4247.0: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 5:10 PM

Abstract #31544

Herbal Certification

Aviva Romm, AHG, American Herbalist Guild, Atlanta, GA, , avivajill@aol.com

Since 1989 the American Herbalist Guild has provided a standard of education and ethics, as well as an admissions process for clinical herbalists. Successful completion of the admissions review process grants the credential Herbalist, AHG. This process has now been revised to a formal registry, so that successful completion grants the designation Registered Herbalist, RH. In the past three years, the AHG has been developing a national certification exam for herbalists and licensed health professionals who wish to demonstrate excellence in the practice of herbal medicine. The AHG and the Botanical Medicine Academy, founded by naturopathic physicians specializing in botanical medicine, seek to provide an avenue for demonstration of a postgraduate level of knowledge in phytotherapy. Successful completion of the exam will grant the designation Certified Clinical Herbalist, CCH. This brief lecture will discuss the importance of herbalist and naturopath led standards of training and knowledge in botanical medicine, and will explain how the registry and certification processes encourage a dependable standard that emphasizes clinical competence.

Learning Objectives: Participant will be able to identify the importance of herbal certification in the safe use of botanical medicine.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA