Herbal Organisations
National Institute of Medical Herbalists
NIMH was first established as the National Association of Medical Herbalists in 1864 by a group of herbalists from the north of England. It is the UK’s largest professional body representing herbal practitioners. The Institute is self-regulating and is run on a voluntary basis. The Institute maintains a register of individual members, sets the profession’s educational standards and runs an accreditation system for training establishments, maintains mandatory programmes of professional development, has a complaints mechanism and disciplinary procedures, requires members to have professional indemnity insurance.
The College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy
This is another professional body of medical herbalists in the UK set up in 1991, with an emphasis on the use of scientific research to inform herbal treatments.
The Herb Society, UK
The Herb Society, established 80 years ago, is an educational charity dedicated to encouraging the appreciation and use of herbs. It brings together those interested in herbs whether they are professionals or amateurs. Their website is a good resource
Living Medicine Project
Living Medicine’s aim is to re-skill us all in using food and herbs for our everyday healthcare, sharing knowledge across cultures. Their plan it to set up an educational centre in London with gardens and space for ongoing education in medicinal plants.
NIMH was first established as the National Association of Medical Herbalists in 1864 by a group of herbalists from the north of England. It is the UK’s largest professional body representing herbal practitioners. The Institute is self-regulating and is run on a voluntary basis. The Institute maintains a register of individual members, sets the profession’s educational standards and runs an accreditation system for training establishments, maintains mandatory programmes of professional development, has a complaints mechanism and disciplinary procedures, requires members to have professional indemnity insurance.
The College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy
This is another professional body of medical herbalists in the UK set up in 1991, with an emphasis on the use of scientific research to inform herbal treatments.
The Herb Society, UK
The Herb Society, established 80 years ago, is an educational charity dedicated to encouraging the appreciation and use of herbs. It brings together those interested in herbs whether they are professionals or amateurs. Their website is a good resource
Living Medicine Project
Living Medicine’s aim is to re-skill us all in using food and herbs for our everyday healthcare, sharing knowledge across cultures. Their plan it to set up an educational centre in London with gardens and space for ongoing education in medicinal plants.
Books
Hedgerow Medicine: Harvest and Make Your Own Herbal Remedies by Julie Bruton-Seal and Matthew Seal (2008)
This is a great book that introduces you to herbs that are common to the UK.
Holistic Herbal: A Safe and Practical Guide to Making and Using Herbal Remedies by David Hoffmann (1990)
David Hoffman is a great herbalist and this book is a very good introduction to using herbs.
Bartram’s Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Thomas Bartram (1998)
This quick reference guide is in alphabetical order which makes it easy to access.
A Modern Herbal by Maude Grieve, C.F. Leyel and Mrs. C. F. Leyel (1996)
This was compiled in 1930, it covers the medicinal use of many plants, including their interesting historical uses.
The Herbal Medicine Maker’s Handbook: A Home Manual by James Green (2000)
I love this book – an in depth introduction into how to make your own medicines; from tinctures to creams
Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification by Thomas J Elpel (2004)
This is a brilliant book to introduce you to botany. He groups the herbs into families, introducing some of their general patterns.
The Wild Flower Key (Revised Edition) – How to identify wild plants, trees and shrubs in Britain and Ireland by Francis Rose and Clare O’Reilly (Author updated edition) (2006)
This was first published about 30 years ago and is the best guide to plant identification using plant identification keys and coloured drawings.
This is a great book that introduces you to herbs that are common to the UK.
Holistic Herbal: A Safe and Practical Guide to Making and Using Herbal Remedies by David Hoffmann (1990)
David Hoffman is a great herbalist and this book is a very good introduction to using herbs.
Bartram’s Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Thomas Bartram (1998)
This quick reference guide is in alphabetical order which makes it easy to access.
A Modern Herbal by Maude Grieve, C.F. Leyel and Mrs. C. F. Leyel (1996)
This was compiled in 1930, it covers the medicinal use of many plants, including their interesting historical uses.
The Herbal Medicine Maker’s Handbook: A Home Manual by James Green (2000)
I love this book – an in depth introduction into how to make your own medicines; from tinctures to creams
Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification by Thomas J Elpel (2004)
This is a brilliant book to introduce you to botany. He groups the herbs into families, introducing some of their general patterns.
The Wild Flower Key (Revised Edition) – How to identify wild plants, trees and shrubs in Britain and Ireland by Francis Rose and Clare O’Reilly (Author updated edition) (2006)
This was first published about 30 years ago and is the best guide to plant identification using plant identification keys and coloured drawings.
Herbal Websites
The Herbarium
In their own words ‘The Herbarium is the creation of a small, autonomous group of independent herbalists. We have come together in a spirit of cooperation, to share knowledge and resources, and to explore a different way of organising ourselves in this rapidly changing world’. The website provides a lot of information on practical things like how to get an alcohol license in the UK to make herbal tinctures, how to make tinctures and other preparations and a discussion forum on the politics of professionalisation and regulation of herbalists in the UK.
Henriette Kress
This is an amazing resource by the Finnish herbalist Henriette Kress. It has a search engine so you look up herbs, herb photos, ailments and various other related topics.
Phyllis Light
Phyllis is a southern Appalachian folk herbalist. Phyllis was taught by her Cherokee grandmother and has a huge wealth of knowledge that she is happy to share
Rosemary Gladstar
Rosemary lives at Sage Mountain in Vermont and is a wonderful herbalist. She has written various books and her website is full of information and resources
Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
The late Michael Moore is a legend in the North American herbal world. His website is a vast resource for his own unique work as well as many eclectic and physiomedicalist texts that he personally uploaded onto his site.
Matthew Wood
Matthew Wood has a depth of knowledge of plants that is extremely impressive. He website is full of information and he has written several books which we would recommend
Paul Bergner
He is a herbalist based in Colorado. Having been to a couple of Paul Bergner’s workshop he is one of the most knowledgeable and insightful herbalists that we have been taught by. The website has many useful articles as well as back copies of Medical Herbalism, a journal that Paul edits. He has written extensively on the importance of vitalism in herbal medicine and insulin resistance.
7 Song
7 song is a great herbalist in upstate New York who has masses of herbal first aid experience, is a knowledgeable wildcrafter and writes eloquently about community herbalism
Jim McDonald
This is a really good website by Michigan herbalist with many articles and resources on the site.
In their own words ‘The Herbarium is the creation of a small, autonomous group of independent herbalists. We have come together in a spirit of cooperation, to share knowledge and resources, and to explore a different way of organising ourselves in this rapidly changing world’. The website provides a lot of information on practical things like how to get an alcohol license in the UK to make herbal tinctures, how to make tinctures and other preparations and a discussion forum on the politics of professionalisation and regulation of herbalists in the UK.
Henriette Kress
This is an amazing resource by the Finnish herbalist Henriette Kress. It has a search engine so you look up herbs, herb photos, ailments and various other related topics.
Phyllis Light
Phyllis is a southern Appalachian folk herbalist. Phyllis was taught by her Cherokee grandmother and has a huge wealth of knowledge that she is happy to share
Rosemary Gladstar
Rosemary lives at Sage Mountain in Vermont and is a wonderful herbalist. She has written various books and her website is full of information and resources
Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
The late Michael Moore is a legend in the North American herbal world. His website is a vast resource for his own unique work as well as many eclectic and physiomedicalist texts that he personally uploaded onto his site.
Matthew Wood
Matthew Wood has a depth of knowledge of plants that is extremely impressive. He website is full of information and he has written several books which we would recommend
Paul Bergner
He is a herbalist based in Colorado. Having been to a couple of Paul Bergner’s workshop he is one of the most knowledgeable and insightful herbalists that we have been taught by. The website has many useful articles as well as back copies of Medical Herbalism, a journal that Paul edits. He has written extensively on the importance of vitalism in herbal medicine and insulin resistance.
7 Song
7 song is a great herbalist in upstate New York who has masses of herbal first aid experience, is a knowledgeable wildcrafter and writes eloquently about community herbalism
Jim McDonald
This is a really good website by Michigan herbalist with many articles and resources on the site.
Herbal Blogs
The Herbarium’s blog
Lucinda Warner - Whispering Earth
Herbaholics Herbarium,
Herbal Root Zine
The Family Herbal
The Herbwife’s Kitchen by Rebecca Hartman
Tales of a kitchen herbwife
Mad about herbs by Madeleine Giddens
Max Drake’s blog
Zoe Hawes
Lucinda Warner - Whispering Earth
Herbaholics Herbarium,
Herbal Root Zine
The Family Herbal
The Herbwife’s Kitchen by Rebecca Hartman
Tales of a kitchen herbwife
Mad about herbs by Madeleine Giddens
Max Drake’s blog
Zoe Hawes
Community Herbal Projects
There are many incredible herbal projects so take a look and get inspired! If you know of any more please let us know and we will add them.
Common Ground Health Clinic This is a clinic based in Algiers, New Orleans that was set up be activists and medics a week after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It is now an integrated health clinic with herbalists and medics working alongside each other to provide low cost health care to the predominantly uninsured
Maypop Community Herb Shop This is a herb shop set up by some wonderful herbalist friends Amy, Jen, Rachael and Wendy
Ithaca Free Clinic The Ithaca Free Clinic is a clinic in New York state which is open to all uninsured members of the community. There are volunteer doctors and acupuncturists as well as the herbal side run by the great herbalist 7 song. It was set up in the belief that access to health care is a right, and not a privilege
Street Level Health Project, Oakland, California This is a clinic in Oakland which offers free health screening to all low-wage workers who do not have health insurance. They offer conventional medical treatments as well as an afternoon a week of free herbal and nutritional consultations.
Compassion Club The Compassion Club is based in Vancouver and is a referral place for people to access medicinal marijuana. Our friend Jasmyn is the herbalist who was involved in setting up the Wellness Centre which is next door and was established to create a model of non-profit community-based health care. They offer low cost herbal treatments amongst other therapies, all subsidized by the Compassion Club.
Third Root Community Health Centre This is a community health centre in New York that has the most inspiring political focus of any community health project we have come across. Amongst many healthcare options they provide sliding scale individual herbal consultations, workshops and herb walks around Brooklyn.
Radical Herb Gatherings (no website) These are gatherings held in North America combining social justice issues and herbal medicine. So far there are 2 regional ones but there were rumblings there is going to be a Southeast one this year. We hope to be able to be part of organising the first UK Radical Herb Gathering in 2012.
The Northeast Radical Healthcare Network This network emerged from an the organizing collective that founded the Annual Grassroots Community Herbal Convergence, a gathering in the Northeast US which brings people together to discuss social justice and anti-oppression issues within herbalism. They now facilitate incredible health justice trainings which are cultural competency trainings geared towards herbalists, health care providers, and educators whose are involved in creating inclusive health care projects
Nothwest Pacific Radical Herb Gathering (no website) The first one was in 2010
Olympia Free Herbal Clinic This is a free herbal walk-in clinic set up in 2008 by herbalists wanting to offer time, energy and training so that anyone, regardless of financial situation, can have access to herbal health care
First Herbal CSA (Community supported agriculture) Goldthread Herb Farm is a Medicinal Herb Farm in the hills of Conway, Massachusetts. They run a Herbal CSA which provides an opportunity to collaborate with the growers of medicinal plants. When you purchase a share, it helps support the growing and processing of the herbs into medicines. In return, a buyer will receive a variety of herbs in exchange.
Common Ground Health Clinic This is a clinic based in Algiers, New Orleans that was set up be activists and medics a week after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It is now an integrated health clinic with herbalists and medics working alongside each other to provide low cost health care to the predominantly uninsured
Maypop Community Herb Shop This is a herb shop set up by some wonderful herbalist friends Amy, Jen, Rachael and Wendy
Ithaca Free Clinic The Ithaca Free Clinic is a clinic in New York state which is open to all uninsured members of the community. There are volunteer doctors and acupuncturists as well as the herbal side run by the great herbalist 7 song. It was set up in the belief that access to health care is a right, and not a privilege
Street Level Health Project, Oakland, California This is a clinic in Oakland which offers free health screening to all low-wage workers who do not have health insurance. They offer conventional medical treatments as well as an afternoon a week of free herbal and nutritional consultations.
Compassion Club The Compassion Club is based in Vancouver and is a referral place for people to access medicinal marijuana. Our friend Jasmyn is the herbalist who was involved in setting up the Wellness Centre which is next door and was established to create a model of non-profit community-based health care. They offer low cost herbal treatments amongst other therapies, all subsidized by the Compassion Club.
Third Root Community Health Centre This is a community health centre in New York that has the most inspiring political focus of any community health project we have come across. Amongst many healthcare options they provide sliding scale individual herbal consultations, workshops and herb walks around Brooklyn.
Radical Herb Gatherings (no website) These are gatherings held in North America combining social justice issues and herbal medicine. So far there are 2 regional ones but there were rumblings there is going to be a Southeast one this year. We hope to be able to be part of organising the first UK Radical Herb Gathering in 2012.
The Northeast Radical Healthcare Network This network emerged from an the organizing collective that founded the Annual Grassroots Community Herbal Convergence, a gathering in the Northeast US which brings people together to discuss social justice and anti-oppression issues within herbalism. They now facilitate incredible health justice trainings which are cultural competency trainings geared towards herbalists, health care providers, and educators whose are involved in creating inclusive health care projects
Nothwest Pacific Radical Herb Gathering (no website) The first one was in 2010
Olympia Free Herbal Clinic This is a free herbal walk-in clinic set up in 2008 by herbalists wanting to offer time, energy and training so that anyone, regardless of financial situation, can have access to herbal health care
First Herbal CSA (Community supported agriculture) Goldthread Herb Farm is a Medicinal Herb Farm in the hills of Conway, Massachusetts. They run a Herbal CSA which provides an opportunity to collaborate with the growers of medicinal plants. When you purchase a share, it helps support the growing and processing of the herbs into medicines. In return, a buyer will receive a variety of herbs in exchange.
