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

Linda Diane Feldt RPP, NCTMB Holistic Health Practitioner and Herbalist

Herbalism Traditional Healers Traditional Healers Native American, Ayurvedic, Tibb, Unami, Tibetan, and others Native American, Ayurvedic, Tibb, Unami, Tibetan, and others Traditional Chinese Medicine Traditional Chinese Medicine Western Folkloric Western Folkloric Western Scientific Western Scientific Earth-centered Earth-centered Ethno-botanical Ethno-botanical Example categories from The American Herbalist Guild

Levels of Training Simple adjunct to existing qualifications Simple adjunct to existing qualifications Able to assess what the client is using Able to assess what the client is using Can make simple suggestions for acute conditions Can make simple suggestions for acute conditions No chronic or primary herbal care No chronic or primary herbal care Herbal training using primarily nourishing herbs Herbal training using primarily nourishing herbs Focus is on supporting systems of the body, prevention, and wellness Focus is on supporting systems of the body, prevention, and wellness Clinical level with diagnostic testing, prescribing, and treatment of disease Clinical level with diagnostic testing, prescribing, and treatment of disease Herbal training accompanied by Medical License Herbal training accompanied by Medical License

Training and Education College and University courses taught by medical professionals College and University courses taught by medical professionals Electives within schools that teach alternative healthcare (especially massage and bodywork) Electives within schools that teach alternative healthcare (especially massage and bodywork) Apprenticeship programs both formal and informal Apprenticeship programs both formal and informal Correspondence courses Correspondence courses (cont. next slide)

Training and Education (cont.) Traditional training and initiation often combined with religious/spiritual practices Traditional training and initiation often combined with religious/spiritual practices Self taught Self taught Promotional material and workshops provided by manufacturers Promotional material and workshops provided by manufacturers Multi-level marketing promotional materials Multi-level marketing promotional materials

Western Folkloric Tradition Promotes ethical harvesting of plants Promotes ethical harvesting of plants Uses whole parts of plant, in season Uses whole parts of plant, in season Encourages consumer involvement Encourages consumer involvement

Western Folkloric Tradition Emphasis is on nutritive value of herbs Emphasis is on nutritive value of herbs Priority given to local plants, and what is readily available Priority given to local plants, and what is readily available Uses a holistic approach to support the individual and systems of the body Uses a holistic approach to support the individual and systems of the body

Western Folkloric Tradition Encourages sharing of information, stories, experiences, and methods Encourages sharing of information, stories, experiences, and methods Can easily work in a supportive role with conventional Western Medicine Can easily work in a supportive role with conventional Western Medicine

Concerns and Challenges Herbalism is a very broad term that describes a profession many thousands of years old. Herbalism is a very broad term that describes a profession many thousands of years old. Herbalists and the scientific community have only recently begun to forge mutual respect, goals, and ways of working together. Herbalists and the scientific community have only recently begun to forge mutual respect, goals, and ways of working together. Herbalists must respond to unprecedented consumer interest. Herbalists must respond to unprecedented consumer interest. Most herbs are being chosen by consumers independent of professional advice of herbalists and medical professionals. Most herbs are being chosen by consumers independent of professional advice of herbalists and medical professionals. (continued next slide)

Concerns and Challenges (cont.) Protecting consumers and supporting scientific research while preserving herbal traditions are intriguing challenges for the herbal profession Protecting consumers and supporting scientific research while preserving herbal traditions are intriguing challenges for the herbal profession Consumers and health care providers may have difficulty determining who is a qualified herbalist Consumers and health care providers may have difficulty determining who is a qualified herbalist Herbal use is now primarily driven by advertising and marketing, with the goal being profit.. Herbal use is now primarily driven by advertising and marketing, with the goal being profit.. Because of the desire for profit, “secret formulas” and patented processes are beginning to dominate the market. Because of the desire for profit, “secret formulas” and patented processes are beginning to dominate the market. The simplest and cheapest herbal remedies, such as dandelions from our yards, are being forgotten. The simplest and cheapest herbal remedies, such as dandelions from our yards, are being forgotten.

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

Conclusions (continued) Using plants for healing is much more than switching a plant capsule for a drug. The introduction or profit and marketing into herbalism is of greater danger than the herbs themselves. Choosing herbs because of popularity, dramatic effects, and with little or no guidance will become the largest source of problems and negative experiences.