Need to Know
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Who is this course for?Everyone -
Course length (start & watch when you want)1.25 hours of video content -
ExtrasLifetime access · Certificate of completion
Meet your course instructor
Robert Rogers | Ethnobotanist, Master Herbalist, Mushroom Mentor
Robert Dale Rogers has been an herbalist for over fifty years and is a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild. He earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta, where he is presently an assistant clinical professor in Family Medicine. He is also an adjunct professor in Graduate Studies at York University in Toronto, and presently teaches plant and mushroom medicine, aromatherapy and flower essences in the Earth Spirit Medicine faculty at the Northern Star College in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Robert is past chair of the Alberta Natural Health Agricultural Network and Community Health Council of Capital Health. He is a Fellow of the International College of Nutrition, past chair of the North American Mycological Association, and previously on the editorial board of the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms. He regularly posts articles of interest in Fungi magazine. The author of 52 books on medicinal plants and fungi of the boreal forest, Robert authored the must-have book The Fungal Pharmacy: The Complete Guide to Medicinal Mushrooms and Lichens of North America. Another of his acclaimed books: A Cree Healer and His Medicine Bundle, was released in June 2015 by North Atlantic Books, and it documents the tenth generation passing down of over sixty traditional indigenous boreal plants and their medicinal benefit. Robert was honoured as an Herbal Elder of Canada in 2015. Today, Robert guest lectures and conducts walks throughout North America on plant and mushroom medicine, and continues to release must-have books on Mushrooms.
Course description
*This webinar went live on October 2 from 11:00am – 12:30pm PDT. You will find the recording on your student dashboard within 24 hours of the live webinar. Program students and PRCO+ students can also register for free on their student dashboard.
Join us for a deep dive into the remarkable world of lichens — ancient symbiotic organisms that blur the lines between fungi and algae. This class will explore a half-dozen well-known lichens and their diverse traditional and contemporary uses for food, clothing, medicine, dyes, shelter, and even mythology.
● Alectoria – once woven into clothing and explored for use in cystic fibrosis
● Bryoria – a traditional survival food with roles in mythology, medicine, fibre-making, and emerging studies on immune-suppressive and anti-cancer compounds
● Lungwort (Lobaria pulmonaria) – long valued for respiratory health and fibromyalgia, with modern evidence for anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective properties
● Iceland moss (Cetraria islandica) – used for dry coughs and bronchial conditions, and researched for anti-Helicobacter, anti-diabetic, and neuroprotective effects
● Peltigera (Dog/Pelt lichens) – known for supporting the liver, vagus nerve, and immunity, and showing antiviral activity
● Wolf lichen (Letharia vulpina) – a brilliant dye source with historical medicinal use, though also toxic
● Evernia prunastri (Oakmoss) – prized in aromatherapy and perfumery, with antibacterial, antihypertensive, and anti-hyperpigmentation actions
● Usnea species (Old Man’s Beard) – three common species will be discussed, with a focus on preparation techniques and the powerful antimicrobial usnic acid