Herbal therapist
Also known as: herbal medicine therapist, medical herbalist, herbal practitioner, iridologist, phytotherapist, herbal medicine practitioner
About this occupation
Herbal therapists use herbal medicine to relief pain and treat illnesses such as allergies, chronic physical conditions or stress-related conditions. They study the properties and benefits of plants and create a personalised treatment plan for the patients.
Essential skills and knowledge
- characteristics of plants
- apply context specific clinical competences
- provide health education
- maintain healthcare user data confidentiality
- human physiology
- ensure safety of healthcare users
- maintain work area cleanliness
- acupuncture methods
- phytotherapy
- study topics
- interact with healthcare users
- develop a collaborative therapeutic relationship
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Acupuncturists (O*NET 29-1291.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Maintain and follow standard quality, safety, environmental, and infection control policies and procedures.
- Treat patients using tools, such as needles, cups, ear balls, seeds, pellets, or nutritional supplements.
- Adhere to local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and statutes.
- Identify correct anatomical and proportional point locations based on patients' anatomy and positions, contraindications, and precautions related to treatments, such as intradermal needles, moxibustion, electricity, guasha, or bleeding.
- Develop individual treatment plans and strategies.
- Insert needles to provide acupuncture treatment.
- Typical education (US)
- Master's Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 5 of 5
- Interests
- Social, Investigative, Realistic
Top skills: Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Speaking, Judgment and Decision Making
US median pay: US$76,040 a year (2025), 7,830 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- PsychologyO*NET: PsychologyVery important (3.8)
- BiologyO*NET: BiologyVery important (3.7)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.6)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementImportant (3.4)
- Economics or AccountingO*NET: Economics and AccountingImportant (3.1)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Master's Degree
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Naturopathic Physicians
- Chiropractors
- Massage Therapists
- Cardiologists
- General Internal Medicine Physicians
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians
- Nurse Practitioners
- Family Medicine Physicians
- Allergists and Immunologists
- Emergency Medicine Physicians
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.