This course is taught by Vaidya Atreya Smith. The course is based on his text book “Dravyaguna for Westerners" and on Volume 5 of his textbook series "Application of Ayurvedic Treatments Throughout Life". This course is the result of 15 years of clinical research and 25 years of teaching experience. It is now more than 32 years that Atreya has been practicing Ayurveda and 25 years that he is using Western Herbs according to Ayurveda.
Atreya has written a series of textbooks to help Western people truly understand the Ayurvedic method of using the system and herbs. Most people in the USA and Europe simple use Indian herbs according to symptoms and declare that they are “practicing Ayurveda”. Since 1998 Vaidya Atreya Smith has been teaching the correct way to use herbs and other substances to his students in France, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The textbook includes 115 herbal monographs that explain in detail the chosen herbs according to Ayurveda. Additionally, there are 186 herbal formulas indicated by disorders – each adjusted for the dosha that causes of the disorder – in another companion book entitled “Therapeutic Guide for Dravyaguna for Westerners”. Then Volume 5 covers over 100 pathologies from the fetus to old age and adds another 24 herbal monographs with special importance to the treatment of children and women.
The true Ayurvedic approach to using herbs lies in the capacity to diagnosis which dosha is causing the problem. Then the astute practitioner gives herbs which:
reduce the dosha causing the disorder
that also work on the disorder specifically and associated tissues / channels
that also respect the Prakriti of the patient
This course does not explain or contain the chemical “active ingredients” of herbs because the goal of Ayurveda is to correct the conscious, intelligent function of the body and mind. Chemicals are also attributes of any substance; however, they are not dynamic in an isolated state. Each Dravya or substance in nature has its own unique quality and group of attributes. Isolating one or two of these attributes, or chemicals, is very much like removing the liver from the body to obtain more enzymes. The “donor” of the liver of course dies and its unique grouping of attributes also is dissipated at death along with consciousness. When we isolate one part of an herb or mineral we effectively “kill” the greater capacity of the substance to work directly on the conscious, intelligent principle of our body (Prāna) as processing the Dravya diffuses the binding consciousness and renders it ineffective in terms of Prānic function.
This is perhaps the most fundamental difference between the “Ayurvedic model” and the modern “biochemical model” of using herbs. The biochemical model must be used subserviently to the Ayurvedic model for numerous reasons. The most important reason is that the fundamental vision of life as a conscious dynamic force permeates all creation. Additionally, there are too many ingredients, both passive, inactive and active in botanicals to warrant an isolative approach as their interactions and relationships cannot be studied with the biochemical model – there are simply too many possibilities present at once to use this narrow methodology of classification.
Herbal formulas will be taught, how to make them, etc.
Some classic Ayurvedic formulas will be taught, but mainly we will work with the formulas Atreya makes with Western herbs.
How to make massage oil formulas and the oils
How to prepare different preparations with herbs (infusions, tinctures, etc.)
We will learn about 30 Indian herbs and over 100 Western herbs
We will learn how to understand & apply Virya, Vipaka and Guna when choosing and using herbs
We will learn how to use substances according to their Ayurvedic Karmas
We will learn how to choose which Dosha to treat and what the appropriate preparation is according to the pathology.
Review of the Program
500 Total E-Learning Course Hours - "Ayurvedic Herbal Medicine" - Part 3
150 hours - teacher contact in lessons and homework, quiz assessments
250 hours – self-study with teacher assessment and bi-weekly exams
50 hours - 1 Case Study (5 pages or 2250 words minimum) & teacher assessment
50 hours - 1 Herbal Monograph (5 pages or 2250 words minimum) & teacher assessment
On completion of the 500 hour "Ayurvedic Herbal Medicine" course including all exams and written work, a diploma signed by the European Institutes of Vedic Studies will be issued to the student.
Please note that this course is not a beginning level study of Ayurveda. If the student is not able to answer basic questions of anatomy / physiology, diagnosis and pathology in relation to the formation and adaptation of herbs to an individual or disease pathology according to Ayurveda then they need to study the basics of Ayurvedic medicine. If the student does not have basic levels of Ayurveda it may not be possible for them to complete the four elements necessary for a diploma in Dravyaguna. In this case EIVS is not responsible for a lack of basic knowledge on the part fo the student. This is an advanced level of study. If basic studies are needed please refer to Part 1 of the E-Learning program.
The course is limited to 10 students
Dates
For full details in the Dates / Times and class structure click here!
First class: September 4, 2019 Last class: June 23, 2020
Registration & Costs
Breakdown of fees for program
Registration fees: 600 CHF
400 Total E-Learning Course Hours fees: 2395 CHF
Total fees: 2995 CHF
ALL PRICES ARE LISTED IN SWISS FRANCS (CHF). Students can pay in USD, GBP, EURO & CHF without any additional bank or service charges by choosing the correct currency at the time of payment on the internet shop. The internet shop can convert these prices into the 3 additional currencies listed above (USD, GBP, EURO), simply choose “currency” in the bottom right hand menu. PLEASE CHOOSE THE CURRENCY YOU WISH TO BE DEBITED IN - THIS AVOIDS ADDITIONAL BANK CHARGES FROM YOUR BANK. EIVS is not responsible for additional bank charges.
The Textbook Dravyaguna for Westerners is NOT included in the cost price – if you own the textbook already please indicate this on page one of the registration form. All other study material is included in the E-Learning platform. Including text, video and many forms of support for the student. There are NO travel costs for the this E-Learning program.
Requirements for students:
High School diploma or higher
Diploma in basic studies of Ayurveda (photocopy required)
Registration form completion
Non-refundable registration fee of 600 CHF
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU NEED TO SEND IN THE PDF REGISTRATION FORM AND THE REGISTRATION FEE OF 600 CHF TO FULLY REGISTER.
FORMS OF PAYMENT: international payment only by VISA, MASTERCARD. In Switzerland Suisse Franc payments can be made through PostFinance. No other forms of payment are excepted. The course must be paid in full by the date indicated on the registration form - payment plans are not offered by EIVS. Click on the link below to pay and the link on the top right corner to get the registration form.
To register online, CLICK HERE
- Registration Herbs 2019
- Dravyaguna
Buy just the textbook here:
Here is a demo lecture of 1 hour on how to treat cystitis with herbs according to Ayurveda. This is an example of how Atreya teaches Part 3 of the e-learning course:
Atreya talking about Ayurvedic treatments with herbs
Here is a demo lecture on one medicinal plant - Vitex angus-castus. This is an example of how Atreya teaches Part 3 of the e-learning course:
Atreya talking about the Ayurvedic use of Vitex agnus castus
Copyright © 2019 EIVS GmbH
Application of Ayurvedic Treatments Throughout Life (Volume 5)
Dravyaguna for Westerners (Volume 4)
Clinical Protocols and Treatments in Ayurveda (Volume 3)
Printable version