Master Herbalist Certification
As use of herbal and alternative remedies becomes more common, consumers often find themselves unsure as to which products are most suitable for them. To that end, they can seek the assistance of a certified master herbalist who can help patients select a safe course of treatment using herbal remedies.
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Identification
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Master Herbalists have extensive awareness of the medicinal and healing properties of various plants. They gain this knowledge through hands-on experience, clinical training and a solid understanding of the potential of herbs for healing, which is the foundation for earning certification and becoming a practitioner in the herbal medicine field.
Significance
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A certified Master Herbalist educates the public about using herbs effectively and helps patients achieve health and wellness through natural methods. Certification as a Master Herbalist means that the practitioner has demonstrated knowledge of numerous herbs and their medicinal properties.
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Features
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Master Herbalists can earn a degree and certification through either in-class study or independent (home) study programs. The Tai Sophia Institute, a wellness school based in Maryland, established the nation's first Master of Science program in Herbal Medicine, which combines traditional understanding of herbs with extensive clinical study and scientific knowledge. Students complete 1000 hours of clinical training and gain hands-on experience at the Institute's on-campus herb garden.
The School of Natural Healing, founded in 1953, offers four home-study programs (Family Herbalist, Nutritional Herbology, Herbalist and Advanced Herbalist) that are the prerequisites for certification, which can be earned by attending an intensive six-day Master Herbalist Certification Seminar. Certification candidates are tested on the common name, Latin name, identification and medicinal uses of 100 herbs.
Potential
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A certified Master Herbalist can find work in medical centers, as a consultant or in a private practice or clinic as a practitioner or teacher.
The Tai Sophia Institute notes that public demand for more natural remedies and increased scrutiny by the media and regulatory agencies has resulted in an increased need for trained Master Herbalists.
Considerations
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Herbal Legacy notes on its website that Master Herbalists do not diagnose, treat or prescribe herbal remedies; instead they educate about how to use herbs safely and effectively. Herbalists use herbs as alternatives to potentially harmful chemical drugs or surgical procedures.
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References
Resources
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