The training of a Medical Herbalist takes 4 years at Degree level, subjects studied include Medicine, Pathology, Clinical Diagnosis as well as Nutrition and Materia Medica.

Medical Herbalists sucessfully blend holistic treatment with a sound understanding of orthodox medicine.

Because the whole person is treated many conditions can be helped at once and because no two people are the same, the prescription of Herbal Medicines are unique, for example if two people came to the same herbalist with osteoarthritis, they would leave with a different prescription of herbal medicines.

Although Herbal Medicine can alleviate symptoms, the approach of the Medical Herbalist is to seek the underlying cause therefore assisting the body to heal itself, rather than treating symptoms alone.
For example if a patient is suffering from Constipation, the Herbalist will look for and treat the underlying reason for the constipation rather than prescribing laxative herbs. This way the body is able to regain normal function with the assistance of a unique Herbal prescription.

Most Medical Herbalists will have a dispensary stocked with around 200 different herbs and many
prescribe mainly tinctures which are alchoholic extracts of whole plants. This is because the tinctures are easy for a person to take, for example one teaspoon 3 times daily in water is a commonly prescribed dosage.However, Herb Tea's may also be prescribed, and in some cases capsules.

If you are unable or do not want to take alcohol, alternatives such as glycerine based tinctures, aromatic waters, capsules and herb teas are avaliable.
If necessary a Herbalist can also make a cream, ointment or lotion for external use.