Students build relationships with the plants that they will be using to create medicines for their patients. During the classes, students use organoleptic skills to experience the herbs, which includes tasting, smelling and observing teas, tinctures, oils and raw plant material. Monographs of the herbs are then provided, and patient case histories and personal experiences are discussed.

This course examines in depth the following herbs: Actaea racemosa, Agathosma betulina, Allium sativum, Althaea officinalis, Angelica archangelica, Angelica sinensis, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Avena sativa, Berberis aquifolium, Calendula officinalis, Capsicum spp., Commiphora myrrha, Crataegus spp., Curcuma longa, Echinacea spp., Filipendula ulmaria, Fucus vesiculosus, Harpagophytum procumbens, Hydrastis canadensis, Inula helenium, Matricaria chamomilla, Panax ginseng, Passiflora incarnata, Piper methysticum, Salix alba, Scutellaria lateriflora, Silybum marianum, Smilax spp., Taraxacum officinale, Vaccinium myrtillus, Valeriana officinalis, and Vitex agnus-castus.  Other herbs are introduced, time permitting.

Students must complete Materia Medica I prior to taking any other Materia Medica courses.