Evidence-based herbalism · Practitioner curriculum

Build your
practice.

A structured framework for integrating the Fungai Art materia medica into clinical practice. From learning the protocols to training other practitioners — a 2-year roadmap grounded in evidence-based herbalism.

Evidence grades: Grade A — Cochrane / multiple RCTs / meta-analyses Grade B — Consistent RCTs or strong mechanism + human trials Grade C — Animal / in vitro / traditional / small pilots Grade D — Theoretical / anecdotal / not studied
Primary research databases
PubMed
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Free access to 35M+ medical citations. Search: herb name + condition + "RCT" or "systematic review". Primary source for Grade A evidence.
Grade A source
Cochrane Library
cochrane.org
Gold standard for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Each Cochrane review synthesises all available RCTs for a given intervention.
Grade A source
Google Scholar
scholar.google.com
Broader coverage than PubMed; excellent for citation tracking, conference papers, and links to free full texts where publishers or authors provide them.
Grade A–B source
EMA herbal monographs
ema.europa.eu · Herbal medicines
The EU's official assessments of herbal substances (HMPC): well-established and traditional uses, doses, contraindications, pregnancy and children. The first place to check a safety call.
Regulatory assessment
Phytotherapy Research
Journal · Wiley
Leading peer-reviewed journal for clinical phytotherapy. Grade B–A level evidence. Priority reading for practitioner-grade clinical decision-making.
Grade B source
eCAM
Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine
Open-access journal covering botanical, traditional, and integrative medicine research. Good for TCM and Ayurvedic clinical trials.
Grade B–C source
Months 1–3 · Foundation

Learn the intelligence.

Study the 277-herb materia medica. Learn active compounds, mechanisms, and evidence grades for each botanical in your core protocols.
Master the 5 extraction methods. Understand which solvent extracts which compound class — and why Dual extraction is non-negotiable for fungi.
Apply in practice with real clients. Track outcomes. Document formula, dose, duration, and subjective response for each case.
Refine protocols from client feedback. What works in the literature doesn't always match what works in your population — adjust accordingly.
Build 5–7 successful case studies with documented outcomes. These become your proof-of-concept and teaching material.
Begin content creation — document protocols in short-form video, blog, or social media. Teaching accelerates mastery.
Months 3–5 · Community

Share and refine.

Share your protocols openly with the herbalism community. Transparency builds authority faster than secrecy. Document what you do.
Build your email list. A newsletter is your most durable asset — algorithms change, email lists don't. Start with weekly or bi-weekly.
Gather feedback from other practitioners. Peer review strengthens protocols and identifies blind spots you cannot see alone.
Build or join a herbal community — practitioners, wildcrafters, farmers. Relational knowledge is not in the literature.
Document synergies you discover in practice. Cross-reference with the Herbal Engine. Submit notable findings to eCAM if compelling.
Begin to establish your niche. Cognitive herbs? Fungal intelligence? Women's health? Depth in one area builds faster than breadth in many.
Months 6–12 · Authority

Launch and teach.

Launch your online course or certification using the Fungai Art protocols as curriculum. The case studies from months 1–3 are your teaching material.
Publish your case studies. eCAM accepts case reports. This positions you as a credible clinical researcher, not just a practitioner.
Expand the product line if applicable — formulas validated through 6+ months of client use are ready for small-batch production.
Build authority in your niche. This means consistent, high-quality output — not volume. One rigorous protocol beats twenty superficial ones.
Monetise the community. Subscription protocols, formula consultations, group programs. Value exchange is part of sustainable practice.
Seek mentorship or advanced training. The strongest practitioners have both traditional lineage and modern pharmacological literacy.
Year 2+ · Legacy

Train, research, lead.

Train other practitioners in your protocols. Teaching multiplies your impact and sharpens your own understanding simultaneously.
Conduct original protocol research. Track outcomes systematically across your client base. Even N=30 case series contributes to the literature.
Become a recognised expert in your niche. Present at conferences, contribute to journals, collaborate with academic researchers.
Build institutional knowledge. Document everything — the successes, the failures, the unexpected synergies. Leave a body of work.
Connect traditional lineage knowledge with modern phytotherapy research. The gap between these two worlds is where the most important work happens.
Consider an original research collaboration with a university phytotherapy department. Evidence for Grade-C herbs can be upgraded through well-designed pilots.
Case study template
Documenting outcomes.
Client profileAge, sex, chief complaint, relevant history. Anonymised. Duration of symptoms.
FormulaHerbs, extraction method, ratio, alcohol %, dose, and frequency. E.g.: Reishi (D, 1:3), Ashwagandha (T, 55%, 1:3), Bacopa (T, 50%, 1:3) — 1.2 ml each in 200 ml water, 2× daily.
Evidence basisGrade each herb in the formula (A/B/C/D). Cite specific RCTs or mechanisms. This is your informed consent documentation.
Week 2 check-inSubjective response, any adverse effects, compliance. Adjust dose if needed. Most adaptogenic herbs require 4–12 weeks for full effect.
Week 6 outcomeStandardised outcome measure if possible (PHQ-9 for mood, VAS for pain, etc.). Document any changes to formula.
Week 12 outcomeFull protocol completion assessment. What worked, what didn't, what would you change. This is your learning and publication content.
Unexpected findingsDocument any non-anticipated effects — positive or negative. These are often the most valuable clinical data.
Grade upgrade?If you observe consistent outcomes across 5+ similar cases, you have the basis for a case series submission to eCAM or Phytotherapy Research.
💧 Water extraction targets

These plants have primary constituents (polysaccharides, minerals, mucilage) that extract best in hot water or long decoction. Fungi always require water as the primary solvent — alcohol alone misses the beta-glucan immune intelligence.

Astragalus Barley Birch Polypore Bladderwrack Burdock Root Chaga Cordyceps Dandelion Root Enoki Fu Ling Goji Berry Iceland Moss Lion's Mane Maitake Mullein Nettle (mineral) Oatstraw Oyster Mushroom Red Dates Reishi Shiitake Slippery Elm (cold) Tremella Turkey Tail Zhu Ling
Fungai Art · Health Intelligence
Mixology ⚗ Extraction Foraging Map Academy Home