What are the main disadvantages of phytotherapy training?

After a thorough phytotherapy training course, you will be able to use plants, plant parts and preparations made from them to treat and prevent illnesses. The focus of treatment is on the person in their entirety and complexity. The classic form of preparation of herbal remedies is tea. In addition, medicinal plants are also used in the form of herbal pills, tinctures, juices, poultices, ointments, syrups and oils.

The main disadvantages of phytotherapy training are:

1. The completion of phytotherapy training is not federally recognized, but rather a school's own certificate or diploma. In any case, look out for training courses that are recognized by important institutions such as the SMGP (Swiss Medical Society for Phytotherapy) or the OdA AM (TCM with a focus on phytotherapy). However, SMPG training requires a degree in medicine, veterinary medicine or pharmacy. In naturopathic training courses, phytotherapy plays an important role as a therapeutic agent alongside other methods, but does not count as a complementary therapy according to the OdA KT. There are also various shorter or longer training courses that are limited to phytotherapy. They are aimed at people with a conventional medical background (e.g. nurses) who wish to integrate alternative healing methods into their work.
2. At certificate level, the course content and admission requirements are generally not regulated and can be determined autonomously by the schools. Quality assurance is carried out by associations such as the SMPG or AdA KT.
3. In addition to specialist knowledge and therapeutic skills, working in phytotherapy also requires analytical and logical thinking skills as well as an appropriate thirst for knowledge in order to keep learning. Not everyone has all of these skills and not all of them can be acquired through phytotherapy training.
4. The costs of around CHF 5,000 to CHF 19,000 for the approximately two to three years of training are not subsidized by the federal government, as this is not a federal qualification.
5. After the phytotherapy training, the learning continues: in order to be able to offer phytotherapy and other naturopathic methods, an Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) as a naturopath with a federal diploma in TCM with a focus on phytotherapy can be completed, depending on previous training.

Training in phytotherapy is intended as a supplement or extension to basic training in conventional or complementary medicine. Those who do not have such training have little chance of using this therapy method professionally. The majority of others work independently in their own practice or in group practices.

Provider of phytotherapy training