Hello, Benjamin. Thanks for starting this thread.
Are you drawn to a particular system of herbal medicine? It's very helpful to be grounded in at least one of the larger traditional systems (e.g., Ayurveda, TCM, Unani, Western Herbalism).
You then have a choice to make as to whether to find an educational program to take or go the self-taught route.
You can pick up a lot through books and videos. One necessary component of your herbal education will be the acquisition of knowledge. The energetics of herbal medicine at their core do have simplicity to them so some of the concepts can be picked up relatively quickly. Herbalists are usually trained as generalists, so it does take some time to become acquainted with the myriad of health imbalances that can manifest. And there are far more herbs than there is time to learn about them all. It takes a while to learn about and narrow down the herbs and formulas that will eventually become the ones most useful to your practice. There is no end to this study. Some herbalists I know have time set aside every working day to continue their learning.
There is then also the practice of making, processing, and formulating herbs and herbal formulas. There is practical skill required here, along with some specialized equipment. In order for herbs to work, it's essential to obtain high quality ones. A herbalist ideally should be able to process their own herbs when required.
Then there is a whole other side to herbal medicine that requires direct perceptual relationship with both the herbs and the clients. This perceptual enterprise requires time and attention and repeated exposure. Some call this side intuition. How do you know any of the knowledge that you gained in your education is correct or fitting for the context in which you're applying it? Ultimately, you must always perceive to see if the knowledge you are applying is fitting, accurate, helpful, and working. This part of the herbal practice, seeing that perception is more fundamental than knowledge, and that knowledge is the byproduct of the of the perceptual process, is the one that seems to be the most missed in modern times. It's also important to spend time with the herbs, both in their natural habitat and by growing them yourself. And then using them. Tasting them. Perceiving them.
A herbalist needs a community. A herbalist needs peer consultations. A herbalist in training needs to be supervised. Building this relationship with other herbalist, preferably including ones in your local area, is a necessary component as well. Going the educational program route can help a lot in this area. It's really good and enjoyable to attend conferences if you're able to.
Then there is the business side of being a herbalist. Some people hate this side and wish they didn't have to deal with it at all. Others don't mind it and find the process stimulating. You will need to set up a website. You will need to have consent forms and legal disclaimers. You will have to find suppliers of herbs. You will need to build a questionnaire that helps you obtain the information you require to do an intake and initial appointment. You will need to have a scheduling system and a payment system. You will have to market yourself. It's good too if you produce content that is valuable to the greater herbal community and release it on your website or social media channels.
It can be difficult to get your name out there at first and get your first few clients, like any new field a person is entering into, but if you persist it's usually then a matter of time.
