What Does an Herbologist Do?
Herbology is a traditional practice of medicine based on the use of plants, minerals, and fungi, and their medicinal properties. It is sometimes referred to as both medical and botanical herbalism, herbal medicine, and phytotherapy. A herbologist is a physician who studies and utilizes the use of plants and their extracts as a more natural and direct approach to healthcare. An understanding of the science and practice of herbology will provide for a better understanding of what a herbologist does.
Since prehistoric times, cultures all over the world have used herbology as part of their medicinal methods. The first accepted use of plants for their medicinal properties is detailed in the Lascaux Cave paintings in France, which date back to between 13,000 and 25,000 B.C. The Sumerians reportedly began using herbology as far back as 5,000 years ago. There are records of the use of herbology as far back as ancient Egypt and the Old Testament days of the Holy Bible. The ancient Greeks, Romans, and Chinese cultures all bear record of the use of plants and their extracts for medicinal purposes. The use of herbology as a means of healthcare is nearly universal among unindustrialized cultures.
The World Health Organization estimates that 80 percent of the world's population currently incorporates plant-based medicine in healthcare. Many of the medicines currently available in healthcare were derived from plants. Morphine, aspirin, and codeine are three examples. Over 35,000 plant species have medicinal value, and over half of all plant-derived prescription drugs came to be known to researchers because of herbology. One-quarter of all pharmaceutical drugs in the United States are plant based. Herbology is a founding contributor to the homeopathic and naturopathic medicinal systems.
Herbology extends to the use of herbal extracts, essential oils, herbal teas, and the use of plants and herbs in the culinary arts. Some herbologists grow their own herbs. Most herbologists use plants from many regions of the world. Herbologists generally do not limit their practice to include only those plants classified as an herb; anything that falls into the classification of the plant kingdom may be used.
Herbology is a very diverse field with very few generalizations. However, most herbologists agree that herbology as a medicinal science is more effective as prevention. Herbologists generally agree that a combination of plant-based ingredients is more effective than the use of a single ingredient. Rather than finding a cause and curing a condition, herbologists view their field as the study of a web of relationships between cause, condition, and cure. Herbologists concede that through analyzing the body's needs, they can allocate the appropriate natural treatment.
Training and accreditation for the herbologist varies depending upon location. In the United Kingdom several universities offer degrees in herbal medicine. There are also schools within the United States that certify herbologists. Most certified herbologists are self-employed. Some choose to combine their knowledge and training in herbology with more accredited sciences like acupuncture, acupressure, nutritional counseling, and the formulating and manufacturing of herbs and herbal supplements.
