Spring Herbal Certificate Program - Herbs in the Body

Spring Herbal Certificate Program - Herbs in the Body

What is the relationship between our body systems and the use of herbs? This cohort, certificate series offers a unique learning experience to transform each student into a confident, knowledgeable and resourceful steward of plants. Led by some of the region's most experienced herbalists, students are guided through every step of using plants for health and wellness with a hands-on teaching approach. A variety of medicinal plants are introduced, including those grown at Denver Botanic Gardens and Chatfield Farms. Classes are offered only in the certificate full package. All classes are held at the York Street Freyer - Newman Center unless indicated otherwise. To earn the certificate students must a minimum of attend 10 classes in person. Students will have the opportunity to present a final project based on the cumulative knowledge gained during the course.

Note: Foundation of Herbalism is highly recommended to register for this class.

Spring Herbal Certificate Courses

Constitutions and Energetic Herbalism - Spring

Farnosh Family
Saturday, February 28, 2026, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
This workshop provides an overview of the basics of Ayurveda and explains how to determine your constitution, or dosha. We are an embodiment of the universe around us and Ayurvedic theory shows us how to understand ourselves through nature. Your dosha is your mind-body type, and it is determined by a number of factors such as your genetic makeup and when you were born. The doshas are composed of the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and space). Learn about the qualities of the five elements and how they comprise the three doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha). Students assess themselves and look for evidence of imbalances within themselves and around them.

Botanical Safety and Nutritive Herbs - Spring

Cat Pantaleo
Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 4 - 7 p.m.

Learn about botanical safety guidelines, including critical thinking skills, dosage strategies and primary safety considerations. Discover the wonderful world of nutritive herbs: plants that contain an array of nutrients and health-promoting compounds. Prepare to discuss and sip infusions of specific nutritive herbs. All participants receive a tea of their choice..

Respiratory System - Spring

Akil Kelley

Saturday, March 7, 2026, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Our respiratory systems have a lot to keep up with these days. In this class we will explore physiology, energetics, common conditions and threats to the health of the respiratory system. We cover helpful practices, herbal allies and supportive formulations to have on hand such as teas, steams, balms, oxymels and tinctures.

Immune System - Spring

Blake Burger
Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 4 - 7 p.m.
This class takes an in-depth look at plants that can be used medicinally to support the immune system. Learn which herbs keep your immune system at peak performance during cold and flu season. This class focuses on inflammation, exploring herbs that support healthy inflammation and reduce inflammation due to injury or chronic illness. Learn about immune supporting herbs such as reishi, echinacea and astragalus. Take home an elderberry herbal syrup fortified with echinacea.

Skin/Integumentary System - Spring

Akil Kelley

Saturday, April 4, 2026, 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.

Explore skin conditions from acne to wounds and learn about our plant allies that soothe and deeply nourish the skin, hair and nails. Learn how to use demulcent herbs for irritated or inflamed tissue and discover astringent herbs and their tissue-healing effects. Explore the anatomy and physiology of the skin to gain familiarity with patterns of health and trauma. Understand how herbal remedies support acute traumatic conditions both externally and internally, like cuts, bruises, scrapes, infections, burns, inflammation, sprains, strains, fractures, breaks and more. Sample and create herbal remedies to take home.

Ayurvedic Herbalism - Spring

Farnosh Family
Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 4 - 7 p.m.
This course is an introduction to herbalism through the lens of Ayurveda. Learn some common herbal preparations and recommendations. Discuss the energetics of herbs and how they relate to the doshas (or the bodily humors) and the seven body tissue systems. Discuss the energetics of plants. Explore the doshas and how they respond to different plants. Learn different methods of administration of plants and different vehicles of delivery. Become familiar with the best times of day to take and use certain herbs.

Nervous System - Spring

Cat Pantaleo
Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 4 - 7 p.m.

The nervous system helps regulate homeostasis, a state of dynamic balance and equilibrium essential for physical, mental and emotional well-being. The first part of this class introduces the structure and function of this exquisite and highly organized system. The second half focuses on nervines: botanicals specific for nourishing and supporting optimal nervous system health and function. Learn about five well-known nervines and how best to use and prepare them, including sampling those discussed in a variety of forms, then take home a nervine remedy.

Cardiovascular and Lymphatic System - Spring

Akil Kelley & Blake Burger

Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 4 - 7 p.m.

This class introduces herbs that will help protect and support the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems. These two vital systems work together to supply nutrients and oxygen to the entire body and promote waste removal. Learn how to take care of these essential systems through diet, exercise and effective herbal remedies.

Remedy Making Tasty Treats - Spring

Akil Kelley & Farnosh Family
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Review the body systems then learn to apply remedy-making techniques on your own. This hands-on class explores four fun and unique remedy creating stations where students will make products to take home for developing your own home apothecary.

Endocrine/Adaptogens - Spring

Cat Pantaleo
Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 4 - 7 p.m.
Working in conjunction with the nervous system, the endocrine system is a key player in regulating the health and optimum function of virtually every system, from digestion, bone density and electrolyte balance to reproduction and modulating the stress response. This class introduces participants to the basics of endocrine structure and function, including a focus on stress, a major contributor to chronic illness and degenerative diseases. Discuss and sample five botanicals that are specific for assisting in balancing the stress response and supporting immune health and vitality. Each participant takes a botanical remedy home.

Digestive System and Liver - Spring

Blake Burger
Tuesday, June 2, 2026, 4 - 7 p.m.
Almost anyone can benefit from the supportive nature of liver and digestive herbs, especially those with an impaired digestive system and a poor diet. Highly processed foods, environmental toxins and stress are common factors that can compromise the health of our liver and digestive system. Learn about liver-loving herbs, herbs that are considered prebiotics and which herbs can strengthen the digestive system as well as help treat minor digestive issues.

Reproductive Systems - Spring

Farnosh Family
Saturday, June 6, 2026, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
According to Ayurveda, the state of the reproductive tissues, monthly cycles, and fertility is a window into the overall wellbeing of a person. In this course, we will discuss reproduction from preconception to postpartum considerations and the common herbal allies for all stages.

Final Class Make and Take - Spring

Akil Kelley, Blake Burger, Cat Pantaleo, Farnosh Family
Saturday, June 6, 2026, 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Share with the class a celebration of make and take items based on the things we learned.

Highly Recommended Texts for the Certificate Program, available in the Helen Fowler Library:

"The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook: A Home Manual" by James Green
"Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West" by Michael Moore
"Botany in a Day" by Thomas J. Elpel
Optional Deeper Reading:
"The Complete Illustrated Guide To Holistic Herbal: A Safe And Practical Guide To Making And Using Herbal Remedies" by David Hoffman

Price: $983, $903 member

Special Instructions: Please specify allergies and/or food preferences (vegetarian, etc.) to Adult.Programs@botanicgardens.org so we may accommodate you.

Instructors: Akilkuumba Kelley, Blake Burger, Cat Pantaleo, Farnosh Family

Instructor Bios

Akilkuumba Kelley is a trained clinical herbalist with over a decade of clinical practice and a deep commitment to holistic healing. For more than 10 years, he has refined his therapeutic offerings and the medicine formulas he creates, crafting a wide range of herbal extracts designed to support health, vitality and overall well-being. Akil is also an experienced meditation practitioner and ceremonialist. His approach blends plant medicine with somatic awareness, energetic presence and intellectual understanding to create healing experiences that are both grounded and transformative. Akil integrates mindfulness and ritual as essential companions to herbal practice.

Blake Burger began his career at Denver Botanic Gardens as a seasonal gardener. After one year, he was hired full-time as a horticulturalist. Throughout his time at the Gardens, he has worked with tropical plants, native plants, vegetables and herbs. After receiving his Herbalist Certification here in Denver, Blake immediately began working with the vast array of medicinal plants growing in the Gardens. He founded the Denver Medicinal Plant Society in 2015, created and maintains several medicinal plant beds at the Garden's York Street location and laid the foundation for the Garden's first Herbalist Certificate Program. As a certified yoga instructor, Blake has led more than 1,000 yoga classes over six years and created a nationally recognized yoga program at the Gardens. Blake believes in a multifaceted approach to health and wellness: eat well, move your body, never stop learning, get outside and connect.

Cat Pantaleo, M.A., is a seasoned Holistic Health Practitioner with over 24 years of experience as a consultant, educator and nature guide. Integrating her expertise as a Certified Clinical Herbalist, Ecopsychologist, Nutritionist and Nonviolent Communication practitioner, she offers pathways to resilience, deep nourishment and authentic reconnection with the Wild Self. Cat’s work is fueled by a passionate commitment to restoring respect and reciprocity between humans and the more-than-human world, with her classes and workshops aimed at integrating plant and ecological knowledge, sensory awareness, explorations in perception and a deepening of relationship to oneself and the land. Time with Cat is an opportunity to awaken one’s innate capacity for care, cooperation, a sense of belonging and Earth-honoring living -so that all life may flourish.

Farnosh Family is an Ayurvedic practitioner who uses a blend of lifestyle changes, diet, and herbs in her practice. With a background in organic chemistry, she approaches herbology and cooking like the science that it is. In addition to her work using Ayurveda with clients, she has an herbal ghee company located in Denver called Ayurveda Mama. You can find more information about her on Instagram at @Sungheekitchenor on the website www.sungheekitchen.com.

Herbalism Certificate Program - Seed to Remedy offered this summer extends the knowledge from this course and focuses on hands-on applications and plant identification.