My training as a medical herbalist consisted of a four year professional Diploma in Phytotherapy (phytotherapy is another word for herbal medicine) with the College of Phytotherapy . It entailed studying both plant and medical sciences, plant therapeutics, philosophy of herbal medicine, herbal pharmacology, clinical diagnosis, clinical examination, differential diagnosis, medicine and nutrition. It also involved undertaking five hundred hours of clinical training, where I attended training clinics in Bath and London and treated people under the guidance of a qualified medical herbalist, followed by a final clinical examination.
I am proud to be a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (MNIMH). The National Institute of Medical Herbalists is the United Kingdom’s leading professional body representing herbal practitioners and is also the oldest professional body, having been in existence since 1864!
I also have a BSc (Hons) degree in Microbiology which left me with a deep sense of awe for bacteria. The recent explosion in scientific understanding about the microbiome (the trillions of bacteria living within us) has only served to deepen that. The microbiome has far-reaching effects beyond the digestive system, being also involved in our mental health, skin health, and immunity.
I keep my knowledge about herbal medicine, nutrition and health conditions up to date in various ways e.g. through herbal conferences, books and courses. Thankfully, continual professional development (CPD) is a requirement of NIMH membership - guilt free book buying is really why I became a herbalist!
For example, I have studied for a diploma in the trdeatment of allergy with the British Institute of Allergy and Environmental Therapy and attended two weekend seminars on 'Collaborative Oncology' with Chanchal Cabrera FNIMH. I have also taken herbalist Paul Bergner's courses 'Systemic Inflammation, food intolerances and autoimmunity'; 'Insulin Resistance', and 'Fatigue'.
I am proud to be a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (MNIMH). The National Institute of Medical Herbalists is the United Kingdom’s leading professional body representing herbal practitioners and is also the oldest professional body, having been in existence since 1864!
I also have a BSc (Hons) degree in Microbiology which left me with a deep sense of awe for bacteria. The recent explosion in scientific understanding about the microbiome (the trillions of bacteria living within us) has only served to deepen that. The microbiome has far-reaching effects beyond the digestive system, being also involved in our mental health, skin health, and immunity.
I keep my knowledge about herbal medicine, nutrition and health conditions up to date in various ways e.g. through herbal conferences, books and courses. Thankfully, continual professional development (CPD) is a requirement of NIMH membership - guilt free book buying is really why I became a herbalist!
For example, I have studied for a diploma in the trdeatment of allergy with the British Institute of Allergy and Environmental Therapy and attended two weekend seminars on 'Collaborative Oncology' with Chanchal Cabrera FNIMH. I have also taken herbalist Paul Bergner's courses 'Systemic Inflammation, food intolerances and autoimmunity'; 'Insulin Resistance', and 'Fatigue'.