RIGHT FOR YOU?
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR ACUPUNCTURIST AND HERBALIST
NCCAOM BOARD CERTIFICATION - this is the National Council for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. They are the National organization that writes, tests and certifies acupuncturists and herbalist. This certification tells you that your practitioner has undergone rigorous academic and clinical training to become board certified.
Make sure they are licensed in whichever state you receiving treatment in
Unfortunately in the state of Michigan herbal medicine is not required licensed to practice herbal medicine. This means any practitioner regardless of their education training can claim they can also prescribe herbs. I say this heavy-heartedly because I respect anyone willing to learn and curious about herbal medicine. However, it is irresponsible to practice herbal medicine without it being unethical. However, the dosages at which we learn to prescribe herbs are not just like drinking a cup of cinnamon tea. it’s like drinking several boxes of tea. They are highly concentrated, highly potent medicinals that should not be treated lightly. Therefore please whoever you decide to work with, make sure they are NCCAOM board-certified herbalists. This means they have spent 4+ years studying and training in herbal the names, properties, actions, and pharmacokinetics, and dynamics of herbs. A learned herbalist knows how to safely prescribe and dose herbs for patients
BONUS: Your herbalist has additional trainings beyond their 4-year graduate program - this can include a doctorate.
They offer you a treatment plan / payment schuelde
They outline reasonable expectations
Recommendation: have a free consolation and decide for yourself.
