Shennong Relational Chinese Herbs Learning CourseDeepest Health

Do you want to overcome your overwhelm, boredom and confusion about Chinese herbalism so you can be a force of transformation in the lives of your patients?

There’s a simple secret at the heart of learning Chinese herbs well enough to help your patients at the deepest level, every time. It’s honestly not much of a secret, though, because it’s right there in the stories and texts that lie at the foundation of Chinese medicine.

The secret? Engage your whole person in the learning, and never stop learning. If that latter part sounds exhausting, don’t worry, learning with your whole person is way, way more energizing than learning by Power Point presentation.

Unfortunately – most of our Chinese herbs education doesn’t take this secret seriously

Herbs are taught in much the same way algebra, world history, physiology and any other course in any other school. Lecture classes, busywork, lots of strings of foreign words and unfamiliar concepts, perhaps a joke or story or two, some tests, and a grade on a transcript. The herbs are reduced to category, a few actions, maybe a flavor and temperature, and if you’re lucky, a mention of the doctrine of signatures.

Even the best professors find the material difficult to teach – there’s just so much of it, and it’s hard to know how to deliver it in a way that really lights a fire in students – thus the “data point” model has become the norm.

This is a real tragedy. For most people just starting out in Chinese medicine, herbs are one of the tools that most intrigue them. Herbs are fascinating, living, transformative things – and most people know that right away when they begin their study.

But the data point model of learning herbs simply sucks the life out of them.

Some students drop out. Those who do not are still in a bind. They often don’t receive the information they need most to move forward confidently and transform the lives of other people through the practice of Chinese herbalism.

Even worse, the most engaged and excited students get to clinic and find they just don’t know how to prescribe the herbs. Even if they did well on the tests, when confronted with patients, their knowledge seems to fail them! Many fall back on just a couple of formulas or patents, and don’t dare to go beyond, despite knowing that deep power resides in the “beyond.”

I had the same problem

I struggled too. While I found the tests in school to be pretty easy, and my professor was a wonderful man full of great clinical gems, I found myself losing passion. From the first day I noticed that, I made it my quest to wake each day completely excited out of my mind to learn more about herbs. I read books on diverse topics, I talked to professors, I mentored other students, I dove deep into the classics and into my own self-cultivation.

Later, as a practitioner, I taught classes about Chinese herbs – which I do to this day. In creating that class from the ground up, I learned what worked and what didn’t work. What was inspiring food for the heart, and what was just distraction. I also continued my own process, acquiring skills and knowledge, building a base of experience and continually refining my techniques.

All this learning became a method

Eventually, I realized that what I’d built was really a unique method for learning Chinese herbs that I could teach anyone (and actually was teaching everyone who would listen).

The method integrates information from a variety of sciences and arts, the deep practice of radical intuition, important time tested scholarly resources, the major classical texts of our medicine and the input and experience of students just like you. It is a living, breathing creation that grows with each encounter with new students.

Along the way, we address all the basic information learned in most schools about herbs (category, channel affinity, flavor, nature and so on) in a way that is substantiated by the classics & grounded by sensory and relational experience. In learning to see Chinese herbs as more than bits of data to be arranged on a chart, everything we learn makes more sense, and our practice of the medicine becomes more potent.

Not everyone can live in Portland – the Internet helps bridge the gap

While it’s easy enough to gather up students nearby and teach, my work on this site (years in the making) really inspire me to go beyond my geographic confines. There’s not a ton of accessible, online teaching available in Classical Chinese medicine, and I hope to be part of changing that. So, I took my method and everything I’ve learned in taking dozens of online courses (good and bad), solicited feedback from my wonderful readers, and created a unique, transformative online learning experience.

Who should engage with these courses?

No matter your level of basic knowledge about Chinese herbs, you can benefit from these courses. I have taught people with 20 years of clinical experience, folks just getting started on their Chinese medicine journey, as well as people currently in the throes of their formal Chinese medicine education. All have found tremendous transformation in their understanding. Students, in particular, find that the Shennong method helps them remember herbs more easily, and permanently, a real boon when testing comes around.

If you are a practitioner looking to fulfill your licensing or NCCAOM certification standards, Shennong 1 is currently pending approval for NCCAOM professional development points (CEUs). If approved, each stage of the Shennong courses will be good for 12 PDA hours towards your licensing or recertification. There are a couple of additional requirements (a quick test and a program evaluation) to get PDA points, but if you need them, it’s worth it!

Despite level of education, there are a few traits my most successful students have shared:

They were dedicated to taking real steps towards improving their connection with and use of herbs
Though they may have arrived confused or frustrated, they still harbored a kernel of true passion for herbs
They believed that they COULD come into greater resonance with Chinese herbalism
They dedicated the time necessary to work the method in a regular practice – usually at least 30 minutes a week

If you feel you embody the spirit of these successful students, I’m truly excited to welcome you

Click to read what one Shennong student said about their time in the course

I am a Veterinarian that uses primarily acupuncture and herbs in my practice. I wish I could remember how I found the Shennong course, but I will be forever grateful that I did! Up until this point, my training consisted of what I imagine most herbalists experience, rote memorization of single herbs and formulas, with their application in our patients. The Shennong course has been a life-altering experience, and I don’t say that lightly. Through the method, my relationship to herbs has deepened, my understanding of herbs has grown, and I see myself using this knowledge in my daily practice for years to come.

I feel that the logistics of the course have been perfect for someone like me who is in clinical practice. I maintain a busy practice, but still have the time to get through the course material with no problem. I have the calendar marked for the day a new module is released and will sit down and just devour the new material! There is plenty of time between module releases to digest, refresh, and absorb the material fully. The recommended texts have been a great addition to my library, and the supplemental material that Eric has provided really enhances the learning experience.

I can’t say enough about this course. I am sad to see it end, but have promised myself that I will continue to enroll in Shennong courses as long as they are offered. Do yourself and your patients a favor and join me.

Neal J. Sivula, DVM, PhD, FAAVA

Dancing Paws Animal Wellness Center

Richfield, Ohio, USA

Ready to take the next steps in your Chinese medicine learning? Register for Shennong : Stage 1 now!

Learning more about the first stage of your Shennong training

These courses grow and change to fit the needs of the people who end up coming together. If they didn’t do that, they wouldn’t take on the organic quality necessary to be an adequate bearer of this great medicine. That being said, there is a standard path to walk, and guideposts along the way. Without that, we easily get lost, meander, and end up far from where we intended.

Below, I’ve described the high points that most students will be interested in knowing. Simply click on each section to learn more. If you want to know whether something specific will be in the courses, I encourage you to ask me by clicking this link.

Shennong 1 explores the sensory portion of the method in detail. Here we develop a robust understanding of the essentials of classical Chinese medicine and relational study of Chinese herbs as well as learn practices & resources to help us in achieving a goal of lifelong engagement. Shennong 2 engages you with the texts & their information as well as a process of investigating deeply into the lifeworld of Chinese herbs – however you have to take Shennong 1 in order to be eligible to take Shennong 2 – so let’s turn to learn more about that first step.

Click here to learn more detailed information about Shennong 1

Module 1 : The intro to Chinese herbs you should have received

The truth about the stuff you have to memorize
Digging into your own learning style, so that Chinese herb learning fits YOU
How to access an unlimited resource of inspiration, excitement and deep wisdom (for virtually free)

Module 2 : Keys to unlocking the Classical Chinese medicine perspective & making it work for you

Why the classics are not just foundational, but instructional (and how)
How to keep the classics as living documents that are accessible to you
How the Classical texts look at Chinese herbs, and how you should work with them

Integration Week

Starting after the second module, every other week is an “integration week.” There will be no module released. Instead, you will be expected to go back over the material, engage on the forums, attend the mentorship call if there is one and take part in deepening your understanding of Chinese herbs through sensory engagement, diving into classical texts, and so on. This helps slow the courses down so everyone can keep up – most students find this very helpful.

Module 3 : The Relational Method and the First Step : Open Your Eyes

See how leveraging your most natural skills will make REALLY KNOWING herbs a joy
Figure out the real use of “the doctrine of signatures”
Discover how much information your eyes are trying to give you (but you’re ignoring)
Discover the hidden clues of botany, and how they can help you remember what you need to remember

Module 4 : Please touch! Why your hands are more powerful than you think

Why you’re just going to have to get dirty
How to repurpose your acupuncture skills for the purpose of learning herbs
Sans? Wans? Tangs? What does it matter? (And why do I have to do it myself?)

Module 5 : Taste, smell & body as laboratory

A brief guide to poisoning yourself 10,000 times, safely
All the practical information you should have received in herbs class, and didn’t
Finally understand flavors, and the way they differ from tastes
Guidance how to get beyond “herb actions” and actually understand what herbs DO (and why!)

Module 6 : Asking questions about Chinese herb names

Begin to understand how to decode the information contained in Chinese herb names
See how the English, Latin and Chinese names give different, but complementary information
Learn a workflow that takes you from a name in a book to a deeper, symbolic understanding of any Chinese herb

Each module is delivered in a number of formats including text, video and audio.

Modules will become available about every two weeks. Thus, a motivated person could make it through the major portion of the material in 10-12 weeks. However, because of the practice-based nature of the method, and the number of new and unfamiliar concepts, it’s probably better to leave yourself at least 3 months to fully digest the material.

To ensure your success, I also offer a variety of implementation tools and assignments to help guide you through working the modules. These will help you walk through each module with confidence, and implement what you’re learning so it becomes a lifetime habit.

Click here to read what another student said about their experience in the Shennong course

Just casting a reflective glance over the Shennong course ‘experience’ of the last few months. I well recall my hesitation. Should I, could I sign up? After all, my background is Taiji/Qigong with a daily Taoist meditation practice. Chinese herbs were largely dried twigs, flowers, and shriveled berries with confusing names.

What I appreciated was the instant contact: I had only to lay my concerns about my limited background and your response was immediate and encouraging. As to the program, the structure is sound, systematic,and foundational moving one from a meaningful knowledge base into an herb experience that is truly relational, natural, and process oriented.

Did I get value for my dollar? Indeed! The online experience is amazingly well done and suits a busy work schedule. Surprising, truly. I anticipate Shennong 2 with enthusiasm. The entire process is life giving!

With abundant thanks, ruthS

Virginia,USA: qi4life99@yahoo.com

Finally, know that the courses are downloadable and can live on your computer forever. This is important because you might get busy, you might get sick, you might just decide you want to do something else for a while – even though you paid good money to join us. You will have six months to access all the content online, including all course updates, and I will give you a warning when that six months is coming to an end. You will have the opportunity to download all the content before the six months is up, and once it’s on your computer, you can access it any time you want. So, no rush, no stress!

Concerned about your ability to benefit from a digital course?

Many people, especially in the natural medicine professions, are skeptical about online learning. Many of you probably already spend too many hours staring at a computer. The thought of more may drive you to tears! I am doing a few things to try to mitigate the realities of digital education.

All of the sessions will include text worksheets and other materials that you can interact with in hardcopy format
All of the video sessions will include audio transcripts so you can listen to them on your MP3 player or even burn them to CD, making your education portable and allowing you to interact with the material as many times as you like

Further, the method I am teaching is so inspiring, and my passionate delivery so pervasive, I think you’ll find these courses to be surprisingly engaging! It may transform your idea of what is possible in education!

Still, there are some elements of a live class that are tough to replicate. To try to make up for this, I’ve added two bonus elements to the course.

Bonus 1 : Members-only community building forums

I believe very strongly in the importance of community generated knowledge. Your fellow students have deep wisdom, and they will be unlocking more and more with every day of these courses. Learning from such a dedicated, energized group of practitioners is going to supercharge your learning and build relationships you will rely on for years to come. You can share the ups and downs of learning and using Chinese herbs, organize online study groups for tougher parts of the courses, and I will also come on the forums from time to time to answer your burning questions.

Bonus 2 : Mentorship calls

Several times during these courses, we gather as a group – live via voice, video and text. During this time, we taste herbs together using the exercises and skills learned in the material. Sharing our experiences, we start to understand the benefit of community created knowledge as well as solidifying the information through real-world application.

Have any final questions? Feel free to email me, but find below a list of the most commonly asked questions. Just click on the arrow to expand the answer!

I’m very new to herbs/just started school/don’t plan to study formally – will these courses be ok for me?

If you are just about to start schooling in Chinese medicine, are years from that journey, or are more interested in lay practice of Chinese herbs and have no experience – can you benefit from these courses? Yes.

For people who have a strong interest in herbalism, but are not planning formal education, the Shennong courses are an ideal way to engage with a very deep current of Chinese medicine. While you will find many of the words and concepts foreign (they are!) with a little work you will have a very solid understanding that will serve you well moving forward..

I’m an experienced practitioner / great with herbs and am worried these courses will be too slow

I know a lot of you are here at Deepest Health because you already LOVE Chinese herbs and want to go deeper. While a lot of the words on this particular page may reflect a more basic teaching – the truth is that it is actually quite advanced. As I said, I’ve taught people who have decades of experience as well as brand new students, and all have benefited. In fact, I’m hoping there are people with diverse levels of understanding so we can build a dynamic, interrelating community of people from different stages of their journey with Chinese herbs.

Also, when I teach, I am always giving forth information of interest to people who know herbs well, but just don’t have access to a Classical education. So, if you have enjoyed the information on my site before, and enjoyed the Free Shennong Report, both courses could definitely be of benefit to you.

How long does it take? What’s the pace? Is there a particular start date? What if I’m busy – will I have time to do it?

The course starts when you’re ready. With modules and integration weeks included, the courses are intended to be consumed in about 10-12 weeks each. However, both courses are ultimately self-paced. Modules are released about every two weeks, but will be available on the site for 6 months, and fully downloadable to your computer. This includes the recordings of the mentorship calls, all worksheets and text documents, all video and audio, and so on. Thus, even if some major life event comes up, you can run through the material at your own pace at any time.

What materials are required for the classes? Will there be required texts?

After registration, you receive a materials list with “required” and recommended resources both listed. Long story short, whatever you don’t already have you can probably get on various websites dedicated to Chinese medicine. The only exception is dried Chinese herbs. Anyone with a grocery store with a bulk section should be able to acquire some simple Chinese herbs without trouble. I do provide information to help you locate herbs in most situations.

Regardless, there shouldn’t be hugely significant materials costs. You could probably get away with spending less than $20 total for all the materials needed to engage the material. If you went crazy, you could spend more than $300!

I live in a different time zone and am worried I won’t be able to attend!

As I said above, these courses are self-paced, so being in a different time zone should not be a problem. The mentorship calls are recorded, and you can submit your questions by email if you cannot attend live.

How can I get Chinese herbs to work with during the class?

I will be helping students to acquire herbs for personal research use. I know that some students live in countries where acquisition of herbs is more challenging. We will do our utmost to find plants with which you can work. If you have very specific concerns that pertain to your situation, please contact me.

Now is the time to step on the path to inspiration, knowledge and clinical efficacy

I’m so excited to get started with you. There are two options for getting involved, paying all at once or paying in three installments. You get the same great content either way. I hope that you take this opportunity to take a quantum leap forward by reaching deeply into yourself and far back into the classics. I’ll see you on the inside!