YEAR 3

welcome to betonica

2025 - 2026

WELCOME

Welcome to Year 3 Starter Course of the Betonica Medical Herbalist Training Programme. Congratulations on making it to the half way point, you have learned so much, and this year will be about embodying and building upon this knowledge.

Please scroll down to the end of each of these pages to make sure you have carefully read all the preparation material. For example, this page has a set of steps at the end.

This introductory page contains the essential general course information and helps you prepare for the start of the academic year. You will be given access to the full Learning Platform at the start of the 2025 - 2026 academic year on 1st September 2025.

The school year is divided into three terms (Sept-Dec; Jan-May; Jun-August). Course materials are released 2-4 weeks prior to the start of term.

We will be going into more detail in regards to what’s expected of you throughout the year and examples of assignments etc., at your first seminar day on 13th September 2025.

HEAD OF YEAR 3

MARION MACKONOCHIE
Medical Herbalist BSC (HONS), MSC, MCPP

Marion teaches the Pharmacology sections of the programme.

I am a medical herbalist in Brighton and Senior Herbal Specialist at Pukka Herbs, and am passionate about contributing to the world of herbal medicine through promoting research and collaborating with others. After starting out with a pharmacology and physiology degree and career in science publishing, I stumbled onto the wonder of herbs and retrained in herbal medicine.

Studying for a masters in medicinal natural products and phytochemistry was a brilliant way to join up my inner researcher with herbal knowledge. Discovering a world of scientists who believe in the power of plants was inspiring and led to better understanding of what research can offer herbal practitioners.

As well as seeing clients in Brighton and planning research projects at Pukka, I am an associate editor for the Journal of Herbal Medicine, a director of the Herbal Alliance and blog editor for the Herbal History Research Network.

EMAIL MARION

Welcome! I am so pleased to support you on the THIRD stage of your path.
Please reach out if you have any questions.

— MARION MACKONOCHIE, HEAD OF YEAR 3

TASKS TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE START OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR

Prepare a dedicated study space for you to go to work in.
Buy a year planner and get planning assignments and study.
Study planning: Start thinking about how you will organise your time and set aside time to study, work and revise over the year. From September you will have access to your assignments and submission dates list in order to add to this plan.
Read through each step of the learning platform to prepare for the year ad complete any important tasks, for example, buying your reading list and working out how you learn best with the study skills handbook.
Enter the seminar and tutorial dates into your diary (please note that some short (1-2 hour) tutorials dates will be released in August).
Prepare for clinic: Carefully read what you need to do to prepare and complete any time-sensitive tasks.
At the end of August, come back to review the starter pages.