The ESHM Free Clinic
while supporting the training of a new generation of clinical herbalists?
Then you’re in the right place.
ECLECTIC SCHOOL OF HERBAL MEDICINE
Student-Led Free Clinic
The ESHM student-led free clinic is hosted online, providing service to all 50 US states. We are also happy to see folks living outside of the US but we are not currently able to ship herbs or supplements to other countries.
The Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine’s student-led free clinic uses a comprehensive care model of clinical practice. This allows clients to get the follow up care they need to support long-term health goals and allows student-practitioners to gain the necessary case management skills to become successful clinical practitioners.
ESHM STUDENT-LED FREE CLINIC
A Letter from Mel
Hi, my name is Mel Kasting. I am a clinical herbalist, educator and the Clinical Program Director here at the Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine. We are so glad that you stopped by!
Our clinic mission is to provide accessible and affordable herbal healthcare while supporting the training of a new generation of clinical herbalists. We believe that everyone deserves access to high-quality healthcare regardless of their financial situations. That’s why we offer free consultations and free-to-reduced-cost herbal medicines.
Herbal medicine is a dynamic and intricate system that draws on both centuries of traditional use and cutting-edge scientific research to understand the complex interactions between the human body and plants.. Any system of herbal medicine stagnates when taught from a purely theoretical stance – the application of herbal medicine to real people is the lifeblood of growth. We strive to create a low-risk environment for our students to nourish the lifeblood of herbal medicine by offering clinical opportunities. These opportunities are closely guided by experienced clinicians, Thomas Easley and myself.
Our clinic offers client-centered support in what we call the comprehensive care model. This co-creative and education-focused model allows clients to get the follow-up care they need to support long-term health goals at a pace that works for them while allowing student-practitioners to gain the necessary case management skills to become successful clinical practitioners. We look at our clients as the healers and the herbalists as facilitators of health.
When you sign up with our clinic, you are signing up for an initial intake and two follow up appointments, which can be thought of as personalized mini-educational classes about your health, along with participation in our feedback program for student practitioners. We will suggest herbal preparations, dietary and lifestyle changes, and often the addition of supplements unique to your health situation, and support you through the implementation of these interventions, but it is up to you to make the necessary changes.
Our clinic is open to everyone. Whether you are dealing with chronic health issues, acute illnesses, or just looking for a way to improve your overall health, we are here to help. If you live outside of the US, we are happy to see you, but you will be responsible for sourcing your own herbs and supplements. We are unable to ship outside of the country at this time. Thank you for visiting our website, and we hope to see you at our clinic soon!
ESHM STUDENT-LED FREE CLINIC
Comprehensive Care
Comprehensive care in our clinic means three things:
1. Wellness packages instead of single consults. When you decide to become a client, you are signing up for an initial intake, plan presentation, and two additional follow ups. We know life gets in the way of healthcare, but we ask that you sign up prepared to follow through with the whole package.This gives you and your practitioner the time to come up with AND tweak a health plan that works for you.
2. It takes a village! Your case will be reviewed with Director Thomas Easley and Clinic Manager Mel Kasting, along with the current clinical student cohort. We are committed to creating a health plan in line with your goals and to implementing this health plan at a pace, budget, and size that works for you.
3. Comprehensive healthcare is multi-faceted. In addition to our herbal, nutritional, and supplement suggestions, we use referrals to other practitioners (mental health professionals, body workers, physical therapists, doctors, etc.) when needed to support you towards your goals.
ESHM STUDENT-LED FREE CLINIC
What one client has to say about their experience with the free clinic.
ESHM STUDENT-LED FREE CLINIC
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of herbalism do you practice?
We practice herbalism in a client-centered model integrating traditional western herbalism with clinical nutrition and functional medicine. It is a systems-based model that honors traditional plant-based care, while recognizing the importance of lifestyle modifications and herbal supplements, alongside functional laboratory testing, to address the whole person rather than an isolated set of symptoms or disease. Our students are equipped to handle many ailments, both acute and chronic. Each case is reviewed in-class by Thomas Easley or Mel Kasting. The creation of your personalized health plan is also supervised.
What types of appointments do you offer?
Due to Covid-19, we are currently only offering telehealth consultations. We use HIPAA-compliant Zoom meetings or phone calls to keep your personal information safe.
How do I make an appointment?
If you are interested in setting up an appointment with one of our student practitioners, please email us at: clinic@eclecticschoolofherbalmedicine.com
After your email, you will be added to Healthie, our HIPAA-compliant online platform, to fill out your intake paperwork. At this time you will also be able to upload any blood work or relevant testing you have gotten in the past 3-6 months into your Healthie account.
We often have a short waiting list; when you complete and submit your forms through Healthie, you will officially be on the waiting list. Mel Kasting, our Clinical Program and Free Clinic Director, will assess your case and assign it to the student practitioner that will best suit your needs. This student will reach out to you through the chat function in Healthie to set up an appointment. Many days and times can be accommodated for appointments.
What should I expect during my consultation?
Your initial consultation will last between 1-2 hours. We record each case so that our staff herbalists can observe student-client interactions and so that other students can learn from them. Please email the clinic if you are uncomfortable with being recorded. Your personal information will not be shared.
The first session is about information gathering. Students may make initial recommendations, but your health plan will not be presented until the plan presentation.
Your plan presentation will be scheduled at the end of your initial consultation 1-2 weeks ahead. During this appointment, your herbalist will present your health plan.
In addition to your initial consultation and plan presentation, you will receive two follow ups with your practitioner to check in and tweak your health plan.
Why are your intake forms so long?
We are glad that you asked that question! The human body is complex and all of our systems work together to keep us healthy. Information that may seem inconsequential could be the key we need for getting to the root of your health issues. In addition, we ask folks to fill out a lot of information beforehand so that we can spend more of our time listening! It also allows us to show up at the consultation prepared with ideas and questions. You never have to fill out any section that makes you uncomfortable!
What types of suggestions will I likely find on my health plan?
Plans are unique to client needs, but you might receive suggestions such as:
- Making changes to your diet
- Beginning a movement routine or changing the type of movement that you do
- Incorporating stress reduction techniques
- Changing your sleeping habits
- Making tea or taking herbal supplements 1-4 times a day
What if I don’t like my practitioner or the direction they want to go with my health plan?
Although when signing up for our clinic, you are commiting to our comprehensive care model, that does not mean that you have to continue seeing a practitioner if you aren’t comfortable. If you don’t like your health plan, we suggest that you chat with your practitioner about your concerns. If you are still feeling uncomfortable, email Mel at clinic@ecleticschoolofherbalmedicine.com to set up a meeting.
Are there any costs involved?
The Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine free clinic believes that healthcare is a human right. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
The initial intake and subsequent follow-ups are free of charge. Your first round of herbal formulas are also included; all you are required to pay is shipping. While we provide the initial herbs for you, any supplements suggested (or blood work requested) will be your fiscal responsibility. We have a small budget for these things; if you truly cannot afford them, please email us. Note that we are not currently able to offer this service to most clients. Herbal formula refills average around $5 an ounce for tinctures and around $3 an ounce for teas. Your practitioner will let you know the cost for specially prepared formulas. You are also responsible for shipping costs.
Our current prices cover our cost for materials, production, and paying our apothecary workers a living wage to create, package, and ship your herbal formulas. If you identify as low income and cannot afford to pay full price for your herbal formulas based on the document included in your intake paperwork, follow the link below to apply for a discounted rate. This will not be available to all clients at all times.
Meet Our Free Clinic Team
Thomas Easley, RH
ESHM FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
Thomas Easley, RH (AHG), is a Clinical Herbalist and the founder of the Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine. With a passion for herbal medicine ignited in 1996, Thomas has dedicated his life to helping others through a unique approach that integrates Traditional Western Herbalism, Clinical Nutrition, and modern medical sciences.
Since opening his practice in 2001, Thomas has provided guidance and support to tens of thousands of clients. In 2010, he founded the Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine, which offers comprehensive clinical training. As a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild, Thomas continues to refine his clinical expertise by reviewing cases for his school’s free clinic and maintaining an active private practice.
Thomas is the co-author of The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine Making Guide and Modern Herbal Medicine. He firmly believes in the power of herbal medicine to transform lives and promote vibrant health. His approach emphasizes the importance of food as medicine and incorporates tailored diets, stress reduction techniques, nutritional supplements, and exercise to help clients achieve their health goals.
As a champion for evidence-based practices, Thomas strives to ensure that his teachings and methods are rooted in tradition, clinical practice, and sound scientific principles. He draws inspiration from the Eclectic and Physiomedical physicians of the 19th century, combining their wisdom with modern medical sciences to create a comprehensive and systematic approach to health and healing.
Mel Kasting, RH
CLINICAL DIRECTOR AND FREE CLINIC MANAGER
Mel’s passion lies in both serving clients and empowering students to develop the essential relational health and clinical skills required to excel as herbal practitioners. Through her clinic work, art and class facilitation, she explores the intersections of herbalism, botany, society, and somatic experiencing to support plant-centered botanical medicine and celebrate the teeming diversity life has to offer.
In her private practice, she blends traditional western herbalism and clinical nutrition with somatic herbal practices. She recognizes the significance of addressing personal and societal traumas as an integral part of the healing journey. This profound understanding shapes her approach, as she guides individuals toward greater well-being and helps them navigate the complexities of their own healing processes.
Wendy
STUDENT PRACTITIONER
Wendy is passionate about assisting people on their journeys of self-exploration and healing. With a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, she spent ten years working with children and their families to overcome histories of intergenerational trauma. She was frustrated, though, by her inability to access the trauma healed in the body, which led her to pursue bodywork as a profession, and she now practices as a massage therapist, Reiki master, and MABT practitioner (Mindful Awareness in Bodywork Therapies). Eventually this lifelong nature lover and perpetual student felt the call of the the plants as her next healing allies. Wendy fully immersed herself in the study of clinical herbalism, first at the Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine and currently at the Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine.
Wendy is happiest when she’s in the woods running, biking, hiking or just being with the plants. For quieter days at home, she loves reading a good book, cooking, or doing yoga, but mostly she spends her free time cheering on her kids at their sporting events.
Jessica
STUDENT PRACTITIONER
Jessica’s practice is a fusion of the physical and spiritual aspects of healing. Educated in the tradition of Western Herbalism with a focus on women’s wellness, and a tarot reader for 24 years, her mission is to help you receive the guidance you need, connect you with plants, and empower you to take control of your wellbeing on every level. Jessica’s approach is holistic and centered on meeting you where you are at with compassion, while honoring your agency and experience.
As an herbalist, Jessica assesses your concerns through an energetic lens and with plant-based care, nutrition, and lifestyle suggestions, to help you establish greater wellbeing.
Tiffany
STUDENT PRACTITIONER
Tiffany grew up in a household that utilized home remedies as their preferred form of healthcare. The problem, though, was that the vast majorities of these remedies didn’t work, and frustratingly, there seemed to be no good way to figure out which remedies would work – or how, or why. With an interest in plants, foraging and wildcrafting, and survivalism from an early age, she set out to learn about herbs and their therapeutic potential. This led her first to traditional Western herbalism and then to functional herbalism. She believes that holistic health isn’t limited to natural remedies only, but includes solutions from a variety of modalities, including traditional herbalism, modern nutritional science, functional medicine principles, current scientific knowledge, and more. She believes in working together with clients to co-create wellness plans that work for the client as an individual.
Lindsay
STUDENT PRACTITIONER
Lior
STUDENT PRACTITIONER
ESHM STUDENT-LED FREE CLINIC
Clinic Mission Statement
Our student-led free clinic bridges the gaps between clinical herbal education and accessibility to affordable herbal healthcare. Student practitioners gain hands-on clinical experience and work in a supportive, guided environment to provide the best client-centered herbal care to clinic participants.