Join AWB for Two New Greek Herbal Medicine Courses!
One Online and One in Greece (In-Person)!
Greek Herbs 2026
For questions/more information, contact Carla Cassler at carla@acuwithoutborders.org
Greek Holistic Herbal Wisdom 1: Essential Oils for Anxiety, Stress & Trauma
Join AWB for this exciting 6-session online series!
Saturdays: March 7, 14, 21, 28, April 4, 18, 2026
Essential oils made from herbs native to Greece carry a special kind of strength—born from centuries of traditional use and the hardy Mediterranean climate. They offer a safe, powerful way to help reduce pain, stress, and trauma patterns. Derived from plants, flowers, and fruits, essential oils contain bioactive compounds that can be inhaled or applied topically. They influence the nervous and endocrine systems and can safely:
- Support nervous system regulation
- Help relieve pain
- Reduce physiological signs of stress
- Encourage parasympathetic activity
- Improve mood stability
- Enhance overall well-being
In this course, you will learn how to use 24 essential oils safely and effectively, including proper dilution, application techniques, and key precautions. You will also discover how to integrate essential oils with therapies such as therapeutic massage and acupuncture to enhance healing and support overall well-being.
Dates:
Saturday - March 7, 14, 21, 28, April 4, 18, 2026
Time:
Classes are 2 hours each, with additional recommended reading
- 9:00 am Pacific Time
- 10:00 am Central Time
- 1:00 pm Eastern Time
- 18:00 Central European Time
- 19:00 Eastern European Time (Greece)
Cost (Payment due by March 1st):
- €380/$443
- €360 Euros/$420 for current AWB Members
Credits:
- 12 PDA/CEU Points (NCBAHM, CA, FL, *TX)
- 12 NCBAHM PDAs including 8 AOM-CH, 2 Safety, 2 Ethics (pending approval) NCBAHM Provider # 525
- 12 Category 1 Hours (approved by CAB) California Acupuncture Board, Provider #0619
- 12 General CEUs (pending approval) FL Provider #50-12012
*TX accepts up to 16 NCCAOM approved credits per year to satisfy continuing education requirements.
Instructors:
The educational team at PlantEd
- Maria Skarli, Master Greek Herbalist
- Amber Buckley, Permaculture Expert
- Elektra Triantafyllidi, Acupuncturist / Reflexologist
Course Session Overview
Session 1: Lavender & Tea Tree — March 7
In this introductory session, we’ll cover the basics of aromatherapy and how essential oils can support stress relief, trauma recovery, pain reduction, and overall healing. We will focus on lavender for its calming, restorative effects on both emotional and physical tension, and tea tree for its strengthening, clarifying qualities that enhance resilience and support the body’s natural defenses.
Session 2: Geranium, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Basil, Clary Sage — March 14
This class centers on key application points for essential oils to encourage quick and effective absorption. We will explore geranium for emotional balance, eucalyptus for opening the breath, and peppermint for its energizing, awakening qualities. We’ll also look at basil, which helps release patterns of dependency and strengthens personal resilience, and clary sage, known for inspiring clarity, creativity, and renewed purpose.
Session 3: Juniper, Cedarwood, Cypress, Pine, Lemon Balm — March 21
This session focuses on how essential oils can support us during periods of grief. Juniper, cedarwood, cypress, pine, and lemon balm (melissa) act as grounding, soothing companions that ease emotional pain and offer steady support. We will examine each oil to understand its therapeutic uses and benefits.
Session 4: Lemon, Orange, Grapefruit, Bergamot, Petitgrain — March 28
Citrus essential oils are known for their accessibility, versatility, and uplifting nature. This session explores how lemon, orange, grapefruit, bergamot, and petitgrain help restore emotional, mental, and physical balance, transforming stress and anxiety into a sense of inner brightness and abundance.
Session 5: Bay Laurel, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Marjoram — April 4
When physical trauma intersects with emotional pain, it can diminish our sense of hope. In this class, we’ll explore how bay laurel, rosemary, sage, thyme, and marjoram can cleanse, protect, strengthen, and support the body and mind, opening the path toward renewal and freedom.
Session 6: Myrrh, Frankincense, Rose, Palmarosa — April 18
Stress, trauma, and anxiety can disrupt healthy breathing patterns and reduce mental clarity. In this final session, we’ll work with myrrh, frankincense, rose, and palmarosa, which help restore balanced breathing, reconnect the heart, and offer warmth, calmness, adaptability, and a sense of emotional and spiritual release.
REGISTER FOR ONLINE SERIES ONLY
(Continue reading if you plan to attend the online series and seminar in Greece)
Greek Holistic Herbal Wisdom 2: A Five-Day Seminar in Greece
Join Acupuncturists Without Borders for a Five-Day Hands-On Herbal Seminar in Evia, Greece
September 14-18, 2026 (Travel days: September 13 & 19)
In 2025, AWB and EU acupuncturists embarked on an AWB World Healing Exchange journey in Greece—a trip that blended education, service, and exploration of Ancient Greek therapies and indigenous herbal medicine practices (see photos below). Our collaboration with herbalist Maria Skarli and her team at PlantEd was so deeply inspiring and magical that we are returning for more advanced herbal study in 2026. We hope you’ll join us!
As a continuation of our online series on essential oils for trauma, anxiety, and stress, we invite you to a five-day immersive seminar at their farm, Falagaki, overlooking the Aegean Sea in Evia, Greece. This hands-on experience will guide you through every step of working with Greek medicinal herbs—from identifying seasonal plants in the wild to harvesting, distilling, and extracting their therapeutic properties.
Throughout the week, you’ll craft your own healing products, including herbal oils, beeswax creams, and soaps, using the plants you gather. You’ll also learn how to use aromatherapy, compresses, inhalations, sprays, and restorative foot baths.
Between sessions, enjoy delicious homemade meals prepared with fresh produce from the farm and surrounding areas. In the afternoons, you may relax and take a refreshing swim in the Aegean at the stunning Limnionas beach, immersing yourself fully in the beauty and restorative energy of the Greek countryside. Join us for an unforgettable journey into the heart of Greek herbal tradition—nourishing your skills, your senses, and your spirit.
Credits: 28 NCBAHM PDA’s including 2 Safety PDA’s (pending), 28 Category 1 CEUs (approved CAB)
- Maria Skarli, Master Greek Herbalist
- Amber Buckley, Permaculture Expert
- Elektra Triantafyllidi, Acupuncturist / Reflexologist
- Carla Cassler, DAOM, LAc (AWB Director of Programs)
Pricing:
- Five Day Seminar at Falagaki Farm only: €1270/$1490
- Combination online 6 session herbal medicine series plus 5-day seminar: €1600 /$1868
Cost includes:
- Lodging for 6 nights in Limnionas Beach
- Breakfast 6 days, lunch 5 days
- Transportation to and from Athens Airport to Limnionas Beach/Falagaki Farm
- 28 Acupuncture PDAs/CEUs (NCBAHM, CAB)
Not Included in Five Day Seminar Cost:
- Airfare to and from Greece
- Dinners, as well as lunches/snacks on travel days to and from the seminar
- Lodging before September 13, 2026 and after September 18, 2026
- Transportation except to and from Athens Airport - Limnionas Beach - Falagaki Farm
RSVP to Reserve a Seminar Spot:
There are a limited number of spots available for seminar participants. If you would like to attend the seminar, please RSVP as soon as possible by completing this form.
Payment links will be sent once you return the form.
Payment Schedule
5 day seminar only:
- First payment due no later than April 1, 2026: €642 ($745)
- Second payment due no later than July 1, 2026: €642 ($745)
5 day seminar + online course series:
- First payment due no later March 1, 2026: : €800 ($934)
- Second payment due no later than July 1, 2026: : €800 ($934)
Cancellation Policy for Online Series Only:
Full refund minus $25 admin fee if you cancel on or before March 1, 2026
Cancellation Policy for Seminar Participants:
If you cancel after your first payment, between April 1, 2026 and June 30, 2026, you will receive a full refund minus $225/: €193 (admin fee). If you cancel after your second payment (July 2, 2026 or after), there is no refund UNLESS we can find another participant on the waiting list who would like to take the spot. If we can find another participant, you will receive a full refund minus $450/ €386 (admin fee).
If you register for the online series + seminar, and cancel, you will be refunded separately for the online series and the seminar, according to the policies listed above
SEMINAR SCHEDULE
Dates: September 14-18, 2026
Travel Days to and from Athens: September 13 & 19, 2026
Sunday, September 13
12:00 noon – Depart Athens for Limnionas Beach, Evia, where participants will be staying for the retreat
Monday, September 14
09:30 – Guided walk to Falagaki: identification, collection, and discussion of early autumn herbs
10:30 – Arrival at Falagaki: coffee/tea and introduction to the land and house
11:30 – The Ancient Calendar of the Herbs: understanding the seasonal “circle of life”
13:00 – Lunch
14:30 – Introduction to herbal preparations: oils, tinctures, teas, elixirs, and oxymels
Tuesday, September 15
09:30 – Laurel essential oil distillation: gathering and preparing plant material; beginning the distillation process
13:00 – Lunch
14:30 – Practical session: compresses, inhalations, and foot baths
Wednesday, September 16
09:30 – Permaculture discussion and hands-on practice: gardening as a natural antidepressant; engaging the five senses to connect with plants
13:00 – Lunch
14:30 – Creating healing beeswax creams and remedies for trauma, anxiety, and stress
Thursday, September 17
09:30 – Making therapeutic soaps for physical and mental relief
13:00 – Lunch
14:30 – Practical session: application of essential oils in reflexology
Friday, September 18
09:30 – Lavender distillation at Falagaki: exploring the versatility of lavender essential oil
13:00 – Lunch
14:30 – Discussion on the use of essential oils for trauma, stress, and anxiety; practice, reflection, and shared experiences
Saturday, September 19
Return to Athens Airport via Chalkida while we will stop for late lunch and a look at the PlantEd shop.
For questions/more information, contact Carla Cassler at carla@acuwithoutborders.org
