is available to those who qualify.



The director and administrator of Botanica herb school atSouthwest Institute of Healing Arts

JoAnn Castigliego Sanchez, RH.

A natural attraction and affinity to plants began in childhood, as it is with many an herbalist.

Fate directed JoAnna to an herbal shoppe in the late 1970’s where a 3rd generation New England herbalist modeled her craft through mentoring for many months and next to the Arizona desert to mentor again awhile with an Italian American who knew the herbal ways from European family traditions.

College degreed and trained in social work, forestry, natural resource development and botany, I am primarily self-taught as an Herbalist during these past four decades.



I was influenced by many American herbalists such as mark Blumenthal, chris hobbs, cascade Anderson geller, Donald yance, roy upton, Michael tierra, Michael moore, Daniel Gagnon, paul Bergner and others in workshop and conventions during the first chapters of my career in the natural products industry as retailer, broker, and educator. All had personal and direct influence on my beginning understandings of our herbal heritage.



Following my first decade of introduction, retail and clinical beginnings further encouraged private study. I have been influenced by the work of dr. bill Mitchell, dr. john Christopher, Stephen buhner, Judith Bergner, matthew wood, sharol tilgner, rosemary gladstar and more.



I have served as an educator , gardener, wildcrafter, apothecary host and clinician ever since. My work renders itself from Nature and Her environments. Through times of practical learning and consistent, diligent study, endowed interest, longstanding curiosity, experience in the field, learning botany, keen observation of morphology and life cycles of the plants, I have learned of Earth’s wondrous kindom.

This has been the motivation to proceed in my exploration and continue following the herbalist path as my vocation and calling. It is an ardent admiration of Trees, Flowers, Grasses, meadow, forest, and seashore in earthly gardens that provides the substance that lends me to attune, harvest, research, process, produce, dispense, and administer the remedies of Nature’s offerings.



This is my work, this is my life, to journey close and near to these Green Folk all my days.

The gift of being an Herbal educator is the outcome of my affinity and earnest attempt to be a mindful caretaker of the Earth places where the medicine plants are.



