Tropical Plant Medicine

Live Online Class Series

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Ethnobotany & Medicinal Uses
of Tropical Plants Around the World

The tropics are home to some of the most powerful and diverse medicinal plants in the world. From the rainforest canopy to coastal groves, these plants have been used for centuries in healing traditions to restore health and nourish the spirit. Their medicine has spread throughout the Americas, Southeast Asia, Polynesia, Africa, and the Caribbean for thousands of years. In this Tropical Plant Medicine course, we will explore the rich ethnobotany of the tropics, uncovering how cultures have relied on plants for both everyday remedies and sacred rituals.

This course introduces remarkable tropical allies such as cacao, turmeric, hibiscus, noni, guava, and neem, among many others — each with unique medicinal properties and cultural significance. We’ll discuss their roles in digestive health, immune support, cardiovascular wellness, and emotional balance, as well as their spiritual uses in ceremony and ritual. By weaving together tradition, science, and hands-on learning, you will gain a holistic understanding of these vibrant medicines.

Join us for this series of eight classes where we explore the medicine, history, ethnobotany, and pharmacology of tropical medicinal plants. Each class focuses on a handful of plants, with guidance on identification, harvesting, and medicine-making. Sage brings over 20 years of experience working with these incredible plants, offering insights from both personal practice and research. Whether you are an herbalist, a student of ethnobotany, or simply curious about the healing wisdom of the tropics, this course is a journey into the heart of plant medicine.

The course will be taught by Sage L. Maurer ~ Director of The Gaia School of Healing. Sage founded The Gaia School of Healing in New England in 2001, and has trained over 50 rounds of apprentices over the past 24 years. In Southern Vermont, she teaches in partnership with ten acres of land covered in abundant healing plants and offers courses in sacred plant medicine, ethnobotany, ancestral herbalism, deep ecology, and eco-spirituality year-round. To learn more about Sage visit our About Us page.

Note ~ All classes recorded for unlimited future viewing.

Some of the Tropical Plants We Will Explore:

Aloe ~ Albezia ~ African foxglove ~ Annato ~ Andrographis ~ Buban oregano ~ Bamboo ~ Banana ~ Beach almond ~ Bidens ~ Bitter Melon ~ Tropical Blue Vervain ~ Breadfruit ~ Butterfly pea ~ Cacao ~ Camellia (tea) ~ Cassava ~ Cat’s Claw ~ Cayenne ~ Chanca Piedra ~ Clove ~ Cinnamon ~ Citronella ~ Coffee ~ Coca ~ Coconut ~ Crown flower ~ Damiana ~ Dormilona ~ Egyptian Blue Lotus ~ Eucalytus ~ Gingers ~ Gotu kola ~ Grapefruit ~ Guava ~ Hibiscus ~ Hombre grande (Quassia) ~ Jackass Bitters ~ Jasmine ~ Kava kava ~ Lime ~ Lemongrass & Citronella ~ Lemon verbena ~ Life Plant ~ Maca ~ Mamake ~ Mango ~ Mangosteen ~ Mate ~ Miracle leaf ~ Mimosa ~ Moringa ~ Naupaka ~ Neem ~ Noni ~ Orange/Citrus ~ Papaya ~ Passionflower ~ Pau de’ Arco ~ Pepper ~ Pineapple ~ Pomegranate ~ Plumeria ~ Sarsaparilla ~ Sandalwood ~Seaweed ~ Senna ~ Shell Flower (Alpinia) ~ Sida acuta ~ Soursop/Guanabana ~ Spilanthes ~ Stevia ~ Sweet annie ~ Tamarind ~ Tilo ~ Turmeric ~ Vanilla ~ Vetiver ~ Yerba Mate ~ Ylang ylang

Accessibility Options

If the full tuition isn’t accessible right now but you feel call to join us, we also offer a payment plan of four equal payments of $100.