What is a Herbalist?

A herbalist is a person who uses the leaves, flowers, roots, and bark of plants to heal people. Herbal supplements are sometimes called “botanicals” and they come in many forms:

• as a tea that you drink,
• as an oil, cream, or ointment which you apply,
• as bath salts which you soak in, or
• as capsules filled with powdered herbs or plant extracts.

The Food and Drug Administration considers herbs and botanicals as “food” and not a “drugs”. Some people prefer herbal medicines rather than modern (synthetic) medicines because herbal medicines use the entire part of a plant (the leaves, the roots, etc) which is in contrast to conventional medicines which only use the isolated “active” ingredient.

For thousands of years, people have used plants as medicines; they have anti-inflammatory properties, they can alleviate depression, calm upset stomachs, clear skin rashes, and more. Herbal medicines are not regulated by a government agency, thus, it’s important to work with a Herbalist to ensure that you are taking the correct herbs, in the correct form, and in the correct dosage.

If you are taking herbal medicines and conventional medicines at the same time, be sure to tell your doctor so they can look out for any interactions that may arise.