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Herbalist



 
 
An herbalist is:

  1. A person whose life is dedicated to the economic or medicinal uses of plants.
  2. One skilled in the harvesting and collection of medicinal plants (see wildcrafter).
  3. Traditional Chinese herbalist: one who is trained or skilled in the dispensing of herbal prescriptions; traditional Chinese herb doctor. Similarly, Traditional Ayurvedic herbalist: one who is trained or skilled in the dispensing of herbal prescriptions in the Ayurvedic tradition.
  4. One trained or skilled in the therapeutic use of medicinal plants.


An herbalist is a professional trained in herbalism
Herbalism

Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, and phytotherapy....
, the use of herb
Herb

A herb is a plant that is valued for qualities such as medicinal properties, flavor, scent, or the like....
s (also called botanical or crude medicine
Crude medicine

Crude medicine , also known as crude drug, in Chinese materia medica, is bulk drugs of Chinese materia medica with basic processing and treatment....
) to treat others.






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Encyclopedia


An herbalist is:

  1. A person whose life is dedicated to the economic or medicinal uses of plants.
  2. One skilled in the harvesting and collection of medicinal plants (see wildcrafter).
  3. Traditional Chinese herbalist: one who is trained or skilled in the dispensing of herbal prescriptions; traditional Chinese herb doctor. Similarly, Traditional Ayurvedic herbalist: one who is trained or skilled in the dispensing of herbal prescriptions in the Ayurvedic tradition.
  4. One trained or skilled in the therapeutic use of medicinal plants.


An herbalist is a professional trained in herbalism
Herbalism

Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, and phytotherapy....
, the use of herb
Herb

A herb is a plant that is valued for qualities such as medicinal properties, flavor, scent, or the like....
s (also called botanical or crude medicine
Crude medicine

Crude medicine , also known as crude drug, in Chinese materia medica, is bulk drugs of Chinese materia medica with basic processing and treatment....
) to treat others. Professional herbal designations include the following:
  • American Herbalists Guild
    American Herbalists Guild

    The American Herbalists Guild is the only professional organization for herbalists of all traditions in the United States of America. The Guild was founded in 1989 as a non-profit, educational organization....
     Registered Herbalist (AHG)
  • the NCCAOM Diplomate in Oriental Medicine
    Oriental medicine

    Oriental medicine can mean any of:* Traditional Chinese medicine* Traditional Korean medicine* Kampo Eastern medicine can mean either of the above, and also:...
     from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
  • the MNHAA signifying Full Member of the National Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA)
  • the FNHAA signifying Fellow of the NHAA, awarded only to Full Members with a minimum of 10 years Full Membership and clinical practice as a herbalist, plus meritorious service to the profession and/or Association.
  • the MNIMH of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists
    National Institute of Medical Herbalists

    The National Institute of Medical Herbalists is the major professional body regulating medical herbalists in the United Kingdom. It was first established as the National Association of Medical Herbalists in 1864 by a group of herbalists from the north of England, but currently has members in several countries....
     or the MIIMH of The Irish Institute of Medical Herbalists
    Irish Institute of Medical Herbalists

    The Irish Institute of Medical Herbalists is the professional organization for medical herbalists in Ireland. It was formally incorporated in 1990....
    .


Education of herbalists varies considerably in different areas of the world. Lay herbalists and traditional indigenous medicine people
Medicine man

"Medicine man" or "Medicine woman" are English language terms used to describe Indigenous peoples of the Americas healers and spiritual figures....
 generally rely upon apprenticeship and recognition from their communities in lieu of formal schooling. In some countries formalised training and minimum education standards exist, although these are not necessarily uniform within or between countries. For example, in Australia the currently self-regulated status of the profession (as of April 2008) results in different associations setting different educational standards, and subsequently recognising an educational institution or course of training. Qualifications levels vary from Diploma to Masters degree, with Advanced Diploma level being regulated to some degree by the national Health Training Packages issued by the Australian National Training Authority. The Course Accreditation System Version 2 of the National Herbalists Association of Australia http://www.nhaa.org.au/ is generally recognised as the most rigorous and professional standard within Australia.

Herbalists may engage in wildcrafting
Wildcrafting

Wildcrafting is the practice of harvesting plants from their natural, or "wild" habitat, for food, medicine, or other purposes. It applies to uncultivated plants wherever they may be found, and is not necessarily limited to wilderness areas....
 or cultivation of herbs, as well as diagnosis and treatment of conditions or dispensing herbal medication. Most herbal traditions depend upon constitutional analysis of the client, treating the patient instead of the disease.

See also

  • Ayurveda
    Ayurveda

    Ayurveda is a system of traditional medicine native to India, and practiced in other parts of the world as a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, the word Ayurveda comprises the words , meaning 'life' and , meaning 'science'....
  • Chinese herbology
    Chinese herbology

    Chinese Herbology , is the common name for the subject of Chinese materia medica. It includes the basic theory of Chinese materia medica, "crude medicine," "prepared drug in pieces" and traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations' source, collection and preparation, performance, efficacy, and clinical applications....
  • Ethnobotany
    Ethnobotany

    Ethnobotany is the Scientific method of the relationships that exist between person and plants.Ethnobotanists aim to reliably document, describe and explain complex relationships between cultures and plants: focusing, primarily, on how plants are used, managed and perceived across human societies ...
  • Herbal
    Herbal

    A herbal is a book, often illustrated, that describes the appearance, medicinal properties, and other characteristics of plants used in herbal medicine....
     (book on herbs and their uses)


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