Herbal EducationHerbal Education

How tradition, popularity, and ethics How tradition, popularity, and ethics interact with today’s market placeinteract with today’s market place

Linda Diane Feldt Linda Diane Feldt RPP, NCTMBRPP, NCTMB

Holistic Health Practitioner and HerbalistHolistic Health Practitioner and Herbalist

HerbalismHerbalism

Traditional HealersTraditional Healers Native American, Ayurvedic, Tibb, Unami, Tibetan, and Native American, Ayurvedic, Tibb, Unami, Tibetan, and

othersothers Traditional Chinese MedicineTraditional Chinese Medicine Western FolkloricWestern Folkloric Western ScientificWestern Scientific Earth-centeredEarth-centered Ethno-botanicalEthno-botanical

Example categories from The American Herbalist GuildExample categories from The American Herbalist Guild

Levels of TrainingLevels of Training

Simple adjunct to existing qualificationsSimple adjunct to existing qualifications Able to assess what the client is usingAble to assess what the client is using Can make simple suggestions for acute conditionsCan make simple suggestions for acute conditions No chronic or primary herbal careNo chronic or primary herbal care

Herbal training using primarily nourishing herbsHerbal training using primarily nourishing herbs Focus is on supporting systems of the body, prevention, Focus is on supporting systems of the body, prevention,

and wellnessand wellness Clinical level with diagnostic testing, prescribing, and Clinical level with diagnostic testing, prescribing, and

treatment of diseasetreatment of disease Herbal training accompanied by Medical LicenseHerbal training accompanied by Medical License

Training and EducationTraining and Education

College and University courses taught by College and University courses taught by medical professionalsmedical professionals

Electives within schools that teach alternative Electives within schools that teach alternative healthcare (especially massage and bodywork)healthcare (especially massage and bodywork)

Apprenticeship programs both formal and Apprenticeship programs both formal and informalinformal

Correspondence coursesCorrespondence courses(cont. next slide)(cont. next slide)

Training and Education Training and Education (cont.)(cont.)

Traditional training and initiation often Traditional training and initiation often combined with religious/spiritual practicescombined with religious/spiritual practices

Self taughtSelf taught Promotional material and workshops provided Promotional material and workshops provided

by manufacturersby manufacturers Multi-level marketing promotional materials Multi-level marketing promotional materials

Western Folkloric TraditionWestern Folkloric Tradition

Promotes ethical Promotes ethical harvesting of plantsharvesting of plants

Uses whole parts of Uses whole parts of plant, in seasonplant, in season

Encourages consumer Encourages consumer involvementinvolvement

Western Folkloric TraditionWestern Folkloric Tradition

Emphasis is on nutritive Emphasis is on nutritive value of herbsvalue of herbs

Priority given to local Priority given to local plants, and what is plants, and what is readily availablereadily available

Uses a holistic Uses a holistic approach to support the approach to support the individual and systems individual and systems of the bodyof the body

Western Folkloric TraditionWestern Folkloric Tradition

Encourages sharing of Encourages sharing of information, stories, information, stories, experiences, and experiences, and methodsmethods

Can easily work in a Can easily work in a supportive role with supportive role with conventional Western conventional Western MedicineMedicine

Concerns and ChallengesConcerns and Challenges

Herbalism is a very broad term that describes a Herbalism is a very broad term that describes a profession many thousands of years old.profession many thousands of years old.

Herbalists and the scientific community have only Herbalists and the scientific community have only recently begun to forge mutual respect, goals, and recently begun to forge mutual respect, goals, and ways of working together.ways of working together.

Herbalists must respond to unprecedented consumer Herbalists must respond to unprecedented consumer interest.interest.

Most herbs are being chosen by consumers Most herbs are being chosen by consumers independent of professional advice of herbalists and independent of professional advice of herbalists and medical professionals.medical professionals.

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Concerns and Challenges Concerns and Challenges (cont.)(cont.)

Protecting consumers and supporting scientific research Protecting consumers and supporting scientific research while preserving herbal traditions are intriguing while preserving herbal traditions are intriguing challenges for the herbal professionchallenges for the herbal profession

Consumers and health care providers may have difficulty Consumers and health care providers may have difficulty determining who is a qualified herbalistdetermining who is a qualified herbalist

Herbal use is now primarily driven by advertising and Herbal use is now primarily driven by advertising and marketing, with the goal being profit..marketing, with the goal being profit..

Because of the desire for profit, “secret formulas” and Because of the desire for profit, “secret formulas” and patented processes are beginning to dominate the market. patented processes are beginning to dominate the market.

The simplest and cheapest herbal remedies, such as The simplest and cheapest herbal remedies, such as dandelions from our yards, are being forgotten.dandelions from our yards, are being forgotten.

ConclusionsConclusions

Without intervention and education, traditional Without intervention and education, traditional herbalism will be taken over by mass herbalism will be taken over by mass marketing. Consumers will be sold over marketing. Consumers will be sold over priced, over processed herbs, with those priced, over processed herbs, with those having the most dramatic effects being having the most dramatic effects being featured. Health promotion, nourishment and featured. Health promotion, nourishment and prevention of disease - the strengths of prevention of disease - the strengths of traditional herbalism - will be set aside. traditional herbalism - will be set aside.

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Conclusions Conclusions (continued)(continued)

Using plants for healing is much more than Using plants for healing is much more than switching a plant capsule for a drug. switching a plant capsule for a drug.

The introduction or profit and marketing into The introduction or profit and marketing into herbalism is of greater danger than the herbs herbalism is of greater danger than the herbs themselves. themselves.

Choosing herbs because of popularity, dramatic Choosing herbs because of popularity, dramatic effects, and with little or no guidance will effects, and with little or no guidance will become the largest source of problems and become the largest source of problems and negative experiences.negative experiences.