Foundations of Herbal Medicine:
Rooted in Vitalism & Medicine Making
March 13-19, 2027
Casa Curativa, Tzununá
Lake Atitlàn, Guatemala
This 7-day, in-person immersion is for those who feel the pull toward plants as teachers, medicine made by hand, and a way of knowing the body that is older and wiser than the system we inherited. This course is a foundation in herbalism that will nurture you for the rest of your life.
Foundations are Everything
We teach the foundations because foundations change everything. This course is not a list of herbs and their uses, but an energetic model for reading patterns that move through nature and the human body. A vitalist lens and way of perceiving the world.
When you understand that a bitter taste might signal a plant's affinity for the liver, or that a cool, drying herb might be appropriate for a hot and inflamed condition, or that the same energetic signature moves through the dandelion at your feet and the lymphatic system in your chest, you stop needing a formula for every ailment. You start to read and you start to see.
This course gives you the tools to stop searching for the right answer outside yourself. You begin to trust your own perception, your own hands, your own knowing, and most of all, you begin to trust the plants.
What You Will Learn
Dive into a comprehensive 7-day herbal education experience featuring a 320+ page Foundations Manual that becomes a lifelong resource. Learn the core principles of herbal medicine, create remedies by hand, and develop the confidence to work with herbs safely and effectively.
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• Explore the rich traditional history of using medicinal plants from an anthropological perspective• Gain a holistic understanding of the diverse ways plants have been used throughout history
• Dive deep into the cultural and historical contexts of plant medicine across different societies
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• Understand how plants express energetic actions and affinities through their taste, appearance, and growing environment.
• Learn the terminology essential for thinking and speaking like an herbalist.
• Develop the ability to interpret plant characteristics to enhance your herbal knowledge.
• Gain a new perspective, allowing you to see the plant world with fresh eyes.
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• Study anatomy and physiology to understand how the body functions and responds to illness
• Learn how tissue states manifest in common disease patterns
• Discover how to pair herbal remedies with specific tissue states and disease profiles
• Develop the skills to match herbs with the body's unique healing needs.
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• Deepen your herbal practice by incorporating a rooted spiritual understanding of herbal medicine• Learn how connect with plants from a place of humility and respect
• Explore the wisdom and guidance that plants offer through plant spirit medicine
• Cultivate a deep intuitive relationship with place, enhancing both healing and personal growth
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• Learn to prepare dozens of traditional herbal medicines including: infusions, decoctions, syrups, salves, tinctures, tea blending, steams, honeys, vinegars, and spagyrics.
• Enjoy fun, interactive lab sessions where you'll apply your skills.
• Create your own herbal medicines, tailored to your learning.
• Take home the medicines you've made yourself. Build your apothecary and share with your community.
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• Learn how to properly identify plant families in the wild.• Discover best practices for harvesting plants sustainably.
• Understand the art of propagating wild plants to ensure future abundance.
• Gain knowledge that contributes to the thriving of plant medicines in the wild.
What is Vitalism?
“Vitalism is a teaching that states there is an invisible force governing our health, lives, and planet that is unseen and unmeasurable. This force has the intelligence to be not only self- directing but brilliantly self-correcting.”
- Kat Maier, Energetic Herbalism
Herbalism practiced with a vitalist lens takes into account the whole person and the whole plant. It begins with observation, it is rooted in a knowing that everything is connected, and it believes in the body’s innate ability to intelligently correct when something is out of balance.
Meet Your Teachers
JULIA BENTLEY
Julia Bentely: Herbalist, Mother, Teacher, Birth & Postpartum Doula & Founder of Casa Curativa
Julia Bentley, originally from Tennessee (ancestral territory of the Cherokee people), found her path into herbalism through her own healing journey from eczema and psoriasis. After studying with Sajah Popham, Julia moved to Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, where she founded Casa Curativa, a sanctuary where people from all over the world can connect with the healing power of plants.
A humorous and engaging teacher, Julia blends lightheartedness with deep wisdom, encouraging students to laugh and find humility in their practice. Her lectures on alchemy and the spagyric arts invite exploration into the more mystical aspects of herbal medicine. Julia’s entrepreneurial spirit shines through in her work, as she has cultivated Casa Curativa into not only an educational hub but also a thriving herbal brand, focused on quality, ethics, and community.
Living onsite at Casa Curativa with her son Emmitt, Julia continues to steward the sanctuary, nurturing both the plants and the community that surrounds it. Her teaching inspires students to embrace both the practical and the profound in their herbal practice, empowering them to create their own path in the world of herbalism.
ASHLEY MCDONELL
Ashley Mcdonell: Herbalist, Natural Builder, Full-Spectrum Doula
Ashley McDonell is a clinical herbalist, natural builder, and full-spectrum doula whose work bridges science, spirit, and ecology. As Director of Education at Casa Curativa, she guides a growing network of teachers, practitioners, and students devoted to restoring relationship-based herbalism to its rightful place at the heart of community health.
With over a decade of experience in clinical practice and herbal education, Ashley’s teaching merges physiological precision with ecological literacy, inviting students to understand the body as an ecosystem and the ecosystem as an extension of the body. She weaves rigorous study with story, song, and earth-based ritual—creating spaces where learning becomes an act of remembrance, and medicine becomes relationship.
In her clinical work, Ashley specializes in nervous system and hormonal regulation, digestive health, and women’s reproductive wellness, supporting clients through comprehensive assessment and plant-based protocols that honor the body’s innate capacity for repair and renewal. Her practice is rooted in reciprocity, reverence, and respect for the living world—guided by the belief that each act of healing contributes to the reweaving of our species back into the ecological web of life.
LINDSAY CHESTNUT
Lindsay Chestnut: Herbalist, Astrological Guide & Musician
Lindsay is an herbalist, permaculture practitioner, and educator whose work explores the relationships between plants, people, and the patterns that shape both earth and cosmos. Raised in Michigan among the Great Lakes, her early background in entrepreneurship, leadership, and performance arts fostered a lifelong interest in storytelling and living systems.
After training as a yoga teacher and completing a Permaculture Design Certification in Guatemala in 2015, Lindsay pursued studies in natural medicine, nutrition, and aromatherapy before formally training with Sajah Popham through the School of Evolutionary Herbalism. She relocated to Lake Atitlán in 2020, becoming a key force behind Casa Curativa’s apothecary systems and operational development.
Known for her precision and organizational insight, Lindsay has helped design production workflows and quality control protocols that support the creation of consistent, potent herbal medicines. Her teaching weaves herbal energetics, physiology, astrology, and hermetic philosophy, guiding students to recognize the patterns connecting plants, bodies, and cosmic cycles through storytelling, somatics, rituals and experiential learning.
Our Daily Flow:
8-8:30 am
Breakfast in the Lodge
9-10 am
Movement & Practice
10:30-1 am
Lecture on the Platform
1 pm
Lunch at the Lodge
2-5:30 pm
Lecture / Medicine Making
in the Lab
5:30-7 pm
Optional Evening Activity
(Sauna, Fire, Etc) followed by Dinner
Pricing & Accommodation Packages:
March 13 - March 19, 2027
Every package includes 7 nights in your chosen accommodation, 3x meals a day, and the full 7-day course and resources.
GARDEN TENT
Canvas tent in the heart of the garden
Comfortable bedding and cozy rug
Shared hot showers and bathrooms
Access to shared kitchen
All inclusive course, accommodation + 3 meals per day.
$1,865
SHARED ACCOMMODATION
Stay in our newest and largest accommodation The Lodge:
Comfortable single beds
Full shared kitchen and living room
Private terraces
Shared hot showers and bathrooms
All inclusive course, accommodation + 3 meals per day.
$2,054
PRIVATE ROOM
Lofty geodesic dome with lake views
King bed + full private kitchen
Private bathroom with bathtub and shower
Covered porch and artisan carpentry throughout
Intimate 12-sided rounded cabin
King bed + private kitchenette
Shared hot shower
Warm, cozy, and private (Mapacho the cat may visit)
Tucked right next to the river
King bed + outdoor private kitchen
Covered patio and outdoor living area
Shared hot shower
All inclusive course, accommodation + 3 meals per day.
Starting at $2,180
Course Details:
Foundations of Herbal Medicine
Course Tuition + 3 Meals a Day:
$1550
*Accommodations not included
Dates: March 13 - 19, 2027
Location: Casa Curativa, Tzununá, Guatemala
Includes: Daily lectures, workshops, 3x meals per day, yoga, sauna, fire ceremony, 320+ page Foundations Course Manual
Accommodations: Choose a private room or a shared lodging space. Includes fast WiFi, comfy beds, bathrooms, showers, kitchens and plenty of garden space to enjoy.
We view herbal medicine as a lifelong relationship with the natural world. Through hands-on experience, traditional wisdom, and a deep respect for the interconnectedness of people, plants, and place, we empower students to build confidence, cultivate practical skills, and bring herbal medicine into everyday life.
Our Herbal Philosophy
Why Join us in Guatemala?
Develop Real Skills: Create your own herbal medicines under expert guidance, leaving with practical, actionable knowledge you can use right away
Personalized Attention: Benefit from one-on-one instruction thanks to our small group sizes, ensuring a deeper, tailored learning experience
Immerse in Nature: Study in Guatemala's breathtaking and wildly lush ecosystem, bringing the learning to life in a unique way
Comfort Your Way: Choose from a variety of lodging options to suit your personal preferences
Build a Community: Connect with like-minded herbal enthusiasts, building lasting relationships and networks
What our students are saying…
Want to Talk to a Human?
Click on the link below to schedule a time to speak to one of our facilitators, have all your questions answered so that you feel ready to join us in Guatemala. We love getting to know our future students.
FAQs
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During this immersive retreat, you will gain foundational herbalism skills, including:
Medicine-Making: Prepare tinctures, salves, and herbal teas.
Plant Identification: Learn to identify and sustainably harvest medicinal plants.
Herbal Energetics: Understand the healing properties of herbs and how to use them for specific ailments.
Hands-On Experience: Learn to create herbal medicines that you can easily integrate into your daily life.
Personalized Attention: With small course sizes, you'll receive tailored guidance from our experienced instructors.
Immersive Setting: Enjoy learning in the natural beauty of Guatemala, where the environment enhances your experience.
Build Connections: Form meaningful relationships with a supportive global community of herbal enthusiasts.
Practical Skills for Life: Gain confidence in using herbalism to support both personal and community well-being.
These skills will empower you to create natural remedies for yourself and your community, building confidence in your ability to integrate herbalism into everyday life.
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This training is an intimate in-person container happening on beautiful Lake Atitlan, Guatemala at Casa Curativa in the tiny Lake town of Tzununa.
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You will be flying into Guatemala City’s Aurora Airport. From the airport, the Lake is a 3.5 hour drive depending on traffic. Recommended to arrive late in the day, and perhaps even plan to spend a night in nearby Antigua, before coming to the Lake to break up the trip a little bit.
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Fly into La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City. From there it's a 3.5-hour journey to Lake Atitlán (traffic dependent). We recommend arranging a private transfer directly from the airport, or taking a shared shuttle from arrivals.
A travel tip worth taking: consider flying in a day early and spending a night in Antigua to break up the journey — it's a beautiful city and a gentle way to arrive.
Upon enrollment you will receive phone numbers of our trusted transportation contacts so you can coordinate options ranging from private cars to shared shuttles.
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Lake Atitlan, Guatemala is similar in altitude to Boulder, CO yet enjoys a temperate tropical climate year round. Temperatures rarely exceed 85 F/25 C. This is basically the land of eternal spring.
Bring long pants and socks (there are tiny biting bugs), and long sleeve shirts and a sweater for the evening. It can get a little chilly in the evenings.
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If you're interested in exploring additional in-person herbalism courses at Casa Curativa, we offer a variety of transformative experiences. Discover other immersive retreats and workshops that align with your interests and goals.
If you are interested in other In-Person Herbalism Courses at Casa Curativa: Explore our other courses, here.