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Medical herbalist
Hours
Variable
Starting salary
Variable
WorkDesc
The work
Medical herbalists use the healing power of plants to treat a wide range of medical conditions, including skin problems, allergies, arthritis and stress-related conditions. Herbal medicine (also known as phytotherapy) combines knowledge of traditional plant remedies with modern medical science.
Many conventional medicines are based on chemicals found in plants, but herbalists use whole parts of the plant (such as leaves, berries or roots) as they believe this makes a more ‘balanced’ natural remedy.
As a herbalist, you would treat a patient after looking at their lifestyle, diet and emotional issues as well as the physical symptoms. Your work would involve:
- taking a detailed history of the patient’s symptoms and lifestyle
- carrying out a physical assessment and appropriate tests
- making a diagnosis and prescribing a relevant herbal remedy
- (in some cases) growing and preparing herbs in various forms, including capsules, extracts, ointments or infusions
- advising on wider health and lifestyle issues
- keeping detailed patient notes
- seeing patients for follow-up appointments.
You could specialise in western herbal medicine, or in Chinese or Indian herbal traditions.
HoursDesc
Hours
Most herbalists are self-employed. This means that you could choose your own working hours, although you may often provide evening and weekend appointments to meet the needs of your patients.
You would usually work from consulting and treatment rooms that may be at your home, an alternative therapy centre, natural health clinic or GP surgery. You may also visit patients in their own homes.
IncomeDesc
Income
As a self-employed herbalist, income depends on the hours you work and the number of clients you see. You would typically charge an hourly rate of between £30 and £100, plus the cost of any medicines you provide.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
To prepare for work as a medical herbalist, you should complete a degree in herbal medicine approved by the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH) or one of the other organisations represented by the European Herbal and Traditional Medicine Practitioners’ Association (EHTPA).
To get on to an approved degree, you will typically need at least five GCSEs (A-C) and two A levels including biology. However, alternative qualifications may be accepted and your life experience may also count towards entry. You should discuss exact entry requirements with course providers.
You may find it useful to arrange some work shadowing with a practising herbalist before you begin to study.
Degrees last three years full-time or five or six years part-time. Your studies will include anatomy and physiology, botany, pharmacology, nutrition and conventional medical treatments. Courses also include at least 500 hours of supervised clinical practice with patients.
If you are a trained medical practitioner such as a doctor or nurse, you could take a postgraduate diploma or MSc degree in herbal medicine.
Statutory Regulation
The Department of Health is considering bringing in statutory regulation for medical herbalists, which may have an impact on the education and training of practitioners. For the latest information, check with the NIMH or EHTPA.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
Once you have completed a NIMH recognised course, you will be eligible to join NIMH. As a member, you can join their three-year postgraduate training scheme, which involves mentoring, self-assessment and further training courses. The NIMH also offers seminars and research opportunities for members.
You could also choose to register with another association represented by the umbrella organisation, the EHTPA, or one of the mixed complementary therapy professional bodies such as the Institute for Complementary Medicine (which runs the British Register of Complementary Practitioners) or the Complementary Medical Association (CMA). See each organisation's website for details of their registration and eligibility rules.
You should maintain your skills and knowledge throughout your career, for example by keeping up to date with new research, and attending conferences and short courses. You could also develop skills in related therapies such as homeopathy and Bach flower remedies.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
- the ability to build trust and rapport with patients
- good listening and communication skills
- an understanding and sensitive manner
- an analytical and logical approach to problem solving
- a genuine desire to help people
- the ability to motivate others
- accurate record keeping skills
- knowledge of biology, chemistry, anatomy and conventional medical treatments
- the commercial skills to run your own business.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH) 
Elm House
54 Mary Arches Street
Exeter
Devon
EX4 3BA
Tel: 01392 426022
www.nimh.org.uk
Institute for Complementary Medicine
Can-Mezzanine
32-36 Loman Street
London
SE1 0EH
Tel: 020 7922 7980
www.i-c-m.org.uk
Complementary Medical Association
www.the-cma.org.uk
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
Interest in herbal medicine and other types of complementary therapy has grown in recent years.
You would usually be self-employed and your success would depend on your reputation and the amount of time and effort you are prepared to put in to build your list of clients and market your business.
You could also choose to create and sell your own herbal remedies.
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
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Related industry information
Industry summary
The health sector is represented by Skills for Health Sector Skills Council, which comprises three sub‐sectors:
- National Health Service (NHS)
- Independent Healthcare Sector (such as private and charitable healthcare providers)
- Third Sector (healthcare) (such as small local community and voluntary groups, registered charities, foundations, trusts, social enterprises and co‐operatives)
The health sector is made up of hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, dental practices, the ambulance service, nursing homes, residential care homes, complementary medicine and a huge range of other health related activities, from sight tests in opticians to research in medical laboratories. Most people in the health sector work in the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS), which includes:
- primary care (organisations which the public goes to first) – Doctors/General Practitioners (GPs), NHS Walk in Centres, NHS Direct, Out of Hours Emergency Care
- secondary care (organisations which the public are referred onto) – Ambulance Trusts, NHS Trusts/hospitals, NHS Foundation Trusts/hospitals, Mental Health Trusts, Care Trusts (provide joint health and social care activities)
NHS policy in England is directed from the centre by the Department of Health. Local organisations, known as Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), are in charge of providing and commissioning services, controlling the majority of the budget. PCTs are overseen by 10 regional organisations called Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs).
The independent sector includes companies and charities that offer hospital and specialist services usually after referral from a doctor. Operations and other work are carried out in private hospitals, independent treatment centres, mental health units and hospices.
Key facts:
- The health sector is the largest employer in the UK, representing 5.5% of the working age population of the UK and 7.3% of the working age population that are currently in employment.
- It is estimated that the sector employs over 2 million people, including:
- over 1.5 million people in the NHS (72%)
- over 0.5 million people in the Independent Healthcare sector (26%)
- almost 40,000 in the voluntary sector (2%)
- 56% of the workforce has a higher education qualification (or equivalent).
- The age profile for the sector shows an older than average workforce, which is due in part to the fact that it takes some professions a long time to train and can mean that people enter the sector later.
There is a varied list of jobs in the sector ranging from a diverse number of clinical roles, to support and infrastructure staff, for instance: Allied Health Professionals (AHPs); Ambulance Staff; Dental Staff; Doctors/Medical staff; Nursing staff; Midwifery Staff; Healthcare Scientists; Health Informatics Staff; Management; Wider Healthcare Team; Complementary Therapists.
National and regional data
High proportions of the health sector workforce are located in:
- London
- South East
- North West
East Midlands - The health sector employs 131,515 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East Midlands employs 8% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 29% of all employment across the sector or 41,200 employees.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
East of England - The health sector employs 164,720 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East of England employs 9.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 52,300 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 14% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 103,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
London - The health sector employs over 249,524 people, which accounts for 6% of all the employment in the region.
- London employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 33% of all employment across the sector or 78,500 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 146,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North East - The health sector employs 89,201 people, which accounts for 8.7% of all employment in the region.
- The North East employs 5.3 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 23,800 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be almost 46,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North West - The health sector employs 251,960 people, which accounts for 8% of all employment in the region.
- The North West employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South East - The health sector employs 264,071 people, which accounts for 7.1% of all employment in the region.
- The South East employs 15.7% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 164,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South West - The health sector employs 182,187 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- The South West employs 10.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 60,700 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 105,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
West Midlands - The health sector employs 168,746 people, which accounts for 7.2% of all employment in the region.
- The West Midlands employs 10% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 43,000 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 9% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 108,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Yorkshire and the Humber - The health sector employs 182,848 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- Yorkshire and the Humber employ 10.9 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 24% of the total health care workforce or 42,000 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 97,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Northern Ireland - The health sector employs 61,300 people.
- Northern Ireland employs 3% of the total health sector workforce.
- 81% of the workforce is female.
- 26% of the workforce is aged 35‐44 years.
- 96% of the workforce is white.
- 10% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 48% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Scotland - The health sector employs 201,500 people.
- Scotland employs 10% of the total health sector workforce.
- 78% of the workforce is female.
- 30% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 95% of the workforce is white.
- 14% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 39% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Wales - The health sector employs 114,900 people.
- Wales employs 6% of the total health sector workforce.
- 74% of the workforce is female.
- 34% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 94% of the workforce is white.
- 18% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 40% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 27% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2008‐2009, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, and Northern Ireland Census of Employment, 2007]
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