Student Testimonials

I am a Nutritional Therapist by profession and completed many of Christa’s Botanical classes over the course of a couple years in ending in 2002. I consider her to be among the finest teachers I have experienced if not the best! Her approach to delivering the information is very comprehensive and balanced. She is quite comfortable with both the extremely detailed intellectual information as well as being very adept at the hands-on experimental part. I appreciated getting to know the herbs up close in the field as well as being able to formulate the appropriate herbal combinations for a specific person based on constitution and condition. She individualizes her assessment, which is usually lacking in the other seminars I have attended. I have used the information gathered in her classes daily in my practice, assisting people to regain their health by using natural therapies.

Linda Redfield
Nutritional Counselor

After completing the Professional Herbalist Training at the Northwest School for Botanical Studies, I was fortunate to get a job working at a local retail herb store. Christa's reputation in the community as an excellent teacher and herbalist no-doubt helped. Everyday I am surprised at how well-equipped I am to answer customer's questions with confidence and knowledge about the plants and how they work, how much to take, how to prepare them, and when they are contra-indicated. The breadth and depth of information that Christa shares with her students is indeed astounding. While I am continuing to learn and explore the infinite and complex world of herbal medicine, I am grateful to have gotten such a comprehensive foundation from which to launch my career as an herbalist.

Shannon Ryan
Staff Herbalist at Humboldt Herbals

I have studied the magnificent world of herbs with Christa since February of 2003. I have been a student in her PHT Program, the Clinical Case Studies Class, and the Herbal Materia Medica II and III.

Christa is very knowledgeable about Herbal Materia Medica and its practical application in every day life. Her ability to impart the vital knowledge of multiple herbs to her students is amazing! She teaches a very comprehensive course to include the therapeutic value in both Western and Eastern approaches, incorporating a constitutional foundation to expand that base for tools to understand the patterns of excess and deficiency that will be presented for an herbalist.

I have benefited from her knowledge in many aspects of my life. I learned to look at disease in an entirely different view than I had as I had been trained as a Registered Nurse. The questions that had always plagued me were answered and have given to me a greater understanding of the cascade effect of lifestyle choices, diet, emotions, and genetics that occurs. Personally, the knowledge that I gained has prompted a greater drive for health and wholeness.

Christa is professional, efficient, kind, and a wonderful teacher to impart her love of herbs and their application to those who choose this path.

Deborah A. Roberts
Registered Nurse and Nurse Manager

The PHT Program and Materia Medica III courses at the Northwest School for Botanical Studies have changed my life in profound ways. I loved every minute of the classes. Christa is a knowledgeable and inspiring teacher, making every day of class a joy. I completed these classes with a solid understanding of over 200 herbs and I also gained more comprehensive understanding of the energetic uses of the plants, medicine making, illnesses and disease, anatomy and physiology, plant identification, constitutional medicine, plus aromatherapy as well!

I am blessed to be able to use this knowledge on a daily basis. I am currently working at another herb school out of state and am so grateful for the depth and breadth of my learning with Christa.

I cannot recommend the Northwest School for Botanical Studies highly enough. Christa is an amazing woman, herbalist, and teacher. I am thrilled that I have had the opportunity to work with her.

Nora Sande
Herbalist

I completed the Professional Herbalist Training Program (PHT) in the spring of 2004 as part of my Interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science degree, made up of Botany, Chemistry, and Health Science, at Humboldt State University (HSU). I consider the PHT program a cornerstone to my major, as it strengthened my understanding of health, the body, and how plants can support overall well-being. I relied upon the information I gained during the program for my senior project, which consisted of a medicinal and edible plant collection and accompanying write-ups of the Salmon River Drainage Basin in California. I have since used the knowledge of wild-crafting, organic cultivation, and preparing herbal preparations to support both my health and the health of others with medicinal plants. I plan to continue my education regarding the way herbs can support health, while pursuing my own creation of an herbal-based business.

Christa is a dynamic teacher who can speak proficiently on over 200 medicinal plants. Each lesson is backed by years of experience as an herbal practitioner. I chose Christa’s class because I had been told that she taught from a scientific basis. The introduction to human physiology, as well as the use of Latin botanical names and the ecological understanding that Christa brought to her classes integrated well with my other studies at HSU. I have spoken to other science majors and future nurses at HSU who share my enthusiasm for Christa and the information they learned from her. Whether you want to learn about medicinal plants for professional reasons, for your own health, or for both, I highly recommend taking class from Christa Sinadinos at the Northwest School for Botanical Studies.

Sara Lyon
Botanist and Graduate of Humboldt State University

I attended the professional herbalist training course at The Northwest School for Botanical studies in 1999-2000. Honestly, it changed my life. I found my calling, my passion for herbal medicine through Christa Sinadinos’ teachings. I continued my studies at the NWSBS in 2003 repeating the Clinical Case Studies class. Coming from a family where my father was a Professor of genetics, embryology, anatomy, and physiology at Case Western Reserve University; I have to truly understand the scientific and physiologic aspect of herbal medicine in order to hold my own in our conversations. The NWSBS has prepared me to not only do this, but to also work with doctors at their clinics. I have also found the information I obtained while at The NWSBS has been priceless when working with my own private clients. I would highly recommend the NWSBS to any student or health care professional serious about working in the field of herbalism.

Mary Susan Caston
Clinical Herbalist

My fantastic incredible, expansive, spicy, juicy journey at the Northwest School for Botanical Studies started with a medicine making class, and didn't stop until I had attended all that Christa offered over the course of three years. (Now that I see she is offering new classes, I know that my journey hasn't ended yet!) It took one hour for me to realize that Christa was someone I could learn so much from, in many aspects of healing. I chose to attend the NWSBS because I was craving a scientific based yet well-rounded study of plants and the human body, including energetic medicine.

I found the classes to be very well prepared and organized. Even the daily tea that was provided was made up of herbs relevant to the day's topic. Christa is a fabulous presenter, mixing solid integrity with light-hearted humor, while treating the class and the plants with the highest respect.

After completing both the PHT Program and the Clinical Case Studies program, I was able to get a wonderfully fulfilling job as an herbalist at Moonrise Herbs in Arcata, CA, where I am able to use my knowledge of plant medicine and work with the community. It was there that I fully realized the extent of the valuable teachings of compassion and communication that Christa wove into our classes.

Sabel Rose Regalia
Staff Herbalist at Moonrise Herbs

I graduated from The Northwest School for Botanical Studies in 2001. I took all of Christa's classes and not only loved them, but I learned a great deal about the medicinal properties of the plants. Christa’s teachings are based in both science and physiology. She explains the properties of the plants and their actions on the body, which is why I resonated so well with her instructional approach.

I am now working at a local herb store in Eureka, CA as a staff herbalist and I love my position. I am also able to volunteer my time as an herbalist to a local support network for female survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. I assist the survivors in addressing their conditions some of which include PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

Kate Maxey
Staff Herbalist at Humboldt Herbals

I was drawn to herbs because they helped me to feel empowered about my own health, but what began as curiosity quickly became an integral part of my life. When I first started taking classes from Christa, my interest in herbs grew exponentially... it was Christa's passion for herbs that helped me to cultivate my own passion for herbal medicine.

Christa is an amazing teacher. She has a vast amount of knowledge which she has acquired over her years of studying, seeing clients, and teaching.

I had the privilege of doing work study with Christa while attending The Northwest School for Botanical Studies and I found that it was a valuable experience. I had taken Christa's Herbal Materia Medica classes and I was ready to take the next step. I met many wonderful people who were fellow students in the Professional Herbalist Training Program. It was great to meet people who had the same passion for herbs!

The Clinical Case Studies Class tied everything together for me. It showed me how to use the knowledge I had gained about herbs.

What I learned at the Northwest School for Botanical Studies spilled over into the rest of my life. I have knowledge that I use regularly and that I will use for the rest of my life.

The information I was given in those classes has come in handy in my career. I worked for a while in the supplements department of a local store and customers were impressed with my herbal repertoire. After that, my herbal training helped me get the job of office manager for a local acupuncturist. I have given herbal consultations for the past four years and have found it to be very rewarding.

My only warning to students would be that if you like to garden, you will need a larger garden space! Every year my garden has to grown to accommodate all of the plants that I have come to love so much.

Naomi Withers
Clinical Herbalist

Christa Sinadinos' Professional Herbalist Training Course was beyond anything I had expected. It took me to a depth that no class or course ever has. Not only was I fed mentally, but I also found emotional and spiritual nourishment. I learned not only about the vastness of the relationships between plants and the human body, I also was shown the power of plants and spirit. My attendance of the PHT and the Clinical Case Studies Program brought a source of self empowerment and understanding into my life upon which no price tag could be placed. I found the ability to look beyond the surface of just treating an illness. I discovered that strengthening the source brings about results that heal the whole being rather than just treating a person’s symptoms.

I hold these lessons (and extremely large note books) close to my heart and I am able share them with my friends, family and others that show interest. I more than highly recommend Christa Sinadinos and her classes at the Northwest School of Botanical Studies, to anyone contemplating such a path. So many doors will open for you and within in you.

Michaela Hasler
Proprietor of Rocket Girl natural cleaning service

I was a student in the PHT Program at NWSBS in the spring of 2005. I feel that the program was perfect for my interests and needs. The anatomy and physiology component was very helpful and interesting. I haven' t found many other programs that thoroughly cover all the systems in the body in reference to various conditions and what is actually happening inside the body during times of illness. I was fascinated by the digestive system; I had no idea it was so complex.

The program offered the right combination of plant energetics, solid scientific information, and hands-on experience. We covered many Eastern and Western herbs, native plants, aromatherapy, many tea recipes, botany basics, hands-on medicine making, and we began learning about formula making and combining herbs.

I have so many thorough notes that I can easily look back on to remember all of the wonderful things about the 150+ herbs that we covered in class. Christa spent a lot of time outside of class preparing handouts and notes for the class which was a nice relief from all of the note taking.

Christa has an amazing intuition for healing and she is a fabulous herbalist. Her knowledge of the herbs is extensive and she is a natural teacher. She shared stories, recipes, pictures, and teas with the students. I feel like I was able to communicate with her on a personal, friendly level as well as on a professional level.

It has been about a two years since I completed the HT program at the NWSBS and I just started my own herb business. The instruction I received from Christa has prepared me to continue my studies in herbalism and to practice as an herbalist. I feel like I am able to ethically wild-craft and prepare my own medicine for sale as a healer.

Bethany Holthaus
Proprietor of Moon Blossom Herbs

I took the PHT program in the spring of 2004. I am a medicinal herb farmer, a medicine maker of teas and herbal honeys, and owner of the business Tap Roots.

I use the knowledge that I acquired from class everyday and especially in my work with Tap Roots. After this program I had a deeper understanding of herbal medicine and I was stimulated to keep learning and asking bigger and greater questions. My confidence in my work also increased from this program. I had been studying herbs for several years prior to this course and the PHT program really deepened my knowledge of herbs and the human body.

Christa is a very enthusiastic teacher. She enjoys her work with people and teaching them about plant medicines. She has a very good understanding of the science behind herbal medicines and workings of the human body. She also has a deep understanding of the energetics of medicinal herbs. I really enjoyed Christa’s encouragement to get to know the herbs on a spiritual level as well. Christa is an excellent teacher who loves to teach and who is fun to learn from. I recommend her classes to people very frequently.

Stacey Kett
Herbalist and proprietor of Tap Roots

I would like to recommend Christa Sinadinos as an herbal educator and a clinical herbal practitioner. I have personally known Christa for over a decade and have worked with her both of those capacities. Christa is inspired, dedicated, and of course, highly qualified.

Since 1997 I have owned and operated Humboldt Herbals, a retail and mail order catalog specializing in organic bulk herbs and herbal products. I frequently interact with Christa’s students and I often refer my customers to her for herbal consultations. Christa’s students are enthusiastic about their class time with her, and the instruction they receive is detailed, but also practical. In fact, I prefer to hire employees who have studied with Christa, because I find her students to be well informed and confident in their own herbal practice. Christa also teaches herbal education classes in our community at local universities, herb shops, herbal symposiums, and other forums, providing a valuable resource for health and wellness information in Humboldt County. I appreciate Christa’s emphasis on bio-regional herbalism and her decision to use medicinal plants from our local area when crafting her formulas.

Christa has a deep knowledge of medicinal herbalism, drawing from many cultures and traditions. She has an outstanding reputation in the herbal community as an effective practitioner, and she earns the confidence of all her clients. Of my many customers who have had consultations with Christa, all have expressed satisfaction and seen improved health. For all these reasons, I recommend Christa without reservation. As an outstanding teacher, medicine maker and practitioner she is an asset to any herbal function.

Julie Caldwell, B.S. M.A.
Owner of Humboldt Herbals