11 Types of Herbalists: Which is the Best Fit for You?

For some folks, the idea of an herbalist is somewhat mysterious. What exactly do they do? And do they all do it the same way?

Perhaps you want to become an herbalist yourself, but you aren't sure what the options and possibilities are.

Or, maybe you think you have a pretty good idea of what an herbalist is, but, depending on your background, your idea might be entirely different than someone else's...

For example, do you picture a dreamy nature-lover plucking mushrooms in the forest, communing with the trees and sipping tea amongst the flowers?

Or (if you're like myself when I first started learning) do you picture a more medically inclined person taking down histories and making herbal recommendations to help folks with their specific ailments?

While both of these types of herbalists do exist, there’s also a whole wide range in between, and even outside of, these options.

An herbalist, by definition, is someone who studies or practices the medicinal and therapeutic uses of plants. So, if you work with plants in any medicinal or therapeutic way: you are an herbalist.

There are so many wonderful ways to practice herbalism! And we need folks practicing all of them. I'm going to shed some light on a few different paths your herbal journey might lead you down...

But, first and foremost, I want to emphasize: You do not have to turn herbalism into a career or make a single penny off of it in order to call yourself a herbalist.

Living under capitalism, we're taught from a young age that we must find something we're passionate about and then find a way to monetize it. And while there are certainly ways to make a living practicing herbalism, it is perfectly okay to allow yourself to pursue passions simply because they bring you joy.

In fact, finding joy, sharing it, nurturing it, and living a life of reciprocity rather than transaction are some of the greatest powers we have to push back against the constant societal pressure to be "productive". Putting financial pressure on something that brings you joy opens the opportunity for "hustle culture" to creep in and steal it.

That said, here are some of the personal as well as professional herbal paths one might choose:

1. Home Herbalist

Home herbalists are individuals who incorporate herbal remedies into their daily lives- and they are the MOST needed types of herbalist in this day in age. “An herbalist in every home” is respected herbalist Rosemary Gladstar’s motto, and for good reason.

Cultivating a small herb garden at home and educating ourselves to create simple herbal infusions, teas, and salves to address common ailments and promote overall health is one of the single most powerful ways we can become less reliant on the corporate systems that don’t care about us. Knowledge is power, and building trust in yourself and the natural world is enough. You don’t have to capitalize on it in order for it to be beneficial to not only you and your loved ones, but to the entire planet.

That said, there are many other paths you can follow should you choose to move beyond home herbalism:

2. Medicine Maker

You can solely be an herbal medicine maker and formulate preparations for yourself, your family, your friends, or your community. You can even set up a store online or at the farmers market or in a brick and mortar shop, just make sure to follow the FDA regulations as far as labeling, GMPs, or good manufacturing processes, and never imply that herbs can treat or diagnose disease, even indirectly, because they’re really strict and you can get in big trouble for breaking them.

3. Herb Farmer

You can be an herb farmer (like me), and grow medicinal plants to offer other local herbalists via in-person farmer's markets, a farm stand, a webstore, or a CSA program (community-supported agriculture). If you grow on a larger scale, bulk herb suppliers like Mountain Rose Herbs and Frontier Co-op don’t grow their own herbs— they work with farmers all over the world.

One of my personal favorite options is setting up a neighborhood plant or seed swap. This cuts out the capitalistic aspect of plant growing and nurtures a community mindset of reciprocity in sharing resources (especially if you’re like me and end up planting way more than you have space for!) If you’re not very social that’s okay— you could also set up a little neighborhood stand for "take a plant leave a plant."

4. Folk herbalist

A folk herbalist practices herbalism that is based mainly on traditional methods that have been passed down through generations in a specific culture or region. Typically, folk herbalists gain their knowledge through first hand experience with local plants and observing how they effect people, rather than through formal programs or scientific research. When a folk herbalist lives within the community, they can also be called a community herbalist or village healer.

5. Community Herbalist

A community herbalist is someone who practices herbalism that also emphasizes the traditional and historical uses of herbs, but their practice is also supported and informed by scientific research and modern discoveries. they usually gain their knowledge through formal schooling or apprenticeships, and they may also be a folk herbalist or a clinical herbalist, but they don’t have to be. Community herbalists act as teachers, sharing knowledge with their community: They focus on empowering individuals in their local neighborhood or town through accessible small group classes, educational workshops, community gardens, local apothecaries, and community outreach programs. Many opt to reach out to underserved populations or participate in mutual aid efforts.

6. Herb Forager

We absolutely need herbalists who are knowledgable in tending and preserving their region's local flora. So many Native medicinal plants are endangered due to the popularity of herbal medicine, and they need protection from both over-harvesting, habitat loss due to land development, and crowding out by invasive species. Getting involved with the United Plant Savers is a great place to start for this type of work.

7. Herbal Author

If you are a writer who loves plants, you can become an herbal author. Write about the plant's medicinal properties, energetic properties, astrology, history and folklore, or about your personal experiences with them. Readers love to learn about personal experiences with medicinal plants.

8. Herbal Artist

You can be an herbal artist, through photography, videography, painting, drawing, jewelry making, fabric dying, you name it. Plants are natural works of art on their own. There are countless ways to interpret and share them through your own artistic vision, and this counts as herbalism.

9. Culinary Herbalist

Culinary herbalists blend the art of cooking with the art and science of herbalism to intertwine the worlds of flavor and health— either at home or in a restaurant setting. They often experiment with herbs, spices, and seasonally foraged plants in order to elevate the nutritional value of their dishes while adding unique or exciting flavors. 

Culinary herbalism is such an important skill on so many levels beyond added nutritional value. While the simple act of gathering to enjoy lovingly prepared food is healing in its own right, introducing awareness of these plants to folks who otherwise wouldn’t give them a second glance can spark an interest in them that may just lead to their stories being told, more in-depth study, and, ideally, their preservation.

10. Herbal Educator

Eventually, you could become an herbal teacher. Since herbalism is a tradition and a practice that belongs to the people, It’s important that this is carried on. The government can restrict what we sell, but they can’t restrict what we learn. Yet. This is a huge responsibility and is asking a lot of trust, which I certainly do not take lightly.

11. Clinical Herbalist

This is what most folks think of when they hear the word "herbalist". But as we've seen, is is not the only way to practice!

A clinical herbalist typically advises 1-on-1 clients on using herbs and lifestyle practices in a way that is specifically tailored to that individual’s needs. Clinical herbalists may also work with other health-care practitioners, like doctors or nurses, and they tend to focus on a scientific approach to herbs and the body.

A clinical herbalist’s education is typically formal rather than passed down, and should include a foundation in modern science as well as the historical uses of herbs and medical education like anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry, as well as botany, herb and drug interactions and herbal formulation. In addition to their formal education, clinical herbalists often learn through an apprenticeship with an experienced herbalist, and some even go to medical school.

It’s very important to remember: ethical herbalists never attempt to diagnose, cure, or treat disease. They don’t run tests, they don’t interpret test results. Any of this would be considered practicing medicine without a license, which is a felony.

There are, however, a couple of routes for licensure through more specialized fields of study:

Practices rooted in traditional Eastern medicine such as Ayurveda or Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) do have national boards that allow you to practice under the protection of a license in the US if you qualify.

Ayurvedic Medicine

To practice Ayurveda, you can become licensed through the National Ayurvedic Medical Association Certification Board by taking the Doctor Level Certified Board Exam https://www.namacb.org/

Traditional Chinese Medicine

To practice Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), you need to be certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and meet state licensing requirements https://www.nccaom.org/

Naturopathic Doctor

Lastly, Naturopathic doctors are educated and trained in accredited naturopathic medical colleges (four-year, in-residence, postgraduate medical programs that follow a 4-year pre-med bachelor's program). In addition to a standard medical school curriculum, NDs complete training in clinical nutrition, acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, physical medicine, and counseling.

Note that a naturopathic doctor (ND) is NOT the same as a "naturopath"

Traditional naturopaths (who are not licensed NDs) obtain education through some combination of a mentorship program, distance-learning program, or classroom schooling on natural health or other holistic studies. There are no pre-requisite requirements in place in order for someone to call themselves a naturopath. They do not undergo licensing or board examinations the way naturopathic doctors do.

Other health professionals such as chiropractors, massage therapists, dentists, nurses, nutritionists, or physicians who do practice under a professional license and include some naturopathic methods in their practice might also call themselves naturopaths. While they do hold a professional license in their specific field, they are not licensed as doctors.

Can someone be more than one type of herbalist?

Absolutely! These categories are by no means exclusive. In fact, they rarely are. You'll often see community herbalists, folk herbalists, or home herbalists who are also medicine makers. Many folk herbalists are also community herbalists. Any type of herbalist can also become a herbal teacher or culinary herbalist if they feel called to.

It was probably ten years into my herbal journey before I felt confident enough to call myself a herbalist. Fifteen years in: I also refer to myself as a herbal educator, a herb farmer, and a medicine maker.

The possibilities are endless, so don't feel that you have to treat these categories as boxes with limitations. Make your herbal journey your own by following the paths that feel good to you!

If you would like to continue your herbal education on a path that incorporates community herbalism, medicine making, and herb farming through a lens that balances science with tradition:

Explore my Herbal Education Programs!

-Jovie Hawthorn Browne

A note on American views of herbal validity

When I first completed my initial two-year program in herbalism (after getting my bachelor's degree in biology), I was eager to get into a clinical apprenticeship or hands-on training program so that I could start working one-on-one with clients as soon as possible.

Because I did not grow up with elders who could teach me ways to work with plants, but I did have a background in hard science— practicing clinically in this way was, really, the only herbal path in which I could imagine being taken seriously.

Ultimately, this belief that working with herbs has to be "clinical", "official", "registered" or "board-certified", is rooted in oppressive systems (btw, herbal certification in the US doesn't exist)

We have become convinced that traditional herbal practices, learning from elders, empirical experience, and our own observations are not to be trusted. This type of rogue, feral herbalism where we learn from the plants and nature instead of universities and science labs, is just "woo woo".

We believe this even though (or maybe even especially because) that was the way herbal knowledge was passed down for thousands of years by Indigenous elders and all of our ancestors. But, in my young mind, this sort of herbalism wouldn't earn me respect.

It's not a huge leap, then, to see how this type of mindset is a result of how oppressive systems wiped out so much Indigenous knowledge and tradition by calling it "savage", "old wives tales", and "snake oil".

Now, don’t get me wrong: there is a lot of snake oil out there on the market. But most of it is a product of the wellness industry— not authentic practices that have been implemented for thousands of years. Unfortunately, those two things have both gotten lumped under the same title of “snake oil” as a result of the wellness industry exploiting and capitalizing on these traditional practices for decades. So, now, many folks think if it isn’t proven by scientists in lab coats: it can’t be legitimate.

This is also a big reason so many white Americans feel completely disconnected from our ancestry. Indigenous and ancestral practices have existed and been erased from all over the world and across numerous cultural backgrounds— not just for people of color (but especially for people of color).

But even European cultures— Scottish, Irish, Polish, and Slavic folks— all of these regions and more held traditions that were passed down from their ancestors that they abandoned in order to blend in with the "melting pot" of American whiteness. Languages stopped being spoken, recipes that looked or smelled too "weird" were swapped out for PB&J, healing and spiritual practices were hidden— all for fear of being “othered” and ostracized. This still happens today.

So, rather than allow ourselves to grieve this disconnection from our lineage and do the work to restore what we can through the shared knowledge of others, many of us, subconsciously perhaps, choose instead to belittle anything not proven by science by calling it “woo woo”. When, if we unpack that, there may actually be some displaced grief or even a little bit of jealousy that we never had that type of meaningful cultural practice to belong to.

Ironically, though, most of what science now knows about medicinal plants is thanks to researchers went back through old-timey medical texts (called pharmacopeia). These were compilations of the information settlers had learned from Indigenous healers, and they said, “Hey, let's see if this stuff actually works.”

So, ultimately, scientists are simply proving what indigenous communities already know, then the wellness industry is selling it back to all of us as "legitimate" in the form of standardized extracts and supplements.

So, keep this in mind as you explore different paths for learning herbalism and decide which is best for you.