The healing properties of herbs have received more attention in Western medicine in recent years. Herbal Schools focus on expanding knowledge of herbal treatments and have opened up more opportunities for students interested in herbal health professions.
Modern herbalists use plants from all regions of the world, and modern Herbal Schools teach uses of herbs, roots, bark, and beneficial plants and plant parts from which drugs are extracted. Traditionally, "Chinese Medicine" makes use of plants native to China and Asia, "Ayurvedic Herbal Medicine" uses plants native to India, and "Herbal Medicine" generally refers to the North American and European uses of plants from their regions. Most alternative medicine schools teach all forms of herbal medicines.
Herbal Schools vary somewhat, but all are based on the use of medicinal herbs in the promotion of natural health. The course will include botany, plant identification, human physiology, pathology, nutrition, and herbal actions in their curriculums.
Currently there is no formal system of accreditation for the study of herbology. Potential students should consider schools with teachers who have considerable experience and schools that offer intensive training in both plant sciences and properties of herbs. Interested students should also consider programs that provide extensive hands-on experience in their curriculums. Programs in Herbal Schools should last at least one year. Two-year programs will offer a more thorough and effective education.
Herbalists in the U.S. may be self-defined professionals, as neither certification nor licensure is required by state or national organizations at this point. State laws do regulate the practice of medicine, however, and laws vary by state. Medical students gaining an education from Herbal Schools may gain licensure to practice natural medicine and herbal medicine and may use herbal medicines as part of their medical practices. Herbalists practicing medicine often practice under doctors of acupuncture or naturopathy.
Teaching and learning about herbal medicines is not restricted to a formal education from Herbal Schools, and those who define themselves as teachers, natural healers, or counselors may be self-taught herbalists or Herbal Schools graduates.
Most herbologists or herbalists today are self-employed and may run small manufacturing operations, counseling others about herbal products and growing herbs for manufacture.