Modern-day herbalism has its roots in early tribal living. The use of herbs in foods and for treating illness is a universal phenomenon and women were its primary practitioners. Men didn't practice herbalism; they wrote about it by compiling herbal recipes into books and passing them onto others. Egyptians and Greeks wrote about the use of such herbs, preserving this knowledge for others. According to Christopher Hobbs L.Ac., A.H.G., licensed acupuncturist and fourth-generation herbalist and botanist with over 30 years of experience with herbs, the ancient Egyptians and Greeks transcribed these early recipes onto paper, leaving a rich heritage.
There are many programs online that provide "certificates" to herbalists, but the majority of these programs are not recognized by traditional colleges and universities or count toward college degrees. While herbal studies can be incorporated into other coursework, there are certificate programs that teach herbalists the skills needed to become herbalists. No licensure exists for herbalists, and under USDA regulations and the auspices of the National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements, herbs are considered "botanical dietary supplements," not drugs.
The American Herbalist's Guild (AHG), a non-profit association of American herbal practitioners, outlines educational guidelines for herbalists in determining what educational coursework a student might want to pursue. "These guidelines recommend the core competencies of herbal education and are not meant to be either educational requirements or the whole of a complete herbal education," it states. The AHG recommends a curriculum to incorporate a minimum of 1,600 hours of total study. Its website cites that 400 of those hours should occur in "actual clinical work."
Family herbalists at the Clayton College of Natural Health (CCNH) are considered level one and are a pre-requisite for the next certificate programs, consulting herbalist and master herbalist. This entry-level coursework incorporates studies to "provide the student with an introduction to home remedies; basic nutrition; general herbology; growing and gathering herbs; women's health; aromatherapy; children's health; aging and longevity and therapeutic nutrition." The program also serves to introduce skills that are important to the client-practitioner relationships. Students can be qualified to treat individuals and families by studying to become a family herbalist.
At Clayton College, the consulting herbalist is considered level two and must complete the family herbalist certificate before enrolling in this coursework. The family herbalist will complete coursework that provides the student with an "expanded knowledge of herbalism" and the student will study therapeutic and intermediate herbology, biology, anatomy and physiology, the recognition of plants, chemistry and its pharmacological applications, toxicology and flower essences.
CCNH requires the master herbalist to complete the family herbalist and consulting herbalist coursework before applying to this certificate program. The master herbalist will experience and develop an expanded knowledge of ayurvedic herbal medicine, Native American ethnobotany and plant identification, as well as Chinese herbal medicine. The majority of master herbalists are self-employed and enjoy work teaching others about the benefits of herbs, growing herbs for sale to manufacturers, formulating herbal supplements, owning or managing a health food store or writing articles or books on herbal medicine.
Many people are turning to naturopathic medicine and are becoming naturopathic physicians (ND) instead. Licensed NDs attend a four-year "graduate-level naturopathic medical school and are educated in all of the same basic sciences as an M.D., but also study holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness," reports the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP). The naturopathic physician is also required to complete four years of training in botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, counseling and psychology. The reason for this is to be able to support and encourage patients to make appropriate lifestyle changes "in support of personal health." NDs must pass intense and rigorous board exams to receive state licensing as a primary care general physician.