By Root Freedom | Natural Wellness
When we first started getting serious about herbalism at Root Freedom, we hit the same wall most beginners hit. YouTube videos were scattered and contradictory. Books were either too basic to be useful or too clinical to be readable. There was no clear path from curious beginner to someone who actually knows what they’re doing with plants. That’s when we found the Herbal Academy — and it changed how we approached everything.
This is our honest Herbal Academy review — Is It worth It? An honest look after spending real time inside their courses and the Herbarium. No fluff, no overselling. Just what’s actually inside, who it’s right for, and whether we think it’s worth your money.
What Is the Herbal Academy?
The Herbal Academy is an online herbal education platform that has been training students in herbalism since 2011. They offer structured courses from complete beginner foundations all the way through advanced clinical herbalism, plus a subscription botanical reference library called the Herbarium. With hundreds of thousands of students trained worldwide, it’s the most recognized online herbalism school in the natural wellness space.
The Courses — What’s Available
Introductory Herbal Course
This is where most beginners start and it’s excellent. It covers herbal foundations — how herbs work in the body, how to make basic preparations like teas, tinctures, and salves, plant identification basics, and how to start building a home herbal apothecary. If you’re brand new to herbalism this is your starting point.
What it covers: Herbal preparations, plant identification, body systems, home apothecary building, safety and dosing basics.
Where to get it: Explore the Introductory Herbal Course →
Intermediate Herbal Course
Goes deeper into body systems — how herbs support digestion, the nervous system, the immune system, hormonal health, and more. This is where you move from knowing individual herbs to understanding how to build complete protocols for specific health goals. Excellent for anyone who has the basics down and is ready to go further.
Where to get it: Explore all Herbal Academy courses →
Advanced Herbal Course
Clinical level training for those who want to work with herbs professionally or at a very deep personal level. Covers advanced formulation, working with complex health conditions, and building a herbal practice. Not where most beginners need to start — but worth knowing it exists when you’re ready.
Entrepreneur Herbal Course
For anyone who wants to turn their herbal knowledge into a business — making and selling herbal products, running a wellness practice, or building a brand. Surprisingly practical and well structured.
The Herbarium
This is the one we use most at Root Freedom. The Herbarium is a subscription-based online botanical reference with detailed monographs on hundreds of herbs — covering research, traditional uses, safety considerations, dosing, and recipes. For anyone who writes about herbs, teaches about herbs, or just wants reliable in-depth information on demand, it’s invaluable. It’s the first place we go when researching a new herb for the blog.
Where to get it: Explore the Herbarium →
What We Actually Like About It
The quality is genuinely high. Courses are well structured, beautifully designed, and written by actual herbalists — not content farms. You can feel the difference immediately when you get inside.
It’s fully self-paced with no deadlines and no live sessions required. You work through it on your own schedule which matters when you have a life, a job, and a family to manage.
The student community is active and welcoming. You can ask questions, share what you’re making, and connect with other herb enthusiasts at every level. For beginners that support makes a meaningful difference.
The Herbarium is worth its subscription price alone if you’re serious about herbalism. Having research-backed monographs on hundreds of herbs at your fingertips replaces hours of searching scattered and unreliable internet sources.
What to Know Before You Buy
The courses are a real investment — not an impulse purchase. That said, compared to in-person herbalism schools or traditional certification programs, the Herbal Academy is a fraction of the cost for comparable or better content.
It requires self-motivation. If you need enforced deadlines to complete things the open-ended format may work against you. The flexibility is a feature but only pays off if you use it consistently.
It won’t make you a licensed herbalist. Herbalism isn’t a licensed profession in the US, so this is about knowledge, practice, and community — not a clinical credential.
Who Is It Right For?
The Herbal Academy is a great fit if you’re a complete beginner who wants a structured foundation instead of piecing things together from scattered free resources. It works well for intermediate learners ready to go beyond basic herb guides. It’s excellent for families who want to handle more of their own health naturally with real knowledge behind them, and for anyone building a wellness blog, herbal product business, or natural health practice.
It’s probably not necessary if you just want to know which tea to make for a headache. Free resources will serve you fine for casual herb use. The Herbal Academy is for people who want to go deep and stay there.
Our Honest Bottom Line
The Herbal Academy is the real deal. It’s where we’d send anyone who asks us how to actually learn herbalism properly — not just dabble in it. The Introductory Course is the right starting point for most people. And if you plan to use herbs consistently in your life, the Herbarium subscription pays for itself quickly in time saved and quality of information you can actually trust.
Browse all Herbal Academy courses here →
At a Glance — Herbal Academy
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 |
| Format | Self-paced online courses |
| Skill levels | Introductory through Advanced |
| Herbarium | Separate subscription botanical library |
| Best for | Beginners to intermediate learners |
| Pace | Fully self-paced, no deadlines |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Herbal Academy accredited? The Herbal Academy is not a government-accredited institution but their courses meet American Herbalists Guild standards for herbal education hours and are widely recognized within the herbalism community.
How long does it take to complete a course? It’s fully self-paced. The Introductory Course typically takes 3-6 months working through it casually, faster if you’re motivated. There are no deadlines.
Can I access the courses on my phone? Yes. The Herbal Academy platform works on mobile, tablet, and desktop.
Is the Herbarium a separate purchase from the courses? Yes. The Herbarium is a separate annual subscription. Many students get both — courses for structured learning and the Herbarium as an ongoing reference.
Do they offer free resources before buying? Yes. The Herbal Academy has a solid free blog and occasional free mini-courses worth exploring before committing to a paid course.
Related Posts You’ll Love
- 10 Herbs Every Natural Wellness Cabinet Needs — build your home apothecary while you learn
- Best Herbs for Anxiety — A Complete Beginner Guide — put your herbal knowledge to work starting with the nervous system
- How to Make a Herbal First Aid Kit at Home — practical application of beginner herbalism skills
- Best Adaptogenic Herbs for Stress Resilience — one of the most popular herbal topics for new learners
- How to Make Herbal Tea Blends at Home — a perfect first herbal project for anyone just starting out
Get Your Free Herbal Wellness Checklist
New to herbs and not sure where to start? Download our free Herbal Wellness Checklist — 10 essential herbs every natural wellness home should have, with benefits and how to use them.
Click here to get your free Root Freedom Herbal Wellness Checklist →
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Root Freedom may earn a commission when you purchase through our links at no extra cost to you. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before beginning any new herbal regimen.