Yes herbalists take an oath very similar to the Hippocratic Oath that doctors take which has the famous ‘First, do no harm’. Actually I don’t know for sure that doctors do take an oath anymore? I’m sure someone will enlighten me.
I’m not 100% that all herbalists take an oath either now I think about it. At least one professional association of herbalists called the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH) do have a ceremony at their annual conference where all newly qualified herbalists take their oath together, in front of the assembled herbalists. It’s very moving.
When I left NIMH many years ago because I disagreed very strongly with the course of action they were taking (although I have since rejoined), more detail here, the group of herb friends I had taken to hanging out with collectively decided to write our own vow and we rededicated ourselves together, around Stephen and Carol Church’s firepit.
I have reproduced a copy below.
Much of the Oath contains simple truths that would be expected from any person in authority. Still, we did discuss every point. It is the sign of a healthy profession that its members care enough to have an opinion and are willing to test their ideas.
The word that all of us were extremely clear we wanted to keep from our previous NIMH oath was ‘inviolate‘, because it’s a great word and it sounds like ‘in violet’. Couldn’t be more appropriate.