What is herbal medicine?
Herbal medicine is a holistic healing modality that relies on herbal and plant-based remedy treatments to treat patients and ensure the optimal functions of the different organ systems in their bodies. This assists with an individual's mental and physical wellbeing. Herbal medicine practitioners provide assistance to those dealing with either one or more of the following physical or psychological problems:
- Eczema
- Hay fever
- Menopausal symptoms
- Headaches
- Chronic fatigue
- Mood disorders
- Allergies
- Skin problems
- Asthma
- Stress
- Insomnia
- Digestive issues
- Migraines
- Arthritis
- Colds and flu
Other branches of herbal medicine include:
Herbalists can join one of the many professional herbal medicine industry associations:
- Australian Register of Naturopaths and Herbalists (ARONAH)
- National Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA)
- Western Herbal Medicine Accreditation
- Australian Natural Therapists Association (ANTA)
Should you complete a herbal medicine course?
Are you interested in learning about how natural therapies and remedies improve the health of an individual? If you believe that your career interests and goals align with this, herbal medicine is the perfect next step for you to take! Some of the traits and characteristics that potential employers are looking for when hiring for herbalists include:
- A curious mind who is always eager to learn and expand their knowledge in the field of herbal medicine which is constantly being updated with new research.
- High attention to detail and accuracy when preparing and administering tailored herbal remedies for clients.
- Good problem-solving skills when determining the best treatment or remedy for the client that takes into consideration their medical history, lifestyle and nutrition levels.
- Clear and articulate communication skills especially when explaining to clients their herbal remedy treatment plan and the benefits that it can provide for them.
If you see a link between your personal interests and interpersonal skills with those embodied by herbal medicine practitioners. If so, continue reading to learn about how to begin and thrive in a career as a herbalist.
What are the course and study options for herbalists in Canberra?
The minimum requirement of being a herbalist in Canberra is that you have completed either an Advanced Diploma or Bachelor of Health Science majoring in Western Herbal Medicine. Depending on your schedule and preferred learning style, you can choose to do this either on-campus or online.
These classes are taught by industry experts who have many years of experience working as a herbalist or teaching within this field. There is a vast range of topics that you will explore during these lessons. This includes botany, pharmacology and biochemistry and their linkages with the herbal medicine field. Alongside your studies, you will complete a clinical training module where you will work in a clinical health setting with an accredited herbalist. This will teach you practical skills of how to conduct yourself in a professional manner in a workplace setting as well as learning how to communicate with clients.
If you are ready to commence your journey as a herbalist, this page will provide you with some of the top schools that offer herbal medicine courses. You can get in touch with them directly if you have any questions regarding their course length, tuition fees and start dates.
What happens after you complete your herbal medicine course in Canberra?
Once you finish your initial herbal medicine undergraduate course, you will be eligible to work as an accredited herbalist. Most herbal medicine practitioners commence their work either in specialist health clinics or herbal dispensaries.
After a couple of years, when you start to feel more confident in your technical competencies as a herbalist and business skills, you have the opportunity to start your own private practice specialising in herbal medicine. This is a much sought after option by herbal medicine practitioners as it gives them a greater degree of control over their business management and the way they conduct their client consultations.
Natural Therapy Pages can assist you with the process of the difficult yet rewarding process of setting up your business by allowing you to list your face-to-face herbal medicine services or online herbal medicine appointments via the relevant practitioner listing page. This can assist with growing your business and gaining new clients.
Finally, if you are interested in expanding your knowledge in this constantly changing sector, you should consider enrolling in a postgraduate course in herbal medicine. This will equip you with the technical knowledge and skillset to improve your job prospects and even open up the doors for you to work in the academic or research field.
