The American Herbalists Guild - Herbal Study Hall

Join us for a four-week experience where we will learn about customized herbal formulations prescribed in an integrative naturopathic clinical practice. We will review individual plants utilized in formulation, formulation techniques, different herbal preparations, and clinical case studies utilizing these herbal medicines with the intention of treating specific conditions. 

-    Week 1: Overview of Herbal Formulation and Introductory Cases

Herbal properties and formulation strategies will be discussed along with herbal tincturing, internal and external preparations, and some introductory case discussions pertaining to gastrointestinal issues and glucose metabolism. Herbs discussed in detail will include Oregon grape, fennel, ginger, and devil’s club. Cases revolving around the use of these herbs in formulation will be presented.

-    Week 2: Internal Medicine; UTI, GI, Cold Sores, Men’s Health

We will review principles of crude herb tincturing including phytochemical constituents and alcohol percentages. The concept of therapeutic window will be introduced as well as how it pertains to low-dose herbs.

Herbs discussed in detail will include juniper, ocotillo, yohimbe, calendula, and comfrey. Other herbs including horse chestnut, andrographis, and licorice will be discussed in the context of cases presented.

-    Week 3: Pain Conditions: (nerve vs muscle/joint pain), Spasm, Fibromyalgia Pain conditions, diagnosing, and monitoring will be reviewed. 

We will provide more detail about proper dosing of low-dose herbs. Overview of nightshades and side effects will be provided.

Herbs discussed in detail will include stachys, belladonna, corydalis, and aconite. Other herbs in formulation will be discussed in the context of cases presented.

Week 4: Mental Health; Anxiety, Depression, Attention Issues, Sleep

We will review pharmacognosy relevant to mental health, sleep, and nervous system issues, mainly around terpenoids and phenylpropanoids as volatile compounds. Terpene synergy and complementary therapies in formulation will be compared. Herbs discussed in detail will include lavender, gelsemium, prickly ash, and cannabis. Other herbs such as skullcap and kava will be discussed in the context of cases presented. 

Bio: Duncan Lynch, ND, RH(AHG), is a naturopathic physician. He completed his naturopathic degree at Bastyr University in 2021 and his residency at the AIMS Institute in 2023. Dr. Lynch employs a variety of potent herbal preparations in an evidence-based approach, with a goal of developing reliable methods for clinically applicable botanicals both topically and internally. He draws on traditional and modern medicine, utilizing a variety of beneficial plants and types of applications.