How to Become a Medical Herbalist

When studying to become an herbalist, you will familiarize yourself with various herbs and the effect they have on healing the body and maintaining optimal health. After completing your studies, you will have acquired extensive knowledge of the sources of herbs, ranging from plants and weeds commonly found in the United States, to exotic specimens found all over the globe. You will gain knowledge that allows you to properly formulate compound remedies derived from several individual herbs to treat specific symptoms and ailments. As an herbalist, your goal will be to bring the body into a balanced state in order to achieve and maintain wellness.

Things You'll Need

• Coursework in herbology training program
• School supplies

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Instructions

Training

• 1

  Enroll in a Medical Herbalist program at a school of your choice. Visit Americanherbalistsguild.com for detailed information about medical herbalism requirements. Speak with a counselor or school representative before signing up. Remember that medical herbalists are not licensed to practice medicine in the United States, and are not legally recognized as members of the health care profession. Herbalists may work as counselors or teachers, or may pursue a career as a naturopathic physician after additional schooling is obtained.

• 2

  Purchase necessary textbooks, study guides, learning tools and school supplies, as designated by your course instructors. If enrolled in an online program, ensure that your computer is equipped with all the necessary programs.

• 3

  Enroll in a clinical training program that meets your school's requirements after your coursework is completed. If your school does not have clinical supervision courses, seek to fulfill your clinical requirements on your own. Clinical training occurs in a clinical setting with patients and involves patient consultation, taking a patients case history, ailment diagnosis, ongoing patient communications and case management. All work is performed under the supervision of a clinical training instructor/herbalist.

• 4

  Obtain a medical herbalist certificate upon completion of the herbalist program. Although medical herbalists are not licensed to practice herbal medicine in the United States, they may find a job working in an integrative medical setting alongside traditional western physicians. Completion of a medical herbalist program leads people to careers as herb growers/buyers, formulators, researchers, consultants and writers/educators.

• 5

  Consider an apprenticeship with a medical herbalist after completion of the herbalist program. This will allow you to gain experience and work with patients in a clinical setting under the close supervision of an experienced practitioner.

• 6

  Begin your career in medical herbalism. Depending on your chosen path, this may include applying for business loans, opening your own herbal consulting practice, purchasing herbs or growing your own to begin cultivating herbal products.