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 In this section:

•	What is Herbal Medicine
•	Where Did it Originate
•	What Can I Expect
•	Frequency & Cost
•	Gathering and Storing Herbs
•	Preparation Methods
•	*Herbs & Medicinal Trees*
•	Commonly Used Terms
•	Potentially Dangerous Herbs
•	Choosing a Practitioner
•	What Are the Benefits
•	Herbal Medicine as a Career
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•	Herbal Medicine Practitioners

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Herbal Medicine

Herbal Medicine as a Career

Coursework in an Herbal Medicine Training Program may Include:

• History and Philosophy of Herbal Medicine
• Introduction to Herbal Medicine
• Anatomy and physiology
• Biochemistry
• Chemistry
• Pathology
• Toxicology
• Botany
• Plant identification
• Diagnosis and Prescription
• Preparing and Manufacturing Herbal Medicines
• Herbalism and Pregnancy, Children, and the Elderly
• Clinical Experience

In some programs you'll also learn how to cook using herbs and edible flowers, and how to create herbal cosmetics.

A solid training program in herbalism will teach the foundation of herbal medicine and its history. You will also learn:

-	To identify what makes herbs work, how to create herbal preparations, and understand their contraindications.
-	The ability to formulate complex herbal remedies for a specific symptom or condition.
-	Learn techniques for growing herbs organically, gathering wild herbs with respect and concern for the environment (with sustainability in mind), and how to dry and store herbs using methodsthat keeps them potent for as long as possible.
-	Learn to recognize and make use of a variety of plants and herbs ranging from common backyard weeds to rare and exotic plants and specimens from around the world.
-	Gain proficiency with diagnostic principles and therapeutic use of dozens of many herbs and herbal formulas. Through the close observation of case studies, you will review various conditions, from chronic to acute, as well as to simply enhance the functioning of the body for general health and well-being.

Salary
Little data appears to be available on the average salaries of herbalists.

The salary earned by an herbalist is dependent on a variety of factors, including location, the type of practice they have, the size of their client base, and whether herbs are prepared on-site. Self-employed herbalists appear to average anywhere from $60 to $150 per hour, with herbalists employed in health stores and herbal outlets earning a salary which varies greatly dependent on experience and sales. Incomes range from $20k-$120k according to a salary review published by the American Herbalist Guild, with an average being $50,000/yr. after overhead. In England, the typical starting salary is up to £5,000/yr., with senior level Herbalists receiving up to £20,000/yr. (labor salary data collected in Jan 07).

Herbalists who are starting their own business require time to build both their clientele and a referral network. The time taken to build up a practice varies, but it can take two years to establish the viability of the local market and to raise awareness of services, often through word of mouth. During this time, it is not uncommon to have additional sources of income until the practice is able to sustain itself. Many herbalists are self-employed and are often licensed to practice in another profession such as Homeopathy, Naturopathy or Acupuncture (as these professions require formal licensure in many areas, it adds additional credibility.

Average Length of Study
Length of study ranges depending on the level of education chosen. Short certificate courses can span several weeks to several months. Professional herbalism degree courses average 2-4 years of study.

Average Tuition
Tuition ranges based on the educational institution and course type, and can range from several hundred dollars for a short course to $10,000-$30,000 for professional multi-year degrees. Professional degree courses to become a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and Doctor of Ayurvedic Medicine (which includes the study of herbalism specific to each tradition) spans 3-4 years and can cost in excess of $60,000.

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