The Herbalist's Spectra

"Being an Herbalist" has almost as many finer shades of color as there are herbalists to paint the picture.
Also similar to color, many of the concepts herbalists use to describe themselves can be organized along a spectrum with very different world-views described at each end.

While helping to describe what being an herbalist is like, the spectra can also be viewed as a tool for the overview of potential within the study of herbalism. An herbalist who finds that they align most closely with one side of a spectrum can introduce new ideas and concepts by taking some time to work at the other end.

The main spectra which I have observed are along the lines of the following: Theory Orientation, Source of Botanical Materials, Style Orientation, and Educational Background.

Herbalists don't necessarily fall on the same end off all spectra, although I have grouped them according to which values seem to be most consistently selected among proponents of Western vs Eastern philosophy. Values and views which western style herbalists seem to appreciate are on the left, values and views seemingly appreciated by eastern style herbalists are on the right.   

As far as I can tell, herbalists can (and do) also select from various points along each spectrum, which gives even more options. 

Theory Orientation: Western ------ Eastern
Source of Botanical Materials: Local ------- Global
Style Orientation: Folk------Clinical
Educational Background: Self Taught -------School Graduate.

Here is more information about the categories and their spectra:

Theory Orientation

Western Theory is typically based around traditional Greek and Roman medical concepts and the Eclectic traditions of early American physicians, such as the humors and matching herbs with people by way of very specific symptom pictures. The symptom pictures include very detailed information on the emotional state as well as physical state. Eastern Theory favors detailed description of energy patterns within the body and the working relationships of the five elemental organ systems, which are generally described in terms of parent - child or grandparent-grandchild relationships. The parent - child relationship describes which element systems nourish each other, while the grandparent-grandchild relationship explains how the elements are a controlling influence on one another. The systems are not mutually exclusive, however, and a great deal can be learned hovering about the middle of the spectrum and absorbing information from each.

Source of Botanical Materials

Local source proponents tend to grow or wild craft all of their own material, preferring plants which are in the immediate vicinity of where the herbalist lives. They like to have intimate knowledge of the ecological impact of harvesting the plants they use, and often engage in habitat restoration, creating botanical sanctuaries, and tending the remaining plants by weeding out invasive species and helping to distribute seeds. Native plants are often favored over plants from other areas or countries. Herbalists with a more global penchant often use herbs from around the world, such as in the case of Ayurvedic or Traditional Chinese formulas. Rainforest herbs are another example of the herbs a global herbalist might seek out.

Style Orientation

Folk herbalists are more likely to use simpling (use of a single herb rather than a complex formula), be more interested in exploring traditional uses of local plants, and see themselves as kitchen or informal herbalists. This is not to say that their knowledge or experiences are in anyway inferior to those of a more formal clinical herbalists. Rather, that the knowledge and experiences are of a different, and generally complementary, sort. Clinical herbalists may define themselves as such because they work in a medical setting, under the supervision of and as consultants for MDs. Or, they may simply be trying to express their affinity for studying the chemical actions and building blocks of plants in a more structured and formally scientific way.

Educational Orientation

At the left end of the educational spectrum are the self taught or informally apprenticed herbalists. Self taught herbalists may use a combination of books, hands on work, and workshop attendance to further their skills. Moving towards the right are the many and diverse herbal schools developed by experienced herbalists after many years of honing their own skills, and these schools have various levels of intensity and formality according to the personality of the founding herbalist. At the extreme left are the graduates of a Naturopathic program (ND) of formal, rigorous study in a university setting.

Again, there are many herbalists who will identify at various points along each spectrum, but I hope that this will be a good overview about what being an herbalist can mean, as well as useful tool in exploring the full potential of herbalism.