How Our Herbal Students Create Personalized Healing Protocols (Real Example Capstone)

KhadiYah Preciado
Nov 6
5 min read

Shalom Family,

We just wrapped up the first ever Capstone Project here at Yah’s Apothecary, and I have to pause and celebrate what we witnessed.

Each student was asked to create a full herbal protocol from start to finish, based on their own constitutional pattern and system needs.

Now this project wasn’t about perfection.

It was about application.

About showing yourself approved.

About trusting what you’ve learned and taking a real step forward in your herbal walk.

One of our students submitted a protocol that really stood out to me. She did the work, showed up to each piece, and put her whole heart into it. But what impressed me most wasn’t just the finished plan—it was the way she leaned into the process.

Early on, it seemed she might pursue a much stronger or more intense detox protocol. But through the peer feedback session, she was able to slow down, reflect, and self-correct without me needing to step in. That’s the kind of growth we want to see. I purposely held space in that session without jumping in immediately. I wanted the students to have room to get messy, ask questions, and speak from their own discernment. And it paid off.

Below is her full protocol submission, shared with permission. The only thing I added were my instructor notes, which follow at the end.

What is your constitutional pattern?

My primary constitutional pattern is dry, warm, and tense.

Which systems did you identify as needing support, and why?

I identified my detox (liver), nervous, and reproductive systems as needing support.

My primary focus will be on supporting my detox system by using hepatic and nutritive herbs.

My detox system goals are:

Addressing deep emotions and feelings of wrath.
Addressing skin irregularities such as eczema and hyperpigmentation.
Addressing hormone swings.
Addressing sluggish bowels.

My secondary focus will be on supporting my nervous system by using nervines and aromatic herbs.

My nervous system goals are:

Addressing low mood, depression.
Addressing anxiety.

My tertiary focus will be on supporting my reproductive system by using tonic herbs.

My reproductive system goals are:

Addressing low libido.
Nurturing the womb.

Full Protocol Plan

Primary herbs: nettle, fennel, lemon balm.

I learned through the protocol mapping exercise that each of these herbs supports multiple systems except for lemon balm, which has a primary affinity for the nervous system. Nettle will support my detox and reproductive system, while fennel will support my detox and nervous system.

These herbs are safe during pregnancy, can be used daily, and create a good energetic balance. No known contraindications or risks according to my current condition.

All herbs will be prepared as tea - 1tsp per 8 ounces of water. The herbs will be consumed independently.

For four weeks, consume 3 cups of tea daily: Fennel (morning), Nettle (afternoon), Lemon Balm (evening). Be sure to incorporate food and lifestyle changes below, do weekly check-ins, and keep a note of how I am feeling throughout my entire cycle (luteal and follicular phases).

Weekly Check-In Plan

Keep a daily log of how I am feeling within 30mins-1hr of waking and within 30mins-1hr of bed.
Record food and meals that are easy to make, agree best with my body, and elevate my mood.
Record observations next to each listed goal. For example, did I notice less irritability? Has my libido increased? Am I less anxious?

Food & Lifestyle Changes

Consume at least 6 cups of water a day, max of 2L of water a day. Be consistent with this amount and then increase more over time. Hydration is crucial.

Remove/limit processed sugars and gluten. Focus on no-grain breads or unleavened breads like wraps. Try different alternatives for sweetness, like honey and dates/date sugar.

Increase consuming fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens. Focus on foods with probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics (yogurt, fermented foods, and drinks).

Follow a consistent morning routine (within an hour of waking):
- Have one cup of tea. Do deep breathing exercises as I finish the cup.
- 5-minute minimum stretch. A full body stretch is preferred, which could take 10-15mins.
- Pray and journal. Begin the day in praise and gratitude. Listen for Yah’s voice and direction. Take 5 minutes to brain dump any thoughts or to-dos and review the schedule for the day.

Follow a consistent evening routine (8/8:30PM-9/9:30PM)
- Have one cup of tea. Do deep breathing exercises as you finish the cup.
- Meditate on one Scripture or passage.
- Preview/prepare the day ahead in a planner/agenda. This sets the intention, and I can be present instead of not having a plan and “just going with the flow”.
- Extra: spend time in nature, take morning or evening walks (weather permitting)

My Biggest Takeaways from This Capstone Are:

Our body systems are intricately connected.
Herbal energetics and actions matter.
Don't be afraid to try new herbs. I may find one that's a more suitable match.
Learning to trust and listen to my body doesn't happen overnight. I have to be patient and continue to do the work.

Instructor Notes:

I want to commend her for going beyond what I expected from the pieces she originally submitted.

She didn’t just create a plan.

She created a practice.

She was deeply intentional with her lifestyle changes, her systems thinking, and her commitment to reflection. The consistency in her check-in process shows a level of care that goes beyond just drinking tea.

One small clarification to support continued growth—while fennel does offer digestive and carminative support, it's not a nervine and doesn’t have a direct affinity for the nervous system. That doesn’t make it a poor choice overall, but for those looking to deeply nourish the nervous system, herbs like chamomile (I previously mentioned checked all the boxes) may be more specific.

If I could offer one adjustment, it would be this: 3 separate teas a day can be a lot to sustain. Instead of jumping into that full pace, consider setting step goals.

Start with just nettle for one week. Add fennel the second week. Then, by week three, incorporate lemon balm. Or s combination, such as nettle and fennel into a single blend, and/or consider a different preparation, such as a lemon balm tincture in the evening for simplicity. Also, always mention measurements or ratios along with dosage in the instructions.

I also want to remind students that while herbs can help calm the nervous system, we must still ask: what’s at the root of the unrest? This student already started doing that inner work. But don’t just log symptoms—use journal prompts, story formats, and even devotionals to dig deeper.

All in all, this protocol reflects the heart of the Capstone experience: growth, application, discernment, and diligence.

Well done, sis.

We’re so proud of you.

Want to go beyond just learning about herbs—and actually start applying them like this?

We’re now accepting applications for the next semester of our clinical training programs. Inside Yah’s Apothecary™, students learn to build personalized protocols, assess energetics, and care for the whole person—Mind, Body, and Spirit.

As our student shared:“ The vault is a credible source of herbal and business information. I am confident using it as a tool to resource my wellness plans. It provides material and guidance to transition my side hustle into a sustainable small business... After joining as a student and viewing the vault layout I was more excited about the direction my path was taking me. It felt like the street lights were turned on to help me see my way."

💻 Join the next cohort and begin your clinical herbal journey:

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