Herbal Medicine can be an extremely effective way to resolve acute or chronic problems. There are literally thousands of herbal formulas, and for any given disease there can be many formulas to choose from. The possibility of interactions with other herbs and prescibed drugs should surely be considered. Unfortunately, there are no laws prohibiting unqualified individuals from dispensing herbs and advice on herbs. But there are certifications. We feel that only Practitioners who are National Board Certified in herbal medicine should dispense herbs. This certification takes extensive training and testing, and let's the public know that the practioner has important knowledge about what conditions warrant which herbs and what the drug-herb interactions may be. We recommend asking your practitioner about this important certification.