Basic Phytochemistry
Discover the aspects of phytochemistry with the most practical relevance to the work of the herbalist.
Herbs are much more than just "weak drugs".
Their activity is not reducible to a single "active constituent".
Frequently, though, that is the unchallenged assumption about how they work. That conceptual model breaks down in a number of ways when you try and apply it to herbs, and it's important for herbalists to understand those. Fortunately, it's not too difficult, either!
Understanding a few basic ideas around things like synergy and variability within herbs and formulas, compatibility between different types of constituents and extraction media, and how to train your senses to become more phytochemically discerning, will allow you to formulate much more successfully and to better apply herbs to specific situations.
Understanding a few basic ideas around things like synergy and variability within herbs and formulas, compatibility between different types of constituents and extraction media, and how to train your senses to become more phytochemically discerning, will allow you to formulate much more successfully and to better apply herbs to specific situations.
Course curriculum
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Welcome to Phytochemistry!
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Live Q&A sessions twice a week!
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Mountain Rose Herbs + Foster Farms discount codes
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How to use this platform
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How to use Closed-Captioning
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How to use the Discussions feature
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Meet our Friends!
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Chatting in the Community Space
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Use of Course Material (Intellectual Property)
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Interactive Learning
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Every Body is Different
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Where's Katja?
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Where's Katja? [audio]
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Course Outline
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Introduction to Phytochemistry
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Introduction to Phytochemistry [audio]
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Taxonomy
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Taxonomy [audio]
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Phytochemical Taxonomy [printable]
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Phytochemistry from the Plant's Perspective
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Phytochemistry from the Plant's Perspective [audio]
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Phytochemistry on the Macro Scale
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Phytochemistry on the Macro Scale [audio]
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Mineral Content of Selected Nutritive Herbs [printable]
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Journal Prompt: Soil Quality
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Resource: The Metabolic Plant Feedback Hypothesis
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Related Resources
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Philosophy of Phytochem Quiz
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Color & Chemistry
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Color & Chemistry [audio]
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Color & Phytochemistry [printable]
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Taste: An Overview
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Taste: An Overview [audio]
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Tastes: Salty
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Tastes: Salty [audio]
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Tastes: Sweet
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Tastes: Sweet [audio]
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Tastes: Demulcent / Mucilaginous
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Tastes: Demulcent/Mucilaginous [audio]
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Mucilage & Demulcency Reference Chart [printable]
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Tastes (& Smell!): Aromatics
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Tastes (& Smell!): Aromatics [audio]
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Journal Prompt: Aromatics
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Tastes: Pungent
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Tastes: Pungent [audio]
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Journal Prompt: Pungent
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Tastes: Diffusive
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Tastes: Diffusive [audio]
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Tastes: Bitters
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Tastes: Bitters [audio]
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Tastes: Sour
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Tastes: Sour [audio]
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Journal Prompt: Sour
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Tastes: Astringency
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Tastes: Astringency [audio]
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Action Prompt: Organoleptic Experimentation
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Tastes: Acrid
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Tastes: Acrid [audio]
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Experiments in Organoleptics
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Experiments in Organoleptics [audio]
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Organoleptics Quiz
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Characteristics of Constituents
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Characteristics of Constituents [audio]
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Molecular Weight
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Molecular Weight [audio]
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Resource: Tisserand on Frankincense Essential Oil
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Solubility
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Solubility [audio]
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Solubility Notes [printable]
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Journal Prompt: Solubility
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Compatibility
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Compatibility [audio]
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Variability
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Variability [audio]
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Resource: Ginseng & Gut Flora
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Synergy
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Synergy [audio]
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Common Misconceptions
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Common Misconceptions [audio]
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Desirable Details About Constituents
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Desirable Details About Constituents [audio]
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Desirable Details About Constituents [printable]
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Characteristics of Constituents Quiz
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Constituent Groups Introduction
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Constituent Groups Introduction [audio]
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Diagrams Ahoy!
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Carbohydrates
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Carbohydrates [audio]
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Carbohydrates Quiz
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Lipids
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Lipids [audio]
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Lipids Quiz
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Amino Acids & Derivatives
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Amino Acids & Derivatives [audio]
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Amino Acids & Derivatives Quiz
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Phenolics 1
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Phenolics 1 [audio]
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Plant Coumarins: Myths & Realities by Eric Yarnell & Kathy Abascal
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Phenolics 2
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Phenolics 2 [audio]
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Phenolics 3
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Phenolics 3 [audio]
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Phenolics Quiz
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Terpenes
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Terpenes [audio]
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Terpenes Quiz
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Alkaloids
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Alkaloids [audio]
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Alkaloids Quiz
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Salicylates
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Salicylates [audio]
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Salicylates Monograph [printable]
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Salicylates Quiz
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About this course
- $150.00
- 115 lessons
- 12 hours of video content
But wait, there's more! 🙂
In addition to the videos, we provide features to accommodate all the different ways people like to learn, so you can internalize the information easily!
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Lifetime access - so you can review the content as many times as you like, forever!
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Weekly live Q&A sessions with Katja and Ryn - to ask your questions directly, live and in person! (They're even archived, in case you miss one!) This course has 1 year live Q&A support
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Ask questions anytime - we're always just a click away: you can ask any questions in the integrated discussion forum, and we're committed to personally answering your questions, usually within 24 hours
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Printable PDF materials - if you like to follow the videos along on paper, or keep them handy for a quick reference
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Downloadable MP3 files - so you can review the content while you commute, workout, garden, ... anytime!
Certificate Information
You will receive a certificate for the successful completion of this course.
This course has 31 credit hours.
This represents the actual time of video instruction and live Q&A, as well as the time allocated for your capstone assignment, quizzes, and other assignments & activities required for completion of the course.
It is reasonable to plan about twice that much time to complete the work: this is because most students like to watch the videos more than once, review their notes, and many students complete more than the required activities. You might also enjoy joining a study group in our Student Community, and you might choose to work on extra activities together as a group to help you internalize all that you've learned.
Regardless of how long it takes you, there is never any pressure! You have access to this material for life, and in fact, when we add updates and new materials, you receive it all for free, automatically!
If new material is added after you have received your certificate, we are happy to send you a new updated certificate to document the additional time when you complete the new material.
Scholarships & Discounts
Course Tuition
- Tuition for this course is $150.
- Your access never expires, and when we add new material to your course, you get it at no additional charge!
- With our zero-risk return policy, you get 14 days to try it out after signing up. If at any point within those two weeks you decide it’s not right for you, just let us know and we’ll issue a refund, no questions asked.
Your Teacher
Co-Founder Ryn Midura
Ryn has been a practicing herbalist since 2010. He came to herbalism by way of martial arts, where his first experiences with herbs were focused on getting back into the game and becoming more flexible, adaptable, and resilient. Passing that experience on to others is what keeps him motivated every day.
Students are saying...
A better understanding of plants
Alison Bateman
Basic Phytochemistry will help you understand plants on a deeper level. Learning what the constituents do for us in our bodies and what they do for the plant...
Read MoreBasic Phytochemistry will help you understand plants on a deeper level. Learning what the constituents do for us in our bodies and what they do for the plant made me appreciate the power of nature even more than I already did. After taking this course I feel more confident in choosing which plant to work with for different situations because I have a better understanding of the constituents and their effects. Ryn did a great job teaching this course in a way that makes it easy to understand.
Read LessBasic Phytochemistry
OLGA Privina
Love this course. It taught me to understand how to extract the plant constituents I need and what those will do in my body.
Love this course. It taught me to understand how to extract the plant constituents I need and what those will do in my body.
Read LessGaining confidence with organoleptic practice
Barbara Patrizzi
This course is simply fascinating. No other way to put it. Herbalism really begins to make sense in a very palpable way now, as Ryn deftly explains the scie...
Read MoreThis course is simply fascinating. No other way to put it. Herbalism really begins to make sense in a very palpable way now, as Ryn deftly explains the science by way of its direct relation to the sensory.
Read LessTo me it's a little more than basic
mandy copp
... it's totally fantastic!!
... it's totally fantastic!!
Read LessAwesome, useful info!
Jennifer Sala
So glad you made this course, Ryn! I enjoyed nerding out on the minutia of plant chem and think a lot of the information will come in handy in the future and...
Read MoreSo glad you made this course, Ryn! I enjoyed nerding out on the minutia of plant chem and think a lot of the information will come in handy in the future and helped make sense of things I've wondered about before. Thanks!
Read LessZero-Risk Return Policy
Teaching isn't just about conveying information - there's also an aspect of being someone's "cup of tea".
So we want you to take the first 7 days to really decide if you love it or not. If for any reason you feel like this program isn’t right for you - if we're just not your cup of tea - we’ll give you a full refund. You don't even need a reason - just please let us know within 7 days of purchase.