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Herbal therapist

Also called herbalist, iridologist, phytotherapist

Herbal therapists use herbal medicine to relief pain and treat illnesses such as allergies, chronic physical conditions or stress-related conditions. They study the properties and benefits of plants and create a personalised treatment plan for the patients.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospects41 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Health associate professionalsWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,500 (Bulgaria) to €8,200 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Health associate professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually post-secondary or a short degree4 in 10 have a degree. 3 in 10 train through vocational routes.Health associate professionalsWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Traditional and complementary medicine associate professionals · ILO

What you'd do

Traditional and complementary medicine associate professionals · ILO
  • Examining patients and interviewing them and their families to determine their health status and the nature of physical or mental disorders or illnesses or other ailments
  • Recommending and providing care and treatment for illnesses and other ailments using traditional techniques and medicaments, such as physical manipulation and exercises, blood-letting using natural vessels, and preparations using herbs, plants, insects and animal extracts
  • Administering treatments such as acupuncture, ayurvedic, homeopathic and herbal medicine according to therapeutic care plans and procedures usually developed by a traditional medicine or other health professional
  • Providing care and treatment for physical injuries such as setting and healing fractured and dislocated bones using traditional methods of physical manipulation and herbal therapies
  • Advising individuals, families and the community on health, nutrition, hygiene, lifestyle and other issues to maintain or improve health and well-being
  • Referring patients to, and exchanging information with, other health care providers to ensure comprehensive and continuing care
Apply a holistic approach in careApply aromatherapyObserve healthcare usersFollow-up on healthcare users' treatmentAdvise on mental health+ 15 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Constant contact with people, including the public
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines now and then
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Acupuncturists"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

Many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as health associate professionals in the EU
6.04m6.64m7.71m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
921,000 new jobs 1,847,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Health associate professionals41
All jobs29
Right now
3 of 27 countries report a shortage of traditional and complementary medicine associate professionals, 2 a surplus.
Traditional and complementary medicine associate professionals · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,500 a month (Bulgaria) to €8,200 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among technicians and associate professionals in the EU, women earn 16% less per hour than men. Technicians and associate professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually post-secondary or a short degree

Post-secondary training or a short degree in traditional and complementary medicine and therapy is the usual route.

Highest qualification of health associate professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 37%Vocational 49%General secondary 6%Basic schooling 8%
Field that teaches it
Traditional and complementary medicine and therapy
Vocational route, EU
3 in 10 trainees in this field
Health and welfare graduates in a matching job
81% in the EU

946 institutions in the EU offer health and welfare bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.19 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 6 tasks
Referring patients to, and exchanging information with, other health care providers to ensure comprehensive and continuing care0.33
Advising individuals, families and the community on health, nutrition, hygiene, lifestyle and other issues to maintain or improve health and well-being0.32
Examining patients and interviewing them and their families to determine their health status and the nature of physical or mental disorders or illnesses or other ailments0.17
Administering treatments such as acupuncture, ayurvedic, homeopathic and herbal medicine according to therapeutic care plans and procedures usually developed by a traditional medicine or other health professional0.14
Recommending and providing care and treatment for illnesses and other ailments using traditional techniques and medicaments, such as physical manipulation and exercises, blood-letting using natural vessels, and preparations using herbs, plants, insects and animal extracts0.11
Providing care and treatment for physical injuries such as setting and healing fractured and dislocated bones using traditional methods of physical manipulation and herbal therapies0.06

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for traditional and complementary medicine associate professionals. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).