Herbal Wisdom Institute

If you have been struggling with a health condition, or are watching a loved one struggle, and you are frustrated with your healthcare choices in a contemporary medical system then learning to care for your health with herbal medicine and alternative healing modalities may be your answer.

Is Herbalism Right For Me?
  • Do you have a chronic health condition?
  • Do you care for a loved one who has a chronic condition?
  • Are you frustrated with the contemporary medicine options provided to you?
  • Have you experienced negative side effects from pharmaceutical medications?
  • Are you concerned with the direction that the healthcare system is going?
  • Do you strive to live in a natural and sustainable way?
  • Are you concerned about the conservation and propagation of our plant species?
  • Do you have a desire to strengthen your connection to the earth?


If you answered yes to any of these questions then Herbal Wisdom Institute is where you need to be.

We are an approved vendor in the Arizona Department of Education ESA program.
“The Herbal Wisdom Institute is a natural setting for Kris Vaughan to share her superior herbal knowledge. Kris is a dynamic speaker who conveys the information with such enthusiasm and passion that her students are always left craving for more. Her formal herbal training, extensive clinical experience, and management level background in sales and marketing in herbal supplement manufacturing and distribution qualify her as an authority on botanical medicine. Plant-based medicine continues to be one of the most widely used therapies worldwide for promoting health, wellness, and longevity. It is essential for budding herbalists to receive formal instruction of traditional use accompanied by an understanding of current scientific mechanisms to assure this natural healing modality remains in the forefront of time-honored medicine. Every promising herbalist bar none will benefit from Kris’ instruction and from the opportunities this knowledge affords, whether seeking this information for self-treatment, caring for loved ones or going on to pursue professional practice.”

 — Ken Koenig, D.C. Former Dean of Education & Executive Director of the National Board of Homeopathic Examiners and Past President & Owner of Wise Woman Herbals

Do You Wish to Explore Herbalism as a Career?

Here are just a few things you can do with your herbalism education
  • Become a clinical herbalist
  • Become a medicinal herb grower or wildcrafter
  • Learn to manufacture herbal medicines
  • Become an herb retailer
  • Become an herbalism educator
  • Work for an herbal product manufacturer


The opportunities for a career in herbalism are as endless as your dreams. Herbal Wisdom Institute offers courses to meet all levels of interest. 

What we do

Herbal Wisdom Institute is an online herbal medicine educational facility providing beginning and advanced herbalism courses for all interest levels. Our courses are developed by herbal medicine educators who are experts in their field of study and are passionate about sharing knowledge with new generations of herbal practitioners.

Easily Accessible

All  education is provided online so you can follow it anywhere, anytime.  You can complete the courses at your own pace.

High Quality

All courses are developed and presented by expert herbalists with years of practical experience.

Practical

Courses designed to meet the needs of all learner types who wish to learn or improve their knowledge and skills in herbal medicine. 

Affordable

Affordable courses in on-line formats. Payment plans available to make it simple and accessible for everyone.

WORLD-CLASS TEAM

Meet Your Instructors

Kris Vaughan CH, AADP
Founder/Owner/Program Director

Kris is a certified clinical herbalist, herbal educator, herbal medicine maker, and founder of Herbal Wisdom Institute. Kris began her herbalism career in 2008 as a clinical herbalist in private practice and she has worked along side naturopathic and medical physicians. Kris began teaching herbal medicine at Yavapai College in 2015 and opened Herbal Wisdom Institute in 2016. Kris hosts a podcast titled Herbal Wisdom and she also has been a guest speaker for Yavapai Regional Medical Center, The United States Forest Service, the MS Society, and other corporations and groups. Kris is also the founder and owner of VaYa Botanicals offering botanical solutions for healthcare practitioners. Kris is a member of The American Herbalists Guild, United Plant Savers, and the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. Follow her podcast: Herbal Wisdom.

Rachel Alm, M.Ed., MMH, FNTP
Lead Instructor

A dreamer and adventurer with an insatiable curiosity, Rachel Alm has dedicated much of her life to the study of botanical medicine. From peace and comfort to a rich array of food and medicine, not to mention the endless awe and wonder of it all, nature has been a constant provider in Rachel's life. With the wild and rugged Sacramento mountains as her backdrop, Rae is gathering, growing, making, and teaching all things herbalism.

As the Lead Instructor for the Herbal Wisdom Institute, Rae combines her Masters degrees in Medical Herbalism and Education to proudly offer herbal education for plant lovers of all kinds. Follow her @openroadbotanicals

Candice Cook CH, WFA
Instructor

Candice is a clinical herbalist, astrologer, and adventure guide who brings 15 years experience in medical herbalism, nature therapy, and deep psychology to her students and clients. She is passionate about teaching new herbalists to build relationships with plants and seek inter-connectedness of all things on their learning and healing journey. She has taught classes on Herbal First Aid, Radiant Skin, and Mental Wellness at Herbal Wisdom Institute, and is excited to share more of her love of herbalism with HWI students. Follow her @rebelherbal

Ginger Farina
Instructor

Ginger Farina is a certified clinical herbalist. She graduated from Prescott College with her bachelors in Holistic Health and Wellness. One year later, she received her certification in Clinical Herbalism from the Herbal Wisdom Institute. Ginger spends most of the year in Prescott, Arizona and visits New Hampshire in the summer to work with herbal medicine in a different environment. Specializing in women's health and empowerment, fertility, holistic sex education, and methylation disorders, Ginger is dedicated to education and resource availability to those in need. She has experience in a naturopathic doctors office and a forest school learning environment for kids.

Jennifer Ribaudo
Instructor

Jennifer is a certified Clinical Herbalist, Bioregional Herbalist, and Wellness Coach who feels most at home in the Sonoran Desert but loves exploring ecosystems worldwide in search of medicinal and traditional plants. A former Army veteran and corporate professional, she followed a deep calling to reconnect with nature and holistic healing. As the founder of Desert Moon Botanicals, she created a thriving herbal community and offers handcrafted small-batch remedies through her online shop. Whether leading plant walks or teaching herbal medicine, Jennifer weaves together tradition, science, and plant spirit wisdom to help others connect with the healing power of nature. Jennifer is an associate member of the American Herbalists Guild and United Plant Savers. Follow her @desertmoonbotanicals

Stephanie Nishek ND
Instructor

Dr. Nishek is a North Dakota native, having grown up in Minot and Valley City. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from UND in 2006, a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences in 2010 and her CLEC Certification from the University of San Diego Extension in 2015. Dr. Nishek offers naturopathic consultations to all ages and genders. Helping couples overcome infertility to establish and maintain pregnancy, supporting women through the prenatal process and guiding moms through postnatal changes and the breastfeeding relationship are her passion. She has advanced training in those areas, as well as in managing PCOS and other hormonal/menstrual cycle irregularities, from puberty through menopause. She also provides acupuncture treatments and a number of functional laboratory testing options to help navigate hormone issues, digestive dysfunction, mood disorders, sleep disorders and more.

Dr. Nishek is the mother of two wild and free children.
Follow her at holisticndlife.com

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