Herbalist
Herbalists (also known as medical herbalists or herbal practitioners) use their knowledge of plant medicines and their therapeutic applications to promote health and relieve illness.
Herbal medicine, also known as phytotherapy, is a holistic health system that aims to address the needs of patients by working at a physical, physiological and emotional level, exploring the underlying causes as well as the symptoms of illness.
Herbalists treat a range of illnesses, allergies and chronic physical conditions by using the whole plant, part of the plant (such as the leaf) or a preparation of the plant, in order to maximise the human body's healing capacities.
Modern herbal medicine combines traditional herbal philosophy and knowledge with modern medical understanding.
Typical activities include:
Most herbalists are self-employed. This requires all the skills involved with managing a business, including:
Experienced herbalists may also work on a consultancy basis or as an employee, undertaking research for herbal growers and product manufacturers.
BSc degree programmes in herbal medicine are accredited by the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH) and the European Herbal & Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association (EHTPA) (umbrella body of professional associations of which NIMH is a member). Graduates of NIMH or EHTPA accredited courses are eligible to apply for membership of NIMH and practise as a herbalist.
Entry onto accredited courses generally requires a minimum of two to three A-levels, including one in biology. Contact individual institutions for specific course requirements.
Accredited courses last three years full time or five years part time and include a minimum of 500 hours of supervised clinical training undertaken at one of NIMH’s training clinics. Clinical training is a key part of the course and provides essential experience of working directly with patients within a supportive learning environment. Key subject areas covered on the courses include anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, botany and nutritional and herbal therapeutics. Details of accredited courses are available on the NIMH website.
Masters courses are available for qualified herbalists who have an accredited BSc in herbal medicine.
At present, herbalists are unregulated by government but the EHTPA and NIMH are calling for statutory regulation. It is likely that there will be a statutory register by 2012 and that graduates from either the EHTPA or the NIMH accredited programmes will be able to gain direct entry to the register. Visit the EHTPA website for up-to-date information on statutory registration and advice for potential students.
Candidates need to show evidence of the following:
A high level of commitment is needed to become a herbalist due to the length and intensity of training required. Commitment and perseverance are also required to set up as a self-employed practitioner after qualifying.
Try to gain work experience in a dispensary or clinic. Contact herbalists in your local area and ask to shadow them during patient consultations.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
Once herbalists have qualified as members of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH) , they must take part in the NIMH Initial Professional Development Programme (IPDP). This programme is compulsory for all new members and covers:
Following completion of the IPDP, all NIMH members are required to carry out ongoing CPD. Activities include attendance at NIMH conferences and seminars to update clinical skills and therapeutic knowledge. There are also research opportunities available for members.
Alternatively, qualified herbalists might want to consider joining mixed therapy organisations such as the Institute for Complementary and Natural Medicine (ICNM) , which administers the British Register of Complementary Practitioners (BRCP), or the British Complementary Medicine Association (BCMA) . Please see their websites for conditions of membership.
Much of a herbalist's education takes place throughout clinical practice and grows with experience of both patients and plants. In addition, herbalists must develop their knowledge continuously by keeping up to date with new research, legislation and studies on plants and herbal medicines.
Training courses are also available on the various practical aspects of running a business. However, learning to manage a practice takes time and effort. Commitment to developing a role in which, for the short and medium term, salary levels and numbers of clients may be low, is essential.
In order to successfully develop a career, you will need to be prepared to dedicate a lot of time and energy to the initial establishment of a practice. Acquiring new patients, crucial to career development, can take some time, especially as new patients are often attracted by word of mouth. Developing a business often involves raising public awareness of the benefits of herbal medicine. Other ways of developing a practice include giving presentations and lectures and running workshops.
After successfully qualifying and setting up a practice, many herbalists develop their skills and offer other complementary therapies to patients. These include:
Diversifying into other areas is also likely to increase the number of patients and, therefore, the size of the practice.
Some herbalists work in conjunction with other providers of complementary therapies at complementary health centres. There has also been an increase in the number of herbalists selling and promoting their own products via the internet.
There are a limited number of opportunities for herbalists with a high level of experience to move into teaching or training. Research into the medical applications of herbal remedies is another possibility.
There is a very limited amount of consultancy and public relations work available with companies involved in the natural health product industry.
Herbalists are usually self-employed and may work on a full-time or part-time basis. The majority of medical herbalists aim to set up their own practices after they qualify. Some herbalists choose to work from home and adapt a part of their home into a space in which to diagnose and treat patients.
More commonly, herbalists are based at complementary health clinics or herbal dispensaries, working as part of a team in conjunction with aromatherapists, shiatsu practitioners, acupuncturists or other alternative health practitioners. This may also be on a self-employed basis, renting out a room for practice. Public interest in the benefits of complementary medicine is growing and so, therefore, are opportunities in herbal medicine.
Similarly, interest in herbal medicine within the conventional medical world is also developing: a small number of herbalists work with doctors at multidisciplinary health clinics.
If you are interested in going down the consultancy route, look for vacancies on natural health product company websites.
Check the NIMH online register of members for details of contacts in your area if you are thinking about shadowing or visiting a herbalist.
Get tips on job hunting, CVs and covering letters and interviews.
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