Susan Elliotson, RH

After many years as a law clerk with a life-long interest in plants, Susan returned to school to study Phytotherapy in the diploma program at the Institute of Applied Health Sciences, Mohawk College, Hamilton. She studies under the medical supervision of a staff instructor of the McMaster University Medical School, with additional instruction from naturopaths, medical herbalists and specialists in botany and horticulture. Now in private practice in Caledon, surrounded by the herbs she uses, she is a professional member of the Ontario Herbalists Association, sitting on the Professional Members Committee and writing a regular column for the Canadian Journal of Herbalism.

She is also a professional member of the American Botanical Council. Susan regularly leads herb walks, speaks to private groups on different aspects of herbs, teaching Herbal Pharmacy. Susan teaches Advanced Herbal Therapeutics at Institute of Holistic Nutrition’s Online Continuing Education Department.

  • HM 008 Herbal Medicine

    Herbal Medicine introduces students to the healing, detoxifying and rejuvenating effects of medicinal herbs. Emphasis is placed on herbal terminology, levels of application from “simpling” to adding complexity using medium potency and harmonizing herbs and specific applications, including remedies for stress, tissue tonification, detoxification and deep immune support. The course explores each anatomical body system, along with the common conditions of each, so that students are able to identify the corresponding herbs and their actions to offer single or multiple herbal recommendations. Herbal Medicine will instruct students on specific herbal combinations to promote optimal health, with special attention to their application in managing both acute and long-term imbalances. Students are trained and evaluated on proper herbal names, herbal recommendations in example case scenarios and building protocols through multiple herbal combinations. Herbal Medicine also offers experiential learning through a guided herb walk where students are exposed to recognizing multi-functional medicinal wild herbs and plants in their local environment. Learning Outcomes: • Understanding the holistic approach to promoting wellness with nature’s medicines, both the healing plants which grow around us and effective imported herbs • Exploration of the therapeutic actions of herbal medicines in the human body • Awareness of proper harvesting, wildcrafting, drying and storage techniques for herbs and the many methods and uses including infusions, decoctions, inhalations, capsules, tinctures, salves, ointments and teas • Ability to create herbal formulas with specific dosage recommendations for common conditions both internal and topical • Evaluation of formulas and effectiveness of herbal remedies that are available commercially • Understanding the application and the associated protocols of herbal treatment for both chronic and acute conditions Herbal Medicine instructs future practitioners in the proper use of herbal nutraceuticals as valuable complements to nutritional and lifestyle protocols. This course strikes the difference between isolated, active ingredient medicine to the complex, synergistic effect of whole plant medicine as part of a holistic approach to health and healing.