RH Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield RH facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What does the AHG Code of Ethics require regarding advertising herbal services? → Advertising must be truthful, not misleading, and within the herbalist's scope of practice
2. A patient on metformin for type 2 diabetes begins using berberine-containing herbs. The primary concern is: → Additive blood glucose lowering causing hypoglycemia
3. Which federal law most directly regulates wildcrafting on National Forest lands in the US? → National Forest Management Act (NFMA) and accompanying permit systems
4. Which statement about herbal suppositories used for local rectal or vaginal delivery is correct? → Suppositories allow direct mucosal absorption, bypassing first-pass metabolism
5. An herbalist practicing in a US state where herbalism is not licensed should be MOST careful to avoid: → Diagnosing medical conditions or prescribing treatments
6. A client is prescribed a nervine formula but also takes warfarin. Which herb in the formula poses the greatest interaction risk? → Kava (Piper methysticum)
7. When tracking a client's response to a formula targeting immune support, which outcome measure is most useful? → Frequency and severity of infections compared to baseline
8. Which principle of herbal ethics requires the practitioner to honestly represent the limits of their knowledge and training? → Veracity
9. Which herb is most associated with adulteration risk that has caused serious hepatotoxicity when mistaken for a similar-looking plant? → Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) adulterated with germander (Teucrium species)
10. Which characteristic makes a wild plant population more resilient to periodic harvesting pressure? → Annual life cycle with prolific seed set
11. Which of the following is a fundamental principle of herbal formula compounding as it applies to Registered Herbalist? → Systematic evaluation and adherence to established industry standards
12. In Ayurveda, which of the three malas (waste products) is associated with the large intestine and governed by Vata dosha? → Purisha (feces)
13. What does the herbalist assess when asking a client about the quality of their stool during intake? → Digestive function, transit time, and potential dysbiosis or malabsorption
14. What is 'phenological' knowledge and why is it important for sustainable wildcrafting? → Tracking seasonal timing of plant growth stages to harvest at the optimal window
15. The United Plant Savers (UpS) 'At-Risk' list is best used by wildcrafters to: → Prioritize cultivation over wildcrafting for listed species
16. In botanical terminology, a 'drupe' is a fruit type exemplified by which medicinal plant? → Vitex agnus-castus (chaste tree berry)
17. An herbalist notices a client exhibits signs of an acute medical emergency during a consultation. The immediate ethical and legal obligation is to: → Call emergency services (911) and provide basic support until help arrives
18. A client wants to stop their prescribed antidepressant and replace it with herbs immediately. The ethical response is to: → Advise against abrupt discontinuation and encourage consultation with their prescriber
19. A client with a sensitive stomach needs a bitter tonic formula. Which preparation best mitigates GI irritation while preserving bitters activity? → Glycerite of the bitter herb
20. A plant described as 'rhizomatous' propagates vegetatively via: → Horizontal underground stems that produce new shoots
21. A client asks the herbalist to guarantee that an herbal protocol will cure their chronic illness. The most ethical response is to: → Explain that outcomes cannot be guaranteed and set realistic expectations
22. What should a practitioner do if a client reports a severe reaction? → Stop the herb and refer to a physician
23. Which herbal preparation would deliver the highest concentration of water-soluble polysaccharides from astragalus root? → Long-simmered decoction
24. Which of the following is the correct approach when formulating for a pregnant client in the first trimester? → Avoid emmenagogue, abortifacient, and stimulating laxative herbs
25. When documenting a client intake, which element is LEAST critical to include in a clinical herbal record? → Client's favorite food preferences unrelated to health
26. Which preparation is most appropriate for delivering herbal constituents to the colon for local therapeutic effect (e.g., for inflammatory bowel conditions)? → Enteric-coated capsule designed for colonic release
27. A patient on lithium for bipolar disorder begins drinking large amounts of dandelion leaf tea as a diuretic. The main concern is: → Lithium toxicity from increased serum lithium due to reduced renal sodium and water
28. Why is black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) considered contraindicated or used with caution during pregnancy? → It has emmenagogue and potential uterine-stimulating effects
29. Which scenario represents a BREACH of client confidentiality? → Discussing a client's case by name at a public lecture without consent
30. Cold infusions are most appropriate for extracting which type of plant constituents? → Mucilaginous polysaccharides and delicate aromatic compounds