Tina Winterlik: Herbology- Herbalist

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Herbology- Herbalist

Blog post by Tina Winterlik
http://tinawinterlik.blogspot.com
March 3/2011

It's my dream that one day Angel and I will be Herbalists. I have said for many years now, it would be cool if she was a herbalist by the time she's 12. She's 8 now and a lot can be learned in 4 years, so I better get on it.

As I mentioned in that last post it would be wonderful to be a herbalist and own a shop in the Kootenay's like Gaia Gardens http://www.gaiagarden.com/
http://tinawinterlik.blogspot.com/2011/03/gaia-gardens-apothecary.html and grow lots of lavender and herbs http://tinawinterlik.blogspot.com/2011/03/gaia-gardens-apothecary.html

Maybe have simple little an art gallery with all my art like http://tinawinterlik.blogspot.com/2011/03/jacana-art-gallery-granville-st.html
and put up all my paintings http://paintingathon.blogspot.com/ and my photos from http://adventurezinmexico.blogspot.com/
Those are my dreams and projections, now I just have to make them happen.

Here is the Research I have done on Herbology & Herbalist.

Canadian Herbalist's Association of BC
http://www.chaofbc.ca/whatisherbalism.php
An herbalist is a person who collects, studies, and uses plants – generally in a medicinal manner.

Herbalism, also known as Phytotherapy, is the use of plants to treat common ailments and promote wellness. It is the oldest form of medicinal healing known to man. Although it is classified as an alternative therapy, it is the most widely practiced form of medicine used worldwide, with over 80% of the world’s population relying on herbs for health. Currently over 50% of all new pharmaceutical prescriptions contain at least one ingredient either produced directly from plants or discovered from plant sources and later synthesized. Modern medicine draws it origins from early herbal therapies. Until the advent of synthetic medicine within the past 50 - 100 years, all medical doctors prescribed herbs routinely.

Herbal medicine uses plants that do not have the aggressive and invasive action of modern drugs, but instead support the body’s own natural tendency to heal itself. Herbal products are derived from roots, stems, flowers or leaves of plants and are frequently sold in liquid extracts, capsules, tablets or teas. Herbalists prefer to use remedies extracted from a part of the whole plant, with all its bio-chemical constituents, rather than individual standardized extracts. It is believed that the active constituents are naturally balanced within the plant, and consequently aid in working on the body, mind and spirit in a less invasive manner.

From a holistic standpoint, a person is not a patient with a disease syndrome but a whole being. This wholeness necessitates the therapist appreciates the mental, emotional, spiritual, social and environmental aspects of their patients lives, as well as the physical.

The importance of tailoring the treatment to meet the individual's needs is fundamental. Holistic medicine sees health as a positive state of well being, and not simply the absence of disease. It emphasizes the promotion of health and the prevention of disease. Therapeutic modalities are then employed that mobilize the individual's innate capacity for self healing. An individual's role in their own healing process is emphasized, with much responsibility being handed back to them. Herbalism abounds with opportunities to experience the reality of the healing presence of nature whether in treating disease or in hugging a tree.

Herbalism is both an art and a science. With our well established roots of past empirical knowledge we know look to the future, with the aid of qualified herbalists and advancements in science that are able to better identify plants and their constituents, ensuring that mankind will continue to benefit from the immense contributions that plants have to offer.

A Herbal Therapist is an individual trained (from different traditions and avenues of learning, whether academic, apprenticeship or otherwise) in the practice of herbal medicine who:

is trained in the therapeutic use of crude botanical medicines;
primarily uses traditional preparations* of crude botanical material; and
is qualified** and competent to take this responsibility and be held accountable for their recommendations. Read More Here: http://www.chaofbc.ca/membership.php

* Traditional preparations include, but are not limited to: tinctures, teas, capsules, infusions, decoctions, syrups, plasters, poultices, oils, liniments, ointments, fomentations, salves, etc.

** Appropriate qualification could include formal training, self-study, apprenticeship model and others.

Wikipedia- Herbalist

An herbalist is a professional trained in herbalism, the use of herbs (also called botanical or crude medicine) to treat others. Professional herbal designations include the following: Read More Here

Education of herbalists varies considerably in different areas of the world. Lay herbalists and traditional indigenous medicine people generally rely upon apprenticeship and recognition from their communities in lieu of formal schooling.

In some countries formalised training and minimum education standards exist, although these are not necessarily uniform within or between countries.

For example, in Australia the currently self-regulated status of the profession (as of April 2008) results in different associations setting different educational standards, and subsequently recognising an educational institution or course of training.

Qualifications levels vary from Diploma to Masters degree, with Advanced Diploma level being regulated to some degree by the national Health Training Packages issued by the Australian National Training Authority.

The Course Accreditation System Version 2 of the National Herbalists Association of Australia http://www.nhaa.org.au/ is generally recognized as the most rigorous and professional standard within Australia.^[10]

Herbalists may engage in wildcrafting or cultivation of herbs, as well as diagnosis and treatment of conditions or dispensing herbal medication. Most herbal traditions depend upon constitutional analysis of the client, treating the patient instead of the disease.^[11]^[12]

Many herbalists, particularly those with 'apothecary' herbal backgrounds, become affiliated with or found commercial herbal products manufacturing companies for producing herbal products of varying kinds.

Most 'liquid' herbal products companies hold the distinction of having been started by individuals who were already practicing herbalists and took their apothecary herbal skills onto full commercial endeavors.

http://www.chaofbc.ca/ Canadian Herbalist's Association of BC

ht tp://www.chaofbc.ca/

The purpose and goals of the Canadian Herbalist's Association of BC is to:

* Monitor and maintain the educational qualifications and the practice of ethical Herbal Practitioners

* Strive to promote better health with herbs

* Advance the understanding and knowledge of the practice of Herbalism

* Aim to increase the acceptance of herbal medicine through public awareness and the cultivation of research in the field of herbal medicine

* Provide a collective voice for all herbal practitioners at the government level by providing input for Sector Studies and an application to the Health Protections Branch for recognition as a profession

* The CHAofBC also works to unite herbal professionals worldwide; assisting in the protection of the character and status of all herbalists

Herbal medicine is one of the oldest forms of healing, with 80% of the world still using herbs as their primary form of health care, according to the World Health Organization. In the Western World, and especially here is Canada, the use of herbs and natural products has seen an unprecedented increase, with sales of herbal products soaring and enrollment at herbal colleges growing steadily. It is for these reasons that the Canadian Herbalist Association of British Columbia hope to provide leadership and direction for herbal medicine in the 21st Century.

We encourage you to become an active part of our organization and help us in meeting our goals.

Canadian Herbalist's Association of BC- Links
http://www.chaofbc.ca/links.php

Professional Herbalists Associations

The Canadian Council of Herbalist Associations (CCHA) http://herbalccha.org/

The Ontario Herbalists Association http://www.herbalists.on.ca/

National Institute of Medical Herbalists http://www.nimh.org.uk/

American Herbalists Guild http://www.americanherbalistsguild.com/

National Herbalists Association of Australia http://www.nhaa.org.au/

New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists http://nzamh.org.nz/