Syllabus

HERB 0402
Ecology and Ethnobotany of Rio Grande Bosque Medicinal Plants
A Field and Classroom Course in the Ecological Relationships, Traditional Uses, and Ethical Harvesting of the Bosque’s Healing Flora
12 hours
This comprehensive course syllabus outlines HERB 0402, a 12-hour hybrid learning experience exploring the medicinal plants of New Mexico's Rio Grande Bosque. Students will discover ecological relationships, traditional uses, and ethical harvesting practices through a combination of classroom learning and field experience. The course covers identification of over 60 medicinal species, their therapeutic applications, and hands-on medicine-making, fostering a deep connection to this unique riparian ecosystem and its healing flora.
Course Description
The Rio Grande Bosque represents one of the Southwest's most ecologically significant riparian corridors, hosting a remarkable diversity of medicinal plant species that have supported human wellness for centuries. This immersive course bridges ecological understanding with practical herbal knowledge, creating a holistic learning experience that honors both scientific and traditional approaches to plant medicine.
Participants will explore the intricate relationships between the Bosque's unique hydrology, soil composition, and plant communities, understanding how these factors influence the medicinal properties of local flora. Through guided identification walks, storytelling sessions, and hands-on medicine-making activities, students will develop a bioregional approach to herbalism that's deeply rooted in ecological awareness.
The course emphasizes the traditional therapeutic applications of Bosque plants across multiple healing modalities, including digestive support, inflammation management, wound care, emotional balance, respiratory health, lymphatic support, pain relief, and ceremonial practices. By understanding these plants in their ecological context, participants gain insight into sustainable harvesting techniques that preserve both the medicinal potency of individual species and the health of the ecosystem as a whole.
Prerequisites
This course welcomes participants from diverse backgrounds who share an interest in medicinal plants and ecological stewardship. The curriculum is designed to be accessible to beginners while offering depth for those with previous experience in herbalism or botany.
1
No Prior Experience Required
The course is structured to accommodate complete beginners in both botany and herbalism. Fundamental concepts will be thoroughly explained, and hands-on activities are designed to build skills progressively.
2
Ideal Participants
While open to all, this course particularly benefits:
Herbalists seeking bioregional knowledge
Naturalists expanding their ecological understanding
Environmental educators developing curriculum
Holistic health practitioners
Students in environmental or health sciences
Community members interested in local plant traditions
3
Recommended Background
Though not required, the following background knowledge may enhance your learning experience:
Basic plant part terminology
Familiarity with the Rio Grande ecosystem
Interest in traditional ecological knowledge
Comfort with outdoor field activities
Participants should come prepared with an open mind, curiosity about the natural world, and a willingness to engage in both scientific and traditional knowledge systems. The course emphasizes respectful engagement with indigenous plant knowledge and ecological conservation principles.
Course Format
HERB 0402 employs a hybrid learning model that combines the accessibility of virtual instruction with the irreplaceable value of hands-on field experience. This format accommodates diverse learning styles while ensuring students develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
1
Zoom Session 1 (3 hours)
The first virtual session establishes foundational knowledge about the Bosque ecosystem, introducing key ecological concepts, plant families, and ethnobotanical history. Interactive elements include:
Virtual plant identification exercises using high-resolution images
Breakout room discussions on ecological relationships
Introduction to the cultural history of Bosque plant use
2
Zoom Session 2 (3 hours)
The second virtual session delves deeper into medicinal applications and ethical harvesting principles. Students will:
Learn detailed materia medica for key Bosque medicinal species
Explore identification techniques through video demonstrations
Discuss conservation challenges and ethical wildcrafting guidelines
Prepare for the field day with safety information and materials lists
3
Field Day (6 hours)
The immersive field experience represents the culmination of the course, allowing students to apply their knowledge in the Bosque ecosystem. Activities include:
Guided identification walks in diverse Bosque habitats
Hands-on ethical harvesting demonstrations and practice
Field-based medicine-making workshops
Storytelling circles connecting personal experience with plant knowledge
Ecological restoration service project (optional)
This integrated approach ensures that students not only learn about the plants intellectually but develop meaningful relationships with them through direct experience. The field component is scheduled seasonally to maximize plant identification opportunities and appropriate harvesting conditions.
Learning Objectives
This course is designed with specific, measurable outcomes that integrate botanical knowledge, ecological understanding, and practical herbal skills. Upon completion, students will demonstrate competency across multiple dimensions of bioregional herbalism.
Plant Identification Skills
Recognize and accurately identify over 60 medicinal plants native to the Rio Grande Bosque through their distinctive morphological features, growth patterns, and ecological niches. Differentiate between similar-looking species and understand seasonal variations in appearance.
Ecological Understanding
Comprehend the complex ecological relationships between Bosque plants, wildlife, soil microorganisms, and hydrological systems. Articulate how these relationships influence medicinal properties and sustainable harvesting practices. Recognize indicators of ecosystem health and disturbance.
Ethical Wildcrafting
Apply principles of sustainable harvesting, including proper timing, appropriate techniques, and reciprocal practices that ensure plant populations thrive. Demonstrate respect for land access protocols and conservation considerations specific to different plant species and their ecological roles.
Medicinal Applications
Articulate both traditional and contemporary therapeutic uses of Bosque plants across different healing systems. Understand specific indications, contraindications, and preparations for each medicinal species, with emphasis on safe and effective application.
Medicine-Making Skills
Demonstrate practical competency in creating bioregional herbal preparations, including teas, tinctures, poultices, infused oils, and salves. Apply appropriate processing techniques that maximize medicinal potency while honoring plant relationships.
Cultural Connection
Develop a personal relationship with the Bosque ecosystem that integrates scientific knowledge, traditional wisdom, and direct experience. Articulate the cultural and historical significance of plant medicine traditions in the Southwest region with respect for indigenous knowledge systems.
These learning objectives reflect a holistic approach to herbalism that honors both scientific understanding and traditional knowledge, fostering a generation of herbalists who practice with ecological awareness and cultural sensitivity.
Course Outline by Module
The curriculum is structured into three complementary modules that build progressively on each other, moving from theoretical foundations to applied field experience. Each module integrates ecological, ethnobotanical, and practical dimensions of Bosque plant medicine.
Module 1: Ecology and Ethnobotany of the Bosque
This foundational Zoom session establishes the ecological and cultural context for understanding Bosque medicinal plants:
Introduction to bioregional herbalism philosophy and practice
Bosque ecosystem overview: geological history, hydrology, and climate influences
Plant communities and succession patterns in riparian zones
Wildlife interactions and their influence on plant medicine
Cultural histories of plant use among Pueblo, Hispanic, and settler communities
Contemporary conservation challenges and restoration efforts
Module 2: Plant Identification and Materia Medica
The second Zoom session focuses on practical knowledge for working with specific plant species:
Botanical terminology and morphological features for identification
Seasonal changes in plant appearance and medicinal properties
Detailed materia medica organized by therapeutic action
Look-alike species and safe identification techniques
Ethical wildcrafting principles: when, how, and how much to harvest
Land access protocols and permission practices
Medicine-making fundamentals for different plant constituents
Module 3: Immersive Field Experience
The culminating in-person field day applies knowledge through direct experience:
Guided identification walks in different Bosque microhabitats
Hands-on ethical harvesting demonstrations and practice
Field-based medicine-making workshops using freshly harvested plants
Creation of teas, tinctures, poultices, and infused oils
Traditional storytelling and knowledge-sharing circles
Personal relationship-building exercises with plant allies
Collaborative ecological restoration activity
Throughout all modules, emphasis is placed on integrating multiple ways of knowing plants: scientific understanding, traditional ecological knowledge, sensory experience, and personal relationship. This multifaceted approach honors the complexity of plant medicine while making it accessible and relevant to contemporary herbalists.
Featured Plants and Uses
The Rio Grande Bosque hosts a remarkable diversity of medicinal plants, each with unique ecological roles and healing applications. This course highlights key species that demonstrate the breadth of medicinal actions available within this bioregion, organized by therapeutic category. While over 60 species will be covered, the following represent signature plants that exemplify the Bosque's medicinal treasures.
Digestive Support
Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza lepidota): Native wild licorice serves as a demulcent and anti-inflammatory for digestive irritation. Unlike its commercial relative, this species grows along sandy riverbanks, offering soothing relief for gastric inflammation and acid reflux.
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica): This distinctive wetland plant with cone-like flowers provides powerful antimicrobial and bitter properties, supporting digestive function and addressing infections throughout the GI tract.
Inflammation and Wound Care
Cottonwood Buds (Populus deltoides): The resinous winter buds of this keystone Bosque tree contain powerful anti-inflammatory compounds similar to aspirin, traditionally infused in oil for topical pain relief and wound healing.
Willow (Salix exigua): This riparian shrub's bark contains salicin, a precursor to aspirin, offering pain relief and anti-inflammatory benefits for both internal and external applications.
Respiratory Health
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus): Though introduced, this naturalized plant's velvety leaves serve as a premier respiratory demulcent and expectorant, soothing irritated tissues and supporting productive coughing.
Grindelia (Grindelia squarrosa): With distinctive sticky flower buds, this plant offers powerful antispasmodic and expectorant properties for bronchial conditions and asthmatic responses.
Emotional and Ritual Use
Wild Rose (Rosa woodsii): Found in sunnier Bosque edges, wild rose provides astringent properties while its fragrance and beauty have traditionally supported emotional heart healing and ceremonial applications.
Elderflower (Sambucus nigra): Beyond its antiviral properties, elder has long held ceremonial significance, with flowers used in traditional rituals and for supporting transitions and grief work.
Pain and Lymphatic Flow
Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon angustifolium): This aromatic perennial with sticky leaves offers bronchodilating properties while also addressing deep-seated pain and emotional stagnation.
Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica): Despite its sting, this nutritive plant supports lymphatic movement, reduces inflammation, and provides exceptional mineral content for overall wellness.
Each plant will be studied in its ecological context, examining how growth conditions, companion species, and environmental stressors influence medicinal properties. Students will learn to identify each plant in various growth stages and develop an understanding of sustainable harvesting techniques specific to each species.
Recommended Texts
While comprehensive course materials will be provided, the following texts offer valuable supplementary information that enhances understanding of Bosque medicinal plants. These resources represent a blend of botanical reference, ethnobotanical history, and practical application knowledge specific to the Southwest region.
Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West
Michael Moore's definitive field guide provides detailed information on identification, medicinal properties, and preparation methods for Southwestern plants. With characteristic wit and decades of direct experience, Moore offers insights into sustainable harvesting and traditional applications relevant to the Bosque region. His accessible writing style makes complex botanical information approachable for beginners.
Edible and Useful Plants of the Southwest
Delena Tull's comprehensive guide explores both medicinal and practical applications of plants native to Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. With excellent botanical illustrations and ethnobotanical context, this text helps students understand the broader cultural significance of Bosque plants beyond their medicinal uses. Particularly valuable for its coverage of traditional Hispanic and Native American plant knowledge.
Southwest Foraging
John Slattery's field guide offers detailed information on 117 wild edibles and medicinals of the Southwest, including many Bosque species. With high-quality photographs, harvest guidelines, and preparation suggestions, this text supports the ethical wildcrafting components of the course. Slattery's ecological perspective emphasizes the relationship between habitat and plant properties in ways directly relevant to bioregional herbalism.
"The plants that heal us grow in relationship—to the soil, to the water, to other plants and animals, and to human communities. To understand a medicinal plant fully, we must understand these relationships."
Additional Resources
Medicinal Plants of the American Southwest by Charles Kane — Excellent color photographs and detailed medicinal information specific to the region
Healing with Western Plants by Sonoma County Herb Association — Practical monographs on preparation methods and clinical applications
Native American Ethnobotany by Daniel Moerman — Comprehensive reference on indigenous plant uses throughout North America
The Ecology and Management of the Rio Grande Bosque by Mark Nissenbaum — Scientific background on the unique ecosystem and conservation challenges
The course instructor maintains a digital library of additional articles, research papers, and video resources that students can access throughout the course via the online learning platform. These supplementary materials are carefully selected to provide depth on specific plants, preparation techniques, and ecological concepts.
Assessment
This course employs a holistic assessment approach that prioritizes practical competency, ecological understanding, and respectful engagement with traditional knowledge. Rather than relying on conventional tests, evaluation focuses on demonstrating skills and knowledge through active participation and hands-on application.
Participation and Engagement
Active participation is essential for developing a meaningful relationship with Bosque medicinal plants. Assessment includes:
Meaningful contribution to Zoom discussions and breakout room activities
Thoughtful questions demonstrating curiosity and critical thinking
Respectful engagement with diverse perspectives and knowledge systems
Completion of pre-field preparation activities and readings
Full participation in guided identification walks and field exercises
Plant Identification Skills
Accurate identification is fundamental to safe and ethical plant medicine. Students will demonstrate:
Recognition of at least 30 medicinal species in their natural habitat
Ability to describe key morphological features for positive identification
Understanding of seasonal variations in plant appearance
Awareness of potential look-alike species and distinguishing characteristics
Use of multiple identification methods (visual, sensory, ecological)
Ethical Harvesting Practices
Responsible wildcrafting ensures both medicinal efficacy and ecosystem health. Evaluation includes:
Demonstration of proper timing and technique for harvesting specific plant parts
Ability to assess plant populations for sustainable harvest potential
Implementation of minimal-impact gathering methods
Articulation of appropriate reciprocity practices
Understanding of legal and ethical considerations for different land designations
Medicine-Making Competency
Practical skills in creating effective herbal preparations are essential outcomes. Students will:
Successfully create at least two different herbal preparations during the field day
Demonstrate proper processing techniques for different plant constituents
Articulate appropriate applications and dosage considerations
Show understanding of preservation methods and shelf-life considerations
Apply sustainable practices in materials use and waste management
Upon successful completion of all assessment components, students will receive a certificate of completion documenting their participation in this specialized bioregional herbalism training. This certification acknowledges competency in the ecological understanding and ethical use of Rio Grande Bosque medicinal plants.
Materials Provided
To facilitate an immersive and productive learning experience, the course provides comprehensive materials for both the virtual and field components. These resources support different learning styles and ensure students can focus on developing relationships with plants rather than gathering supplies.
Identification Materials
Full-color botanical field guide to 60+ Bosque medicinal plants
Laminated quick-reference cards with key identification features
Seasonal phenology charts showing optimal identification and harvest times
Illustrated glossary of botanical terminology
Dichotomous keys for major plant families of the Bosque
Course Notes & References
Comprehensive digital course manual with lecture content
Detailed materia medica for all featured medicinal species
Ethnobotanical history and traditional knowledge summaries
Ethical wildcrafting guidelines specific to the Bosque ecosystem
Annotated bibliography of academic and traditional sources
Digital access to recorded Zoom sessions for review
Herbal Crafting Supplies
Glass jars in various sizes for tinctures and infused oils
Organic alcohol (80 proof) for tincture-making
Cold-pressed organic olive oil for infusions
Beeswax and shea butter for salve preparation
Muslin cloth and strainers for processing
Amber bottles with droppers for finished preparations
Labels and marking pens for documentation
Harvesting tools (pruners, scissors, digging tools)
Field Day Essentials
Plant collection baskets made from sustainable materials
Field journaling supplies for documentation
Hand lenses for detailed plant examination
Reusable water bottles and sun protection
First aid supplies including plant-based remedies
Biodegradable flagging tape for marking specimens
Field-appropriate seating mats for comfort during activities
Students are encouraged to bring personal items that enhance their learning experience, including cameras, field journals, favorite reference books, and appropriate outdoor clothing. A detailed packing list will be provided before the field day to ensure comfort and safety during outdoor activities.
Closing Reflection
As the course concludes, participants are invited to engage in a meaningful reflective process that integrates their intellectual learning with personal experience and emotional connection. This final component acknowledges that true herbal wisdom emerges from the integration of knowledge, practice, and relationship.
"How has your journey through the Rio Grande Bosque deepened your understanding of plant medicine, ecological stewardship, and your personal role as a guardian of traditional herbal wisdom and ethical foraging practices?"
This guiding question invites students to consider their learning journey through multiple dimensions:
Ecological Understanding: How has your perception of ecosystem relationships changed? What connections between habitat, plant constituents, and medicinal actions have become apparent?
Cultural Awareness: How has exposure to traditional plant knowledge expanded your appreciation for diverse healing systems? What responsibilities come with carrying forward these traditions?
Personal Connection: Which plants have you developed a particular affinity for? How might these relationships guide your continuing herbal practice?
Ethical Consideration: How will principles of reciprocity and sustainability shape your approach to wildcrafting and plant medicine?
Future Integration: How will you apply this bioregional knowledge in your community? What further learning does this experience inspire?
Students are encouraged to express their reflections through whatever medium resonates most strongly—written journal entries, artistic creation, verbal sharing, or practical application projects. This personalized integration supports the transformation of course content from external information to embodied wisdom.
The closing reflection serves not as an endpoint but as a threshold to continuing relationship with the Bosque's medicinal plants. It acknowledges that learning about plant medicine is a lifelong journey of deepening ecological connection and healing partnership.
May the teachings of the Bosque inspire your ongoing path of respectful reciprocity with the natural world. The relationships you've begun to cultivate with these plant allies can continue to grow and evolve, supporting both personal healing practices and broader ecological stewardship.