Welcome to the Pennsylvania School of Herbalism! The mission of the Pennsylvania School of Herbalism is to bring knowledge of holistic herbalism and healing plants to our regional community in an accessible and reverent way. We are committed to teaching plant and mushroom medicine within holistic and Traditional Western Herbalism frameworks. Our goal is to root our herbalism in our local ecosystem, emphasizing the use of local abundant plants and mushrooms and while protecting at-risk species. We offer classes in person and on Zoom. We also offer various certificate programs which are offered both a hybrid and fully in person format. You can see more about all our certificate programs here: Holistic Herbalism Certificate programs. You can see all our events here.
We are deeply committed to honoring the Allegheny Mountains and working with plants in a reciprocal way, which includes sustainable harvesting, wild tending, and reverent growing practices. We are also focused on herbalism that is accessible for all people through sliding-scale payment options; offering education in multiple formats; support for diverse people and learning styles; and an emphasis on experiential learning.
Here are some recent testimonials about the Pennsylvania School of Herbalism!
“I can’t begin to express how pleased I am with all of the classes I’ve taken from The Pennsylvania School of Herbalism. Both Briel and Dana are extraordinarily knowledgeable. I’ve completed the Foundations of Holistic Certificate Course and have taken many of the courses offered by Dana in Indiana, PA. The classes are in depth and very hands on, which makes it much easier for me to understand and remember the material and the plants. I have several certificates from online schools and even though these classes have been beneficial, they do not compare with what I’ve learned at the Pennsylvania School of Herbalism. Dana and Briel are both very enthusiastic about the material! There are plant walks, medicine making sessions, and many teas! I always leave a class feeling inspired and excited to learn more!” – Amy
“I attended the Women’s Herbal Retreat with the Pennsylvania School of Herbalism in August 2024. I attended with my Mom, just a few days after my 40th birthday. The retreat gave us the opportunity to learn how to better support our bodies at various life stages and offered a safe space to share our experiences with other women and deepen our relationship with each other. It allowed me personally time to rest, to disconnect from the responsibilities of everyday life, and to reflect on what comes next and how I can protect my wellbeing during a transitional time in my life. Briel and Dana are talented, knowledgeable, and empathetic teachers. I highly recommend their services, events, and retreats.” -Theresa, Brooklyn, NY
“The Foundations of Holistic Herbalism course was a great way to start diving into the use of herbalism. It provides learning from various components of herbalism that helped to provide a broader understanding and also helped me determine which areas I enjoy the most. This is allowing me to then choose additional learning opportunities to further expand my knowledge based on areas of interest. Briel and Dana are both very knowledgeable in herbalism which allows you to trust that what you learn is safe. Great course. Looking forward to completing the next 25 hours!” – Jennifer McCormick
“Briel and Dana put on a wonderful Women’s Retreat! They really know their stuff and communicate their collective wisdom in a thoughtful way that makes it applicable to your everyday life. I appreciated the hands-on activities that introduced me to different plants and their energetics. I learned so much in just one day that I can carry forward to improve my life, but without feeling overwhelmed. It was educational, but they left ample time and space for self-care and reflection, making it a true retreat in Nature. Highly recommend!” -Caitlin Smith, California
“The PA Herb School was just what I was looking for-an in person school that covered all aspects of herbalism. The instructor was wonderful as were the other students!” -Anonymous
