What is an herbalist?
Short answer: herbalists help people heal through the use of plants.
As a longer answer, an herbalist might include many different things as part of their practice.
Herbalism can include:
- Clinical practice
This includes meeting with clients to discuss their health history, concerns, and goals. Emotional and spiritual concerns and goals may also be included in the conversation. Then, the herbalist will make recommendations as to how the client may use herbs to address what has been discussed. Often herbalists will create a customized formula. Advice will include dosage and instructions on how to prepare the herbs as needed. It may also include possible lifestyle change recommendations that would support the client’s wellness. Follow up appointments will keep up with needed changes or address new things as they come up. - Remedy-making
Making herbal remedies for clients or for sale to the general public. This could include tinctures, tea mixes, infused oils, salves, glycerites, or food items. - Teaching
Many herbalists create classes that help share herbal knowledge. These can vary widely on subjects from understanding body systems and how they interact with plants, to hands-on remedy-making, to the history of herbal medicine. - Nature walks
Herbalists may lead walks to teach people plant identification, basics of botany, and how to ethically harvest herbs in nature. Often they will also include information about how the plants may be used as remedies. - Herbalists may do so many other things!
Growing herbs, foraging, making botanical art, and so many more things could be incorporated into what an herbalist has to offer.
What can plants help with?
Way more than most people think! Remember that for 99% of human history we relied solely on plants, fungi, and minerals for our health — and we were healthier as a species, in some ways, than we are today.
Specifically, plant remedies can support a range of health challenges, including: respiratory issues, digestive disorders, stress and anxiety, depression, sleep issues, skin conditions, uterine health, PMS, immune support, joint and muscle pain, prostate issues, UTIs, recovery after trauma, autoimmunity, STIs, blood sugar regulation, hypertension, chronic pain, and more…
(Sidenote: I’m specifically interested in helping to support people with anxiety, depression, migraines, natural ADHD management, stress management, digestive support, sexual well-being, and spiritual wellness. My deeper research delves into the intricate relationship between childhood and/or sexual trauma and the related mental and physical health challenges. )
Certification
Herbalism is fairly unregulated in the United States. For example, there are no federal boards that certify herbalists. There are various private schools that offer certificates, but no standardization as to what the certificates mean.
What an herbalist is not…
It’s important to note that herbalists are not medical doctors, do not practice medicine, and cannot make claims to diagnose or treat specific medical conditions. (We can support the body’s natural ability to heal itself in relation to a variety of issues.)
