The practicing herbalist

advanced practitioner herbalism training | 200 HOUR CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

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 designed to guide participants in taking the next steps toward becoming confident and compassionate Herbal Practitioners. It provides practical training in holistic approaches to disease, health history intakes, and traditional assessment methods for determining appropriate herbal remedies. Instruction includes holistic counseling, energetic medicine, and a comprehensive study of Ayurvedic healing. Advanced students engage in experiential learning through observing seasoned herbalists, participating in round-table discussions, and applying their skills in supervised consultations. By the end of the program, participants emerge prepared to work professionally with friends, family, and community members, weaving together traditional wisdom and modern herbal care.

What you can expect

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, of Fable Underworld 2024 Graduate

What You wIll receive

  • A one of a kind, nine-month advanced herbal immersion that blends Ayurveda and Western herbalism, created to deepen your understanding of holistic herbal practice and support your growth as a professional and clinical herbal practitioner. Upon graduation you will receive a 200 hour Clinical Herbalist Certificate.

  • Incredible and enriching , bi - monthly live, online classes offer space for discussion, Q&A, and roundtable case studies and preparation for supervised clinical consultations, giving you the opportunity to integrate and apply what you’re learning in real time.

    All classes will be recorded.

  • Enjoy a combination of live lectures, interactive discussions, and experiential learning focused on energetics, herbal counseling, and addressing the root causes of imbalance. This program supports students in establishing their own herbal practice to confidently offer consultations within their community.

  • Receive intimate mentorship with experienced clinical herbalists, along with in-depth herbal and Ayurvedic education rooted in both traditional and modern perspectives. Engage in observation, case studies, and supervised client consultations designed to strengthen confidence, skill, and discernment.

  • This integrative training honors both folk tradition and clinical application, empowering practitioners to step into their work with clarity, confidence, and purpose.You’ll also become part of a supportive, like-hearted community devoted to heart-centered herbalism and plant spirit wisdom.

  • Participants learn to refine their skills in a real-world setting, gaining hands-on experience in client assessment and individualized herbal formulation. Guidance is provided on the ethical and practical foundations of clinical work, including boundaries, communication, and professional conduct.

Enroll Now

This program is designed for advanced herbal students who are ready to move from study into professional clinical practice. It is ideal for those who wish to deepen their understanding of holistic healing, refine their assessment and formulation skills, and begin confidently working with clients.

Perfect for graduates of foundational and intermediate herbal programs, as well as practitioners seeking mentorship in clinical application, this course offers an opportunity to bridge traditional herbal wisdom with modern integrative practice. It is also well-suited for those drawn to the healing traditions of Ayurveda, energetic medicine, and holistic nutrition, and who feel called to serve their communities as knowledgeable, ethical, and heart-centered herbal practitioners.

Pre-Requisites for This Program Can be found below

Who is this for

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What you will learn

The Art of Herbal Communication & Assessment

This course begins by cultivating the essential skills needed to connect deeply and work effectively with clients. Through mindful listening and intentional communication, students learn how to hold space and gather a comprehensive understanding of each individual’s story. Training includes the use of holistic intake forms, health assessment techniques, and observation skills that allow practitioners to identify patterns of imbalance. Emphasis is placed on recognizing red flags, maintaining ethical boundaries, and developing the professionalism necessary for safe, compassionate practice.

Integrative Herbal Therapeutics and Formulation

Students expand their understanding of both traditional and modern herbalism through an integrative approach that unites Ayurveda and Western herbal practice. Coursework includes advanced apothecary techniques, research skills for understanding herbs and potential drug interactions, and the study of herbal energetics and intuitive assessment. Nutrition and lifestyle are woven throughout the training, exploring food as medicine, holistic supplementation, and the role of energetics in supporting balance and wellness.

Building a Professional Clinical Practice

The final component of the program focuses on translating herbal knowledge into real-world practice. Students gain experience in community herbalism, outreach, and ethical marketing while exploring the legalities and practical considerations of professional herbal work. Guidance is provided for setting up and maintaining a clinical practice that reflects each practitioner’s unique philosophy and values. By the end of this training, participants are prepared to step into their roles as confident, capable, and heart-centered herbal practitioners, ready to serve their communities with integrity and purpose.

Advanced Practitioner Focus — Designed for experienced herbal students ready to move beyond foundational study and step confidently into professional clinical practice.

Mentorship and Supervised Clinical Work — Offers direct mentorship and guided client consultations to build real-world experience while emphasizing ethics, boundaries, and professional development.

Integrative Approach — Blends Ayurveda, Western herbalism, herbal energetics, holistic nutrition, and food as medicine to create a truly comprehensive and balanced understanding of plant-based healing.

Professional Practice & Business Foundations — Includes guidance in community outreach, ethical marketing, herbal legalities, and setting up a sustainable clinical practice, essential tools for thriving as a professional herbalist.

Intimate Training with Experienced Clinicians — Provides personalized mentorship and instruction from two professional herbal clinicians with over 50 years of combined experience, ensuring depth, authenticity, and wisdom in every aspect of learning.

Spiritual, Mental, and Physical Alignment — Encourages growth and balance for both practitioner and client, recognizing that true healing arises from harmony between body, mind, and spirit.

WHAT MAKES ThiS UNLIKE ANY OTHER
CLINICAL TRAINING PROGRAM

“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.”

Kris F. of Moon Mama Herbals 2021 Graduate

when will we meet

Our advanced herbal program runs from April – December of 2026. After your acceptance to this program, you will receive access to our classroom portal in April that will act as your online hub for everything you need. It will list homework, dates and times for our online LIVE classes, access to our online community forum, and access to the pre-recorded video lectures for each month. During our opening call, we will go over the flow of the program.

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 9:30 am to 12:30 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.

2026 Live Class Dates:

Tuesdays from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm - April 7 & 21, May 5 & 19, June 16 & 30, July 7 & 21, August 11 & 25

2026 Mentorship Dates:

Available by appointment Tuesdays from September through December​

Enroll Now

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.

Enroll now

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 28 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 flowerpowerproject.com

“As I sit here and reflect on my experience in this program with Lupo and Ilana, I really appreciate the realness of the sharing of your own herbal experiences and stories. It was super helpful watching you two do an intake and having us formulate. Along with the two of you holding space as we found our footing with consultations and our own formulations. I also really enjoyed meeting with Ilana Weekly. On a curriculum note, I love the Ayurveda/ Doshas & supplemental, nutritional overview and - the boundary work! That was super helpful, having the teachings and reminders of healthy boundaries and tending to our own needs as an essential part of the practice.”

-Clara P. 2022 Graduate

Investment

To reserve your spot, a non-refundable deposit of $500 is required at the time of registration.

After your deposit is received, you will receive an email with instructions to set up the remainder of your payment plan, or to choose to pay-in-full and save.

Payments with start March 2026

$3,500

secure your spot
APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP

We are always available to help you decide which one of our programs is a good fit for you on your journey. Just use the button below to schedule a call. We look forward to connecting with you.

Unsure if this Program is A Fit For You? Book A Call!

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Frequently asked questions

  • Yes. 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.

  • Yes! While this course is entirely online, we also offer seasonal in-person workshops and classes at our Twin Star locations in Asheville, NC and New Milford, CT.

    Students enrolled in the online program are always welcome to join us in person to deepen their studies, meet the plants face-to-face, and connect with our vibrant herbal community. As a student, you also have the opportunity to join us for any of our in-person immersions:

  • Students are expected to watch each month’s lectures, complete homework, and attend all LIVE classes to receive the certificate of completion.

    We allow one absence for our live class.

  • Unlike many herbal programs that focus primarily on personal wellness or introductory study, this training is a professional, mentorship-based immersion that bridges traditional herbal wisdom with modern clinical practice. It stands apart through its integrative approach—uniting Ayurveda, Western herbalism, and holistic nutrition—while providing supervised client consultations, individualized mentorship, and practical business training. This combination of depth, guidance, and real-world experience prepares students not only to understand herbal medicine but to confidently and ethically practice it within their communities.

  • This program is designed to help you step confidently into your role as a community herbalist by giving you the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience needed to serve others safely and effectively. Through supervised clinical consultations, you’ll learn how to listen deeply, assess individual needs, and create personalized herbal protocols that support real people in real situations. The curriculum emphasizes community outreach, ethical practice, and accessible care—core values at the heart of community herbalism. You’ll also gain practical tools for running workshops, supporting local wellness initiatives, and building an apothecary or small practice that reflects your unique voice and values. By graduation, you’ll be prepared to bring holistic, plant-based care to your community with confidence, integrity, and compassion.

  • Yes! We’re committed to making herbal education accessible. A limited number of scholarships and flexible payment plans are available. Please inquire within by email twinstaroffice@gmail.com—we’re happy to work with you to make this path possible.