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!

What you can expect

This 9 month immersion course is meant to help you take the steps to becoming an Herbal Practitioner.  Skills you will learn include holistic approaches to disease, how to take a health history, traditional assessment skills, how to determine what herbal remedies to use, holistic counseling skills, and energetic medicines as well as a in-depth training on traditional approaches to Ayurvedic healing.  Advanced herbal students will participate in a variety of experiences including, observing seasoned herbalists, round table learning exercises, putting your herbal education into practice and beginning to professionally work with friends, family and community members.

"AS A SOLITARY GREEN WITCH FOR MANY YEARS, I FOUND THIS COURSE STIMULATING AND ALSO EXCITING AS I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BOTH REFRESH AND LEARN MANY NEW AND DIFFERENT APPROACHES AND IDEAS. WHAT A PLEASURE TO SPEND THE TIME WITH LUPO AND REBEKAH AND THEIR VALUABLE INSIGHTS AND INFORMATION " - Thea

What You wIll receive

  • Classes will meet in our virtual classroom once a month throughout the six-month program. These classes will take place ONLINE & LIVE in our virtual herbal classroom. All classes will be recorded.

  • Bi - Monthly live online full day classes offer space for discussion, Q&A, and roundtable case studies and supervised clinical consultations, giving you the opportunity to integrate and apply what you’re learning in real time.

  • A one of a kind training that offers a rich foundation in the art and clinical practice of flower essence therapy, combining intuitive listening with energetic plant connection and practical formulation skills. 

  • You’ll gain a deep understanding of the Doctrine of Signatures, explore the healing messages of local plants and woodland essences, and develop skills in conducting interviews and consultations with clients. Through hands-on practice with intake forms, group intakes, and round table discussions, you’ll build confidence in your ability to hold space as a Flower Essence Practitioner.

  • A Flower Essence Practitioner Certificate, hands-on experience creating custom blends, and guided mentorship to help you confidently support others on their emotional and spiritual healing journeys. You’ll also become part of a supportive, like-hearted community devoted to heart-centered herbalism and plant spirit wisdom.

  • You’ll participate in supervised clinical consultations to refine your skills in a real-world setting, while learning essential principles around ethics, boundaries, and client care. We’ll guide you through the process of setting up your own flower essence practice, from making essences in the field to confidently offering and selling them as part of your healing work.

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Who is this for

  • You’re yearning for a deeper, more rooted and relational practice as a Community Herbalist

  • You enjoy a flexible learning format that fits your life and schedule

  • You’ve completed a foundational herbal program—or our Level 1: Foundations of Herbalism—and are ready for the next step

  • You’re interested in working in apothecary or community herbal settings and want practical experience to support that path

  • You’re considering continuing on to clinical herbal training and want a strong, rooted foundation and prerequisite

  • You’re ready to show up fully, engage deeply, and do the work

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What you will learn

the body systems as approached by the herbalist

A comprehensive study of pathology and advanced herbal protocols for every body system, including in-depth exploration of common disease states and effective botanical strategies for support and healing.

how to create Effective and heart centered herbal protocols

Learn how to create complete herbal protocols through real-world case studies, building your skills in assessment, formulation, and individualized plant-based care, while engaging in peer collaboration and shared learning. Deepen your capacity to understand the emotional and energetic roots of imbalance as part of a truly holistic approach.

how to formulate and create plant medicine

Learn to formulate and create plant medicine through a blend of intuitive wisdom and scientific understanding—crafting effective, personalized remedies rooted in tradition, herbal energetics, and evidence-based practices.

What makes our
Program unique?

  • Rooted in both ancestral tradition and modern practice, blending the art, science and spirit (intuition) of herbalism

  • Emphasizes embodied learning—you don’t just study herbalism, you live it

  • Integrates emotional and energetic awareness alongside clinical and physical assessment

  • Offers flexible structure without compromising depth or rigor

  • Prioritizes community care, mutual aid, and the role of the herbalist as a steward and healer

  • Builds confidence through real-world case studies, medicine-making, and peer collaboration

  • Led by experienced teachers who walk the path of ritual herbalism and plant spirit connection

  • Prepares you not just for practice—but for purpose

  • Guided by Lupo Passero, a practicing herbalist and educator with over 25 years of experience in traditional, clinical, and intuitive herbalism.

“THIS COURSE WAS COMPREHENSIVE AND SO VALUABLE. I FEEL THAT I HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO HELP OTHERS WITH CONFIDENCE THROUGH THE USE OF FLOWER ESSENCES. THE COURSE IS A NICE MIX OF HANDS-ON STUDY AND TRADITIONAL LESSONS. I AM REALLY EXCITED TO APPLY WHAT I’VE LEARNED TO MY BUSINESS AND PERSONAL LIFE!”

Pauline Copithorne - FE Practitioner Graduate

when will we meet

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 5:00 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.

2025 Class Dates:

Tuesdays from 9 am to 5 pm - April 15 & 22, May 13 & 20, June 3 & 10, July 8 & 15, August 5 & 19

2025 Mentorship Dates:

Available by appointment Tuesdays from September through December

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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.

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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 A SOLITARY GREEN WITCH FOR MANY YEARS, I FOUND THIS COURSE STIMULATING AND ALSO EXCITING AS I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BOTH REFRESH AND LEARN MANY NEW AND DIFFERENT APPROACHES AND IDEAS. WHAT A PLEASURE TO SPEND THE TIME WITH LUPO AND REBEKAH AND THEIR VALUABLE INSIGHTS AND INFORMATION " - Thea

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

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.

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"AS A SOLITARY GREEN WITCH FOR MANY YEARS, I FOUND THIS COURSE STIMULATING AND ALSO EXCITING AS I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BOTH REFRESH AND LEARN MANY NEW AND DIFFERENT APPROACHES AND IDEAS. WHAT A PLEASURE TO SPEND THE TIME WITH LUPO AND REBEKAH AND THEIR VALUABLE INSIGHTS AND INFORMATION " - Thea

Frequently asked questions

  • Completion of a foundational herbal studies program or equivalent experience is required before enrolling in this 200-hour Community Herbalist Certificate, which also serves as the prerequisite for our Practicing Herbalist Clinical Program.

    If you have taken our Foundations of Herbalism program, that counts as fulfillment.

  • We have two in-person medicine making immersions on April 11th and July 11th at our Twin Star South classroom in the beautiful Asheville, NC and at our Twin Star North classroom in the beautiful New Milford, CT allowing you to be amongst the magic of the mountains and to learn from some of our amazing group of guest teachers.

    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 LIVE classes to receive the certificate of completion.

    We allow one absence for our live class.

  • This program blends the heart of traditional herbal wisdom with hands-on practice, spiritual connection, and community care. With over 25 years of teaching experience, Lupo Passero weaves ritual, plant spirit connection, and ancestral remembrance into every lesson—offering more than just information, but a transformation. Students don’t just learn about herbs they learn how to live in relationship with them. Our hybrid format, in-depth case studies, collaborative learning, and guest teachers from diverse herbal backgrounds create a rich, supportive environment for deepening both skill and soul.

  • This program equips you with the skills, confidence, and experience to offer holistic, plant-based care to your community. You’ll learn how to assess imbalances, create effective protocols, and work with both the physical and energetic aspects of healing. It also serves as the required prerequisite for our advanced Practicing Herbalist Clinical Program.

  • 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.