How to Check a Traditional Practitioner: Training, Community Standing and Scope
How to check a traditional healer or herbalist before you go: training, legal registration where it exists, community standing and scope. We do not list or recommend practitioners.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Start here: what this page does and does not do
People often search for a "traditional healer near me" or "herbalist near me." This site does not list, rank or recommend practitioners, clinics, schools or sellers, and we cannot tell you whether any individual is skilled or safe. What we can do is show you how to check, in the way that fits the tradition. The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says the same about itself: it cannot refer you to practitioners. [1]If you have a serious, sudden or worsening symptom, get conventional medical care first. In the United States, call 911 for an emergency. Poison Help is 1-800-222-1222 (see poison help by country).
Why one rule does not fit every tradition
Training and recognition work very differently from place to place. In some countries and traditions, the government licenses practitioners. In others, a professional body keeps a voluntary register. In many Indigenous and community traditions, standing comes from the community itself, not from a certificate. A good check asks which kind of system applies to the person in front of you. WHO says safety depends on a mix of factors, including practitioner competence, product quality, communication and regulatory support. [2] For a tradition-by-tradition view, see traditional practitioner training by tradition.Step 1: Find out which kind of system applies
Ask yourself three plain questions.- Is this a licensed profession where you live (for example, acupuncture in many US states)?
- Is it a voluntary-register profession (for example, herbal medicine in England)?
- Is it a community-recognized role, where the right check is with the community, not a government list?
In the US there is no standard national system for credentialing complementary health practitioners. Each state decides, and requirements vary widely by state and by discipline. [3] The wording matters. Some states use "title licensure," which only protects a professional title, while "mandatory licensure" requires a license to provide the service at all. [3]
Step 3: Check training and scope
Ask where the person trained, for how long, and whether training included work with people who have your condition. NCCIH advises explaining your health conditions and asking about the practitioner's experience with them, even if your goal is general well-being. [1] Ask what the practitioner will and will not treat, and who they refer to when a problem is beyond their scope. See questions to ask a traditional healer or herbalist.Step 4: Community standing, for traditions that rely on it
Many traditions do not use certificates. For example, the NPY Women's Council describes Ngangkari as the traditional healers of the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara lands, and says its program supports them to continue their work in communities, clinics and hospitals. [9] In the United States, a report on Indian Health Service hiring noted that traditional healer roles are not certified or licensed, and that it can be hard to determine qualifications, partly because the community is protective of traditional health knowledge. [10]What this means for you: do not expect, or ask for, a certificate. Ask in a respectful way how the person is recognized by their own community, and let the community guide you. Do not press for details of ceremonies or restricted knowledge. Our pages on what is public and what is restricted and cultural safety and humility explain why.
Keep your regular health team informed
Tell all your health care providers about the practitioners you see and the approaches you use. [1] Ask whether the practitioner is willing to work with your conventional providers. [1] If something goes wrong, see reporting a problem with a traditional product or practitioner.Frequently asked questions
Can you recommend a traditional healer or herbalist near me?
No. We do not list or recommend practitioners. NCCIH also says it cannot refer you to practitioners. [1] Use the checks on this page, and ask your doctor, hospital, or the official register for your area.
Is a licensed practitioner always safe?
No. Being licensed or certified is not always a guarantee of being qualified. [3] A license is one useful check, along with training, experience and willingness to work with your doctor.
Do all traditional healers have certificates?
No. In some traditions, such as those described by Aboriginal-led and tribal health organizations, standing comes from the community. [9][10] In other places, laws require registration. [7][8] Check the system that applies where you are.
Are herbalists regulated?
It depends on the country. In England, herbal medicine practitioners do not need to be registered by law, but the NHS advises choosing one registered with a professional organization accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. [4] In the US, requirements vary by state and discipline. [3]
Should I stop my medicines if a healer tells me to?
No. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without first talking to the doctor who prescribed it. [4] Tell a healer or herbalist about every medicine you take.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Step 2: Check licensing or registration where it exists
- United States: ask your state licensing board. Your doctor, a hospital or medical school, a professional organization or your insurer may also help. [1] Being licensed or certified does not always guarantee that someone is qualified. [3] For acupuncture and Chinese medicine, see acupuncture licensing and training.
- England: the NHS says chiropractors and osteopaths must be registered by law. Other complementary therapists and herbal medicine practitioners do not need to be registered by law. [4] Instead, it advises choosing someone registered with a professional organization accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. [4] That authority accredits registers of practitioners not regulated by law, to give the public confidence in their services. [5]
- Australia: Chinese medicine practitioners, including acupuncturists and Chinese herbal medicine practitioners, use titles protected by national law, so only registered people may use them. [6] The Board notes the law protects the title and does not itself list which activities require registration. [6]
- South Africa: the Traditional Health Practitioners Act says no one may practise as a traditional health practitioner unless registered under the Act. [7] We have not confirmed how fully the register is operating today, so check with the Council.
- India: the 2020 law covers Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa, and says only people on the State or National Register may practice as a qualified practitioner of these systems. [8]
If your country is not listed, search for the health ministry or regulator's own page. Never rely on a certificate you cannot verify.