Deb Lukas

Herbal Pharmacy Apprenticeship Program-
Use Our Sign-up Form
(fill-in and email the attachment at: sisqdeb@hotmail.com).

Herbal Pharmacy with Deb Lukas
This apprenticeship will introduce all aspects of herbal medicine making in the home or pharmacy. We will discuss the prevention and treatment of common ailments as we focus on planting, tending, harvesting and processing many different medicinal plants. I emphasize getting to know the plants, attention to detail, respect for the land, and ethical harvesting techniques.

Apprenticeship Objectives:
»Build plant identification skills, learn to identify dozens of fresh and dry herbs.
»Become familiar with harvesting techniques.
»Learn to harvest, dry and prepare plants for use as tea, poultice, tincture and oil.
»Differentiate situations that can be treated at home from those which need medical treatment.
»Become familiar with herbal terminology.
»Learn how to strengthen different body systems with tonics, including preventing colds and flu.
»Develop confidence treating minor health problems at home.
»Learn physical assessment skills.

Methods:
This is a hands-on working apprenticeship. The goal is to accomplish pharmacy activities while learning and having fun. We may prepare poultices, compresses, tea blends, tinctures, percolations, infused oils, salves, lotions, powdered extracts, capsules, suppositories, syrups, lozenges, etc. You must show up on time, with your equipment, healthy, focused and ready to work.

Supplies Needed:
Good work gloves (leather preferred)
Pruners, maybe other hand tools
Rubber gloves (chemical resistant)
Change of clothes in case we get wet or muddy
Rain gear
Particle mask, ear plugs
Notebook/pen

Schedule:
Please send application if interested. For many years we have met Thursday 10am - 2pm, and either Saturday or Sunday afternoons. For people living further away I may plan one weekend a month. The cost of the apprenticeship varies, and work-trade can be arranged in advance.

NOTE: Please come prepared for all weather, with good work boots and gloves, a water bottle, raincoat (unless visiting in summer), sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Bring a tent, sleeping bag, pad, and specialty food. If you are interested in applying for apprenticeship please complete an application and email or send it to us.

About the teacher:
Deb Lukas has studied herbalism for 20 years. Her teachers include Jane Bothwell (medicine making, introductory studies), Adam Seller (wild-crafting trips), Michael Moore (materia medica) and Christopher Hobbs (9-month apprenticeship), as well as three years of formal studies in clinical herbal medicine at Dominion Herbal College, Vancouver BC. She has taught herbal classes and workshops for over 10 years in the Illinois Valley.

Siskiyou Mountain Herbs
www.siskiyouherbs.com