Alternatives For Health - Herbal Apothecary

Alternatives For Health - Herbal Apothecary We are an Herbal Apothecary carrying Organic Bulk Herbs, Teas, Bath Products, Homeopathy, Essential Oils and supplements.
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We offer in person certification courses in Herbalism and Aromatherapy as well as other courses and trainings. At Alternatives for Health, our goal is to help you attain and maintain your health and wellness goals. Our focus is on helping people take charge of and keep their bodies healthy through bodywork, herbal products, proper nutrition and detoxification. At the shop, we carry Bulk Herbs, Tea

s and Bath Products, Homeopathic Remedies, Flower Essences, Essential Oils, Herbal Extractions and Formulas. Our treatments included Massage, Reiki. Ionizing Foot Treatments, IET and Teasel Treatments for Lyme Disease. We also carry gift items, candles, incense, smudge products and supplies. We hold classes on a variety of subjects, such as Meditation, Chakra Balancing, and Herbal Apprenticeship. For a full list of classes and workshops, please visit our website.

09/04/2026

We will be CLOSED this Sunday September 6 for the Labor Day Weekend. Open Saturday 10 -4. Enjoy the end of the summer with your families!

08/21/2026

We have pushed the date for our Hebal Apprenticeship to begin October 24. Call to register. $300 down on registration. The rest due onm the second class. $900 total.

07/31/2026

Class Registration Is happening now!
Herbal Apprenticeship 2026-27 with Salli Greene. $900 which includes all materials. $300 with registration. This is an 11 month class, one Saturday a month from 10 – 3. This class does have a lot of homework. You will be making a Materia Medica, which is you own herbal encyclopedia of about 100 herbs. You will learn
which herbs work with each body system, you will make things in class and at home. I have been told it is “Life Changing” and I must say it was for me. Dates are Sept, 14, Oct 24, Nov, 21, Dec 19, Jan 22, Feb 20, March 20, April 17, May 15,June 12 and July 17. On graduation you will receive certificates from Rosemary
Gladstar and myself.

Goat Milk Soap Making with Linda Patterson. Oct 3 1 – 3:30 $65 plus $10 material fee. Homemade Soap hasn’t been stripped of its emollient ingredients like commercial soaps, making it best for the skin. It also makes the best gift! Everyone loves receiving homemade soap! A Luxury most won’t splurge on. it’s practical,
functional, and guaranteed not to end up in the closet! Linda will teach you all the hacks and short cuts to making your own soap. She will cover how to work with lye safely, and share her decades of experience on the dos and don’ts of soap making, sparing you the mistakes she’s learned along the way. During these workshops Linda will cover different types of molds and their limitations, how to get the best results from your colorants, the negative chemical
reactions caused by fragrances, the curing process, troubleshooting, and more! You will be making soap to bring home.

Palmistry with Linda Patterson. October 25, Nov 1, 8 and 22. ! – 3:30 $325 plus $30 supply fee. Once used as a diagnostic tool for physicians, the palms and hands give us insight into physical health and emotional well-being. Learning to decipher the information provided by the hands and the meanings behind the individual characteristics, allows us to identify the strengths, weaknesses, and blockages in our selves and others. This insight can provide
guidance when navigating challenges, and expose obstacles that might be otherwise overlooked. Since palms can change every six months, they can be used to track growth and changes. By comparing past and present palms we can determine in what direction we’re moving, and identify longstanding issue.
In this course you will learn how to print palms, and begin your portfolio! We will read some of the palms created from homework, which will provide insight into family and friends! Since palms can change, it’s important to print those close to us. There is no greater gift than having the palm prints of those who have passed
on, or the prints of our children, who change so quickly.
Information is provided both linearly and intuitively. Students will practice their reading skill on each other in class to gain interpretation, and presentation skills. Each week of class builds upon the information from previous classes to create a rounded education with better retention and assimilation. This creates
more confident readings, and stronger intuition. This is a science, there is no psychic or intuitive ability needed. This course
provides all the necessary information and guidance to become an
excellent interpreter and reader of hands, palms, and lines.

Introduction to European Based Aromatherapy with Linda Patterson. Jan 30, Feb 27, March 29 and April 24. !0 -5. $550 plus $50 material fee. $250 down on registration. The educational goals for this certification program are to instill a strong foundation in the art of blending essential oils, learn the many ways essential oils can be used to heal body, mind, and spirit, and to educate
your sense of smell enabling clear distinction between the myriad of oil lines and their varying levels of quality. Since poor quality oils
are neurotoxins it is imperative we use practitioner grade oils if we hope to attain health. Each class is divided into two parts:
The first half of each class is dedicated towards the science and
applications pertaining to the body systems covered that day. We will discuss the common ailments of these systems and the essential oils helpful for those ailments. The second half of each class focuses on consultations, blending and working with the oils. Participants gain consultation skill by performing consultations and
creating blends for others to use. Learning close listening skills allows us to better understand others, and their problems. With this information we can target our blends to address the problems, not just the symptoms. It is my belief that if only the symptoms are teated, the problems will persist. In this class you will learn how to make successful blends, identify the challenges in your blends, and troubleshoot imbalances. We cover aphrodisiacs, and make
products in class that enhance and strengthen the reproductive system. We also create natural cosmetics to protect and nourish the skin (our largest organ). The cosmetic industry uses over 10,000 carcinogens, making it important to learn how to create our own safe and natural products. Everyone learns to make lotions,
bath salts, and body powders from scratch. These are then enhanced by customized blends, making them not only exclusive, but also tailored to individual’s needs. We will cover the Olfactory system, its mysteries, and how we can workm with it to reduce stress, anxiety, and find the quiet within the storms of life. Due
to the fact that aroma can bypass the cerebrum (where fear and anxiety are stored), it can provide instant relief from stress, and panic attacks. Students will work together to set up the lock and key response within the brain, while using customized blends to provide solace. The material fee for this course covers all bottles, jars and oils used during the class, as well as all handouts, aphrodisiac ingredients, powder and bath salt bases.

Registrations are open for all classes. Linda’s classes must be paid in CASH (no checks or credit cards)

Send a message to learn more

07/15/2026

Just reminding you of our hours. Monday through Saturday 10-4 and Sundays 12-4.
And if these are not convenient for you, we have a bin on the porch that we leave orders in. Just call in your order and pick it up at your convenience.

Send a message to learn more

07/02/2026

I guess what I posted yesterday was misinterpreted. I am not closing Alternatives For Health. We are celebratong our 18th anniversary and giving you discounts from the 1st to the 3rd. We will be closed for the holiday weekend and will reopen on Wednesday the 8th.

07/01/2026

I want to thank all of you for supporting our business for 18 years! Bill and I jumped into this venture with excitement and nervousness. You all came in as strangers and left and friends. I truly think of you as family, not customers and it has been a privilege getting to know you and watching your children grow from toddlers to teenagers over the years. We will be giving “pick your discount” on July 1 – 3 as a thank you! Help us spread the word!

06/19/2026

Letting you know that we are open today (Juneteeth) but will be closed on Sunday, Fathers' Day.

05/22/2026

Just reminding everyone that we are closed Sun, Mon and Tues this week for the holiday. Enjoy your fmaily!

03/04/2026

Tarot this Saturday with Becky. 11 - 3 $45. Best to preregister 508-347-2111

02/27/2026

Our Essential Oil Class has been pushed to begin on March 21. Other dates are March 28, April 19 and May 31. Spots left. Call 5608-347-2111to register. $550. $200 at registratioin and the resst at the first class. 10 - 5pm.

Address

426 Main Street
Sturbridge, MA
01566

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+15083472111

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