Emerson College of Herbology

Emerson College of Herbology was one of the first schools of Herbal Medicine founded in North America. This college taught the science of Herbology. It was based in Montreal, Canada.

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The history of Emerson College of Herbology can be traced back to 1888. In this year Dr. Max Thuna immigrated from his native Austria to New York City. Dr. Thuna was a Master Herbalist and opened his first herbal store in New York City soon after his arrival. ^[1] Dr. Thuna eventually relocated to Canada and went on to open twenty-five herbal shops across the country.

Following in his father's footsteps, Dr. Jack Thuna became a Master Herbalist and a practicing Homeopathic Doctor. He founded Emerson College of Herbology in the mid 1950s in order to spread his families understanding of the natural healing elements of herbs to others of like mind. The course of study was initially offered primarily via a correspondence format when it operated from Dr. Thuna's, Pointe Claire, Quebec clinic. Dr. Thuna eventually moved from this clinic and rented the ground floor of a large multi story building in Montreal; located at 11 Street. and Catherine Street East. This location is in downtown Montreal. From there he ran a large wholesale herbal sales operation and established the new home of Emerson College of Herbology.

With the additional room afforded by the new location, Dr. Thuna was able to offer a more diverse program of study in Herbology. By 1977 Dr. Thuna and Professor C.C. Bell were able to provide extensive classroom instruction. In addition, they instituted the requirement of writing of a thesis for students who wished to explore the science of Herbology to greater depths, and graduate from the college. Because the wholesale herb business was housed at this location as well, the students were able to examine and work with numerous specimens of exotic medicinal plants, gaining deep insight into the science of Herbology.

During this period, upon graduation, the college began offering a detailed transcript of courses taken and grades received. This was because Dr. Thuna felt that some of the courses may be accepted in transfer at traditional schools of medicine.

In 1978 Dr. Robert Mohr Wyndham, an alumnus of the college, began serving as a consultant chemist to the college's advanced program. He served in this position until late in 1980. At this time Dr. Thuna, who was then eighty-four years old, notified him that he would no longer be able to offer the advance program of Herbal education due to his failing health.

Emerson College of Herbology closed its doors in 1989. The family has, however, continued forward and has a flourishing Canadian based company offering high quality herbs.

During its existence Emerson College of Herbology was regarded as one of the most respected schools of Herbology in the world. The college offered Bachelor of Science and Master of Herbology, M.H. degrees to its student body. ^[2] Many of the graduates of this college make up the who's who in the world of modern Homeopathic Medicine.

Notable Alumni

• Daniel Clay
• Rita Elkins
• David Elliott
• Jacqueline Fairbrass
• Paulette E. Fitzpatrick
• Thom Hartmann
• Carl Edwin Lindgren
• Diane McLaren
• Cathy McNease
• Thelma Mullen
• Diane H. Polasky
• Lainy Reicher
• Scott Shaw
• Louise Tenney
• Barry Whittaker
• Robert Mohr Wyndham

References