Nurse Herbalist - Martha Ballard
Martha Ballard (1734-1812) was an American midwife who worked as a nurse and herbal healer. Her detailed diaries revealed her daily work as a midwife at a time when little was known about healthcare workers. She was an expert in giving herbal medicines and remedies, especially to women who had just given birth.
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The history of herbalism extends back thousands of years from around the world.
To learn more about the history of nurse herbalism subscribe to our website. To revitalize nurse herbalism in your community enroll in our introductory course for continuing education credits.
Nurse Herbalist
Role, Requirments, & Career Path
Overview
A Nurse Herbalist is a licensed Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) who brings specialized herbalism training into their practice to promote wellness, support patient care, and help guide integrative health options. These professionals can work across diverse settings such as hospitals, clinics, wellness centers, hospice, and home healthcare.
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Education & Training Requirements
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LPN/LVN Pathway: Completion of a state-approved vocational nursing program (typically ~1 year) followed by successful passage of the NCLEX-PN. Average annual wage: $62,340 (May 2024).
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Registered Nurse (RN) Pathway: Earn an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing and pass the NCLEX-RN. Median annual salary: $93,600 (May 2024). Some sources also place RN pay at $98,430, reflecting the top of the range.
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Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs): Includes Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Anesthetists, and Midwives. Median wage: $132,050 (May 2024), with projected job growth of 40%.
Projected Job Growth for Nursing Roles
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RNs: Projected job growth of 6% from 2023–2033, translating to roughly 194,500 new openings annually.
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LPNs/LVNs: Modest growth of 3% over the same decade.
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APRNs: A more dynamic outlook with a projected 38–40% growth, reflecting increasing demand due to expanded scope of practice.
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Job Duties & Scope of Practice
Nurse Herbalists blend traditional nursing responsibilities with herbal care:
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Perform comprehensive assessments, including client histories and current medication/herb use.
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Educate clients on combining conventional treatments with herbal approaches.
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Prepare herbal formulations including teas, tinctures, infusions, and topical applications.
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Monitor and evaluate patient responses, adjusting care plans accordingly.
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Uphold safety standards, understanding herb–drug interactions, and advocate within healthcare teams.
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Stay current through continuing education, conferences, and integration of holistic clinical protocols.
Why Nurse Herbalists Matter in 2025
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Workforce Growth: Nearly 200,000 RN job openings annually indicate strong market presence and opportunity.
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Rising Trust and Integrative Care Trends: With herbal therapies gaining attention as cost-effective and low-risk complements to conventional medicine.
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Authority to Guide Patients Safely: As the most trusted profession, nurses equipped with herbal knowledge can lead integrative care responsibly.
References
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Registered Nurse salary: $93,600, May 2024 (AAC Nursing),
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LPN/LVN salary: $62,340, May 2024 (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
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APRN salary & growth: $132,050 with 40% growth (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
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RN job growth and openings data (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Registered Herbalist
Clinical Role, Training & Requirements
Overview
A Registered Herbalist (RH), recognized by the American Herbalist Guild (AHG), is a clinical herbalist who has completed extensive education and supervised practice. The RH credential signals peer-reviewed clinical competence, ethical practice, and a strong foundation in herbal medicine.
Education & Training Requirements (AHG)
To qualify for the RH designation, applicants must complete:
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Approximately 800 hours of botanical medicine education covering topics such as:
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Basic Human Sciences (150 hrs): anatomy, physiology, pathology, biochemistry
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Materia Medica (260 hrs): clinical application of at least 150 herbs across Western, Ayurvedic, or Traditional Chinese Medicine frameworks
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History, Philosophy & Therapeutic Paradigms (120 hrs): traditions of global herbal systems and evidence-based integration
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Pharmacy, Pharmacognosy & Dispensing (80 hrs): medicine making, herbs identification, dosage, and formulation
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Botany & Plant Science (60 hrs): identification and recognition of medicinal and toxic plant species
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Research & Evidence-Based Methods (20 hrs): evaluating clinical research and herb safety
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Practice Management & Ethics (30 hrs): record keeping, scope of practice, legal/ethical considerations.
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Approximately 400 hours of hands-on clinical experience involving:
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Full client intake, differential assessment, personalized herbal protocols, and follow-up care
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A limit of 100 hours may be supervised or part of structured programs; at least 300 hours must be independent practice, serving ~80 individual clients across two years.
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Additional AHG Requirements
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Case Histories: Submit three comprehensive client case studies with assessment, protocol, and outcome documentation
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Letters of Recommendation: Two letters—one from a primary herbal instructor, the other from a qualified herbal clinician
Practice Management & Ethics Demonstration: Provide contact information for three healthcare practitioners you consult or refer to when beyond your scope -
Continuing Education: Show commitment to ongoing herbal education and professional development
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Why the RH Credential Matters
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It sets a recognized standard of clinical competency and ethical practice for herbalists.
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Provides trust and credibility to clients, healthcare peers, and institutions.
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Supports integration of herbal medicine into broader healthcare settings guided by documented, evidence-informed practice.
References