WHAT IS A HERBALIST?
A herbalist is a holistic healthcare practitioner who uses plants and other elements from nature to promote healing, prevent illness, and improve overall health by looking at the whole person and their life experience. Further, a herbalist is trained to assess multiple conditions, as well as the underlying causes, to custom design a herbal formula, which may come in the form of a tincture, poultice, capsules, dried herbs for tea and or decoctions, ointments, or other preparations to meet the individuals need, in order to support and assist the body's natural protective and healing mechanisms.
What is a Registered Herbalist?
"Registered Herbalists (RH): are accredited specialists in medicinal plants and their therapeutic use. The Ontario Herbalists Association is the only body providing self-regulated certification for herbalists in the province of Ontario. Registered Herbalists meet our education and professional standards, and agree to abide by our Code of Ethics, Code of Practice and Scope of Practice. They have studied the intricacies and artistry of plant synergy and know how to combine plants for maximum efficiency. They know how to ensure their herbs are of highest quality and safety, and are knowledgeable about possible interactions between herbs and pharmaceutical medication. You can be confident of the highest quality of care with a Registered Herbalist, whether you are experiencing complex health concerns or simply wish to maintain an excellent level of health and well-being." The Ontario Herbalist Association
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What is Herbal Medicine?
"Herbal medicine is a system of healing that uses medicinal plants and natural protocols to prevent or treat disease, and to maintain optimal health and well-being. " ​The Ontario Herbalist Association
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Are Herbs Effective?
"Herbal medicine is a safe and effective healing modality for everyone. People of all ages, from infants to the very elderly, can benefit from herbs. Those already receiving medical care may be further helped, and are given treatments which do not adversely interact with their medication. A registered herbalists knowledge of their medicine comes from empirical wisdom gathered over centuries of practice, interwoven with modern scientific understanding and accomplishments. Harvested, prepared, and compounded in accordance with time-tested, traditional principles, herbal medicine is a powerful healing agent, often achieving strikingly positive results". The Ontario Herbalist Association