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Sliding Scale Herbal Consultations
at Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism’s Community Clinics
Our clinics offer individuals personalized education in self-care with herbs. We offer consultations in our professional clinic in Montpelier and in our supervised student clinics in both Montpelier and Burlington, Vermont. Consultations and herbs are offered on a sliding scale that starts at $0.
• Learn how to care for yourself and your family with herbs.
• Improve your immunity. Improve your digestion.
• Sleep better. Experience less stress.
• Learn how to make home remedies and choose nourishing foods.

Flexible Scheduling Options:
Student Clinic Hours: supervised sessions led by our third-year clinical interns in consultation with an herbalist from our professional clinic. Sliding scale $0-$10.
Monday afternoons from 1:00 to 5:00 pm; Tuesday evenings from 4:00pm to 8:00pm
Professional Clinic Appointments: sessions with one of our professional herbalists held Monday - Friday. Call for the next available appointment. Sliding scale $0-$100.
Please call (802) 224-7100 or email info@vtherbcenter.org for an appointment for any of our services.

Directions to Montpelier Clinic and Classroom
From either north or south I-89, take exit 8 (RT 2 - Montpelier). Continue on RT 2 to the 4th stoplight, where RT 12 North comes in, and turn left. (This is also Main Street). Take Main Street to the top of the hill, heading northeast from the main part of town (you’ll go through a roundabout and head “right”). At the top of the hill, the street will turn sharply to the left; our office driveway is on the left, just after you come out of the turn. The building is gray and our suite is on the third floor. You may come in the front door from the parking lot and make your way to the left up four short flights of stairs. Turn right when you reach the third floor. The restroom facilities are on the first floor in case you want to use them before you come upstairs. If climbing stairs is difficult for you, please let us know so we can arrange to meet you in a more accessible location downstairs.

Determining Your Payment
The Clinic operates on a sliding scale fee structure to make our services available to everyone. We provide identical services to all clients, regardless of ability or inability to pay. The Clinic’s continued success depends on the investment that our clients make in their own health and in the health of our community. Your payments, no matter the size, are essential to making our services available to all who need them.
The fee for the first appointment slides from $0 -$100; for subsequent visits $0 - $50.00. Use the formula below to determine your suggested fee amount. Payments above the minimum are always gratefully accepted. VCIH accepts cash or check--payment can be left in the box in the waiting room at the time of your visit.

Use your income level to find the correct fee using the following chart:
Annual Individual Income*
<$20,000 - Initial Fee $0; Follow-up Fee $0; Herb cost** $0
$20,000-$29,000 - Initial Fee $20;Follow-up Fee $10; Herb cost** $5/$2
$30,000-$49,000 - Initial Fee $40; Follow-up Fee $20; Herb cost** $5/$2
$50,000-$69,000 - Initial Fee $60; Follow-up Fee $30; Herb cost** $5/$2
$70,000-$89,000 - Initial Fee $80; Follow-up Fee $40; Herb cost** $5/$2
>$90,000 Initial Fee - $100; Follow-up Fee $100; Herb cost** $5/$2
*If your income supports individuals other than yourself, you may adjust your fee down to the next step on the scale, as needed.
**Herb cost refers to the cost for each ounce of tincture ($5) or of dry herbs ($2) if purchased from our apothecary. This is about half of retail cost. You are always welcome to purchase herbs from other sources.

The Nature of Herbalism
The gentle use of herbs to support the human physiology is both an ancient art and a precise science. Herbalism has a long tradition of helping with both common complaints and more serious chronic conditions. Historically, ailments ranging from difficult digestion, colds and flus, and insomnia all the way to clinical depression, autoimmune conditions, and cancer have been responsive to the use of herbs both as teas, extracts and powders and as part of a healthy diet.
Herbalism is in essence adaptive, in contrast with conventional medical care which is primarily designed to compensate for what the body is not doing for itself. Herbal practice is based on the belief that the human body is a resilient and intelligent system that is innately self-healing and that properly crafted herbal formulas assist and encourage the body in its effort to return to a healthy state. All traditional medical systems understand that every person is physiologically, emotionally and energetically unique—herbalism is not one-size-fits all.

The Role of the Herbal Practitioner
We at VCIH believe that the herbalist’s primary role is as an educator and partner, encouraging and supporting your goals for improved health and wellbeing. Herbalists neither diagnose nor directly treat disease. Rather, we focus on educating you, the client, on how to best enhance your body’s innate healing capacity. Our intent is to help you achieve the highest state of health consistent with your own goals. We will consider your individual constitution and nature and recommend the most appropriate herbal, dietary and lifestyle changes specifically for you. Our goal is to serve as part of your healthcare team; we collaborate with a diversity of alternative and conventional modalities as appropriate.

What to Expect
Initial sessions last approximately two hours, and are devoted to exploring the interplay between body, mind, and spirit as herbalist and client co-create a plan for optimal wellness. You should expect to have at least two subsequent visits, which range in length from 30 minutes to an hour. You may purchase custom formulations according to your herbalist’s recommendations from our full-service apothecary. You are welcome to purchase herbs elsewhere and we are happy to provide a list of reputable sources.
Because we are a teaching clinic, you will be asked when you make your appointment if you would allow a clinical student to observe your consultation—please know that you have the option to decline at any time. Thank you in advance for helping us to further the practice of herbalism through our students.

Student Clinic
Our student clinic is staffed by our clinical herbal interns who are in the third year of our comprehensive training program and have already completed 900 hours of the curriculum, including 60 hours of clinical observation and case review. Your session at the clinic will consist of a meeting with two interns who are supervised by a member of our professional staff. Appointments last two hours, including a 15-30 minute period during which students consult with the supervisor regarding your case.
We’re excited to provide this service to our community. Your participation allows us to provide quality clinical experience for our students, for which we are very grateful.
Student Clinics are staffed on Mondays in Montpelier and Burlington (at City Market Coop) and on Tuesdays in Montpelier at VCIH. Consultations are by appointment only; please call VCIH to be connected to a student practitioner.