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herb doctor

herb doctor

6.8
A person who uses plant medicines to treat illnesses
  • noun
  • /hɜrb ˈdɑktər/
translation icon : herbolario
  • After weeks of feeling unwell, she finally visited the herb doctor who specialized in natural healing methods.

Examples

  • The herb doctor provided remedies made from local plants to help with her frequent headaches.

  • Many people in the village turned to the herb doctor for treatments that were based on traditional herbal medicine.

  • Pittsburgh blacks sought the help of spiritualists, crystal gazers, voodoo, or herb doctors.

    Academic text (1994)
  • He demonstrates other shamanistic skills as an herb doctor, saving Lulu's legs from amputation.

    Academic text (1997)

Synonyms

herbalist
vsherb doctor
9 5.5

A person who uses plants to make medicine for health

focuses specifically on using medicinal herbs to treat illnesses
herbwoman
vsherb doctor
  • Archaic
9.5

A woman who gathers, uses, or sells plants to make medicines

focuses on treating illnesses using medicinal herbs rather than selling or gathering

Surface Forms

herb doctor singular
herb doctors plural

Morphology

herb + doctor

The meaning 'a practitioner who treats illnesses with medicinal herbs' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'herb' (medicinal plant) with 'doctor' (a medical practitioner). This noun–noun composition follows a straightforward compositional pattern found across languages (and is synonymous with 'herbalist'), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

The name herb doctor comes from a simple image: a healer who uses herbs, like roots, leaves and flowers, to make medicine and acts like a doctor for sick people. That's why it means 'a person who treats illness with medicinal plants'.