Am J Med Qual. 2002 Jan-Feb; 17(1): 15-20.

Credentialing of practitioners of botanical medicine.

Yarnell E, Abascal K, Greenfield RH, Romm A, Sudberg S.

Botanical Medicine Academy, 69113 Camp Polk Rd, Sisters, OR 97759, USA. dryarnell@bendnet.com

This article discusses how practitioners, regardless of other professional licenses they may hold, could be credentialed in botanical medicine. The article reviews the field of clinical botanical medicine and the history and modern status of botanical medicine, as well as organizations currently involved in botanical medicine credentialing. Many different types of professionals prescribe botanical medicines, and the potential for collaboration among them is great. The current trend treats botanical medicine as a narrow subdivision of allopathic medicine and does not acknowledge the breadth, depth, and diversity of botanical medicine and ultimately will not provide maximum benefits for patients. An alternative approach that instead credentials practitioners skilled in the use of a wide variety of botanical medicines in a responsible, scientific fashion is presented.